Entrepreneurial couple Shara and Gary Cole are adding a nine-bedroom, eight-bathroom hostel to their list of business adventures in Moffat County.

The Coles opened Taylor Street Hostel in Craig on Oct. 1 after two years of renovations and refurnishing efforts in the building located at the corner of Taylor and West Fourth streets. The location operated as a bed-and-breakfast in the past, but the spot was in need of an upgrade. The couple completed some 80% of the work themselves.

The Coles are too busy, however, with several other jobs and business ventures to cook a group breakfast each morning, so they opted for the hostel model. The hostel features a full kitchen downstairs available for guest use, a homey shared living room upstairs, a side dining and conference room including a piano, and a back patio seating area.

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The Coles hope the hostel will host everyone from hunters to skiers to new employees moving to Craig needing a temporary place to live.

Hosteling is popular worldwide for adventurous travelers who like to socialize or meet new people in shared living rooms, kitchens and patio spaces, or for groups staying together.

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The Coles now operate the only hostel in Northwest Colorado, though websites such as TripAdvisor show listings for about 30 currently open hostels across Colorado. Hostels are operated across the state in locations ranging from large older homes or hotels with shared baths to rustic lodges to a new build called The Pad in Silverthorne. The hostels offer everything from dorm style rooms with bunk beds and baths down the hall to rooms similar to an affordable hotel.

“Most people are just speechless that we took on such a large project and it turned out as nice as it did,” Shara Cole said.

For now, with the soft opening of their new accommodations business, the Coles are listing the Taylor Street Hostel only via Airbnb. Of the early guest reviews, all are positive.

Guest Daniel noted, “Great and quiet stay!”

Justin noted, “Enjoyed my stay here! Lots of room and places to relax; would definitely stay here again.”

Thomas noted, “Stayed here on an overnight trip to Craig for an outdoors weekend. Shara was very responsive and helpful, and her place was comfortable, quiet, clean and just what was needed after a long drive.”

The couple was inspired to start the hostel because they are big fans of unique B&B locations and recently stayed, for example, in the Actual Pretty Boy Floyd’s Hideout off Lake Erie in Michigan.

Shara also loves to go to estate sales and auctions, so she furnished the hostel with many furniture and décor finds in an eclectic, rural farmhouse style.

The couple said the hostel model sparks travelers’ interests and provides a homey feel similar to renting an apartment or house with lots of space without the high price and added fees of renting a full Airbnb home.

Gary said his wife of 10 years is either, “sleeping or going full blast,” so the Coles like to take on new ventures. They previously operated an Airbnb rental for five years for two campers on Freeman Reservoir in northern Moffat County. They also have raised miniature cattle and operated gravel, equipment rental and snowplowing businesses.

Taylor Street Hostel can be found via Airbnb at Airbnb.com/users/show/598523865. The rooms are priced at $109 per night with a shared bathroom and $139 per night with a private bathroom. After guests book a room on Airbnb, their confirmation information includes the owner’s phone number for emergencies or questions.

While devoting time to cleaning the hostel, Shara also works full time in IT security.

“My wife is always looking for new projects,” Gary said. “She’s already looking for the next one.”