I’ve lived in Colorado for over 15 years now and not once have I pondered the idea of exiting I-70 at Silver Plume for a visit.  Quite honestly Silver Plume never meant anything more than just the exit before George Town, which was the half-way mark to Frisco or Breckenridge (where I am typically heading to).  But the thought of pulling off at that exit never occurred to me.

That was until about three years ago…

I was talking to a dear friend of mine about an upcoming trip to Frisco and she said “oh, you have to stop in Silver Plume and grab a snack at the bakery, it’s amazing!”  “Are you kidding me?” was my first thought (and apparently out loud) but decided to entertain her suggestion anyway since she is too good a friend to steer me wrong.

And so with both doubt and faith along for the ride I finally took the Silver Plume exit on my way to Frisco that weekend.  To my surprise I discovered that tucked quietly off the north side of I-70 up against the side of a mountain was a tiny little town that appeared to be almost hiding on purpose.

Dilapidated and slightly (and I do mean ever-so-slightly) renovated houses clustered among utilitarian buildings and a rushing river comprised the landscape of Silver Plume.

This town has a mysterious charm and a subtle Horton Hears a who-ish  “we’re here… we’re here… we’re here!” feel to it.  The main street (because there are two…unpaved of course) has an array of antique stores and at the very end sits quietly, the bakery!

I found a treasure…

Silver Plume Bakery

I had to admit that my friend was right about this bakery.  Their goods were delicious and their store was abundant with warmth and historical charm.  But it wasn’t until I had started on my way back to the highway that I stumble upon yet another treasure…the Silver Plume Tea House!

The tea house looked unassuming and I was captivated by the beautiful yet unfussy arrangements of antiques displayed in the window.

I walked in…

Silver Plume Tea House

It felt like I walked into someone’s living room.  The tea house exuded a unique sense of calm-take-your-time energy that beckoned me to wander methodically to the back of the store.  And there nestled behind a glass china case is where I found Sarah and Wilson (the owners) preparing fresh sticky buns in a fabulous country kitchen.

Creaky old floor boards, gigantic cracks and crevices running down tired plastered walls, multiple layers of paint and wallpaper curling and peeling in synch while revealing themselves proudly throughout the building, beautiful antiques silently mingling in the room as if they never really had any intention of being sold.

The Silver Plume Tea House was a sea of treasures…

The mix-matched tables and chairs held a handful of customers (I think 3 or 4) that lingered as if they were having Sunday brunch at a friend’s house.

I sat down…

I waited.  And I waited.  Patiently I waited for some time before Sarah eventually found her way to my table.  With water and a warm welcoming smile she was gone before I could ask for a menu.

I was okay with that…

I admit I would typically be annoyed by this painfully slow pace however oddly enough I was grateful.  I think I even blurted out (to my own surprise) without hesitation “oh take your time Sarah, I’m in no hurry” What?  I’m always in a hurry it seems, but apparently not at that moment.

It didn’t take me long to realize this was most certainly not a place where you looked at your watch, nor did you worry about flagging down your check…it always arrived when it was ready to.  At the Silver Plume Tea House things just happened in Sarah and Wilson time.

Great things happens at a slow pace.  You didn’t have to say a word but a mere glance in the dessert display and Sarah would know exactly which one you wanted…and then she brought it.  If they were out of ice cream Wilson would whip up a quick serving of fresh whipped cream for your dessert.  Of course you never had to request that substitution it just happened. And it only takes one visit to be able to pick out a first-time visitor (like I was that day) because they always ask for a menu, I did too, once.

So what’s the true gem in the sea of treasures you ask?  Well it might seem obvious that finding the tea house and meeting such wonderful people are the true gems of this story.  While I cannot deny that those are truly great finds and we just love visiting with Sara and Wilson; the true gem though is the lesson I learned about letting go, slowing down, allowing myself the opportunity to really experience the wonderful things that are abundant all around me.

In the scenario of the tea house those things are; beautiful antiques that have amazing stories to tell (if perhaps they were enchanted), historical elements in a building that have seen their time and then some, lovely locals embracing their moment and engaging in leisurely conversations and of course watching Sara and Wilson pitter-patter throughout the afternoon whilst managing the operations of a special tea house tucked away on the side of a mountain with a silent magic wand made of home-style comfort.

I frequently return…

Silver Plume Tea House

Old buildings in Silver Plume, CO