This Palisade, Colorado Motel Pairs Wine, Agritoruism, and Outdoor Adventures With a Cozy Place to Stay

Palisade, Colorado, is a laid-back, scenic small town on Colorado’s Western Slope, roughly 3.5 hours West of Denver and 4.5 hours East of Salt Lake City. The quaint town might be best known for peach orchards, vineyards, wine tasting, and agritourism treks — but it’s also a hub of a basecamp for mountain bikers and outdoor activity seekers. It’s a one-of-a-kind getaway, and a destination that’s not overrun with corporate chains or internationally managed hotels — quite the opposite. Palisade and its local businesses come with an interesting history, of course. Take the town’s sole motel, Spoke & Vine.

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The story of Spoke and Vine

The Motel Bar doubles as a lobby. Or, vice versa. Photo: Molly O’Brien

Husband and wife dynamic duo Jody and Jeff Snook bought what is now Spoke and Vine Motel (rates from $189) in late 2018 after Jody stayed on-site for a couple of nights at “the old motel” during a girls’ weekend getaway in Palisade. She tells a tale of how, after possibly “one-too-many glasses of wine,” she proclaimed to her girlfriends, “We should BUY this place! It could be so much more.” And it wasn’t just a wine-drenched daydream — the thought stayed with her. She and Jeff came from a background of extensive experience in property management and hospitality, which meant the dream became a reality (and a massive “labor of love” project to undertake).

Aiming to “change the way you motel,” today, the locally loved, owned, and operated Spoke and Vine Motel can be a perfect place to set as a home base for those seeking any type of adventure. The best part is that the Snooks love the property as much as they love Palisade (which is a lot!), so you can tell it’s a well-taken-care-of place of community and creativity from the atmosphere on-site to the little details in the decor.

This property emulates a sense of relaxed “cool,” feeling modern and boutique-y, with a hint of locally inspired flair. Everything here is authentic and as locally sourced as possible. From the awesome morning coffee, to artwork on the walls, and the sense of “community” as soon as you check in and plop yourself on a barstool in the lobby.

There’s a healthy dose of admitted snark and character on the motel’s website, saying “this is not the Ritz… and this might not be the place for you if you like bellboys, full-service concierge, and someone to fan you with a palm frond while feeding you grapes,” which describes how “no frills” this place really is. But saying it’s “No frills” doesn’t mean you won’t feel taken care of.

Spoke and Vine is in a great location just a few blocks from downtown Palisade’s main street, which features an array of cute shops and restaurants — and within biking distance of nearly a dozen different local wineries.

Room check-in details are sent to you via text message so you can go straight to your room and get settled. But don’t miss stopping into the lobby area, which doubles as a “social bar and coffee shop” space — perfect for getting work done or having a chat.

“No frills” rooms that offer more than just a place to rest your head

Photo courtesy Spoke and Vine Motel

Self-proclaimed as “not your grandpa’s motel,” and in an effort not to “reinvent the (bike) wheel” (this place is big into the “cycling/mountain biking” theme in the decor) the property makes use of its old bones but with a proper amount of love and care in a renovation that transformed the spaces from practical to pretty.

It’s a straightforward overnight experience, with everything you need to have a comfortable stay (clean, comfortable bed, ample air conditioning, a modern bathroom space), and a sense of cohesive design and minimalistic style bringing the whole experience together.

All rooms feature free Wi-Fi, a cable TV, a mini-fridge (because everyone loves saving leftovers or keeping your brewskis chilled), and a spacious bathroom. I stayed in a “Single Queen Room” while I was in town, which is described as “Perfect for the lone traveler or two snuggly love bugs… The room is small A.F. and may not be the best if you are a person who brings multiple pieces of luggage. Minimalists will love this room.”

This self-written description of my weekend sleeping quarters on Spoke and Vine’s website made me laugh out loud with a substantial amount of volume — because the room was indeed “Small A.F.” and a bit more teensy than what I think most folks are used to (for me, it was myself, my husband, and our boujie dog — a Shiba Inu that’s way more high maintenance than we are) but my attitude was “when am I going to be spending a significant amount of time the room, anyway? I’m here to have an adventure.”
Plus, the personal little touches like leaving a clipboard equipped with dozens of suggestions on things to do in town, and a handwritten note welcoming us to the property are the little details that really matter, as a guest, in my book.

And indeed, our group of travelers barely spent time in our rooms because we were too busy biking, wine tasting, dining, touring the local farms, and exploring the area. It’s exactly the kind of space you need for a trip where you seek somewhere cozy to sleep but aren’t necessarily looking for… someone to hand feed you grapes.
Spoke and Vine staff won’t be hand-feeding you grapes, but they will make you a great breakfast and a kicking craft cocktail.

Dining and drinking on-site, and enjoying the “Motel Bar”

The Motel Bar serves a heck of a margarita. Photo: Molly O’Brien

In the morning, complimentary, locally roasted coffee, tea, and breakfast will be delivered to your room (or you can grab it in person, in the bar/lobby space). While we were visiting, breakfast featured a delicious spread of fresh yogurt, fruit, and granola — the perfect healthy way to start a day of adventures.

But as mentioned before, one of my favorite elements of this property was the “Motel Bar.” Because it isn’t just a regular bar — it feels more like a backyard hangout space, like sitting in someone’s (someone artsy, that is) living room, which offers ample comfortable seating, a community table, and a bar that looks out of the open garage door onto the Palisade scenery.

Right after I checked in and dropped off my stuff in the room, I headed to the Motel Bar and ordered a margarita from their extensive bar menu (this spot seemingly has everything you’d need to wind down after a day of adventures, or relax in the morning with a mimosa or Bloody Mary). I soaked up the fresh air, which was exactly what I needed after the 3.5-hour drive from Denver. There were a few other guests mingling in the space, enjoying the fresh air and conversation, and it was a nice way to ease into getting to know the town before stepping out onto the scene.

Sidenote: If you’re a fan of the Motel Bar (and its margaritas) Jody and Jeff also own and operate a restaurant downtown called Fidel’s, named after their pup, which serves delicious Mexican food and cocktails.

Pack a picnic for the perfect little outdoor patio

Plenty of space to roam. Photo: Molly O’Brien

Don’t miss the gorgeous and enormous fenced-in outdoor patio adjacent to the guest rooms. It’s large enough to let your dog (or kid) off leash to run around and safely explore, while you sip some local Palisade wine. There are communal picnic tables, shaded booth seating areas, and Adirondack chairs to lounge. It’s a great place to relax, enjoy the fresh Palisade air, and admire the scenery.

According to Spoke and Vine’s website, “Dogs are welcome. Kids must be on a leash” (a joke –– but another representation of the witty attitude you’ll encounter, here). There’s a $35 pet fee for stays up to three nights, and up to two dogs are allowed per room.

Other amenities, including an iron and ironing board, more pillows and blankets, a humidifier (game changer for sleeping in the dry air of Colorado), and a sewing kit, are available upon request. Additional pet amenities, like a dog bed, water bowl, and blanket, are available for a small fee.

What’s excellent about Spoke and Vine as a home base is that it’s a dynamic property — it can be anything you need it to be on a trip to Palisade. Stay here while you’re exploring the active outdoor adventures of the area (including the famed Palisade Plunge mountain bike trail), embarking on a wine tasting tour, or relaxing on-site in the comfort of the outdoor patio while sipping a handmade drink from The Bar. It’s pet-friendly, family-friendly, local-owned, and emits a unique sense of small-town charm you won’t find at most other accommodations.

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