An Inspired Chat with MaryRuth Vincent of Bailey, Colorado

MaryRuth Vincent shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

MaryRuth, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
I recently received a request from HGTV to be part of a featured program called Luxury Living Insider. Their inquiry was simple: would Glen Isle be willing to represent luxury living?
At first, I smirked.
Glen Isle is a 125-year-old property—beautiful, yes, but not in the polished, five-star, marble-bathroom kind of way people typically associate with the word “luxury.” In fact, the term resort often brings to mind images of glitz and perfection, not creaky lodge floors, vintage plumbing, or cabins built a 100 years ago..
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized: maybe this is luxury.
Luxury in the form of history you can touch.
Luxury in the silence between the trees and the stories whispered through lodge walls.
Luxury in watching the sun rise over the mountain ridge or roasting marshmallows under a sky full of stars while listening to a cowboy singing songs.
Luxury in preservation. In intention. In simplicity that takes your breath away.
Glen Isle isn’t traditional luxury. To some, it might even be a hard sell. But to those who seek connection, authenticity, and something deeper—this place is pure gold.
So yes, maybe Glen Isle is luxury living…

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My story with Glen Isle began in childhood—my family vacationed at the resort each summer in the 1970s, we participated in chuckwagon dinners, square dances, horseback rides, and campfire sing‑a‑longs that became cherished memories..These experiences ignited a love for Glen Isle that would never fade.
I introduced my husband, Greg to Glen Isle, and we eventually decided to reconnect with its magic in person. During a 2016 visit we discovered the property for sale and in rapid decline—and a dream that I never thought possible began to take shape. We longed to preserve its legacy, so we made an offer that later became reality—
We have strived to transform Glen Isle from a fading relic into a living, breathing mountain retreat. Respecting the lodge’s historical integrity (it’s on the National Register of Historic Places), we’ve meticulously renovated cabins, upgraded infrastructure like water treatment systems, and restored the event center and carefully preserved the lodge and collections, often sacrificing common comforts and living in unrestored cabins or an RV during the process.
Greg and I have poured in our retirement,
security and every ounce of our energy to this historic property. Our backgrounds are in education, and we have forge forward with passion and persistence to preserve Glen Isle’s spirit, stubbornly overcoming financial and logistical hurdles to keep Glen Isle relevant and alive.
Glen Isle has its own spirit and we are along for the ride.
My goal is to uphold the resort’s legacy by blending history with heartfelt hospitality—hosting weddings, concerts, family reunions, and outdoor events while honoring generations of guests who’ve made this place their refuge.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As an adopted child, I often struggled with questions about who I was and where I belonged. I would look into the faces of my adoptive parents, searching for pieces of myself—features that matched, expressions that mirrored mine. That search was important to me, and while I didn’t always find physical similarities, I was incredibly blessed to have an adoptive father who helped me find connection through character. He showed me kindness, compassion, and grace—reminding me that identity can be rooted in the heart just as much as in genetics.
Still, I battled with low self-esteem. I didn’t see myself as strong or capable. I leaned heavily on relationships to feel secure, believing that strength had to come from someone else. But life had other plans.
It wasn’t until I walked through the pain of divorce, became a single mom, and made the decision to return to college that I truly began to discover my own strength. Those years were not easy—but they were transformative. That journey stripped away what I thought I needed and revealed what I had within me all along.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I always, always say—the greatest teaching moments are born from the deepest pain. Over and over again, I’m amazed at how life, in every single facet, uses hardship to shape us. And somehow, even in the thick of it, I find myself feeling grateful. Grateful for the moments that bring me to my knees. Grateful for the guests who take advantage of my kindness. For the employees who fail to show integrity. For the neighbors whose words cut deep.
Why? Because those are the moments that grow me.
Success is sweet—it’s the icing on the cake. But real strength? Real growth? That’s built in the hard places. That’s where the roots dig deep. I often tell my husband: Glen Isle can’t just be a great story filled with sunshine and happy endings. The beauty of this place—the legacy—it’s wrapped up in all of it. The hard chapters make the story worth telling. They make it real. And they make it unforgettable.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public gets the best version of me.
When a guest walks through the door, something almost magical happens. Words flow effortlessly. The story of Glen Isle spills out with warmth and wonder. And I believe—truly believe—that they’ve stepped into one of the most beautiful, magical places in the world. That version of me? It’s real. It’s not a performance. It’s my heart.
But is it the whole me?
Behind closed doors, my family might tell a different story. They see the version of me that stays in bed too long from exhaustion. The one who answers emails and texts during dinner. The one who works too much, who gives up weekends, family time, and rest to make sure every guest feels seen, welcomed, and cared for.
It’s a fine line—Mary Ruth, the steward of Glen Isle—and Mary Ruth, the wife, mom, grandma, and just… me.
Some days, I walk that line better than others. But I hold on to the belief that both versions are rooted in love. One loves the land, the history, the guests. The other loves her people—imperfectly, but deeply.
And maybe, just maybe, the real me is all of it.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
Not often, but every now and then, there’s a perfect moment at Glen Isle.
The cabins are full—not just with guests, but with kindred spirits… people who love this place as deeply as I do. And among them are the ones I hold closest: my children, my husband, my grandchildren—all on the property at the same time. When that happens, something sacred settles over the land.
There’s a peace that fills me completely. A peace that comes from knowing the cabins are filled with hearts and souls who understand this place… and who love me. It’s the rarest of gifts.
As I walk through the property, the horses wander to the fence, letting me kiss their noses. My grandchildren are laughing. My sons are telling stories and lending a hand. And my husband—who hasn’t always felt the same joy in this venture—is smiling.
It is extraordinary.
I crave it—body, mind, and soul.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://glenisleresort.com/
• Instagram: @glenisleresort
• Facebook: Glen-isle Resort
• Other: https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US/land/colorado-glen-isle-resort-1xmh1yke?adults=1&children=0&srid=0f9d6a28-a5d3-4b60-aeba-947442f62dca