Leland House, Lola’s Place & The Gather Room: A Family Story of Hospitality.
By Sara Lynn Valentine
September 2, 2026
The story behind the historic and beautifully renovated Leland House in Durango, Lola’s Place, and The Gather Room is very much a family story, beginning with one mother and son passing the business on to another.
Leland House had been owned by Diane Wildfang and her son Kirk Komick for 27 years when Tonya Ensign and her son, Alec Ensign Martinez, happened to run into Kirk downtown. Kirk shared that the family was considering selling and hoped to find a local buyer who would preserve the hotel’s unique character and integrity.
“It was June 2021,” Tonya says. “The process moved quickly.”
Alec, who had recently earned a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, and his partner, Dominic Ensign Martinez, began training with Kirk. Tonya’s husband, Chuck, and son Lukman Ensign also joined the family venture, and before long the Ensigns were the new owners.
The next opportunity was literally next door.
Leland House does not have a traditional hotel lobby, so when the neighboring Victorian home that had housed Cyprus Cafe became available, the family saw the potential for a gathering space. They purchased the property that fall and transformed the parking area into a food truck court.
One of those food trucks eventually became so popular that it moved inside Lola’s as a full-service restaurant in 2024. The restaurant was successful, but operating a second business inside an 1890s-era building brought its own challenges. At the same time, family priorities were shifting with Chuck retiring, and they welcoming their first grandchild.
“It was time to simplify,” Tonya says.
The family closed the restaurant and returned its focus to what they enjoyed most: hosting hotel guests and creating welcoming spaces for gatherings, retreats, private events, and celebrations.
Today, the three neighboring Second Avenue properties operate as a concierge-style hospitality campus. With just 11 suites and local ownership, Tonya says the family can offer a more personalized experience.
“We want to take care of Durango’s VIPs, whether they are family and friends, employees, or business partners,” she says.
Lola’s continues to serve as a gathering place for locals and visitors, with live music in the courtyard Thursdays through Saturdays, along with craft cocktails, wine, beer, zero-proof drinks, and seasonally changing appetizers.
“We seek to engage diverse tastes and provide a gathering spot for both locals and visitors,” Tonya says.
For the Ensign family, the evolution of Leland House, Lola’s Place, and The Gather Room has been shaped as much by community as by hospitality.
“We’re deeply appreciative of this community, our fellow business owners, colleagues, guests, and friends,” Tonya says.
The public is invited to experience the space during an Open House on September 15 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Learn more at lelandhouse.com, or call 970-501-0472.