Photo courtesy Motel Durango.
Is the United States is behind in the hostel game? Hostels are commonplace in Europe and other countries…
Would Pagosa Springs benefit from low-cost, shared-lodging options for recreational road trippers, thru-hikers on the Colorado Trail, skiers enjoying Wolf Creek, and skilled labor temporarily working on construction projects?
A bunk bed at Motel Durango costs about $40 a night, which is considerably less than the Average Daily Rate (ADR) for a Short Term Rental (STR) unit. A hotel in Durango can run up to $200 a night.
Would a hostel in Pagosa Springs that provides expanded services for thru-hikers like accepting resupply boxes be a popular option? What about offering a round-trip shuttle service to trailheads in the summer, and offering skiers round-trip shuttle service to Wolf Creek for the winter season. How about a hostel offering a free and safe round-trip shuttle service to local retail shops, restaurants and brewery establishments.
Local hostels could be an interesting option to help support our local tourism economy. But perhaps even more interesting might be hostel(s) as an option for supporting affordable skilled labor which may exist outside Archuleta County. Would homeowners benefit from being able to hire extended skilled labor resources willing to come to Pagosa Springs, and temporarily work on construction projects.
The Great Financial Crisis of 2007 – 2008 gutted the supply of local and affordable skilled labor that is vital for affordable housing. Perhaps hostels are an option that students of urban planning can suggest to our elected officials as an option to get behind.