Hotel Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hotel Colorado
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| Location | 526 Pine Street Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 |
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| Built | 1893 |
| Architect | Boring, Tilton and Mellon |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000376 |
| Added to NRHP | 1977-05-26 |
The Hotel Colorado is a super old and famous hotel located in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. It was built way back in 1893 and has a special Italian-inspired design. It's one of the oldest hotels in all of Colorado!
Contents
The Hotel Colorado's Story
The idea for the Hotel Colorado came from a rich banker named Walter Devereux. Building the hotel started in 1891. It was designed to look like a famous Italian villa called the Villa de Medici.
Workers used cream-colored bricks and special Peach Blow Sandstone from the local area. They also brought in fancy items like 12,000 yards of carpet! The Hotel Colorado officially opened on June 10, 1893. There was a big party with fireworks, an orchestra playing music, and a late-night dinner for 300 couples.
A "Little White House" in the West
The hotel quickly became a popular place for people to visit in the summer. It even earned a cool nickname: "the little White House of the West." This was because two United States Presidents, Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, stayed there for long visits.
A fun story says that the famous teddy bear was invented during President Roosevelt's visit in 1905. The hotel's maids supposedly made him a stuffed bear from fabric scraps.
Broadcasting History
On September 16, 1925, something amazing happened. Live music and speeches from the hotel's ballroom were sent by telephone to a radio station in Denver called KOA. This was a big deal for broadcasting back then!
Serving During Wartime
In 1942, during World War II, the hotel was used by the United States Navy. It became a hospital for soldiers. The U.S. Naval Convalescent Hospital opened on July 5, 1943. By the end of 1945, it had helped over 6,500 patients. The hospital closed in 1946.
Modern Times and Fun Facts
A fun fact about the Hotel Colorado is that it was owned by the grandparents of a United Airlines pilot named Sean Smith from 1972 to 1982. They also owned the Hotel Denver.
In 2003, a special time capsule was buried in the hotel's courtyard. It's planned to be opened in 2043, which is still a ways off!
In April 2007, the Hotel Colorado was added to the list of Historic Hotels of America. This means it's recognized as an important historical place.
Famous Visitors and Spooky Stories
Many famous people have stayed at the Hotel Colorado over the years.
Movie Stars and Presidents
Actor Tom Mix and his film crew stayed at the hotel in the summer of 1926. They were filming a movie called The Great K & A Train Robbery.
Besides Presidents Roosevelt and Taft, former President Herbert Hoover also visited. He gave a speech at a luncheon at the hotel on August 2, 1939.
Ghostly Encounters
Some people believe that several ghosts live at the Hotel Colorado! Guests and staff have reported seeing a young girl in old-fashioned clothes playing with a ball. There are also stories of a female ghost who watches over sleeping male guests. A male presence has been felt on the fifth floor.
The two suites in the hotel's tall bell towers are often said to be haunted. People have also reported the elevator moving by itself, strange smells, and unusual sounds.
See also
In Spanish: Hotel Colorado para niños
