Meet Beth Summerfield of Mariposa Lodge Bed and Breakfast in Steamboat Springs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Summerfield.

Beth, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I went to school for Graphic Design and worked as a designer in various corporate settings for ten years. I knew the traditional office routine wasn’t right for me, so I transitioned to manager of the Mariposa Lodge in 2015. At the time, I managed it for my partner, Hunter’s parents. I managed the Mariposa for three years before Hunter and I bought the lodge two years ago! The Mariposa has introduced me to hundreds of amazing people, many whom I now consider some of my dear and very close friends. I am able to exercise my creativity in new ways while ensuring our guests have the most comfortable (and delicious!) stay possible. It has been an incredibly exhilarating ride navigating the highs and lows of business ownership, but I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I remember very little from the first year of managing the Mariposa Lodge – it was such a blur! I was shooting from the hip every day and trying my best to fill the shoes of the Mariposa owners and managers that came before me. I couldn’t have anticipated just how much goes into owning/managing a small business. One mis-step you could potentially lose a guest for life. No detail is too small in hospitality and wrapping my head around just how many details go into running a bed and breakfast has been no small feat. Even after five plus years, I still have so much to learn. However, learning how to better improve our guest’s stay is also my favorite part of the journey!

Mariposa Lodge Bed and Breakfast – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Mariposa Lodge is a four-bedroom bed and breakfast located along Spring Creek downtown Steamboat Springs. We are tucked away at the bottom of a hill with a spacious ranch as our neighbor so it feels very private and secluded. However, we are a quick 2-minute drive or 10-minute walk to downtown Steamboat, making it easy to pop over for shopping, dinner or happy hour along the Yampa River! We serve a full plated breakfast and have a lot of fun in the kitchen each morning. We turn to our community first, which means everything from our coffee beans, salt, honey, olive oil, eggs, meats, produce and artwork are sourced locally. Hunter grew up in Steamboat, so it is incredibly important to us to keep our money as local as possible.

We are so proud of the relationships we’ve made and formed with other business owners in town. We also make our own breads, donuts, tortillas, scones, biscotti, muffins, sauces and salsa from scratch while also harvesting fresh mint, chives and other herbs from our garden each morning. We have yet to meet a food allergy that we can’t accommodate – all are welcome at our breakfast table! We love posting our daily breakfasts to our Instagram page and often times our return guests are known to request their favorite breakfast when they come back to stay with us. Our stuffed french toast made on homemade bread with locally sourced + homemade raspberry jam tends to be a crowd favorite!

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I think the proudest moment of being a bed and breakfast owner has been the relationships and friendships I’ve established with our guests! Anything from repeat stays, to watching their families grow by photos sent over email to being included on their Christmas card mailing list. It is a true honor and privilege to have the opportunity to meet and get to know so many amazing individuals and to be let in on their lives. I don’t take a single conversation around the breakfast table for granted and I know when guests choose to share their love stories, hardships, travels and memories with me that it is a very sacred gift.

Contact Info:

• Address: 855 Grand Street
  Steamboat Springs, CO 80477
• Website: steamboatmariposa.com
• Phone: 970-879-1467
• Email: mariposa@steamboatmariposa.com
• Instagram: @mariposa_lodge
• Facebook: facebook.com/MariposaLodgeSteamboat
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mariposa-bed-and-breakfast-steamboat-springs?osq=Mariposa+Lodge
• Other: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g33657-d123352-Reviews-Mariposa_Lodge_Bed_and_Breakfast-Steamboat_Springs_Colorado.html

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