Grand Hotel Hunt Club

Founded in 1938, Grand Hotel Hunt Club holds the distinction of being North America's longest continuously operated private hunting club. Located in Northwestern Colorado along Piceance Creek in the Roan Plateau, the club operates across two Colorado Division of Wildlife game management units (22 and 31) with access to over 80,000 acres of prime hunting territory.

The club's hunting grounds span 17,000 acres of private land and 63,000 acres of public land with limited access. This territory sits within DAU E-10 (Yellow Creek), which maintains a healthy elk herd of approximately 8,700 animals. The terrain ranges from 9,300 feet at the highest elevations down through steep sandstone canyons, sagebrush-covered mesas, and rolling hills—creating ideal conditions for both summer and winter elk populations.

"It is my pleasure to present the Grand Hotel Hunt Club; The greatest and longest continually run, private hunting club in North America." – Chairman Jim Bates

Elk (Rocky Mountain Wapiti) is the primary target, but hunts regularly encounter trophy deer, mountain lion, bear, bobcat, and coyote. The ranch sits at the end of a short annual migration route, resulting in consistently strong elk populations and reliable hunting success.

The club emphasizes collaborative, all-ages hunting with jeep support for hunters tackling high-mountain terrain. The real differentiator is the cuisine—private chefs who have been with the club for decades prepare gourmet meals incorporating healthy and local ingredients. The club's own description: "We work hard and we feast just as hard."

The club operates on a membership model. Prospective members are invited to join as guests first, then work toward membership. The club maintains a waiting list and actively recruits new members.

• •Notable Detail: The club requires members and guests to sign waivers of liability and nondisclosure agreements, indicating the privacy-focused nature of the operation.