Alea LaRocque has had a self-described “obsession” with treehouses for as long as she can remember. When she finally overnighted in a hotel amid the branches, she found the experience “magical,” if a bit bare bones. With a combined 16 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including the launch of Juniper Lodge in 2019, LaRocque and her partner Ashley saw a potential to truly elevate the treehouse experience.
A crystal chandelier lights the Miner's Treehouse with unexpected elegance.
Last December, Juniper Lodge & Treehouses (stayatjuniper.com) debuted two refined suites suspended 25 feet in the air. Guests arrive at the seven-key property in Evergreen, a mountain town 30 miles west of Denver, and find themselves in a fairytale. “Walking through the woods to arrive at the treehouse and climbing up the stairs evokes a feeling of wonder and childlike joy,” Alea says. “But once they’re inside, it’s all about modern comfort.”
Grounded in what Alea calls “slow hospitality,” Juniper lives up to its title as Colorado’s first luxury treehouse hotel. Decadent Los Poblanos bath products, lush robes and slippers, and a heated toilet with bidet all come standard. So do plush king-size beds, locally roasted grounds from Bivouac Coffee and binoculars for birdwatchers.
Alea and Ashley LaRocque outside Juniper Lodge.
Juniper further branches out by applying a Colorado theme to each high-end suite. The Mountaineer’s Treehouse focuses on bringing the outside in with a 54-square-foot skywall for stargazing from bed and a skylight above the showerhead that makes bathing feel like a true rain shower. The Miner’s Treehouse evokes Gold Rush-era luxury with a copper clawfoot soaking tub and a three-foot-tall crystal chandelier. In the coming year, Juniper will add two more treehouses: one in tune with Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the second an homage to self-care, complete with a sauna.
Guests who venture beyond the elevated oases will find a homey main lodge with fire pits, a hot tub and an expansive deck, as well as a half-mile hiking trail on-property. First Fridays at Juniper feature wine tastings led by a local sommelier, and the team will host live music events on-site throughout the summer. “We want people to feel like they’re enjoying the comforts of a hotel while being surrounded by nature,” Alea says. “What sets the treehouses apart is how they draw you into the experience.”
