X or, more accurately, a circle marked the spot for Diane and Guy Ludwick.

In 1997, after seeing the Wolf Creek Valley while on a family vacation, the couple circled the area on the map and wrote, “future home.” In 2000, that became a reality.

After taking vacations from Florida to Colorado with their children for 16 years, the couple moved to Summit County in 1998, but when the spring was “too cold for too long,” the couple would travel to Pagosa Country over long weekends and camp in the Jackson Mountain area.

After moving to the area in 2000, the couple purchased the Fireside Cabins in 2003 and immediately began transforming the cabins into unique visions of what Colorado is and is expected to be.

Each spring, the Ludwicks harvest rocks from the river to use in landscaping around the cabins and throughout the property that compliment Diane’s skills learned in a master gardening class.

Guy’s master carpentry skills and creativity show, as does their knack for picking out antiques. The result is that no two cabins are alike.

Just as no two cabins are alike, the Ludwicks help their guests ensure that vacations are uniquely fitted to them.

Diane and Guy double as outdoor enthusiasts, often found on the same trails they point their guests to — telemark skiing, cross country skiing or snowshoeing — to not only have fun, but to keep apprised of where the best conditions exist.

It’s not uncommon for the couple to invite guests onto their porch or into their home on the business’ grounds, maps sprawled out on a table, to find the perfect cross country skiing, snowshoeing or hunting location while sharing a root beer.

“We open our home, as well as our business to these people,” Diane says.

As well as opening their home and business, the Fireside staff opens their ears, minds and hearts.

“We truly try to make our facility very homey, very family oriented and feeling,” Diane says. “We talk a lot to our guests, we find out what their needs are, we find out if there’s anything we can do for them and we try to take that extra step.”