An eclectic collection of twenty vintage properties committed to preserving western heritage while providing superior guest services and comfortable elegance, the Historic Hotels of the Rockies resurrect the glory days of the late 1800s and early 1900s, when hostelries were central to the community.
Ranging from vintage urban hotels to authentic ranch resorts, all the lodging establishments participating in the Historic Hotels of the Rockies hospitality project date from between 1862 and 1939 and are listed (or at least eligible for listing) on the National Register of Historic Places.
The organization covers Colorado (with 8 members), New Mexico (3 members), Wyoming (5 members), Montana and South Dakota (2 lodgings each).
Foodie Delights for HRR Guests
From gourmet breakfasts to Sunday brunches and high teas, fine dining on locally sourced ingredients is a common denominator when staying at one of the Historic Hotels of the Rockies, with impressive menus featuring comfort foods and homemade desserts, but also distinctive local options such as rainbow trout, wild game, venison, or even elk, and buffalo.
Property Owners Doubling as Accomplished Chefs
In some of the smaller properties, the hotel proprietor is quite often also the chef. This does not mean that they lack specific qualifications to excel in the kitchen! Take for instance Susan Prescott-Havers, the owner and accomplished chef de cuisine at the Historic Elk Mountain Hotel in Elk Mountain (WY): she is a graduate of l’Ecole de Cordon Bleu in Paris, and completed programs at the Cornell School of Hotel Management and Steven Spurrier’s L’Academie du Vin wine school in Paris.
Glorious Morning Breakfasts and Afternoon High Teas
Some of the Historic Hotels of the Rockies operate as B&Bs, with morning meals included in the deal. Favorites from the various hotels include Homemade Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce (Irma Hotel, Cody, WY), Huevos Rancheros (Plaza Hotel, Las Vegas, NM), Huckleberry Pancakes with thick-sliced bacon (Izaac Walton Inn, Essex, MT), and Fresh Asparagus Crepes (Castle Marne, Denver, CO) to name but a few.
Afternoon tea is a delightful time for guests of the Historic Hotels of the Rockies to relax after a day of sightseeing or outdoor activity. The staff at the Nagle Warren Mansion in Cheyenne (WY), dresses in Victorian period costume to serve tea in the parlor or sitting room every Friday and Saturday afternoon. Guests looking for a memorable western teatime experience should however consider the Cowboy Tea at the Delaware Hotel in Leadville (CO), consisting of pastrami and ham sandwiches, pretzels, a brownie and beer.
Historic Hotels of the Rockies are:
- Grand Union Hotel (Ft. Benton, MT)
- Izaak Walton Inn (Essex, MT)
- Historic Plains Hotel (Cheyenne, WY)
- Irma Hotel (Cody, WY)
- Nagle Warren Mansion (Cheyenne, WY)
- Historic Elk Mountain Hotel (Elk Mountain, WY)
- Historic Franklin Hotel (Deadwood, SD)
- Hotel Alex Johnson (Rapid City, SD)
- Armstrong Hotel (Fort Collins, CO)
- Beaumont Hotel and Spa (Ouray, CO)
- Castle Marne (Denver, CO)
- Delaware Hotel (Leadville, CO)
- Hotel Colorado (Glenwood Springs, CO)
- New Sheridan Hotel (Telluride, CO)
- Peck House (Empire, CO)
- Strater Hotel (Durango, CO)
- Bishops Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa (Santa Fe, NM)
- Don Gaspar (Santa Fe, NM)
- Plaza Hotel (Las Vegas, NM)
Each Historic Hotel of the Rockies has been meticulously restored to its original grandeur, reminiscent of the glory days when the wild west was being tamed.
Maddalena Delli - Maddalena Delli is an Italian freelance journalist and professional travel writer who also enjoys blogging, web design and photography.
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