Lee Machin’s family has been renting out cottages since their first one opened in 1946. Machin’s Cottages in the Pines doesn’t have a heated pool, indoor recreation center, aroma-therapy package or miniature-golf course. But Machin’s cottages do offer something no others can give their guests: They are the only ones located within the boundaries of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Machin thinks that’s why Machin’s Cottages continued to do well even during the teeth of the recession. “No, the recession didn’t affect us at all,” he said. “And this year’s been fine. We’re about booked up for the summer.”

That’s not true for all. This year is shaping up to be the second straight year of recovery after 2009 and 2010 hit many summer rental businesses hard. But business is still off for many of the cottage, cabin, resort and condo owners throughout the bucolic Estes Park environs.

“If there’s something unique about your place, you don’t have to lower prices,” said Steve Vest, co-owner with Annie Boston of Annie’s Mountain Retreat. “We’ve held the line, and July is almost all booked up here. We