About this space
WELCOME TO RAILTOWN RETREAT'S Burns Market — an elevated stay that lands somewhere between home and boutique hotel.
Once a 1920s neighborhood grocery store, this 1-bedroom/1-bath hideaway is designed for couples who appreciate a little luxury, a lot of comfort, and thoughtful details at every turn. From locally roasted coffee for slow mornings to cozy corners perfect for reading or train watching, the West Side Original is set up to make you feel instantly at home.
If you're looking for a peaceful spot close to downtown with an amazing backyard, this is the place.
IS THIS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR YOU?
We ask this with a lot of love.
If a trip to the mall is your dream weekend, if you prefer beige, if everything needs to be new and matching, if silence occasionally broken by the hum of a passing train makes you nervous — you might be happier somewhere else, and that's genuinely okay.
But if you're the kind of person who notices the details, who appreciates a space that has a story, who'd rather spend a slow morning with good coffee and a record playing than rush off somewhere, you're going to feel right at home here.
The Burns Market is for guests who love a mix of vintage and modern, who find character more appealing than uniformity, and who believe a great trip doesn't have to mean a hotel with a pool and a Continental breakfast. It's for couples opting for authenticity over familiarity.
If that sounds like you, we can't wait to have you.
Now let's talk about what we've put together for you." flows naturally after the welcome without the slight redundancy.
COOKING & EATING
Just a 5-minute walk from some of Laramie's best restaurants, bars, bakeries, and coffee shops — think vegan meals that even hearty carnivores love, and perfect pain au chocolat — many guests still find themselves preferring to stay in. If you do too, you'll have everything you need:
• Olive oil & basic cooking spices
• Equipment: utensils, pots/pans, toaster, blender, coffee maker, Chemex, tea kettle, milk frother
• Easy mornings: locally roasted coffee, tea, cream, sugar, honey, hot chocolate, organic oats, to-go cups
• Light meals: pasta, Rao's marinara, parmesan, and pesto
• Afternoon pick-me-ups: protein bars, nuts, chocolate, fresh fruit
• Hydration covered: Topo Chico + chilled water
• Need a specialty item like a crock pot? Just ask — we may have one you can borrow.
RESTING & RELAXING
Despite its industrial roots, this space was designed for serious comfort. Stretch out on the leather sofa in front of the gas fireplace or curl up in the glass-brick window seat on the suede chaise and watch trains roll by.
Amenities include:
• Large-screen TV
• Gas fireplace
• Vintage Western record collection
• Record player with Bluetooth
• Books + antique stereoscope
• Cozy blankets
• Indoor plants
SLEEPING IN
Hit snooze as long as you'd like. The custom-built king — made from materials found on site during the renovation — is topped with a medium-firm king-sized mattress, a plush pillow-top cover, premium cotton percale sheets, a linen duvet, and velvet blackout curtains for deep, uninterrupted rest.
BATHROOM
Enjoy plush, sheet-sized towels and premium shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. We've stocked extra essentials — moisturizer, makeup remover, toothbrushes, toothpaste — just in case. The hand-painted mural celebrating West Side culture and history is a guest favorite.
LAUNDRY
Whether you're here for a weekend or a couple of weeks, you'll have everything you need to keep things fresh: washer and dryer, detergent, stain remover, iron + ironing board, and a handheld steamer — all tucked neatly out of the way but ready when you need them.
NEED TO CHECK IN WITH THE OFFICE?
A bright, sunny hallway doubles as a dedicated workspace — complete with a desk and fast WiFi. Perfect for answering emails, planning adventures, or squeezing in a Zoom call before heading out.
OUR POSTCARD WALL
One of our favorite traditions: the postcard wall. Guests leave behind travel tips, doodles, recommendations, and little stories from their time in Laramie. Feel free to read through past notes for insider ideas—and add one of your own before you go. Don't forget to send a postcard to a friend. Stamps are included.
WANT TO TAKE A PIECE OF LARAMIE HOME WITH YOU?
Check out the shopping instructions and the QR Code for a Minoan Storefront.
BRINGING A DOG?
Pets are welcome on a case-by-case basis. Please review the rules and tell us about your dog(s) before booking.
• Dog bowls, treats, lint roller, waste bags
• Large, fenced yard + 5-minute walk to a dog park and the river walk
BACKYARD OASIS
What used to be a grocery-store parking lot is now a little slice of unpaved paradise: a private fenced yard with café lighting, a pollinator garden, and a charcoal grill for slow evenings.
Traveling with another couple or need space for four? Check out our combined listing — the West Side Original + The Herder — where the yard comes alive with a vintage Wyoming sheep wagon that sleeps two more during the warmer months.
LOCATION
YOU'RE A 5–10 MINUTE WALK TO:
• Downtown Laramie (Big Hollow, Coal Creek, Front St./Sweet Melissa, Poppy's)
• UW Transit Stop
• Civic Center
• Lincoln Community Center
• Territorial Prison
• Laramie Greenbelt Trail
• UW Campus (20 minutes at a leisurely stroll)
YOU'RE A 10–20 MINUTE DRIVE TO:
• Pilot Hill Trail System
• Tie City Trail System
• Vedauwoo
• Fairgrounds
• Laramie Airport
YOU'RE 30–40 MINUTES FROM:
• Curt Gowdy State Park
• Centennial
• Snowy Range Ski Area
DOs, MAYBEs, & DON’Ts
PARTIES? Nope.
PARTIES? Nope.
SMALL GATHERINGS? Maybe — with permission. Inviting a couple of friends or family is totally fine, just ask first. Loud, late, high-traffic, glitter-adjacent gatherings are a hard no out of respect for our neighbors, our hardworking cleaning crew, and future guests.
OTHER GUIDELINES
• No smoking indoors
• No weapons
• No additional guests or pets without approval
• Quiet hours: 9:00 p.m.–9:00 a.m.
• Please read the cancellation policy so there are no surprises.
• Occasional weather-related internet/power outages do happen in Wyoming — refunds aren't provided for these, but we'll do everything we can to keep you comfortable.
TRAVELING WITH A LARGER GROUP OR NEED TO BE EVEN CLOSER TO CAMPUS?
The Burns Market+ The Sheepherder Suite— same home, plus a vintage sheep wagon in the yard. Sleeps 4. Available during warmer months.
Tree Area Classic — sleeps up to 8, 4-minute walk to campus.