September 08, 2012

On the Road: Glenwood Springs, 1

Despite the fact that they are thoroughly modern businesses where you make your reservation online, some old hotels manage to retain the feeling of being an eddy in the stream of time. The Plaza in Las Vegas, New Mexico, is one — but then the whole old plaza might be a major eddy in itself. (So is the St. James Hotel in Cimarron, NM.)

Another one is the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs, which is only slightly more expensive than staying in some plastic-and-OSB-board Quality Inn or the like.
Hotel Colorado on left, Hot Springs Lodge on the right.
Teddy Roosevelt slept here, as did President Taft, Molly Brown and to my surprise, Al Capone and some of his pals. (I thought Capone had his R&R in the Upper Midwest or maybe Florida—but the hot springs here have long been famous.)

Shady courtyard, Hotel Colorado

Reception desk. The taxidermied bear cub is original.

Part of the lobby at night.

TR slept here.

Wing of the ground floor, looking on to the courtyard.

Teddy Roosevelt cartoons.

5 comments:

jason said...

Kim and I went there for our anniversary about 5 or 6 years ago. it's a cool little town.

Darrell said...

I'm rather ashamed to admit that, having spent 36 years in Colorado, I haven't spent much time in Glenwood Springs. I always wanted to see Doc Holliday's grave there. Is it accessible?

Chas S. Clifton said...

Darrell, as far as I know, it is accessible. There is also a business downtown with a "Doc Holliday died here" sign.

Darrell said...

Yeah, after my first post I did a little research online. I gather it's a short but rather steep hike.

I also read that Doc Holliday was supposedly staying at the Hotel Colorado when he died. I wonder if they know which room he was in?

SirTrip said...

Did you stay there? How was it?