By Brook Sutton
The Dolores Bike Hostel officially opened on September 30, 2023. Guests and locals entered an open, light-filled space with the potential to boost sustainable tourism in this charming town situated between Cortez and Telluride. Jake Carloni, meanwhile, took what may have been his first deep breath after 14 grueling months of renovations.
Jake, the founder and owner of the Dolores Bike Hostel, is an optimist. He exudes graciousness and gratitude–excellent qualities for a man in hospitality, come to think of it.
But as any founder knows, the process of turning an idea into an actual business can inflict a few bumps and bruises on even the most optimistic outlook. In Jake’s case, the challenges only sharpened his drive and his commitment to his adopted hometown.
Jake was living in Cortez and looking for a house to buy when he found a property near the Overlook Trailhead just outside of Dolores. The Overlook Trail, as the name implies, provides sweeping vistas of the Dolores River and McPhee Reservoir and has access to one of Southwest Colorado’s top trail systems. He was home.
Shortly thereafter he found the property on the main drag in downtown Dolores that would become the Hostel. He wasn’t entirely sure what the business would be when the building first piqued his interest. After an evening of ideation, talking potential, and brainstorming with friends, one buddy texted him: “Dolores Bike Hostel.” Jake loved it. He was excited to put his creativity and talents to work and make something unique.
When he started down the path of creating the business, Jake says he expected doors to close at every turn. Instead, doors started opening. He found the money and the investment partners. When the construction loan came through, “It was an ‘oh, shit’ moment. Now we’re committed and we have to do it!”
First up was renovating the 4,000-square-foot-building. It was originally built as a medical office in the 1940s and boasted the cheapest square footage in the county. Jake would soon understand why.
He’d worked for many years in construction and had the skills to do most of the renovation work himself, with the help of friends. Even so, it was an enormous undertaking. The building had been “red-tagged” by County officials, which is a literal red sign indicating a structure is not safe to occupy.
“The previous owner had done unpermitted work and it was pretty sketchy, ” said Jake. “My initial idea was to keep a significant amount of the infrastructure. But as I got into it and opened the walls, some unexpected things came up. We had to redesign everything. Basically, the four exterior walls and the ceiling remained in place, and everything else on the inside is brand new.”
He had to install all new electrical, all new plumbing, a $65,000 fire suppression system, new roof supports, new windows, 22 skylights, and more. Through the entire 14 grueling months of renovation, he lived in the building in order to maximize his work time. He put in 10- to 16-hour days and took only seven days off over those 14 months.
He was driven by a work ethic and investors with a timeline. He did not have the luxury of unlimited money and time.
“It’s the hardest I’ve ever worked, and I made a lot of sacrifices,” said Jake. “It was the community that kept me motivated.”
“It’s the hardest I’ve ever worked, and I made a lot of sacrifices,” said Jake. “It was the community that kept me motivated. Throughout the whole process, this community has been so psyched for another business to add to the downtown district, and to bring more people here that appreciate the kind of natural activities and amenities that Dolores offers.”
Jake was also supported by friends and family, who both believed in the project and provided time, money, or loan guarantees to keep things moving forward. Notably, his sister Hannah came for a few weeks to help with the renovation. Before long, she, too, was emotionally invested in the Hostel’s success. Blessed with endless creativity and a knack for social media, Hannah moved to Dolores to help run the business, and is now the general manager.
“I’m really lucky to have friends, mentors, and family that put their trust in me and were supportive of the project. My path to building this business was easier than many other people who otherwise don’t have that kind of network.”
As for outside support, he heard about some funding opportunities from other local business owners and he’s sure there are more out there. But he had to weigh the possible return against the amount of time he’d need to spend on applications. Time is the limiting factor shared by every entrepreneur.
He is trying to recoup some building expenses through USDA energy-efficiency grants for rural areas, but navigating the applications is challenging! Regardless of the grant outcome, it was important to Jake to invest thoughtfully in lower impact choices, (appliances, insulation, heating/cooling, etc.)
Once again, for Jake, this community makes all the challenges worthwhile.
Dolores residents and fellow business owners have been supportive of the building upgrade, the uptick in sales taxes, and the tourism dollars coming into the town. They’re also wholeheartedly embracing the Hostel as a community center for events, gatherings, and a place to hang out.
“I didn’t set out to build a hostel, and financially this business is not going to make us rich,” he said. “I was at a time in my life where I wanted to take a big risk on something and, and to build something that was my own. I love building and designing spaces that bring people together and that can encourage community, spontaneous collaboration, and friendships.”
