Arbor House Inn Bed & Breakfast on the River

11/01/2026

The River Changed Our Plans, But Not Our Faith.

An Important Update from Arbor House Inn Bed & Breakfast on the River:

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Well, this certainly wasn't in our 27-year business plan, nor our 2026 bingo card!

On October 22, 2026, historic flooding swept through our beautiful community of South Fork, Colorado, and reached our beloved Arbor House Inn.

After 27 years of living, working, and welcoming guests along the south fork of the Rio Grande River without ever experiencing flooding at our property, we are facing a chapter we never imagined we'd have to write.

First and foremost, we give God all the glory for keeping our family and our entire funny farm of animals SAFE!We are incredibly grateful for His protection.

But while we are safe, we are certainly not quite sound just yet.

Our beloved inn and home sustained significant flood damage in the first storm causing us to evacuate on 10.22.26, and we are navigating the overwhelming process of recovery, repairs, and the many unknowns ahead. It's heartbreaking to see a place we've poured so much of our lives and love into affected this way.

Just when we were let back on property and on day 3 of damage assessments, another stormed has arrived, causing additional historic flooding and more evacuations. Please follow South Fork Fire Rescue for area updates.

Yet even in the midst of the heartbreak, God's blessings have been unmistakable.

To the incredible first responders, volunteers, neighbors, friends, and complete strangers who showed up with sandbags, helping hands, equipment, prayers, and open hearts — THANK YOU. You have been the hands and feet of Jesus to our family.

We are especially grateful for the dear friends who opened their cabin to us, giving us a safe place to land while we navigate this unexpected season.

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What's Next for Arbor House Inn?

Arbor House Inn is now currently closed until further notice while we assess the damage and work through the necessary repairs and restoration.

Our hope and prayer is to welcome guests back in spring or summer 2027, although we cannot yet promise a reopening date.

We're calling this next chapter The Flood Refresh — because apparently, after 27 years, the river decided it was time for a renovation we never asked for!

And when the day finally comes to reopen, you can be sure there will be a celebration!

We are already looking forward to hosting a Grand Reopening Celebration to honor and thank the incredible volunteers, friends, neighbors, and community members who have carried us through this experience. We can't think of a better way to begin our next chapter than surrounded by the people who helped make it possible.

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Reservations & Updates

We are reaching out individually to guests with affected reservations and sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.

For continued updates on our recovery, progress, and eventual reopening, please follow:

Arbor House Inn Facebook: Arbor House Inn Bed & Breakfast on the River

Daughter Ashlee's Photography: Ashography Colorado Photographer ()
She will continue to post pics and stories from her iPhone, as her professional camera equipment is shot.

We will share news as we are able and look forward to bringing you along on this unexpected journey.

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With Grateful Hearts

We bought the land in 1999, taking two years to remodel the 1970’s home into Laurie’s dream of a bed & breakfast. This summer was officially 25 years open as a b&b. Twenty-seven years of memories, friendships, laughter, and hospitality cannot be washed away by a flood.

We don't know exactly what the coming months will look like, but we know Who holds our future.

Thank you for your continued prayers, love, encouragement, and support. Our Maker is rudely teaching us how to say yes to the incredible offers of help, love, and support through this. We are holding tightly to our faith, taking things one day at a time, and trusting that God is already preparing the way forward.

The river may have changed our plans, but it hasn't washed away our faith.

With love, faith, and immeasurable gratitude,

Your Arbor House Inn Family

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P.S. The animals are all safe, the funny farm is still funny, and we're trusting God to help us find our way through this one. ❤️

The Flood Refresh — Coming When God, the Contractors, and the Inspectors Say We're Ready!

10/30/2026

WHAT: Flood Prep
WHERE: Arbor House Inn Bed & Breakfast – 31358 US Hwy 160
WHEN: Sat 10/31 @ 10am quick tour of property, damage, and prevention plan. Then divide and conquer into teams/projects. The goal is to secure anything and everything that could turn into river debris. Work however long you wish—thank you for all your support!

PARKING:
Please park at the top in the far back of Ramon’s parking lot to keep the B&B driveway clear for work vehicles & trailers.

Some of this might seem weird, but I promise it’s helpful.

· Sandbag bag and side of garage
· Sandbag bag outer barn doors of tan "she-shed" by pasture driveway
· Sandbag all house vents
· Sandbag all exterior doors
· Sandbag and secure Cottage rock retaining wall by stairway
· Clear debris from around trees and put in green trailer or dumpster
· Metal deck furniture put into main house – rooms #5 #4 or apt
· Disconnect and relocate all small propane tanks
· Restack firewood
· Move grill indoors
· Clean out chicken coop for more storage
???


Volunteer Safety & What to Bring:
**Work gloves
**Safety glasses
**Wheelbarrows & wagons
**Hat
**Sunscreen
**Snacks
Please dress appropriately for outdoor physical work, stay hydrated, and bring snacks to keep your energy up!

10/30/2026

Update Thurs 10/29 pm:

It's been one week. One week ago tonight we had approx 20 different people on property throughout the day last Thurs 10/22, throwing over 200 sandbags while friends and strangers helped us evacuate. After 27 years in business,
we left the Arbor House Inn Bed & Breakfast on the River around around 10pm in the dark. We’ve never seen anything like this. When we left, water was coming in the house and we were wading through almost knee deep water in the parking lot. Due to these record rains, we were evacuated for 5 days, and have been working non-stop the last two days in an attempt to mitigate the water damage in the innkeeper apartment and 2 guest bedrooms.

These last two days since we've been able to get back onto the property have been filled with appointments, insurance adjusters, Servepro mitigation teams, paperwork, documenting damage, relocating to temporary lodging, a boil water notice, a dumpster delivery, a stuck work truck, and even more incredible volunteers helping us to clean up damaged debris from inside. THANK YOU to each and every person who has been a part of our journey this last week.

It's not over.

There is another storm on the way. Like, another biggie. The forecast models keep updating, but the ground is saturated and today we switched from flood recovery mode back into flood prep mode to get ready for the next punch. Hopefully we can get more sandbags tomorrow and maybe build a temporary berm to channel the water differently this go-around. We're rolling up our sleeves yet again for another fight.

Thank you for your continued prayers. Here we go.

10/29/2026

Update: 10/28 PM

Today was a day of wows.

- the insurance adjuster came today, nice man.
- turns out flood insurance doesn’t cover any outside damage (no deck repair, no walkway, no landscaping, no parking lot repair, etc) Inside damage only.
- called Servepro and they had an agent that just *happened* to be in the valley and available in an hour, so he swung by and did an assessment. He called in his manager and reinforcements and brought an additional truck of big equipment to start mitigating and spraying to prevent mold. They’ll start to rip carpets out tomorrow.
- an absolute angel called to say he’s dumping a load of base tomorrow as a temp fix for the river rips in the parking lot. I think my tears flowed harder than the river.
- another stranger msgd that she has a cabin for me and the dogs to stay in for November. The boys have been at Ruff Dogs since Thursday and are ready for their jail break.
- two local ladies called and put themselves on laundry duty, so they’ll be at the laundromat tomorrow hogging the machines.
- the fabulous gent who owns 5D equipment rental stopped by and he said he wants to be a part of getting the walkway turned floating dock back in shape.
- our neighbor offered use of his garage to store furniture.
- the roll off is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

T’was a big day.
There were so many other moments of generosity and love that can’t make the public rolls. Tomorrow is more servepro mitigation and getting things ready for a work day on Sat to start clearing debris. (More info to be posted on that. Stay tuned.)

Dumpster Debris Work Day
Sat 10/31 @ 10am

We are humbled by the generosity and open arms in our time of need. When we say we stand amazed at this community and those who have reached out to support us, we mean it.
We. Stand. Amazed.

Just wow.

10/28/2026

UPDATE Wed 10/28:

The evacuation order was lifted just before the public info meeting with updates from all the various organizations working overtime on this. THANK YOU to our emergency teams who worked tirelessly to keep us safe. Although it's incredibly difficult to see the damage and the ferocity of unhinged water, the river has receded and is back in its banks. Although we have access to the property, we are far from being IN and back home. The personal living quarters and two guest rooms have interior flood damage. This is now a marathon and not a sprint. There's a lonnnnng road ahead with some twisties in it.

We're in the document, assess, air out, check appliances and infrastructure phase of things. Today is more assessments, insurance things, more paperwork, and initial safety sweeps. Standard stuff. Tomorrow (Thurs 10/29) the dumpster arrives and the engines rev up.

So what needs to be done in the in-between time and what are specific helpful tasks should one want to be a part of the party?

- Thurs Planter Police: We have 9 large geranium planters that need to be loaded onto a trailer scheduled at 1pm tomorrow (Thurs) and taken to a nearby warehouse. This will help clear the garage to offload things in the main house.

- Laundry King or Queen: bedding and linens stripped that just need a proper freshening. We'll be bagging and sending off someone to the laundromat to be on that duty.

- Restack some firewood.

- maybe 4-6 muscle men to transfer large furniture in a trailer into a metal garage across the parking lot.

-Puppy prep: debris that got caught in the dog pen. Get the pen ready for the boys, they want to come home!

- chicken coop help

- Providing the dumpster arrives on time on Thurs, we are thinking Sat might be good for an “all hands on deck day” beginning at 10am. Once it gets here the real fun begins. Grab some work gloves, help put tables and chairs back in order when you find them in the yard, throw crap in the crap bin, etc.

- if anyone has any equipment to temporarily smooth out a small water channel at the base of the driveway so cars can get in easier, please contact me.

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Message me directly if you're interested in helping in these ways or have other helpful suggestions.

Recap:
Thurs @ 10am: debris help
@ 1pm lunch and gereraniym trailer load/delivery

4-6 strong volunteers needed Sat @ 10 am to move bedroom furniture.

THANK YOU!

10/23/2026

Due to yesterday’s rainfall and sudden flooding, we were evacuated from our property. We are thankful to our Maker that we all got out safe and sound. All our four legged friends are living their best life at Ruff Dogs doggie daycare while we are "homeless."

We feel incredibly blessed for His protection and many blessings He has placed in our lives in the 27 years we’ve been here…especially the wonderful, loving people who came together to help sandbag, secure the property, and in our evacuation efforts.

We are truly grateful for every helping hand, prayer, and act of kindness. God is good and we are counting our blessings.

There are a lot of moving parts and unknowns in these situations. We will give updates as we know more. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. ❤️

10/09/2026

We love every season here at the b&b, but there’s something magical about fall.

10/01/2026

Time to get Wolf Creek your ski passes! Season pass window closes on October 4th. Rumor has it it’s going to be a good snow year. Might as well make your lodging reservations too. *wink*

Wolf Creek stands out from other ski areas for being family-owned and operated and its affordable lift ticket options. Pre-purchase at shop.wolfcreekski.com.

10/01/2026

Imagine this—coming down the stairs in your slippers to a gourmet breakfast by the fire place. White linen napkins and candles included. Yes please.

09/30/2026

It’s good to see you back Rio. We’ve missed you.