#333- Hotel Maxwell Anderson in Colorado

​Hotel Maxwell Anderson in Glenwood Springs

Last July, Don and I spent a night in this historic hotel. 

The red letters on the upper corner were new. That's because the 109-year-old hotel up and changed its name! 
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​Hotel Denver

When we booked our room, (5 months before our road trip) the hotel was called Hotel Denver. That was a tiny bit confusing.

We could see the old name at the entrance, when we arrived. 

Renovation in 2024

The name change came along with a huge renovation. I like the feel of old hotels, so I hoped they'd kept some of the historic charm.

Hotel Denver is an easier name to remember, but evidently it confuses many travelers. Hotel Denver is not in Denver. And there's another hotel in in town, named Hotel Colorado. But I think Maxwell Anderson is a mouthful!

Hotel Near the Tracks

The hotel's new name, is actually that of a fictitious train conductor, who rode the rails through Glenwood Springs for years. I'm still trying to wrap my head around that. 

Was the Anderson character already a part of town folklore? Or was he created by new owners? I'm unclear and it seems odd. But I do appreciate the focus on the hotel's connection with the railroad. You can see the station, across the street from the hotel.

Since 1915

Hotel Denver has been connected to the railroad for over a century. The hotel officially got its start in 1915, back when the bustling station was at the heart of Glenwood Springs. 

Trains brought supplies, workers, and tourists into town, increasing the need for lodging. 

​The Lobby

We arrived on a Thursday. I was eager to get inside and see the newly renovated hotel. The sleek makeover was a nice surprise. Classier than expected. 

It was hard to imagine how this lobby looked 75 or 100 years ago. I believe the white coffered ceilings are original.

Past the lobby desk and up a few stairs, we found the snazzy 3-story atrium lounge. 

The spacious area was lit by glitzy chandeliers and tall windows.

There were numerous cafe tables, which were handy for laptops, or drinks, or games. We saw some card players in the evening.

The 22-ft fireplace had a cozy set of leather couches, just perfect for lounging or reading.

​Wall Art

I've seen a lot of art displayed in hotels, but I've never seen anything quite like this!

Luckily there was a  staircase, so I didn't have to strain my neck to view the highest pieces.

I'm assuming the windows we saw near the art, once opened to an outside space, between 2 building. From what I can tell, the hotel today is a complicated combination of 3 historic buildings that take up the whole block. The evolution of Hotel Denver is confusing. 

Antiques

I do love old things, so I was glad to see some antique pieces, along with the modern decor.

Was this wooden telephone booth actually used in the hotel at one time?

Music

There were some gorgeous old instruments that tempted me to play. The pump organ would have sounded pretty amazing in that grand space! I read up on the organ's history in a framed write-up. Purchased from Sears Roebuck, in 1908 for $29.95!

I didn't dare play the organ, or the baby grand. I just educated myself. The beautiful rosewood piano was built in 1885 in NY. It traveled down the Mississippi and Yellowstone Rivers to reach its first home, in Wyoming! 

Signs of the Past

I was glad to see a few reminders of the old hotel. The "Wake Up Smiling" advertisement, was tucked up high on a shelf.

The red-block-letters were displayed more prominently on the painted brick wall.  In 1930, the red words were on the hotel's exterior, above the entrance.

Seats for Two

​Besides the seating in the lounge area, there were numerous options for 2 people to sit have a little chat. I love all the chair styles!

Along with the seating, there were wonderful pieces of art. Many had written descriptions and history.

The Train

A lot of the art and decor related to the old railroad days. The long skinny framed piece above the 2 blue chairs, was my absolute favorite.

I couldn't get a good photo of the entire train, due to glare. But the image of the engine shows the amazing mother-of-pearl! I wish I could purchase one of the 50 originals, for the original price. Fifty dollars!
 
​Room 343

After checking in we took the elevator to the third floor and traveled down a couple of halls, with some amusing level changes. (connecting buildings?) We passed a bright little sitting area and soon found ourselves at the east corner of the building.

We had booked our room so long ago, I wasn't sure what to expect when we opened the door to #343.

For $210. at peak season in a tourist town, we couldn't complain.  

Our room was immaculate and charming. It was also tiny, but the window brought in lots of light.

View
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This would have been our view if I'd planned ahead and begged for a room on the front of the building.

The train station, the historic hot springs building and the old Hotel Colorado! All could be seen from another guest room, that we happened to pass when we walked down the hall!

Comfy 
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The bed and pillows were soft and comfy. The I loved the plaid headboard, cushioned bench and Pendleton blanket.

I was happily amused by the display of art, on a small portion of the accent wall!

Love the Art!

Our room was indeed small, but they didn't hold back with the artwork!

The trio of small pieces over the bed, pleased the shape lover side of me. I also liked what was within each frame!

The trio of hooks was pretty delightful. 

And the photographic art was nice. I never quite figured out the blue arrows and men, but I liked it.

The train image tied in well with the hotel's theme. 

Work & Play Wall

Above the desk we had another piece of art. This one with birds. 

The desk chair was comfy and we were happy to have a fridge and coffee maker and a TV! The dresser was hardly needed with our 1-night stay. 

Clean as a Whistle

The bathroom was bright and fresh. I kept remarking about the fun of staying in a century old hotel, without the odors or issues that come with age. 

Minutes after those remarks, I went wandering outside to see what the east side of the building looked like. I learned why our room felt so fresh.

Red Brick

I was impressed with the red and tan brick.  I could spot our window on the third floor, overlooking the side street.

I'd read enough before, to know that our hotel was basically a mix of 3 buildings. All had been hotels at different times. I was excited to read the plaque on the side of the our corner building, that showed Hotel Rex on the corner. 

Rex Hotel!

​I studied the old hotel photo and read the words. I learned that Hotel Denver bought the Rex Hotel in 1991.

I also learned that In 2000, Rex Hotel was demolished! What!? So we weren't even staying in a an old building! This lovely building section was 24 years old. Rats.

Hotel Denver in 1930

I got over that news quickly and became more intrigued by the trio of buildings. The image below is from 1930, when the Hotel Denver words were near the corner. Two years after this photo, Diamond Jack Alterie, shot 2 innocent salesmen at Hotel Denver. Things were wild during those Prohibition years.

Glenwood Springs was kind of rowdy before Prohibition. There were plenty of saloons, brothels and gambling halls. But with prohibition, speakeasies, bootleggers and gangsters added a different flavor. And so did Clark Gable when he came and spent a week at Hotel Denver, to do a little fishing in the 1930s.

1960s?

I'm guessing from cars, that this postcard is from the sixties. You have to love the illuminated signs and the "columns" of glowing lightbulbs. 

At some point the owners had a lightbulb moment and said, "This is too much work, changing these lightbulbs on the building."

Bulb-Free in 2024
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If you zoom in on my photo below, you can see all the tiny plus-signs, that plug up the spots where bulbs were once screwed in.

I just love this kind of fun trivia.

Walkable Town

One of the best parts of staying at the Maxwell Anderson, was being able to walk and explore so easily.

Glenwood Springs is considered a uniquely walkable town. We never needed our car!

Evening in Glenwood Springs

After enjoying an evening wandering the colorful town, we needed food.

Seventh Street looked festive (and crooked!) as we crossed the bridge. 

​Dinner at the Brewpub

We ended up having dinner at Glenwood Canyon Brewpub, which was located in the center of our hotel.

The sidewalk tables were lovely, right across from the station and the menu looked good.

Don was more than pleased with a flight of beers and a pulled pork sandwich.

My wedge salad was perfect. And to top it off, we had a fun conversation with a family seated nearby. We've never met any gangsters or bootleggers, dairying our 2 visits to Glenwood Springs. But we've chatted with some wonderful travelers, both times.

​Morning

We had hoped to grab coffee and pastries in the morning and  enjoy one of the picnic shelters.

But after night of rain, the world looked too soggy. 

Finding Coffee

We headed down the hall from the lobby, in search of caffeine. We passed a wonderful bench, which was enjoyed long ago, by train travelers... I'm guessing across the street. 

We traveled over different kinds of floors. My favorite... the colorful tile! And I paused to admire the old photos, hanging on an ancient looking brick wall.

Wild Coffee Roasters

We joined a line of sleepy-hungry customers and studied a case of pastries.

After eating our bagel and cinnamon rolls, we took our coffees and once again enjoyed the lobby and lounge.

Coffee & Art

Before checking out, we spent a little time enjoying the peaceful sitting areas. We examined our favorite pieces of art...

and tested chairs, just like Goldilocks. Don is not pictured in his favorite chair!

What's Notable?

​We arrived with few expectations, so our stay was full of nice surprises! The remodeled interior was lovely and the staff was cheerful and welcoming.  

It was a treat having lots of comfortable options for hanging out. If we'd been traveling with others, we would have been extra pleased. Having the brewpub and coffee house (and a gift shop) on the property was a big plus. 

The location of our hotel was idea. There were numerous nearby shops and restaurants and we were able to park our car on a nearby street. If we'd had another day we could have enjoyed the hot springs and made better use of the natural beauty surrounding Glenwood Springs! 
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