Osgood Gamekeeper's Lodge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Osgood Gamekeeper's Lodge
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South (front) elevation, 2011
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 Location in Colorado
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| Location | Redstone, CO |
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| Nearest city | Aspen |
| Area | 6 acres (2.4 ha) |
| Built | 1901 |
| Architect | Theodore Boal |
| Architectural style | Swiss chalet style |
| MPS | Historic Resources of Redstone, Colorado |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000933) |
| Added to NRHP | July 19, 1989 |
The Osgood Gamekeeper's Lodge is a special old house near Redstone, Colorado. It was built over 100 years ago, around 1901, using strong wooden beams. This unique building was designed in the Swiss chalet style, which looks like mountain homes in Switzerland.
The lodge was part of a large estate owned by John C. Osgood. He was a very rich businessman who owned a big mining company. Osgood built the nearby town of Redstone as a "company town." This meant it was a town built just for his workers and their families. The Gamekeeper's Lodge was where the person who looked after Osgood's private hunting grounds lived.
Many important people visited Osgood's estate, including President Theodore Roosevelt and even a king, King Leopold II of Belgium. Today, the Osgood Gamekeeper's Lodge is still a private home. It is one of the few original buildings outside Redstone that looks much like it did when it was first built. In 1989, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places because of its historical importance.
Contents
Exploring the Lodge and Its Surroundings
The Osgood Gamekeeper's Lodge sits on a 6 acres (2.4 ha) property. It is about one mile (1.6 km) south of Redstone, right next to Highway 133. The lodge is high up, at about 7,280 feet (2,220 m) above sea level.
Across the Crystal River to the east, you can see Redstone Castle, which was John C. Osgood's main home. All around the valley, tall, wooded mountains rise up to 12,000 feet (3,700 m). These mountains are part of the White River National Forest and Gunnison National Forest.
What Does the Lodge Look Like?
The lodge is a one-and-a-half-story house made of wood. It has dark brown wooden shingles and a unique roof shape called a clipped-gable roof. The roof has wide overhangs and two chimneys.
The front of the house has a long porch on the first floor. Above it, there's a balcony. Both the porch and balcony have fancy wooden railings. Two large white wooden brackets support the balcony. The main entrance has a white wooden door with six small windows.
The Carriage House
Near the lodge, there is also a carriage house. This building is similar to the lodge but looks a bit simpler. It also has a balcony with a railing. Today, the carriage house has been updated and is rented out for people to stay in.
A Look Back in Time
The story of the Osgood Gamekeeper's Lodge begins with John C. Osgood. He came to Colorado in 1882 to find coal. He soon started his own company, the Colorado Fuel Company. Osgood wanted to mine high-quality coal in the remote Crystal Valley.
He bought a lot of land in the valley, not just for his company, but also to build a large estate for himself. He dreamed of having a big hunting lodge and private areas for animals, called game preserves. In 1892, his company joined with another to form Colorado Fuel and Iron (CF&I). This company became one of the biggest mining businesses in the western United States.
Building Redstone and the Lodge
After a few years, Osgood began to build his dream. He hired an architect named Theodore Boal. Boal designed both Osgood's estate and the town of Redstone. Osgood wanted Redstone to be a special place for his workers. Unlike other mining towns, Redstone had nice cottages and even a dormitory for single miners. These homes had electricity and running water, which were very modern for the time!
The Gamekeeper's Lodge was designed in the Swiss chalet style. This style fit well with the mountains around Redstone. The building's design was both beautiful and practical. For example, the wooden shingles were strong and looked natural. The balcony on the lodge was not just for looks; it allowed the gamekeeper to watch the animals in the winter.
Famous Visitors and Changes
For several years, Osgood enjoyed his life in Redstone. He often walked through the town, talking to his employees. He and his wife, Alma, loved hunting on their game preserves. Their guests, including President Theodore Roosevelt, John D. Rockefeller, and King Leopold II of Belgium, often joined them.
However, things changed. In 1903, the Rockefeller family took control of Osgood's company. Osgood became less involved. By 1909, the mines in Redstone were not making money anymore, and the town was almost empty very quickly.
Osgood closed his estate and game preserves in 1913. After he passed away in 1926, his wife tried to turn the estate into a resort. But it was too far away, and the Great Depression made it hard to succeed.
The Lodge Today
Over the years, some of the original buildings on the estate were moved or torn down. But the Gamekeeper's Lodge stayed. In the 1950s and 1960s, some small changes were made to the lodge, like adding a small wooden section and a front gallery.
The resort idea didn't work out, and the house was empty for a while. But in 1965, it became a home again. Since then, Redstone has become more lively. The Gamekeeper's Lodge remains mostly the same as it was built, except for the changes made in the middle of the 20th century. It continues to be a private home, a reminder of Redstone's unique past.
