The renovated landmark building is located in the Lower Downtown District. (LoDo to some)

Perfect Name for Our Reunion

The hotel's name makes perfect sense. Teatro means Theatre and the hotel is convenient to Denver's Theatre District.

I'd also say the hotel's name was perfect for luring 3 old college buddies for a little reunion. Marla, Martha and I met nearly 5 decades ago, when attending Webster Theatre Conservatory in St. Louis.

Built in 1911

Seems ridiculous to talk about the  building, when the real focus of our stay was on a special reunion. But I do love to take in my surroundings!

I was so pleased that Marla and Martha (and all our hubbies) were game to gather inside this 113 year old building! The red brick with white terra-cotta exterior, hasn't changed much since 1911. 
​
Tramway Building
​
The hotel wasn't always a hotel and it wasn't a theatre either. The 8-story building originally housed the headquarters of Denver's Tramway system. As in streetcars!

A 2-story "car barn" on the left was used for storing and servicing streetcars. I believe the 3-story building (between) held an auditorium, gym and barbershop.

Today

By the fifties, streetcars had been phased out. In 1956, the tower and car barn were sold to University of Colorado, for classrooms and offices.

In 1991, U-C moved out and the 2-story building was sold to Denver Center for Performing Arts. The tower was vacant for most of the 1990s, until it was eventually gutted and reopened as Hotel Teatro, in 1999.

Arriving at 4

I could also make out two decorative shields, with the letter "T" in each. I'm guessing that was for Tramway. Hey! It works for Teatro, too!
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Lobby

The carefully restored lobby was fairly quiet, at 4:00 on a Friday.

I believe the lobby today, looks much like it did, when the building housed the Tramway headquarters.

To the left of the elevators, we could peek into the hotel's Nickel Restaurant.

​The stairs in the Lobby's center, looked like an infinite mirror. ​

If I began to climb, it seemed like I might and never get to the top.

To the right was a modern lobby desk, with a very friendly staff. Check in was speedy.

The mirrors across from the desk looked like gears, reflecting the gear mural behind the desk. Was there a gear theme? I love a theme.

I later noticed this display on the lowest level of the building.

I meant to find out if these were pieces of equipment, from the Tramway days? I failed to ask.

​Room #812

After checking in, Don and I zipped up the elevator to our room. We were all due to meet up at 5! 

The entrance to our room had a nice bench and mirror and wardrobe.

The King bed was comfy with good pillows and bedside tables and lamps. 

The room was narrow, but no complaints. Our corner room, with tall windows made the room brighter.

Don was pleased with the couch, even if it was a tiny one. He knew I'd be deserting him at some point, so he was happy to have any kind of lounging space.

Bathroom and View

I always have to mention the bathroom even if there's nothing out of the ordinary. I was pleased to have a tub.

I always hope for a fun view, but we were too rushed to request one. Our windows mostly looked out over rooftops, but I could see a steeple and distant mountains. I've seen much worse!

Fire Exit

Our room was conveniently located at a quiet end of the hall, near a fire door. There was a bit of a terrace that I could step out on and take in the view.

I loved seeing the modern buildings nearby. I wonder how far one could see from this spot, 100 years ago? 

And I really appreciated being able to step away from the tower building just enough, to see the brick and terra-cotta, close up.

I believe that was our window, on the corner.

5:00 Social Hour

​Don and I freshened up just a bit and headed down the elevator at 5.

Teatro's Study Lounge was fairly hopping on a Friday evening. (Unlike this photo that I took earlier.) What a great space for a meet up.

At the far end of the lounge, we found a perfect corner for our group of 6. It was right across from the counter that served complimentary coffee in the morning. Complimentary wine and beer, from 5-6! 

No Photos

No one was snapping photos when we 3 giddy gals squealed and gasped and greeted and hugged! 

Here we are after we tamed down a bit. The 3 of us haven't been in one room together since 1979.

The Hubbies

Must thank these 3 guys, who graciously went along with our College Girl Reunion idea. They look somewhat serious sitting at their own little table, but they actually laughed and jabbered just fine... maybe at a lower volume.

While the guys talked about languages and travel... there was a lot of reminiscing and catching up around the other table... in loud and sometimes theatrical voices! 

I didn't continue with theatre, but these 2 talented friends did. I can think of no better entertainment than listening to their stories. They have always made me laugh! The energy (and volume) was high! I'm afraid we scared away the folks at a nearby table.

Dinner at the Nickel

At 5:45 we walked to the other side of the hotel, to The Nickel.

We hardly had to skip a beat, or miss a moment of conversation.

​Floor to ceiling windows on one side of the restaurant.

Comfy bar stools on the other. (photos taken earlier)  

Allie

Our server Allie, clicked with our group right away. She couldn't believe it, when Dave said where he was from in Minnesota. So was she! We were off to a fun start. 

We ordered drinks and began to wonder about a vibration coming from our oval table. The close up of Don's drink, doesn't show the jiggling liquid.

We inquired and Allie apologized and offered to move us. She said it was some kind of old equipment located in the basement. We were mostly amused by the oddity. It ceased after a while.

Cheers! We made sure to toast to our gathering. We didn't make a toast to the pandemic, but we could have. It was during those isolate months when Marla and Martha and I began Zooming together... which led to talk of getting together in person! 

Whoops!

I have no photo of me fumbling my wine glass and causing a spill. It had nothing to do with table vibrations. Marla was gracious she assured me I didn't ruin her clothes.

Allie was a gracious server and without saying a word, brought me a new glass of wine. I'm not sure I deserved that. 

Allie also offered to take a photo of our happy bunch. She seemed to know exactly how to navigate our group. She chimed in now and then and shared a bit about herself when we asked. She always appeared just when we needed her. A+ for our enthusiastic server! 

Posing in the Study

After dinner (and a little dessert sharing) Allie followed us right back into the Study, so we could pose for a photo in front of the fireplace.

We couldn't thank her enough for putting up with us. Allie told us more than once, how much she enjoyed serving us. For some reason her words seemed a lot more sincere than the typical "It was a pleasure serving you..."  

Nighttime at the Teatro

It was around 9, when the hubbies were sent off to fend for themselves. The girls headed up to Martha's room and I was excited to peek out from her tiny 8th floor balcony. We spotted an almost-full moon. 

I loved seeing some of the ornate decor up close, after observing it from the terrace earlier. I wonder what this skinny balcony was designed for, when it was the Tramway Building in 1911.

​Morning at Teatro

The next morning, I was eager for coffee in the Study Lounge. We 3, had gabbed like slumber party girls until late the night before. 

Once again, our gang met up and enjoyed the spacious Study, with coffee instead of wine.

Like the night before, we eventually migrated from The Study to The Nickel.

Beside a wall of stacked wood, we talked with about the same energy as the evening before. 

Good-Bye Webster Friends

​It was hard saying good-bye to our group after such a short visit, but I think we all felt equally grateful.  

It's been 45 years since we 3 girls were last together at our Webster College Graduation. It could have been an odd or awkward get-together, especially with husbands who don't share college memories. But it all went incredibly well!

​Near Teatro

Don and I are usually on the go after one night, but we added another night to our stay. We spent the afternoon wandering the LoDo district.

It was nice to leave our car in the garage and explore on foot! It was a beautiful Saturday!

Saturday Evening

By 5:30 Don and I were back at The Study. We laughed at the young man who carded us when we ordered wine. He looked at both our birthdates and told us we were born on Tuesdays. He was right. We're still scratching our heads.

While some guests in the lobby played chess and Scrabble, we flipped through books (some odd ones!) from the shelf. We were waiting for our nephew to arrive. Yep! We had one more reunion.

Andy Visit

Andy arrived around 7! What a fun treat to see our nephew for a quick visit.

We were enjoying the exact same corner, getting caught up for a while, when who should surprise us at the table? It was Allie, calling us by name and offering us a complimentary Charcuterie Board! What?!? 

Another Dinner at The Nickel!

We had a nice visit with Andy before his girlfriend Jess arrived, after a busy workday. It was a matter of minutes before we felt like we'd known Jess forever. We'd planned on heading off for dinner, but suddenly the Denver skies let loose. We avoided the storms and headed once again for dinner at The Nickel!

While rain gushed outside those enormous windows, we enjoyed a relaxed meal, once again served by Allie. I enjoyed my amazing grilled eggplant, with whipped goat cheese mousse, while thunder rumbled and conversation flowed. We lingered until 10:30 and Allie once again raved about serving us... the warm connection she felt. From any other server I would have thought that was just extreme. But she was an absolute delight and the feeling was totally mutual. Best server ever! 

Study Photo

We said good night to Allie and moved towards the lobby door. I asked Andy and Jess if I could get a photo of the 2 of them.

Jess surprised me and walked up to a young woman near the fireplace. "Would you mind taking a family photo of us?" I couldn't have been happier to jump in there with Jess and Andy, for a Family Pic! What a great end to the evening.
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What's Notable?

Hotel Teatro turned out to be so much more about the people, than the building. Often that's not the case. 

We met up with some very special people at this hotel and we also were  welcomed by a very gracious staff. That's a good combination! Also, the set up of the hotel's lounge and restaurant helped everything fall into place. Couldn't have been more pleased to spend 2 nights at Hotel Teatro! Cheers to the people who made our stay so memorable!

Mansion for a Night

This grand mansion is where Don and I spent a night, in July.

2 flags greeted us when we arrived, but no sign. Which made it feel more like a home than a hotel.  Which is what it was, when it was built in 1889.

​Arrival

I'd like to blame our sloppy arrival, on the fact there was no sign. But mostly, I was a sloppy navigator. 

As we headed down Orman Street I searched to recognize the mansion I'd seen in website photos. But suddenly I spotted two similar red sandstone homes. I scrambled to look for an address, while telling my hubby, Don to pull over. The car idled as I studied GPS. Then my cellphone rang.

I recognized the voice of our host, Don. He'd called a few times earlier to double check our arrival time.

"Are you in the gray Subaru?" Host-Don asked. It felt like the Wizard of OZ was watching us from behind a curtain.

​Host-Don instructed me where to pull in, but I was confused. I wanted to say. "Which house? The big one, or the REALLY big one?" But I just told Hubby-Don to keep going while I looked for a street number. Then I instructed, "Oops, make a U-turn." Hubby-Don was a little impatient with me.

​Parking in Back

I wasn't sure where Host-Don was stationed, with his phone. I just knew he was watching us. We pulled in the drive and parked in back, by the adorable carriage house. 

We walked up the tidy brick drive, around toward the front.

So the Orman House actually was the REALLY big one! It was grander than I expected!

​Meet Up on the Porch

Host-Don was rocking on the porch when we walked up. When he stood to greet us, he suddenly looked more like Chef-Don, in his uniform. He introduced himself and mentioned that he worked for the Konciljas Family (owners) and he was also their chef.  I will call him Chef, now

After our up and down travels through the mountains, my clogged ears were being most unhelpful. Chef took us on a quick tour and told us lots of history. But I missed quite a bit. I stopped asking him to repeat after a while.

Two Governors

The important thing to know, was that the Orman Mansion was named for the 12th governor of Colorado. James Orman had the home built before he became governor in 1901.

Gov Orman ended up selling the property to another governor, Alva Adams, in 1918. Pretty wild that 2 governors lived in this home.

Stairs!

There was an elevator in the home. I'm not sure how old, but it wasn't functional. If you have to climb stairs, let them be beautiful ones, like these!

I fell in love with the pair of Griffins at the bottom of the stairs! Did the governors have kids? If I'd been a kid, I would have climbed on these!

​Chef took us up the stairs and I looked back at the view!

So many different places to sit. We were invited to use any of the common areas.

Upstairs Parlor

Upstairs we also had a cozy sitting area, with a grand fireplace and comfy couches.

Looking from the other direction, you can see the stairs leading up to the third floor rooms. Those were all booked by one family, so I didn't explore. 

We followed Chef through and arched walkway, that took us to our guest room door.

Executive King Suite 

If our room had a specific name, I didn't learn what it was. I just knew we'd booked an Executive King Suite for $184.

The price was very reasonable for an updated and spacious room in a mansion. 

The furniture was a bit of a mix. Some colonial style reproductions...

... and a couple of white modern chairs. Don likes a good chair for relaxing. This mod style didn't quite work for him. 

The kid in me was kind of delighted by the marshmallow chairs and the rounded space in the turret. The kid in me was also sort of pleased with a TV, even though we didn't really need it. 

The complimentary snacks were much appreciated. I wanted to eat or take them all, but the adult in me just enjoyed a couple.

​Vault in the Room

Chef let us know we had a bonus space in the back of our room. He had to do some tugging at a the jammed vault door.

He finally popped it open to reveal a room with painted drawers... some for files?

I'm unclear what this vault was used for in the past, but it had a few hangers if we wanted to unpack... a steamer trunk full of clothes! The space was large!

The Governor's Offices

Chef went on to explain that our room had once been Governor Adam's office. Wonder what he kept in the vault!

He let us know that Governor Orman's office was downstairs, below us. (Orman's office is pictured above) Chef let us know that was where his room/apartment was located. I figured I'd avoid doing jumping jacks and other noisy activities with our host below.

Reading Options

There were books on both night stands. I was curious about the Woman's Almanac!

I took the book to our little turret space and enjoyed some quiet time gazing out the windows and reading.

Actually that book was pretty fun. Facts about women in 1940!


Best Bathroom!

There was only one bathroom in the house when Mr. Orman built the home. All guest rooms have bathrooms now and ours was the absolute best part about the Adams Suite (which is what I'll call it now) 

The red velvet drapes and chaise lounge felt very Victorian. 

The rest of the elegant bathroom felt like 2024. Always happy for that! A+ for the bathroom!
​
The Property

The 10,000 sq-ft home sits on an acre of property, on the corner of Orman and Colorado Avenues. The elegant entrance faces Orman, but the side facing Colorado looks just as impressive. 

I had fun wandering around the giant sandcastle, trying to spot our windows in the upper turret on the left. Our room's other 2 windows were right above the Chef's living area,( in Gov Orman's old office). The arched opening with screen porch, must be part of that living space.

Faces 

Our 2 windows (to the right of turret) revealed a fun surprise when I looked carefully.

Two faces carved into the Colorado red sandstone, right above our windows! Were they puffing wind from their mouths? Or were they biting down on some kind of vine?

Out Back

The back of the property had a large patio, with a fountain and tables. Chef said we were welcome to enjoy the space.

We opened an umbrella and did just that. We pulled some deli sandwiches from our cooler and had a little picnic.

We greeted Chef when he made a trip from the big house to the carriage house, with his little dog, Lola. He had lots to do, with a wedding booked for the next day. Chef made numerous trips, so we stopped greeting awkwardly. I felt like a teen kid hanging out in the yard, not offering to help Dad with chores.

​More Wandering

After sitting a bit, I wandered more. What was the red bike doing, outside the fence? A bit of bike art?

Around the southwest side of the house I found plump peaches weighting down numerous tree branches! I love sweet surprises.

Exploring Inside

The weather was too nice for sitting inside, but I had to do some interior exploring. It's amazing to think this home was out of use, just a few years ago. It hasn't been a private residence since the 1950s.

Before the 4 Konciljas brothers purchased the building in 2019 it had spent time as a school district building and then a home to a doctor's practice. The young brothers quite a job renovating and decorating, with bright colors!

Happy Hour

Don and I planned on taking Chef's suggestion and walking to dinner in the Historic Pueblo District. But first we wanted to enjoy a porch Happy Hour. A guest room near ours had its own rounded porch. I snuck a peek.

Luckily  the front porch was free and we could grab the 2 rockers for a little wine & snack time.

The sky grew dark and we got to enjoy a quick rainstorm from the porch, before setting off. 

Walk to Dinner

Around 7, we headed directly down Colorado Avenue. In less than a mile we crossed over the Arkansas River and ended up in the historic downtown district. 

The destination was wonderful. The historic buildings are pretty and we dined in a lively spot. We do however wish we'd been warned that walk might be a little sketchy. We tried to Uber back since it was dark, but there were none running.

​Safely Back

We made it back to the glowing property without any uneasy encounters. We'd seen quite a few worrisome characters, staggering and sleeping and fretting and lurking, coming and going. 

We were happy that the Orman Mansion was tucked safely behind a fence.  


As we approached the illuminated castle, I snapped a photo and glanced to check the image. For a moment I startled to see a face staring at me in the photo. Yep, Chef was back on the porch again, watching us like a parent waiting for kids to return before curfew. ​

I greeted as we climbed the steps. I told Chef we'd had a great dinner at "Fuel & Iron". I also told him, we found the walk a little worrisome. We let him know he might also warn guests that there seemed to be no Uber or Lyft options by 9 pm.

Morning at the Manson

Don and I were in no hurry in the morning.  We helped ourselves at the coffee station outside our room.

We enjoyed a book featuring photographs of the mansion.

Library

We decided to finish our coffee on the porch, but found Chef and Lola sitting out there. So we took a seat at a table, near the curved windows. 

I browsed the nearby bookshelf and found 2 books I wanted to read!

Ship of Fools and Father of the Bride. Both great movies! I needed a few more days at the mansion. I'm not a fast reader!

​Porch Time Before Breakfast

Pretty soon Chef was on his way to work. We told him we were excited to use the breakfast Voucher he'd given us, for "B Street Cafe".

Don and I enjoyed the pretty morning for a while, on the porch. I posed on the step like one of the vintage photos I'd seen inside. I forgot to snap a photo of it.

Morning in Pueblo

Don and I lingered as long as we could at the quiet mansion. Then we left our key and drove a mile to "B Street" and enjoyed the historic buildings we'd seen the evening before.

Our Voucher for breakfast (or lunch) was put to good use. We enjoyed the little cafe, across from the Train Depot, which happens to also be owned by the Koncilja Family. Roaming around town, was a nice end to our stay in Pueblo.

What's Notable?

We stayed in a mansion that reminded me of a sandcastle on the outside and a colorful fairytale house on the inside. The whole place appealed to the kid side of me. The hide-n-seek-slide-down-the-banister kid in me. A magical house!

I wish we'd met the K. brothers. Joe, Teddy, Bobby and George. (You'd almost think they were Kennedys!) I'd like to thank them for rescuing this property so others can enjoy it. I'm glad we used the porch and had some yard time and a little couch time, in a parlor or 2. Next time I'll have to ask Chef if it's okay to play the grand piano. I was tempted, but the lid was down over the keys. I'll try it next time... unless this place gets too popular and prices shoot sky high! Glad we visited when we did!
​ 

Victor, Colorado 2022
​
We arrived in Victor, on a sunny day last June.  

It was the 15th day of our New Mexico/Colorado road trip. I was sort of grumpy when we pulled up to the Victor Hotel.

Finding Victor

I took this photo from the car in 2019. It was at the beginning of a road trip and I was not grumpy. The cute gold mining town with a few dirt roads, looked inviting.

It seemed odd to have such a large hotel in such a tiny town. But when The Victor was built in 1889, there were 18,000 people living in the area. It seemed like this hotel could offer up a Notable Night experience, in the future. It went on the list. 

June 2022

We put the Victorian Victor on the itinerary for this past June.

It was around 4:00, when we arrived on a Thursday afternoon. There were more cars on the street than I expected. We learned that the community was gearing up for the annual Gem & Minerals Festival.  

Lots and Lots of Messages

We parked and headed towards the corner entrance. The windows distracted me with lots of messages, taped to the glass.  

Some notices were curious. "Oddities Alley" Hmm? The sign on the brick amused me. "WATCH OUT FOR FALLING ICE/SNOW". One repeated message was a bit worrisome. "House Keepers wanted!!!" All those exclamation points were alarming.

​Getting Inside

As we approached the front door, I took my eyes off all reading material and admired the brickwork. I could have missed the historic charm of the building, due to all that window clutter.

Then I went for the door, but it was locked.  I realized we might find some  assistance from one of those window signs. On one of the paper notices, I found check-in instructions, for arriving guests. After some fumbling with my cell phone,  I finally got the needed info.  

In the Lobby

I punched the proper numbers into the keypad and we found ourselves inside. The quiet lobby wasn't exactly welcoming. A fat beam of sun was spotlighting the exposed foam cushion, on one couch. 

I've adjusted to the world of self-check-in. I don't expect to be greeted by friendly staff at each hotel. But there was an odd feel to this place. And an odd arrangement of furniture.

Bank Block Building
​
We looked around a bit and found a couple interesting things in the lobby space. The bank vault in the corner looked like something from an old horror movie.

The vault was a reminder that this building was originally called "The Bank Block Building".  It housed the Victor Hotel & Restaurant and other businesses over the years... a photography studio, jewelry story, soda fountain and grocery store,  

Piano and Bar

By the side entrance, there was an old piano and a view of the restaurant and bar, above.

For a period of time, The Victor became a rooming house for miners. The piano didn't exactly look like an old ragtime piano you might find in a bar. But it was fun to imagine miners hanging out in the hotel's saloon, back in the day.

Back when this photo was taken, the hotel was called, The New Victor. The original (built 1894) was destroyed in the big 5-hour fire of 1899. The hotel and business district was rebuilt quickly and now most buildings have the year 1899, written on them.

​Nobody Home

​It was clear after reading more notices propped up on the lobby counter, that no one was around to answer our questions.

​"...If you need anything, text me. The Management" 

It was tempting to text my most nagging question, "What's with the very odd furniture arrangement?" Why in this large lobby, did I see a couch and 10 chairs awkwardly gathered near the office counter?  An intimate book club gathering? A bible study? An AA meeting? I noticed the 2 speakers and thought of live music... but for a crowd of 12? Or maybe a puppet show in that window?

​Birdcage Elevator

Then came the really important question. "If we get trapped in the old elevator, how long will we have to wait to be saved?"  

Since my cellphone hardly worked in the lobby, I had a good feeling my cell wouldn't be useful inside the birdcage!

Brave Ride!

Don offered to stay put and let me test it out. He  promised to get help if I got trapped. Haha. But honestly we were both excited about the vintage elevator. Oldest working one in Colorado, I believe!

I've been in elevators like this before, but they've all required staff to run them. I was amazed that we were allowed to operate this ancient thing. It made a lot of clanking noise, but seemed to work well.

​Stairs

We could have been more cautious and used the stairs, the rest of the time.   But we were on the 4th floor and the 9,708 foot elevation was tough on us old geezers from Texas.

It was comforting to know there were stairs and we could race down them to the fire escape, if there was a replay of the 1899 fire!

​Fourth Floor

I was happy to be on the 4th floor, for views and quiet. Nice to have no squeaking floors above us. However, according to guest comments on the internet, the 4th floor might have been the noisiest floor... due to ghost behavior.

Evidently, the top story operated as a hospital in the early 1900's. Not only did sick people travel up the birdcage elevator, but deceased folks as well. The 4th floor was also a morgue and sort of a holding cell for the bodies. Burial was impossible during the many months of harsh winter. What a thought!

Our Corner Room 

Our door code worked and we stepped into our spacious room. My eyes were drawn to the light. The arched windows were impressive! The bed making job wasn't so impressive. I cringed to think about the House Keeper notices. 

But that was my grumpy-self reacting. The room looked clean and there were fun little accents like the golden radiator! I worried less about the sloppy bedspread when I pictured an overworked housekeeper rushing to make our bed. I stopped to sympathize and to appreciate our room price. Around $100. for this big room.

Headers and Stretchers!

When we entered the room, the windows were open and a table fan was humming away. I love open windows and I love fans with a good sound. I also appreciate interesting artwork above hotel beds. I'm not being sarcastic.

I was totally entertained by the comical jumble of brick and mortar. Especially after observing the meticulous exterior brickwork. Were these bricks once covered with plaster? I was so intrigued that I studied up on bricks, when we eventually found cell service. Those headers and stretchers created some unique patterns! I love new terms!

Tub and Sink

I'm guessing when miners inhabited this building, they had shared bathrooms and probably few tubs for all those hardworking (and very dirty) men. I'm not sure when our tiny bathroom was added, but I tried to be grateful for the tub.  

There was no room for a sink in the bathroom, but we had a very old school sink in the room. Not much space for ditty bags.

Window View

I loved the view. The late afternoon light was pretty on the distant mountains. Morning was lovely as well.

The windows allowed me to keep an eye on Victor Avenue, below. The town was gearing up for the festival and I could spot road block materials. We ended up moving our car, although I doubt they do much car-towing in Victor.

Sitting a Spell

While I pondered parking, Don checked out our sitting options. 

The nearby wardrobe was actually pretty handy, with its hidden TV, microwave, fridge and coffeemaker. That was helpful, since we were uncertain about dining options in the small town. We at least knew there was a small general store with food.

Non-Comfy Chairs

The Victorian chairs fit nicely with the hotel's history. But after a few minutes, Don realized the chairs did not fit his needs. 

Don's become pickier about chairs, in past months. Victorian furniture does not help with healing a fractured back. Even I was groaning a bit, when I sat and felt a metal piece poking up from the cushion. So I made a sneaky swap with some hall furniture. 

​Food & Drink?

I attempted a search on my phone for restaurants, but cell and internet coverage was too weak. I grumbled, then headed out on foot. 

It was actually wonderful wandering down Victor Ave, with all the tidy 1889 buildings lined up. I made some fun discoveries, but no open restaurants. I wondered where the 400 Victor residents dined. The saloon next door seemed to have a good portion of residents, on their patio. But they were smoking and drinking, not eating.

Side Door Cafe at The Victor

I took a peek into our hotel's restaurant. There were no diners, but it was at least open and looked sort of cute. 

The Side Door also had patio seating. The red chairs filled up a little later, with a smoking crowd. A lot of smoking in Victor.

The Bar Loft

Around 6, Don and I decided have a drink and grab some food-to-go, from our hotel bar. We got a seat overlooking the lobby. Our bartender Lisa was pleasant to us, but she mumbled and fussed a lot with the locals. I ordered a glass of wine and Don made the mistake of asking for an "Old Fashioned". Lisa didn't know what that was. Don wised up and ordered a beer.

We chatted with a local woman who was concerned about crime in Victor. She said someone had bent the handicapped sign near her apartment and a cat was hit and killed on 4th street. She'd had enough and she was moving to Cripple Creek. Other locals insisted that wasn't a good reason to move...

After a while Don and I asked to order some food to go. Lisa said the cook didn't like doing carryouts, but we were welcome to take the plates to our room.  That worked for us. 

Elevator at Night

By 9 pm, Don and I had eased into our quirky hotel. Our grumpy moods had lifted with a little TV and a decent burger. I just chuckled and skipped the soupy, cheese-less artichoke dip. It felt like we were back to our flexible traveler-selves.  I told Don I'd take the dirty dishes down to the bar. 

I rode the elevator down (At Night!) without any disturbances. The ghost of Eddy the Miner, did not appear. Eddy was a miner who lived in Room 301. He fell to his death about 100 years ago, after stepping through the opened elevator door. For some reason the elevator hadn't arrived. So many eerie stories!

Question for the Bartender

Lisa seemed to be in good spirits when I found her cleaning the bar before closing up. She acted surprised and grateful that I'd bothered to bring the dishes down.

I headed down the steps to the elevator and Lisa looked over the half wall, to thank me again. I waved goodnight, then paused and asked, "What's with those chairs?"  Lisa looked at the seating arrangement and seemed to search for the right words. "Oh! There's gonna be an event on Saturday. There's gonna be a show with... what do you call it? You know, crossdressers." Hmmm? I wondered while she tried to jog her brain. "Oh, yeah! Drag show! That's what it is. They're gonna have a drag show at the Oddities Event!"

So I headed up in the elevator feeling totally amused and confused and then I remembered the poster I'd seen in the window. I got my answer, but I still couldn't figure out the seating.  A "drag show" for an audience of 12?

Morning

Don and I both woke long before 6 am, with light coming through the huge windows. Neither of us minded. It was wonderful to get out early and roam around town.

During our less than 24-hour visit to Victor, we ended up meeting some nice locals and travelers. 

Another Hotel
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One of our favorite encounters was in the morning, chatting over coffee with a traveling couple, in the bakery. They invited us to come see their hotel, a block away.

It was hard to tell which of us had picked the stranger hotel. They were staying in the Jack the Ripper Room at the Black Monarch.

So our stay at The Victor had led us to a fun encounter and suddenly we were adding one more hotel to our list!

​Back to Check Out

After lots of wandering, we checked the time and hurried back to the hotel. The door was propped open, so we walked right in and found a lobby full of chairs.  

Don and I raced up to get our bags. I did a quick job swapping the chairs back and we headed down the birdcage one last time.

Good Bye Odd Lobby

The lobby had such a different feel with morning light and people... and more chairs for the drag show!  Don checked out at the little window with an actual living person.  

Violet was the mystery host. She was a human, not a texting number. She said she was so excited about all the weekend festivities. She was going depart soon and get into her period costume and enjoy the festival! For a moment I actually wished we could have just one more night. It would definitely be a Notable Night on Saturday at The Victor!  

What's Notable?
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We stayed in a 133-year-old hotel, in a town of 400, during the third summer of the Covid Pandemic, on the 15th day of our road trip. I should have kept my expectations a little lower. I was sort of grumpy.

The town and hotel both need a little boost, but I'm so glad we came and experienced and gave some business. We arrived grumpy but left happy. Who knows, maybe we'll return!
​

None of those fit. I'd just say, we were guests at an Impressive Mansion, for one night! That works.

Croke-Patterson Home 

In 1891, State Senator Thomas Croke built this grand looking, red sandstone home, on Denver's Capital Hill. It had even more embellishments, than it does today.

Croke lived only a short time in the home, before selling to another Senator named Thomas. Senator Thomas Patterson was actually a U.S. Senator in later years, but he and his family, moved into the stately mansion in 1893. The property has changed hands numerous times in 130+ years.

Today

​When I first spotted the mansion from across the street, I thought of a French chateau. Then I thought of the beach. I was reminded of  an elaborate sandcastle.

Even the carriage house on the right, had turrets and towers. 

​Which Room?

From our parking spot on the corner, I studied the side of the house and wondered where our room would be. It was perfect weather for sitting out  and I longed to relax on the lower terrace. 

But, I was pretty sure the terrace was for the use of guests in the DaVinci Room. I viewed that room on the website, when we booked. It was $75. more, but the spacious room also came with a fireplace and a sunroom. The rounded room with windows, was visible in back. Ahhh... next time we'll splurge.

Heading Up

It was a little early for the 3:30 check in, but we headed up the stairs to the arched doors.

The doors were locked, but we were soon greeted by Phoebe. A few days earlier, I'd chatted with her, when she called to welcome us in advance and ask about food allergies. That seemed surprisingly gracious for a hotel in 2022!

Lovely Entrance

We followed through 2 sets of doors. Once inside we were met with a grand, yet somehow homey space. Fresh flowers, stained glass and lots of lovely wood.

It was hard to imagine this home in the 1970's, when it came close to demolition. It was rescued but never renovated properly until recent years. By 2010, the vacant building was under contract to become a group facility for homeless men. That didn't happen,

Beautifully Renovated

As we followed Phoebe into an office area, she pointed out the entrance to the breakfast room. It's been about decade since the mansion was gutted and turned into a B&B. 

I've seen "before" photos and they did an amazing job. I believe the woodwork and intriguing fireplace are all original. 

​Haunted Guest Room?
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Just across from the breakfast room, I noticed the door to the DaVinci Room.
Could that room have once been the Patterson's bedroom? I should have asked.

I read that Senator and Katherine Patterson both died in the home. He in 1916 and she in 1902. And then there was another resident (Dr. Sudan's wife) who committed suicide in the house in the 1940's. Ugh. I guess we don't need to know more specifics about these deaths. I do know this home is considered one of the most haunted on Capital Hill. 

Up the Stairs

Phoebe was warm and chatty as she checked us in. We were told about breakfast and given coupons for free drinks in the basement lounge. Then she had us put our luggage into the elevator. There was just enough room for the bags, so they traveled alone.

We headed up the beautiful stairs to the second floor. Since the elevator only went to the second floor, we grabbed our bags and headed up some more stairs.

It was a more narrow stairway to the third floor. The floor where the servants once lived.

Inside the Turret

The third floor may not have been the most luxurious in its day, but it seemed the most intriguing. Phoebe opened up a door not far from our room and switched on a set of tube lights.

She pointed to the glow from a window, at the end of the odd passage. We were invited to explore. The round room was the inside of a turret.

Turret Room 

There was a sloppy circle of carpet inviting us to sit a spell. We didn't, but we did pause to wonder about all the people who have looked out this window over the years.  

It was odd to see the crude, wooden interior of the cone. From the outside, the pointy roof looked so perfectly smooth.

Dogs?

As we peered out the curved glass, we hadn't yet heard the story about the  dogs who supposedly leapt (or were thrown) from this window.

I learned later about the pair of guard dogs, that fell to their death in the 1970's. The vacant mansion was being renovated and there were problems with theft and vandalism. The dogs were left in the building overnight to scare away troublemakers. In the morning they were found dead below the (open or broken?) window. I can see why we Phoebe avoided that story while we were up there. 
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So Confused

The guest room where we stayed was right beside the turret. It was a little confusing, but Phoebe hinted that the somewhat hidden turret, might have been open to our room at one time. Later we went outside and I looked up at the rounded window directly beneath the cone. That's where we'd been looking out.  

There was also a good view of the two dormer windows, beside the turret. The windows look much smaller in my photo, than they did inside our room. 

Room No. 9

Phoebe showed us to our room with the brass plaque. I didn't think about it until later, but the other 8 rooms had names like "Biltmore" and "Prague" and "Cheshire". Surely there's a reason for the "No. 9" name!

The wonderful angles and bold stripes were a fun surprise when the door opened. 

Windows

Our dormer window gave the room a little nook for a desk and chair. Love a window that goes to the floor! And more bold stripes!

It was entertaining having our room in the front of the building. I could spot the gold dome of the capital. Did Senator Croke walk to work?

Pops of Yellow

I was happy to have something different than Victorian furnishings. I liked the bold black and white, along with splashes of bright yellow.

There was no claustrophobic attic feel to the room. The steep roofline, gave us a lots of headroom. That pleased Don, who often has to watch his head.

Roomy Bathroom

The bathroom was wonderfully spacious and bright.

Having separate sinks was a treat. The hotel we'd stayed in the night before, barely gave us room for a toothbrush.

Four mirrors and lots of light! I could pretend I was in my dressing room, sitting down to apply make up, before hitting the stage! Not bad for staying in the servant's quarters.

Making Use

I like to make use. I made sure to allow time for a luxurious bath. I loved it that the tall windows had frosted glass and I could happily open the drapes. Poor Don was less pleased. These fancy tubs are tricky for tall people, but the rigged shower and curtains worked well.

I was also happy to realize the "fancy phone" was not just a prop. There was indeed a dial tone. I wanted to make a call... just to make use. But in this cell phone age, that means I'm required to remember phone numbers. I made no calls.

12 Spirits Tavern

There were so many fun and funny surprises during our stay. The basement lounge had some good ones. The sneaky entrance from the street had no sign, so it felt like a speakeasy. 

The Tavern had just recently opened to the public. Hotel guests were given a couple comp. drink tickets. Word of mouth seemed to be how other visitors had learned about the place. 

Looking Around for Spirits

The Tavern was named for the 12 spirits, that supposedly roam the mansion. Don and I took a quick peek into some areas of the basement, in case any were lingering in the shadows.

We only found an old laundry sink. We found no old cigars boxes or animal cages. We'd heard that Senator Patterson had a cigar lounge in the basement and in later years a vet lived had his office in the basement. Were there any little  ghost animals?

We actually wore these fine glasses the next day, but we should have put them on while we visited in the 12 Spirits Lounge. These whacky glasses could have scared spirits away... while we sipped on spirits!  

Tiny Feast

After Martha departed, Don and I shared a couple goodies from the Tavern menu. The general manager, Scott served our drinks and recommended the Savory Hot Pie, with bacon, maple syrup, sherry and thyme.  

The Grilled Cheese with sourdough, Brie, Gruyere, caramelized onion and cranberry-tomato jam, was equally satisfying and reasonably priced at $6 and $8. A delicious surprise, in the basement!

Cannabis Talk

Owner, Chris and Scott made the atmosphere welcoming. Chris chatted with us earlier about how he'd had his eye on this mansion years ago, but finally became the latest owner, during the pandemic. 

He verified what I'd read in a Forbes article about plans to open a licensed "Marijuana Consumption Lounge" in the coach house portion of the inn. And what an interesting conversation that was. Chris was actually open to hearing the concerns of an open minded guest who happens to hate the smell of pot. Not enough space in this blog post, but it was an interesting   converstaion.

​Evening & Night

Don and I were able to get out at dusk and enjoy exploring the neighborhood on foot. What a beautiful walk, spotting the mansions in the area once known as "Millionaires' Row".

We returned in time to see a "Ghost Tour" standing on the corner. Too bad the group spotted us going in, or we could have dashed up and flashed lights in the turret room.

Morning

The yellow walls greeted us in the morning at breakfast.

A chalkboard above the fireplace told us our sweet and savory options. 

​Where to Sit?

I had my eye on the cute round table in the turret!

Don did the savory. Fried Chicken Biscuit with Sausage Gravy! Man, were these tasty! The colorful gravy had an exotic flavor. Curry? Not even sure, but both were amazing. What a great addition to our stay.

Wess

We had our chance to ask Wess about his recipes, but after we raved about breakfast, we were off on other subjects.

Not only was Wess a great chef, but he was another pleasant member of the staff. He was about done with breakfast duties and had time to fill us in on some of his experiences, that got him to this point in his career. A very nice and humble guy.

Good Bye Neighborhood

We were able to late check out, so Don and I squeezed in one more long walk before heading off.

Here are just a few of the amazing mansions that have managed to survive the ups and downs of this historic neighborhood. Love them all!

​What's Notable?

We stayed on the top floor of a stately mansion, overlooking Colorado's Capitol. That's enough right there.

We also had great conversations and some memorable feasts. The location was a huge plus and the price was surprisingly low, for our Castle-like stay! ($275) Next time we'll go for the DaVinci!
​

The 3-story structure has been sitting in Aspen for way over a century. That's about all I know! The lack of historic info, feels mysterious!

​Picture Perfect 
​
Before we parked, I started snapping photos from the window. The building and setting was even more photogenic than the website images. 

For a moment I thought maybe the structure wasn't really historic. The brick and stone looked flawless, as if it had been built to look old. There was a Disney World feel, with the brick walk, street lamps, flowers and shops.

1889

​We parked and approached and I was happy to see the sign ​above the corner window. Independence Building 1889. I prefer old.

Even though the hotel's website had mentioned the word historic, I had begun to wonder if they were referring to the historic location. Their focus was clearly not on the building's past.

Entrance?

​The obvious entrance to the building, was at the corner. But not this door!

I very much doubted we would check in at the counter, inside a lovely Ralph Lauren shop. (I did step inside later and found a basic red bandana for $99!) 

Down We Go!

To the right of fancy green door, I spotted the hotel sign. We passed by a very curious and steep, stairway.

The green sign welcomed us to a newer set of stairs. It felt like an adventure heading underground, to a lobby. More NYC than Aspen!

More Stairs

We headed down a few steps to a door, which led to more stairs. The windows, hanging light fixture and white-wood walls, kept things bright. 

The host, Andrea greeted us from a desk, in the windowless lobby. She was welcoming and relaxed and offered advice about parking and restaurants. But Andrea didn't have too much info about the building's history. She only knew of its more recent years. "Condos..."

​Up to Third

​We grabbed our bags and headed up, in a modern elevator. There was also an interesting set of stairs. The open stairway seemed to float up from the basement.

The angles and levels seemed so modern. Could these be original stairs? Maybe they had once been enclosed in a stairwell? It was hard to imagine this modern space 100 years ago.

Before heading into our room, I peeked over railings and looked down halls.

There were nice sitting areas on the second and third levels, but not a person  in sight. No sounds behind closed doors. It certainly didn't feel like a hotel.

Parking Adventure

Our hotel location was ideal! We were right in the heart of Aspen. A block from the slopes and right on Cooper Avenue Walking Mall. But parking was less than ideal.

After tossing bags in our room we moved our car from a temporary spot and headed with our residential street parking pass, to find a place to leave the car.

Food & Wine Classic

We had a map showing areas where we could park, but we drove in circles. Aspen was gearing up for their annual Food & Wine Classic.

The festival was a week away, but many streets were already blocked off. Tents were going up. It took forever to find a spot, but at least the walk back was entertaining and pleasant.

Our Room

Back in our quiet "hotel" we settled into our room. 

There was a noisy a.c. unit, but it was only needed briefly. It was pleasant  having two windows that opened. 

Windows

The distant mountain view was nice. I should have taken a shot of the square below. People watching in Aspen is entertaining and we had a fun view of a restaurant patio with lots of fashionable people.  ​

I didn't see anyone dressed in this outfit, but I could have bought it for myself. It was in the shop window below us.

Good for Price

There was nothing outstanding about our room. Queen bed with a triangular table. Cowboy art. There was sort of a 1980's Alpine style, to the room. It didn't seem to be in the same era (or class) as the ritzy shops underneath us.

The bathroom was basic. I had issues with the shower and the sink. But again, we were in the heart of Aspen and our hotel room was under $250. That's incredibly low for Aspen, where nearby hotels were charging over $1,000. for a night. No real complaints.

The Roof!

Besides the hotel's location, the roof was a major highlight of our stay.

The rooftop had a 360 view of Aspen and the surrounding mountains.

Sunset

Not a soul joined us when we headed up to catch the sunset.

We had the roof deck to ourselves, which made the hot tub all the more inviting.

We dashed downstairs and changed, then made use of the robes in the closet. How could this affordable Apsen hotel be so empty in June?  

Evening

​A little later I made a quick trip down to the street, to see how the hotel looked at night. My first surprise was seeing a nearly full moon above our building.  (Looks a little more star-like in my photo.)

As I headed towards the entrance I looked up and spotted our room. I could see our 2 glowing windows, above Maverick's. That's the shop that sold "my outfit", as well as a Louis Vuitton western saddle.

Morning 

​In the morning we headed to the basement for our complimentary breakfast.

There wasn't too much out of the ordinary. There was yogurt and some burritos that could be microwaved. Some fruit and cereal.

We were the only guests sitting at the long table near the big bear. I sipped my coffee and wondered. It was becoming more clear that this was not a a true hotel, but privately owned room/condos that could be rented. Somewhere between a hotel and Airbnb. 

Location

By 11 we checked out, knowing nothing more about the historic building. But we left with some memories of great weather  and  wonderful walks.

We've stayed in 4 Aspen hotels over the years. For the price, this is the one with the most bang for your buck. I'd return.

What's Notable

The building was lovely and the location was outstanding, for $250. The vibe in the hotel was oddly quiet. And why have I found so little on the internet about this historic Aspen property?

After lots of searching I finally found one news article, from 1963. It said the building had just been purchased by a Mr. Robinson, the director of an Aspen skiing corporation. For some time it had been called the Prince Albert building. There had been shops below and dorms above. The new owner planned on keeping the Victorian flavor, when he remodeled. I guess that Victorian disappeared at some point.

And that's it for my research. I give up. I hope if someone knows more, they'll enlighten me!
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