Letters from the Shore: Where the West Is Still Wild
Welcome to Letters from the Shore, a collection of stories, local guides, and reflections from Buena Vista, Colorado. Here, we write about what makes this small mountain town so magnetic: the stillness of morning light over the Collegiate Peaks, the rhythm of the river, and the community of dreamers, artists, and adventurers who call it home.
We’re Brad and Megan Kingman, the family behind Shorehouse Hotel and CKS River Supply, two sister businesses built from a shared love of rivers, mountains, and hospitality that is human.
Our Story
Like most good Colorado stories, ours began on the river. Before the hotel, before the gear shop, there were long days guiding rafts through the Arkansas River Valley. Ours was the kind of work that teaches you how to read water, weather, and people.
In 2016, we became the proud owners of CKS River Supply, a legendary local outfitter that’s been part of Buena Vista’s outdoor story since 1978. CKS quickly became more than a shop. It was a gathering place for paddlers, a hub for stories swapped over coffee and drybags, and a bridge between visitors and the untamed beauty of the Arkansas Valley.
As the years flowed on, another dream took shape. We envisioned a space where travelers could rest, reset, and feel connected to this same landscape that shaped us. A place where design met the wild.
That vision became Shorehouse Hotel, a boutique, five-suite stay on Main Street Buena Vista, where every detail was chosen with care:
Buena Vista’s Main Street leading right to the Arkansas River
Pact Organic bedding
Cozy Earth bamboo duvets
Canadian Down & Feather pillows
Marshall speakers
Nespresso machines
And locally made bath products.
Each suite tells its own story, from the Throne Room Penthouse, inspired by the majesty of the Grand Canyon, to the Magpie Suite, a nod to the colorful past of Buena Vista’s 1880s Palace of Joy.
Why Buena Vista
We love Buena Vista because it still feels wild in the best way. It’s a town that hasn’t traded its soul for the spotlight. It’s a place where the trails are quiet, the rivers run cold, and the people wave when you pass.
Here, you can hike through 80% public land, soak in natural hot springs, eat at locally owned cafes, and end the night under a galaxy of stars. And most of the year you can do all that without a giant line or a massive crowd in sight.
This is the Colorado we fell in love with, and the one we’re honored to share with you.
The Arkansas River Valley
What to Expect in Letters from the Shore
Our blog will be a place to slow down and savor. You’ll find stories about the artists, adventurers, and entrepreneurs who make Buena Vista extraordinary, along with guides to local hikes, sustainable travel, paddling, and good food.
Upcoming posts include:
The History of CKS River Supply
The Best Public Land Hikes in Buena Vista
Sustainability and Small Business in Chaffee County
Featured Artist: Darcie Smith
A Guide to Paddling the Arkansas Valley
So pull up a chair, pour a cup of coffee, and stay awhile.
Welcome to Letters from the Shore, a love letter to small-town Colorado and the wild spirit that lives here.
