The Clover Patch Story
About Us
Hi! Meet Roger and LaDonna Ames, proprietors of The Clover Patch Guesthouse in beautiful Collbran, Colorado. Roger & LaDonna are both Colorado natives and lifelong residents. Roger was born in Creede and LaDonna in Collbran. After a few of life's adventures, they met in Grand Junction, Colorado, raised 4 kids and now enjoy passing their love for this beautiful area on to their grandchildren.
​In 2019, after begging LaDonna for 25 years, Roger finally got what he'd wanted for so long. The two of them made the move from the "big city" of Grand Junction back up to the mountains they loved and from there, they began the search for their forever home right here in the Plateau Valley.
Both have lifelong ties to the area that run deep. Roger has a lifetime of camping and fishing memories here and wanted more. LaDonna's family goes back six generations in Collbran. In fact, one of LaDonna's great grandfathers was among the first settler babies born in the east end of the valley, way back in 1892. The area was called the town of Vega then and sat where Vega State Park is now. Another of her great grandfathers was one of the first park rangers for what was at the time known as the Battlement Mesa National Forest. Too many of LaDonna's aunts, uncles and cousins to even name, still live in the Plateau Valley. It's little wonder this valley has always kept such a tight hold on them. <3
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Finally, in October of 2020, LaDonna & Roger made the move to this beautiful and historic property. They named it The Clover Patch in recognition of it's amazing history. That history is also at the root of the responsibilities they feel to bring the property back to life and to honor it's place in this valley's remarkable story. ​​
The vision Roger and LaDonna have had from the beginning for The Clover Patch would feel overwhelming to most. Some days, it feels that way to them too. But since renovations began in February of 2021, the transformation has been absolutely impressive. LaDonna can barely describe the previous layout of the Guesthouse without a giggle. As renovations began, walls were torn out while others were built or moved or scoonched this way and that until the layout made sense to her. It's her vision you can credit with the amazing open living areas and that 3rd bedroom that made all the difference. They have also replaced the flooring, installed newer fixtures and appliances, painted, and furnished every room with simplicity and guest comfort in mind.
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No doubt, there is and will always be much left to do. But even a few years in, it's evident why these two are so proud of all they've accomplished to date. Roger & LaDonna have also enjoyed realizing that guests actually embrace being a part of The Clover Patch's "renovation journey." It's almost as if coming back year after year, knowing there will be new upgrades, more amenities, and another year's worth of stories has become as much a part of why they come as all the other bits. And that makes perfect sense to Roger & LaDonna.​​​
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Learn more about The Clover School House and the History of The Clover Patch...
circa 1957
Original Clover School
The Clover School House​
​The Clover School was built and opened in 1920. At the time, land was typically set aside for schools in 1-acre plots. The Clover School is one of only a few in the Plateau Valley with more than that. It sets on a little more than 2-acres. There were many schools scattered throughout the valley back then and this additional acreage was used as housing for all of these teachers. The premise being that these unmarried women would live communally and keep each other "proper."
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Every school morning, ranchers would come from each of the area "school districts," pick up the teacher responsible for their area and take her to the school. Each evening, a different rancher would take her back to her home here at Clover School. The Carriage House where the teachers lived has since been taken down. Fortunately, much of the wood was salvaged and used for the walls in one of the additions to the main house.
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Another sweet remnant of The Clover School is an apple tree still thriving on the east side of the property. A tradition here in the valley back then was for the students to plant at least one apple tree on the property whenever a new school was built. There's something really special about walking past that tree and knowing the stories it could tell. ​​​
Finally in the 1940's The Clover School closed and students in the area all started attending Collbran schools. For a while after, the building was used as a sort of community gathering place. Dances, celebrations, weddings and just general meetings were held there for many years. Then in the 1970's, the school district sold the property to a private family and it became their summer home. This family installed the windmill and added a kitchen to the main house. They also built the guesthouse as a retreat when their adult children came to visit. The property changed hands again in 2009. This family expanded the main house by adding a sunroom off the kitchen. This is where that salvaged wood from the the teacher's Carriage House was put to use and it's definitely one of our favorite rooms!
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In 2020, Roger and LaDonna bought the property. It would be hard to explain how they knew this place was meant for them. It didn't meet most of their criteria. It was too far from this and in the wrong direction of that. And it wasn't just the structures that needed rehabilitation. The land had been neglected and misused too. It was too big a job for two empty-nesters with full-time jobs and weekends to enjoy. That much was clear.​
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Thankfully they paid attention to none of that and were in full agreement from the onset that The Clover Patch was meant to be their forever home. The projects are many and life moves fast and they've learned to view it all as a labor of love. It's possible they may never get to all the ideas and dreams they have for this place. But they've embraced both the responsibility and the honor of being the restorers and keepers of this place for a time. Sharing it with others who appreciate its place in the valley's history just makes it all a little sweeter.​
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Thank you for your interest in The Clover Patch and its special history.
Honoring both today's ranching families and those who came before means a lot to everyone who loves this land. It is the hope of both Roger and LaDonna that The Clover Patch offers a small glimpse of that history to every guest. And that it inspires you to explore and enjoy this exceptional valley with wonderment & awe.​​​​​