Hi Gang! This year’s reunion will be very different from others we’ve had as it will be in the mountains, not in a city. Colorado is a glorious state with lots of great scenery and since moving here I would like to share some of its beauty with you. The Keystone Lodge and Spa is a fabulous location for a reunion with its views and accommodations.
We also have some new people joining us this year so this reunion will be very special in bringing more of us together. It’s very hard to put into words just how wonderful it is to renew oldfriendships and establish new ones with our Mineola classmates.
AIRPORT ARRIVAL – The Denver Airport is located on the east side of Denver and Keystone is in the mountains west of Denver. The ride from the airport to Keystone is approximately 1 ½ hours with absolutely gorgeous views through the mountains.
Airport Shuttle to Keystone – Those interested in the Colorado Mountain Express airport shuttle to Keystone can call (800) 525-6363 and ask for reservations. Our group code is “Mineola” and the rate is $100 per person round trip. This discounted price is good for five days before and five days after the event.
Car Rentals & Sharing Rides – Some people will be renting a car at the airport for this reunion. Please let me know if you are willing to share a ride with someone else. I will try to coordinate airport arrival times and help in this regard.
We have a choice of two places to stay, the Keystone Lodge and Spa or the Inn at Keystone. The negotiated group rate for the Lodge is $129 per night plus applicable taxes ($144.51 total). So far everyone that’s registered is staying at the Lodge. For the Inn at Keystone the negotiated rate is $101 per room (total of $113.14 per night).
The Keystone Lodge and Spa is a four-diamond luxury hotel in Lakeside Village; the rooms with balconies at the Lodge have magnificent mountain views (balconies are not guaranteed). The Lodge offers a heated outdoor pool and hot tub (bring your bathing suits), spa facilities, workout facilities, the Tenderfoot Lounge, Bighorn Restaurant, the Edgewater Café and wonderful outdoor decks overlooking the lake and mountains. To reserve your room in Keystone (either at the Lodge or the Inn), please call (800) 258-0437 and ask for group code “GA4KMR” to get our Mineola discount. Our room prices include self-parking; valet parking is available for a fee. Keystone offers free shuttle rides to anywhere within Keystone itself. You will also be given an Adventure Passport discount coupon book from Keystone for various activities (not all activities are available after Labor Day).
THURSDAY, SEPT. 9TH
Early arrival for those playing in the golf tournament or going horseback riding on Friday. Hotel check-in. There are no planned activities for this day so you are welcome to explore Keystone and surrounding areas; meals are on your own.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 10TH
Horseback Riding – Anyone interested in horseback riding can call the Mountain Concierge at (800) 354-4FUN to schedule an outing. For summer rates, schedules and reservations make the call in May.
First Annual Mineola Golf Tournament, Ranch Course in Keystone – This is a beautiful course with magnificent mountain scenery. Prices include cart, range balls, event coordination as well as cart signage with assigned “South Park” nicknames. There will be gift certificate prizes (to be used in the Pro Shop) for closest to the hole, longest drive, straightest drive, longest putt, etc. The tournament is an 11:00 am modified shotgun start with a scramble format. We will be picked up at the Lodge by the shuttle about 10:15 am and taken to the golf course; the shuttle will bring us back to the hotel afterwards. Clubs can be rented for $25 (let me know to reserve them). I polled individuals that had already signed up and it was unanimous to play tournament style. Proper golf attire is required. They say that your golf balls go 10% farther in the mountains but I never found this to be true for yours truly. The cost is $90 per golfer.
Dinner at Pizza On The Plaza – We will be having a casual dinner at 6 pm at Pizza On The Plaza Italian Restaurant in Lakeside Village (within walking distance from the Lodge). The restaurant offers salads, appetizers, pizzas and calzones, Italian specialty dishes, sandwiches and desserts as well as specialty Martinis, beer and wine. Friday night dinner is individual tabs. Weather permitting, we can sit outdoors by the lake.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 11
Georgetown Loop Railroad and Silver Mine Tour - The Georgetown Loop train will leave the Georgetown station at 11:15 am. Transportation to Georgetown is on our own and about a 30 minute ride from Keystone so we will car pool. The beauty of the Rocky Mountains surrounds us as our old-time steam engine chugs its way to Silver Plume. We have a choice of covered cars or open air cars. Along the way there is a walking tour of an old silver mine that was bored by hand in the 1870s. We will all have to wear a hard hat in the mine; could be a photo op here. We will have our very own mining engineer assisting with the tour in the mine itself. Total cost is $33.50 per person.
Covered Wagon Ride and Cowboy Barbeque Dinner - Each covered wagon holds 20 people and is pulled by draft horses. At 6 pm we are taken to a homestead in the mountains where there will be a bonfire and a wonderful dinner of grilled chicken breast and smoked BBQ ribs, salad bar, corn on the cob, baked beans, corn bread muffins, apple pie and ice cream. Also included are all soft drinks, bottled water, house beer and house wine. Entertainment includes a singing cowboy, cattle roping lessons, and horse shoes. It is recommended that we wear warm clothes (layering) as the mountains cool down after sundown – long pants, sweater, sweatshirt, boots, jacket, etc. – we go rain, snow or shine. Cowboy hats are required for this event and again we have wonderful photo opportunity. $62 per person plus taxes and gratuity (total $83.34 per person)
SUNDAY, SEPT. 12
Mountain Sunrise Brunch –Brunch will be a buffet served from 9 – 11 am in the Bighorn restaurant in the Lodge overlooking the mountains. This is a private seating for our reunion group and consists of a choice of vegetable quiche (tomatoes, onions, peppers, spinach and three cheeses) or Mesa Verde breakfast burrito (scrambled eggs, chorizo, cheddar cheese and roasted green chili sauce). Also included will be seasonal fruits and berries, bacon and sausage, freshly squeezed orange juice and assorted juices, coffee and tea. I will have to tell the Lodge how many quiches and how many burritos to have so you will let me know which one you want for brunch. Our brunch will be the last official total group gathering for this reunion. $18 per person + taxes & gratuity ($24.20 total).
Sunday Free Day – After brunch, we are free to explore the Keystone and other mountain resort areas as well as participate in other mountain activities on your own.
Sunday Dinner – On your own. I will recommend several places as time gets closer. One place I checked out that sounds like fun is the Pug Ryan’s Brewery in Dillon (a few miles away). They will have a tented patio seating area on Lake Dillon and serve food as well as beer – sounds like fun.
MONDAY, SEPT. 13
Departures - Shuttle rides or car rides back to Denver Airport depending on your departure time.
Clothing – I strongly recommend that you bring warm clothes for the mountains – sweaters, jackets, socks, warm shoes, etc. as well as shorts and tops. “Casual” is the dress code for Colorado. Getting dressed up is ironing your jeans. It can be warm during the day but once the sun goes down in the mountains the evenings cool off very quickly. I suggest that you go to weather.com to check out day and evening temperatures for the time we will be in Keystone (not Denver). Colorado weather can change fast if a storm comes in.
Altitude – Altitude is 9000 feet. It is highly recommended that you keep yourself well hydrated starting on your flight out to Denver. If you think you might be affected by the altitude excessive alcohol is not suggested. The way to combat altitude problems is to drink so much water that you go to the bathroom every hour and it runs clear (not yellow). Remember that Denver and Colorado areas are considered “high desert” and the humidity is very low. This is great because if the sun is out and it’s only 50-60 degrees it can feel warm. Not great, if you don’t drink enough water – I suggest you have a water bottle with you at all the times. See Janet Bechtel’s information on altitude.
PRIOR PAYMENTS – Money will be collected ahead of time for planned group activities that have guaranteed numbers and must be paid for prior to our reunion. These activities include the Golf Tournament, the Georgetown Loop Railroad and Silver Mine Tour, the Covered Wagon Cowboy BBQ Dinner, and the Sunday Brunch. Carl, Marianne and I will let you know when payment is due and where to mail it. Consequently, you will not have to worry about paying for these activities during our reunion. Please understand that I negotiated the best possible price for all group activities and Keystone is a luxury mountain resort.
Remember to fill out the Online Registration Form and Hotel Reservation Info so we can adequately coordinate activities. Also, in order to avoid a room number guarantee with a block of rooms, the discounted room rates are on an “availability basis only” so book early.
