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Big shout of thanks to Platte River for the opportunity to feature their property and providing a comped amazing experience!

All opinions expressed are my very own.

Make sure to book your stay at Platte River far in advance. Weekends fill up quickly with weddings & events – they are that damn cool & awesome!

970-590-4414 | http://platteriverfort.com/

If you are dreaming of summer plans, start making them now and book a getaway to Platte River Fort — a replica of the iconic Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Monument. And glamping in a covered wagon or staying in a fort is part of the fun!
Located just northeast of Greeley,Colorado this is the perfect place for a quick weekend getaway. Located off the busy Highway 34, it feels like a world apart once you pull into the property. This section of Colorado is often overlooked in lieu of the mountains. But guess what, there is an amazing view of the mountains from the plains as well and it’s only an hour’s drive from Denver or Boulder.

The expansive site began in 2001 as a private residence (for a woman who wanted a home just like Bent’s Fort… and her husband gave her just that). The property was sold in 2013 and converted into a unique rustic-yet-luxurious event center that opened its doors to the public for weddings, conferences, retreats, and family outings in 2015.
Owner Dori DeJong and her partner Elaine (along with an amazing staff) have put together an idyllic mini resort. They both come from corporate and diverse backgrounds and have created a property that suits them well and it shows with how they treat their guests! The main property in the Fort has a selection of nicely appointed rooms, suites, and bunk rooms. The main areas are super roomy and perfect for gatherings & get togethers.

The Ultimate Glamping Experience

We stayed in the Conestoga inspired Covered Wagon. Because we chose to stay down by the Platte, we did not have electricity or air conditioning but a cool night in September in Northern Colorado made it absolutely perfect.
The covered wagon is very roomy and sleeps 4 easily. It has a super comfy queen sized bed, complete with nightstands on each side, night lights and USB ports.
A super cute metal basin complete with towels & soaps graced the foot of the bed.
The bunk beds were actually very comfy as well – perfect for a family camping or a small group of friends. There is also a small table as well as a refrigerator.
We could hear coyotes at night far away and fish splashing in the nearby river.

Super Bonus: We visited during the week in mid-September. Our experience was unique in that … we were the ONLY people on the property during our visit.and it was like walking into a dream world. While we still had access to wifi, cell coverage etc, you could put your device away and truly feel relaxed. Christin, one of the staff who is an amazing cook, prepared meals for us and we had plenty of time to relax. All of our meals were farm-to-table, fresh and delicious.

The Bathroom Situation:
No, there is no toilet in the covered wagon. If you choose to have the wagon up by the property, you can roll into the public bathrooms in the Fort. I have extreme Port-A-Potty phobia but since we had our own campsite, the latrine was right by the camp and we were the only ones using it. I just toddled out with my flashlight before it got too late.
The Shower Situation:
I’m sure you’ve guessed by now there was no shower. We didn’t try it out but there was also a “camp shower” onsite that had plenty of solar heated hot water. We opted for heading up to the Fort which was a 5 minute lovely ride.

The spot we stayed was a short “gator” ride from the main property where we popped in for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nothing like jumping in an open Jeep, waving to the longhorns & heading up to the Main Fort for meals, drinks or a hot shower!

Events & Activities:

After a fun day of skeet shooting & archery, the staff set up lounge chairs and a cooler with beers where we sat and watched the river go by. If we’d had enough energy, we would have went for a dip as well!
The hundreds of acres the fort sits on are crisscrossed with trails for hiking and biking in the summer and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter. Guests can hike along the riverfront, try their hand at archery or skeet shooting, go cross-country skiing or enjoy carriage rides. Guests can also just hang around the central lodge and take in the view of the Continental Divide (which is a spectacular sight, especially at sunset) There are patios & sitting areas around the fort and also great views up top.
Let’s face it, I’m obsessed with the Zombie Apocalypse and I truly felt like this was a place I could hunker down safely. Preppers, take note. 😀

Yurts:

These things are just TOO cute! Super cozy & romantic, the yurts are on my list for my next visit. Both are perfect for Glamping Adventure with a group of friends.

Platte River Fort is perfect for:

A weekend getaway
Family vacation
Corporate Retreat
Most of all – a unique Wedding setting!The property operates year-round and is also perfect for holiday parties too. Because you can get loopy and then toddle your happy ass back to your suite!