CampV

CampV

CampV

CampV reimagines a 1940s Colorado uranium mining camp into an art-infused boutique retreat, blending historic cabins, futuristic Jupes, and large-scale installations along the San Miguel River.

CampV occupies the historic 120 acre townsite of Vancorum, a 1940s company town built by the Vanadium Corporation of America for workers mining uranium and vanadium. The property was acquired in 2017 and reimagined by hospitality entrepreneur Natalie Binder alongside architects Jodie and Bruce Wright of Telluride's One Architects. For Binder, the project is deeply personal: her grandmother served as the company secretary for the mining corporation, and her father lived in one of the cabins as an infant in the late 1950s. Historically nicknamed "Snob Hill" because it housed the mine's engineers and senior management, the hilltop has been transformed into an experiential boutique retreat. The layout preserves the original grit of the atomic age while introducing a vibrant, design forward community hub along the banks of the San Miguel River.

The lodging options at CampV blend midcentury utility with modern, curated comfort. Guests can stay in one of the 14 fully restored historic log cabins, where the interiors feature salvaged barnwood doors, gas-burning stoves, sheepskin rugs, leather ottomans, and Crosley record players paired with a curated stack of vintage LPs. For a more futuristic experience, the property features Jupes, which are geometric, off-grid shelters designed by former Tesla and SpaceX engineers, alongside restored vintage Airstreams, fully furnished canvas glamping tents, and traditional RV and tent sites. Shared amenities include a modern bathhouse, communal fire pits, and Lake V, a spring-fed pond used for paddleboarding and swimming.

Art is woven into every acre of the property, largely curated through WEarts, a non profit founded by Binder to support rural and regional artists. The landscape is dotted with striking, large-scale installations, many of which originally debuted at the Burning Man festival. On the property's old baseball field sits the Prairie Wind Chapel, a whimsical steel and canvas structure powered by a windmill that plays an 1880s pipe organ. Nearby, the Pariah Express art car features ornate chandeliers threaded with fairy lights, and a mysterious yellow school bus lies partially buried in a hillside. On a bluff overlooking the river, a massive industrial crusher cone is tipped on its side, perfectly framing a historic, rusting water tower that has been repurposed as an acoustic chamber for sound baths and stargazing under the region's exceptionally dark skies.

Basecamp Tip

Book one of the fully restored historic cabins to spin vintage vinyl on the in-room record players, then head up to the historic water tower at twilight to experience a sound bath or gaze at the stars framed by the giant industrial crusher cone.

Where to Stay — Curated accommodations hand-picked by Basecamp West. Glamping, boutique hotels, historic lodges, and unique stays across the American West.