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New Devil’s Thumb general manager aims to get resort five-star status

Dan Abrashoff, general manager for Devil's Thumb, said he was drawn to the job by the vision of the owners.
Courtesy Devil’s Thumb Ranch

What drew Dan Abrashoff to Devil’s Thumb Ranch was the commitment to guest experience, high standards and sustainability and, as the resort’s new general manager, he has plans to expand those values.

In his new role, Abrashoff oversees the 6,000 acre ranch, as well as its sister properties the Vasquez Creek Inn and the Trailhead Inn in Winter Park.

“I’ve worked for a lot of families, and while they may not be hoteliers, they are very passionate about their vision and what they want for and what they want the guests to experience,” Abrashoff said. “I share the (owners Bob and Suzanne Fanch’s) vision for what they want to do here from a guest experience standpoint.”

Abrashoff began his role as general manager in February and since that time he has focused on building the sense of place guests experience when they visit Devil’s Thumb.

“When I travel, I like to get a feel for area and not a cookie-cutter type property, so that’s what’s unique about Devil’s Thumb is it’s just a beautiful location and the experiences we offer and our commitment to the environment and sustainability,” he explained.

Before Abrashoff moved to Grand County, he worked for The Lodge at Glendorn in Bradford, Pennsylvania. During his time there, the lodge earned a four-star rating from the Forbes Travel Guide and the distinction of being Travel and Leisure’s top resort hotel in 2016.

While Devil’s Thumb is unique compared to the other properties Abrashoff has worked at, he said brings with him high standards for the services and presentation at the ranch, as well as the two inns in Winter Park.

“We should still have the same high standards of cleanliness and friendliness and creating a welcoming environment for any guests that stay there,” he said.

He praised the staff for their hard work and willingness to up their service. One of his goals is to make sure the ranch can retain that staff and be an employer of choice in the county.

Ultimately, Abrashoff’s big picture goal is to help Devil’s Thumb take their services and property to the next level so the ranch gets the recognition he believes it deserves.

“It’s truly, physically a five-star property,” he said. “The potential of the property is to be truly its own unique destination. (…) I think definitely one of goals should be to attain four- or five-star status. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be.”


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