Balanced Rock Motel

We stayed here after visiting Colorado National Monument, and the room was impressively clean. I especially liked having a ceiling fan for air circulation, and the staff were friendly. Breakfast had limited hot choices, but there were plenty of other options, so we weren’t left hungry. One minor drawback was the bright outdoor lighting, which came around the ends of the curtains. Even so, this would be our first choice if we return to the area, and I’d recommend it to other visitors.

The friendly person at the front desk was a bright spot. Our room’s beds felt a little worn, and breakfast was a real letdown: everything was packaged and highly processed. Given the kind of place this is, I’d expected more wholesome, better-quality food. It worked for our one night with our dog during a road trip, though it may suit people focused on mountain biking better.

The woman and her daughter at the front desk made us feel very welcome, and check-in and checkout were easy. We were pleased with the stay, from the lovely yellow door and light fixtures to the toiletries and really comfortable mattress. A wonderful boutique hotel. Well done Balanced Rock Inn!

After staying at balanced rock inn, Fruita for about two weeks, I’d call it a safe, clean, no-frills place in a convenient part of town. It’s walkable, centrally located in Fruita, and has a different feel from the dingy weekly-rate motels around the valley. Most of the other guests seemed to be respectful travelers, people staying for work, older guests, or folks passing through. There’s a bit of a European atmosphere to the place. The motel-style layout, with doors opening straight onto the parking lot, is handy: you can unload easily, settle in, and head out to explore the Colorado countryside. The three rooms I saw were clean and seemed recently remodeled. I have high personal cleanliness standards in hotels, and had no real issues even walking barefoot. There were downsides. The building doesn’t block sound well. Trains on the nearby tracks are easy to hear, and a neighbor knocking early can sound like they’re at your door. Doors slammed or heavy steps on the stairs make the building shake, though it usually isn’t very busy. Temperature control was awkward too. The heating and cooling worked, and there was plenty of hot water, but the insulation wasn’t great. Running the fan made the room too cool, while using the heat made it too warm, so I had to keep adjusting the settings, which didn’t help me sleep. Breakfast wasn’t amazing, though the staff did their best. After a shocking discovery on company property, caused by factors outside the staff’s control but something that should normally have been followed up, I got no resolution or discount. That was the final straw for me, and left me unwilling to recommend it highly. My stay left things to be desired, but this can still work as a clean, inexpensive roadside stop. Bring earplugs, keep your expectations modest, and don’t expect satin sheets. For that sort of stay, it’s better than many run-down hotels in the valley.