This will be my first Telluride experience, and I could use some advice:

[Bimmer0853]

This will be my first Telluride experience, and I could use some advice:

First, will there be any other 60 year old, recently retired, hippies there, finally growing that pony tail we've always wanted, or just me?

Second, and more seriously, I'm traveling with a 21 foot R Pod travel trailer, towed by a 4Runner, just me, my mandolins, and Indy, my golden retriever.  I've narrowed my options to Ridgeway State Park for the R Pod, and Indy can stay there while I"m at the festival, and may have some friends to leave him with in Telluride.  I'm going to pick up a 4 day ticket, but am unclear what kind to get.  If I get a Town Park Pass, can I park my R Pod trailer there?  No hookups, no problem, as I can "dry camp" 4-5 days, but no dogs.  Or, should I get a Town Park pass anyway?  If I have one, can I just park my 4 Runner at Town Park each day?  Is Town Park closer than the festival parking lot?  Can you walk in from Town Park?  Do I need a Town Park pass to walk through and jam?  It sounds like if it got too late, I could just stay over in Town Park, too,  if I had a pass.  Or should I just buy a 4 day pass?

Any logistical suggestions anyone has are greatly appreciated!  This is my ninth year at Merlefest, and first year my own Ameriprise Bluegrass and Ribfest Festival isn't the same time as Telluride.  We brought in Alison Brown, The Grascals, Farewell Drifters, and Claire Lynch in years past, had a blast, but always the same week as Telluride.   

Always wanted to do Telluride, this is the year! 

Oh, here's what my R Pod looks like:
http://www.dufoursrv.com/rv/fitchburg+ma/forestriver+traveltrailer/606/forest+river+r-pod+178

[Hot Sugar]

The only way you can park any kind of vehicle in Town Park is if you have a Town Park Vehicle pass. Very few are sold, so your chances of finding one are virtually non-existent. Plus, as a community, we try to reserve those for people who need to have them for medical reasons. To get one just to park your car in Town Park is very unfestivarian. Besides, the only way you'll be able to drive into Telluride once the festival starts is if you have a barricade pass and you can only get one of those if you live in Telluride or are staying in a hotel or condo in Telluride, otherwise you'll drive to Mountain Village, park there for free, then climb in the free gondola and head over the mountains to Telluride.

Starting the Thursday of the festival, the only way to get into Town Park is with a Town Park or Warner Field pass. Before the start of the festival, you can get in to jam and enjoy the campground. The Town park and Warner Field passes both include a four day festival pass, so if you were to get either of those, you would not need a four day pass. Town Park is closer to the stage than the festival parking lot, since the festival parking lot is in the next town over and connects to Telluride by gondola.

[Skubes]

The camp areas at the state park aren't well-shaded from what I've seen, so it would be better for fido if he were able to stay with friends in town while you're festivating.  He can ride the gondola with you to/from Mountain Village if you're parked up there each day before fest.    

[Bimmer0853]

Thanks, guys, thanks for the help. 

I'm not at all familiar with all the terms, parking lots, etc, so trying to sort it all out, wouldn't want to be "unfestivarian".  Seems kind of confusing, if you've never been there.  So, if I got a Town Park, 4 day pass, I could camp there for the festival, but I'd still park in Mountain Village?  From what I've read, it sounds like they let you drive in to Town Park to unload, but then vehicles must be moved to Mountain Village?  I'm finding a lot of Town Park 4 day passes online for sale, with folks claiming I can bring my vehicle in if I camp in it.  Is this not correct?  I'd thought of staying at the State Park, but camping for the festival, too, as I'm staying in the area a few weeks.

I like the idea of bringing my dog into town, and dropping them off.   Once I get off the gondola, can you walk every place in Telluride?   Oh, are there places, bars, restaurants, outside the festival that are dog friendly?  Can I drink, eat, etc with my pooch? 

So, if I'm coming into the festival and not staying in town, I MUST park at Mountain Village? 

It seems Ouray has some more interesting RV parks, but isn't that further than Ridgeway?  Of course, all RV sites close to town are gone months ago. 

Peace.   

 

[TellurideTom]

I decided to move this thread to this section because it really did not belong in the "New to the Forum? Have questions? Start Here" thread.
That area is basically for complete forum help, and not for any specific festival.
Thanks
(The only thing I changed on all of these posts was the subject line)
 

[Hot Sugar]

Yes, you can drive into Town park to unload, but you will have to move your car. If you get to the festival early enough, you might be able to get a spot in town, but those spots are generally taken days before the festival starts.

Whoever is telling you that you can camp in your vehicle with a Town Park pass is incorrect. In order to camp in your vehicle, you must have a vehicle pass for whatever campground you are in.

[Skubes]

If you're driving to fest each day you will be parked at Mountain Village.  The gondola ride into town will add a little time to your morning, but it is beautiful.  Once in town everything is walkable.  There are quite a few patios, and Telluride is a pretty dog-friendly town.  Only place I've ever seen "puppy parking" before.     There's a lot of free music happening during festival, in town, that can be enjoyed with your pup.  Elks Park hosts work shops and other events, and other pics manifest themselves on the streets so you can listen with you dog while he's not at your friend's.

Anyone trying to sell you a TP pass that says you can camp in you vehicle is not being honest with you, and I'd stay away.  You need a second vehicle pass which are pretty much the unicorns of festival tickets.  The drive from Ouray will actually be longer than from the state park though not by much - you have to come back to Ridgway from Ouray and then down into Telluride.  The "roads" over the mountains between Ouray & Telluride are for short wheel base 4WD vehicles only and those with little to no sense of mortality.

[Bimmer0853]

Awesome, thanks, I'm excited.  My 9th year at Merlefest next week, but need some Telluride mandolin case stickers.

Thanks again!

[Linds]

You'll love Telluride.  It's unlike any other festival out there.  If you want to camp with your vehicle nearer to town than the state park, you can look for a Lawson Hill RV pass and camping pass (you'll need both) in addition to a 4-day ticket.  You might also be able to get a vehicle pass for the Mary E. Illium campground (fellow festivarians, is that right?).  Look here for more info:  http://www.bluegrass.com/telluride/camping.html.  There's a shuttle to town for these outlying campgrounds, and they don't allow pets.  The high school has camping in town (see the link above), but nothing for vehicles.  It's on the opposite side of town from the festival, but it's still walkable.  There's also the Galloping Goose free bus that circles around town several times an hour.

Town Park and Warner Field are adjacent to the festival grounds.  A Town Park or Warner Field 4-day ticket is a combination festival pass and camping pass, but it'll only work for those two campgrounds (and the only way you can use your RV is with a separate vehicle pass, which is, like folks above said, the "unicorn" of Telluride tickets).  If you want the whole Town Park picking experience after the festival starts, you can park your RV at the State Park or somewhere else for the week and tent camp at Town Park or Warner Field.  Again, Indy would have to stay with your friends or at a kennel.  Town Park and Warner Field are a blast, but it can also be very crowded and loud.  Picking circles go, literally, all night, and if you end up way in the back by Steamboat Too, I have to warn you - we're ROWDY.

Another note - be careful if you're buying your tickets on sites like Craigslist.  Scalpers on those sites try hard to part you from your money, and to discourage them, festivarians have almost universally pledged to pay no more than face price.  Your best bet is to look for tickets on the forums here.  I've always had luck with that, and people are honest around here.

Good luck, and see you in the box canyon!

[Auntie Hope]

OK - Option 2:

RV at a spot down mountain(s), Ourray.. Ridgeway, wherever, but somewhere that other responsible folks can keep an eye on the thing.

Drive the truck with camping gear to your camping area. Unload. Park the truck where directed by campground host(s). Kiss truck good-night. Leave without looking back with that guilty look all over your face.

 Park Indy with friends where you can go visit, feed and walk - OR - at a doggie hotel in the area for the week. Same walk away goes for the dog.

Now, you find whatever camping/fest combo ticket you can find and come join us in Town Park once your campground opens, pick your backside off, see the shows with us and have a wonderful time.

Explain, and relive, your wonderful experience to Indy after all is said and done. It will give you a chance to hash it all out in your brain before you find yourself in front of another human, trying to explain the amazing experience.

Now, before you get all "can't leave the dog/truck that long" on me, remember this... dogs and trucks have no sense of time... it will not matter if you are gone 10 minutes or 10 days, they are always happy to see you when you return to them.

Think outside that RV box for this fest. It's a tin can. Tin cans get cold at night and hot during the day when at high altitude. Bring your best gear, let the pony tail go to keep your neck warm, and for Pete's sake, chill at someone else's fest for a while! 

FESTIVVVAAALLL!!!

Auntie Hope 

[skyrunner]

There is always option #3,

  Let Indy stay with either your friends, or at a dog sitting service.
 Try and find a vehicle pass for Mary E Illium camp ground. You would be more than welcome to park your camper just about anywhere there is a flat spot. You will need both a camping pass and a vehicle pass for your camper, but there is plenty of room for however you want to set up camp. The campgrounds open up the Saturday before the fest. You are allowed to drive in and out of the campground until the fest starts. At that point you will park your truck for the duration and ride the school bus's back and forth.
   Riding the bus to and from the fest may be a little inconvenient. In trade there is a guy (Richard) that gives out free coffee in the morning, and I let people plug their phones in on my solar power station. You will also not never to worry if you go a little "overboard" at the fest, your driver can be the sober one.