Winks Panorama facts for kids
|
Winks Panorama
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
|
|
| Nearest city | Pinecliffe, Colorado |
|---|---|
| Built | 1925 |
| Architect | Wendall Hamlet |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000901 (original) 13001035 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | March 28, 1980 |
| Boundary increase | October 15, 2014 |
Winks Panorama, also known as Winks Lodge, was a special hotel near Pinecliffe, Colorado. It was built for African-American tourists in the early and middle 1900s. This lodge was part of the Lincoln Hills Country Club. At that time, Lincoln Hills was the only resort for African Americans in the western United States. It offered a safe and fun place for them to stay and relax.
Contents
Winks Panorama: A Special Getaway
Winks Panorama, also called Winks Lodge, was a very important place. It provided a welcoming vacation spot for African-American families and individuals. This was especially important during a time when many hotels and resorts did not allow African Americans to stay.
A Special Place for African Americans
The Lincoln Hills Country Club started in 1922. People could buy land there for a small down payment. Obrey Wendell "Winks" Hamlet built Winks Lodge in 1928. He had been involved with the club from the start. He began gathering land for his lodge as early as 1925.
Building the Lodge
The lodge was built on a hillside. Its foundation used local stone from the area. The main part of the building had three stories and was covered with shingles.
The first floor was used for storage and services. The second floor was for dining and fun activities. The third floor had six guest rooms and a shared bathroom. There were also several small cabins around the main lodge. One was a special cabin for honeymooners, and another was a tavern.
Famous Visitors
Many famous people visited Winks Lodge. These guests included well-known musicians and writers. Some of the famous visitors were Count Basie, Billy Eckstein, Duke Ellington, Lena Horne, Langston Hughes, and Zora Neale Hurston.
What Happened Next?
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 was a big economic event. It caused many people to give up their land in Lincoln Hills. But Winks Hamlet worked hard to promote his lodge. He advertised it across the country in magazines like Ebony. This helped him attract guests from places far away, like the eastern United States.
Winks Lodge kept operating until Winks Hamlet passed away in 1965. Today, the James Beckwourth Mountain Club owns the lodge. They are working to restore it. Their goal is to turn it into a conference center. Winks Panorama was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 28, 1980. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
