Me, Dr. Jim Valenzuela
your host

I try to run the business like I practiced medicine - if I take care of the needs of others, the business will prosper. I am committed to you our guests, to my staff, and to my family. I am fortunate to work with great people. They are innately interested in doing good work for you and for me. If I listen to their suggestions I don't louse things up totally. We hope you have a great stay and are eager for your comments.

- Dr. Jim in the Denver Post

Ms. Thelma Hildreth
office manager

Thelma and her husband Tracy run a ranch just west of the hotel with 2500 head of cattle. They raise four children who are active in 4H and rodeo. Thelma runs our 52-room inn in her spare time. She is the epitome of multitasking. Her father-in-law, Wallace, was a legendary cowboy in our valley. Many current ranch hands in these parts recall salty stories about learning their profession under his firm grip. Thelma's brother-in-law is a busy farrier, shoeing horses all over our valley and other parts of southwest Colorado as well as running a quarter horse ranch with his wife Vickie.

Thelma has worked at the Water Wheel Inn for over a decade. She knows all the regular customers, keeps everything in order, and on most days, is hilarious. She is the heart and soul of our hotel family. Stop and talk with her. Oh, and ask her about 'Thelma's Disco'.

Ms. Sandy Ryder
cleaning beauty

Sandy says she has been here longer than the dirt. Well OK, but she has been in charge of the housekeeping since the Water Wheel opened. She knows every inch of the property and patiently guides the rest of us. She has tremendous pride in our property as if it were her own. Her effort means we get constant remarks on the cleanliness of the rooms. At just over five foot, she is not a very big thing, but her heart is huge and no one works harder. We all fear her pending retirement, but we are glad to see her beginning to travel -- she has served our tourists for a lifetime.