“Like No Place in Vail.”
That’s the tagline of the refreshed Mango’s Mountain Grill in Red Cliff, and Mango’s is more than a restaurant. It is also a beloved bar you can ski to from Blue Sky Basin, a live music hall hosting unique regional and national acts, it’s a place to host a party, rent a snowmobile and head straight out the door and up Shrine Pass and if you don’t want to leave, you can stay at its partner hotel, The Green Bridge Inn, across the street.
Yep, like no place In Vail. That is the idea behind the tagline of a place that means so much to so many.
“It’s important that we are representative of what Red Cliff is and perceived as a world away from Vail. Vail’s old tagline was ‘Like No Place on Earth,’ but Mango’s in Red Cliff is ‘Like No Place in Vail. We want to give you a different experience,” said Michael Scola, general manager for Mango’s.
Red Cliff was founded in 1879 and is the oldest town in Eagle County. Its story is rich with mining and logging history and at one time it boasted several saloons, sawmills, a bank, an opera house and was the county seat. It sits at 8,650 feet above sea level near the White River National Forest and along Colorado Scenic Biway, Highway 24.
In that kind of setting, recreational activities are plentiful, which is why Mango’s is the perfect location for Rocky Mountain Adventure Rentals to set up shop. Want a fish taco and a side of powder stashes on Shrine Mountain? Mango’s can provide that.
“Rocky Mountain Adventure Rentals is a place where you can create your own adventure and rent your own machine for a half day, full day or multiple days,” said Clay Bidwell, chief operating officer for Rocky Mountain Adventure Rentals. “We’ll get you on a machine depending on your skill and comfort level and we put you in a great position to have fun, stay safe and enjoy these wonderful surroundings.”
In the summer, Rocky Mountain Adventure Rentals rents side-by-side all-terrain vehicles that can seat two or four people. In the winter, it lets you travel over the snowy terrain on a snowmobile. Trail machines and power machines are available and if you like to dirt bike, you must try snow biking.
“If you like to ride motorcycles or dirt bikes, you have to experience this sensation on snow. It’s basically the biggest dirt bike you can get, converted into a snowmobile. The front wheel is a ski and the back wheel is a track and you’re riding it, twisting the throttle and kicking through the gears like a dirt bike, it’s amazing,” Bidwell said.
Mango’s is your base camp for Rocky Mountain Adventure Rentals. You park at Mango’s and the second floor is where you sign up and get outfitted. Right outside Mango’s back door is Shrine Pass, which gives you access to tons of trails. Come on back and après ski, snowshoe, snowmobile or snow bike with a bite to eat and a drink at Mango’s.
Mango’s Mountain Grill recently got a new executive chef. Well, not exactly new, Matthew Kilbane, worked there three years ago and is back and he’s excited to serve up what’s on the menu.
“I’m trying to take the menu that they already had and just make it more diversified and take it to the next level and bring some other flavor to it,” Kilbane said. “Through 25 years of experience, through passion, the way I share my love is through food, so that’s what I want to do. I love food, I love this town, I love the community,” Kilbane said.
Mango’s was already known for its fish tacos, so not much of a change there, but stop in and try the Philly cheese steak, served East Coast style with peppers, onions and mushrooms. Burger lovers will want to order the classic bacon burger with some onion rings. Like caprese? Like chicken? Order the caprese chicken sandwich and enjoy your foul topped with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and pesto and a side of sweet potato fries.
“On the menu this one is called the Bad Larry,” Kilbane said. “It’s a gyro and one of our chefs came up with this creation. It’s so amazing!”
But in addition to the food being a draw, Mango’s is cranking up the entertainment again and is hosting live music and parties.
“We have an entire area for private events,” Scola said “I’ve got a full stage a full sound booth, professional sound engineering, lighting, private deck, elevator access, a full bar, DJs or bands. I can hire any type of music or entertainment state-wide, and really, I can book acts beyond the state, just because of our connections and our friends who play here.”
Rehearsal dinners, weddings, brunch, family gatherings, high school reunions and retreats can all take place at Mango’s.
“We want to be showcased as an event center, for private events, semi-private and we can do custom catering, catered in-house, outside catering, and then we can handle your entertainment needs, activities on the mountain with Rocky Mountain Adventure Rentals and even lodging, We’re happy to customize it for you,” Scola said.
“We’re hosting a group of writers who are doing a workshop here. There will be 10 people attending and they are going to stay for the whole week across the street at the Green Bridge Inn. We’ll feed them three meals a day, they are going to have private space either on the first or second floor where they can share ideas, it can be as quiet or as rowdy they want,” Scola said. They have the space to do what they want.” Scola said.
So, whether it’s a stop after a bike ride, a drive to see the fall colors or a pit stop after snowmobiling, stop in and have one of Mango’s famous margaritas and experience for yourself why Mango’s is “Like No Place in Vail.”
