Rustic dining at Oliphant Cabin

“New approach to Rustic Dining” reported the 1980 March issue of the Snowmass Affairs magazine. “In a small clearing one and one-half miles from the Snowmass Ski Touring Center sits a small, hand-hewn log cabin with chimney smoke curling up into the night air. It’s a new cabin, built last summer by Snowmass resident Bob Wright. And, it’s a new restaurant. Gracie Oliphant opened Cross-Country Cookery at Snowmass this season. She says the concept is similar to the Pine Creek Cookhouse near Ashcroft. ‘There’s only one way to get there: on skis. Tours leave daily from the Snowmass Touring Center…Dinner tours are the most popular.'” Originally, the rustic cabin featured no electricity, no running water, and was only heated by a large open fireplace and a woodburning stove. The view looked out over the cirque of Snowmass Mountain above an open meadow with a sunny deck capturing afternoon rays. Honey Pickall served as head chef and Oliphant assisted with baking and preparations, while Doug McLain entertained in the evenings on his guitar.

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