Meet Beth Summerfield | Owner at the Mariposa Lodge Bed and Breakfast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Beth Summerfield and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Beth, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
When I first started work at the Mariposa Lodge Bed and Breakfast, I thought of it as an opportunity to meet guests who were traveling through town and as a way to properly learn how to crack and cook an egg. What I didn’t or couldn’t have anticipated was how the seemingly modest act of handing someone a cup of coffee could turn into the grandest of gestures. Our guests stay with us during all seasons of life; newlyweds drained from planning a wedding and transitioning to jumping into the next phase of their lives, exhausted new parents who are without their babies for the first time, business associates traveling from one grueling meeting to the next, guests in the middle of a huge move and those who have had to empty their childhood home after the passing of their parents. I like to turn what could be seen as a place to sleep and shower into a haven. When they are staying with us, they don’t have to worry about waking up and making that pot of coffee or facing the decision of what to make for breakfast that morning. Heck, they don’t even have to decide to change out of their pajamas before joining us at the breakfast table! I like to think that our guests are able to bottle up that feeling of having their needs anticipated and pour that love into the world in their own unique way. A beautiful, intentional pay-it-forward that makes our daily lives that much sweeter.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The Mariposa Lodge is a 4 bedroom bed and breakfast tucked in the hills of downtown Steamboat Springs. We pride ourselves on the local connections we’ve made with other businesses in town and offer the highest quality, locally sourced products available to us. We keep our lodge fresh and modern while ensuring it’s comfortable and approachable. The phrase “Staying with you feels just like home!” is the highest praise we could receive. We want you to feel at ease and as though you are staying with old friends…because you are! We have remained in contact with many of our guests and have had the opportunity to watch their families grow across the miles. We are on the holiday card mailing list of many guests turned friends and being able to share in that part of their lives is a true honor.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Hello, new best friend! Let’s hit the town. First, we would cheers in our very own backyard overlooking Soda Creek. It’s serene, idyllic and very hard to beat…but of course eventually we would get hungry so we would set out on foot and weave through the local streets from the Mariposa Lodge down to The Laundry for a killer happy hour (did someone say wine by the time?) and nibble on some small plates. From there, we would grab an outdoor seat at Aurum overlooking the river and enjoy a killer cocktail while perusing the menu of seasonal vittles. Throughout the weekend, you can count on wandering the farmer’s market, taking a hike up Mad Creek, popping in and out of our favorite downtown shops (Hello, Ohana and Elevated Olive!) and if we happened upon Salt and Lime during their happy hour…well a margarita and a vegetales taco (or 3) never hurt anyone! It’s highly likely that by the end of the weekend, my new best friend and I would be on a first name basis with the bartenders at The Barley Tap and Tavern, because the locals know there isn’t a better more friendly place to grab a local brew.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to shoutout the strong, creative and empowering women gathered around me who are determined to remind me of my worth, my abilities and my strengths when I manage to loose my way. Laurie, Katie, Cindy, Becky, Laura, Sita, Kyle, Sara, Chereen, Emily and so many others; you restore me.

Website: https://www.steamboatmariposa.com/

Instagram: mariposa_lodge

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MariposaLodgeSteamboat