Day 224 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Boulderado Memorabilia in Gift Shop

Many guests love the Boulderado so much that when they stay here, they want to take home a small memorabilia item. We offer a wide variety in our gift shop, from coffee mugs to chocolates, from postcards to the official history book of the Boulderado, Legend of a Landmark.

Day 206 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Local Author's Shelf

In our Gift Shop, we have entire shelf devoted just to local author's, including Silvia Pettem's book about the history behind the Hotel Boulderado, Legend of a Landmark.

Day 70 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Fire Escape

In this shot of the Hotel Boulderado, you can see the fire escape on the south side of the Historic Section. According to Silvia Pettem's Legend of a Landmark, "Fire escapes were put up in 1923, on the east, south, and west sides of the building. The action was prompted by a chimney fire in the attic above the service elevator on the northwest corner. Blackened rafters still can be seen inside."

Boulderado Dining Room: A History Lesson

One of the most fascinating spots to consider in the Hotel Boulderado is our dining room, located on the lobby level of the northeast corner of the historic section. It has the distinction of being the oldest continually-operated restaurant in Boulder -- with the exception of a brief closure during World War II, the dining room has served guests since the hotel opened in 1909. Management and menus have changed a myriad of times, as has the look and feel of the space.

When we opened in 1909, the dining room was one of the premier places to eat out in Boulder. A Daily Camera newspaper reporter who wrote the article about the Boulderado's opening noted, "The spacious dining room, with its snowy linen, polished silver, and delicate bouquets, gave promise of the tempting delicacies and huge banquets that are to come. The kitchen, with its massive ranges and variety of modern conveniences, appeared equal to the tasks of furnishing the best and the most that could be demanded of it. The handsome electric chandeliers, the exquisitely patterned rugs, the profuse decoration of palms, ferns, and flowers, the beautiful music of the orchestra, all added to the sum to make a perfect total."

During his tenure as owner and manger of the Hotel Boulderado, Hugh Mark and his family were always given the honor of being the first guests to enter the dining room at mealtimes, and they occupied the same table year after year. It was at this table that Hugh Mark would keel over from a heart attack, taking the life of one of the Boulderado's most dynamic leaders. Betty Mark, Hugh Mark's young daughter, took full advantage of the formal dining room when she started taking tap dancing lessons and needed a place to practice. "The private dining room was a marvelous pace to practice, as the taps resounded beautifully on the tile floor," Betty recalled years later.

But the Marks were not the only ones who took regular meals in the dining room. Several service groups, including the Chamber of Commerce, Lions, Kiwanis, and Rotary groups, held weekly luncheon meetings there. Even though President Franklin Roosevelt repealed Prohibition in 1933, Boulder remained a "dry" county. Only 3.2% beer was permitted to be served in the dining room, despite the fact that more than one chef snuck down to the basement to nip from a flask. By the time the stock market crashed in 1929, the formal waiters with white jackets and finger bowls had given way to waitresses and a less formal atmosphere.

When it came time to re-open the dining room after it closed during the Second World War, the Hutsons decided to modernize and remodel. New equipment was brought in, including a range, refrigerator, new dishes, glassware, silver, and linens. Soda-fountain-style booths and a new, U-shaped lunch counter gave the dining room a more casual feel, as did it's new Mexican motif and "Cactus Room" name.

This didn't last too long, as by the late 1950s the dining room had been transformed into the Boulderado Coffee Shop. According to Legend of a Landmark: A History of the Hotel Boulderado, "A variety of dinners was offered from charcoal-broiled chopped sirloin steak with mushroom sauce and French-fried onions -- for $1.25 -- to choice roast prime rib of beef au jus, for $1.75. More beef dishes, chicken, pork, and seafood rounded out the menu. All dinners included potato, salad, fruit, and beverage."

A day came after the Howards took over when the manager of the then Chinese restaurant that occupied the dining room simply did not show up to work. June and Ed frantically kept the business going until they convinced friend and local restaranteur Fred Shelton to take over the space. He opened Fred's Steakhouse in the dining room, and a popular phrase took off -- "Come eat with Fred and sleep with Ed." Fred's specialty was a sirloin steak dinner priced at $2.15. Fred stayed until 1969, when the Howards gave up the hotel. From there, a dizzying succession of various owners, themes, and names came about:

• Doug and Fran Simcoe's Boulderado Empire Room in 1969
  
• The Prosperity Garden in 1972
• Fleur de Lis (1970s)
  
• Winston's Seafood Grille (1980s)
  
• Teddy Roosevelt's American Grille

Teddy Roosevelt's remained until John Platt moved Q's Restaurant from the second-floor Porch to the dining room, where it has stayed through the present day. Patrons who eat at Q's must cross the same original tiled floor that proved so useful to Betty Mark in her tapdancing days.

Louis Winterberger

The Howards sold the Hotel Boulderado in 1967 to Court Plaza Inc, a group of local investors in Boulder. Louis Winterberger was a partner in the group, and he took over the day-to-day task of managing the hotel. Like the Howards, Winterberger wished to keep the hotel rooms period in nature.

In an attempt to keep the hotel full, Winterberger allowed more permanent residents to stay at the Boulderado. Most of them were elderly folks whose spouses had already passed away. One such resident was Walter Lawry, who marched such a familiar trail from the Boulderado to his favorite restaurant that the alley he walked down would later be renamed "Lawry Lane" in his honor. According to Legend of a Landmark, "Senility was a trait of . . . Winterberger's guests. 'A woman came to the front desk one day and asked if we had any rooms,' he said. 'I showed her her own room and she said it was delightful, and that she'd take it.'"

The same year that Court Plaza Inc. took over the Boulderado, Boulder residents finally voted to repeal the prohibition the city had been under since the 30s. For the first time, full-strength wine, beer, and liquor could be legally served within the city limits. Winterberger turned an unused space in the basement into Catacombs Bar and Restaurant, which opened in 1969 to thirsty patrons. He also added an entrance to the bar from 13th Street, paving the way for the hotel entrances to be switched in the future. (The hotel's main entrance since its 1909 opening was located on Spruce Street. But with the crumbling stone portico and Catacombs traffic, the entrance was eventually moved to 13th Street.)

When Court Plaza Inc. sold the Boulderado in 1976, Louis Winterberger shared his thoughts. "Naturally we have mixed emotions about selling the hotel. Our Christmas carol sing in the decorated lobby at Christmas time soon became a family tradition and we have pleasant memories of the lovely weddings, the Philharmonic Balls, and many other social events which have taken place in the lobby. We know the new owners feel as we do about the historic preservation of the hotel, and we are pleased they will be continuing our efforts."

Gwen, Winterberger's wife, shared her memories of running the hotel with her husband in our Memories of the Boulderado. Click here to read her story.

505

In recognition of the Hotel Boulderado's 100 Year Anniversary in 2009, I've decided to profile several of our signature guest rooms and suites over the coming months. First on my list is Room 505, a top-floor Presidential Suite that offers spectacular views of downtown Boulder and the Flatirons.

When the Boulderado first opened in 1909, room 505 was not in the original inventory. The top corners of the hotel were used as open corner porches, according to Silvia Pettem's Legend of a Landmark, which quotes a 1910 Daily Camera article: "The upper story of the Hotel Boulderado was never finished or furnished. Because of the great patronage of the house, Messrs. Wallace, the leasees, have begun, by cooperation with the hotel company, to divide great garret-like rooms into comfortable living rooms, and furnishing them with windows and all the comforts of the other rooms in the splendid house."

The hotel manager used it as his own apartment, and is mentioned in a story recalling the first
Boulderado wedding ceremony. When Hugh Mark took over the manager's position in 1917, he and his young son moved into 505, while his wife and daughter lived in an apartment a few floors below. Mark turned much of the operations over to different family members, turning the Boulderado into a family-run business; his brother Leonard was a front desk clerk, brother William became an engineer in charge of the coal furnace, and yet another brother, Frank, took over operating the dining room with the help of his wife, Alza.

Today, 505 is one of our most popular rooms, with everyone from brides, celebrities, and VIPs staying in the Presidential Suite. Its beauty, spaciousness, and views make it a truly unique stay for any guest. A full-sized living room with a stereo and conference table leads into the bedroom.

Photo by A Life Exposed Photography

Photo by A Life Exposed Photography

Photo by A Life Exposed Photography

Over the years, people have left their mark on the window ledges found outside 505. Some are newlywed couples, others are just looking to add to the room's history.

Stay tuned for upcoming profiles of other guest rooms at the Hotel Boulderado!