Wander the West

Hotel Colorado - Glenwood Springs, Colorado

	The Hotel Colorado

2006

The historic Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs, Colorado is a grand hotel in the tradition of the many opulent hotel resorts that were built in the American West in the late 1800's and early 1900's. These hotels catered to a new generation of America's wealthy elite that rose to prominence during the industrial revolution. Unlike many of these old hotels, the Hotel Colorado has lost none of its luster and is still a landmark building and tourist destination.

The hotel was built in 1893 as a hotel and spa resort around Glenwood Springs famous hot springs. Over the years, many famous travelers have stayed at the hotel, including gangsters Al Capone and Diamond Jack Alterie, and presidents Taft and Roosevelt. Teddy Roosevelt stayed at the Hotel on several occasions while on hunting expeditions in the surrounding mountains. The Hotel Colorado's website explains how the famous "teddy bear" received its name at the hotel:

To cheer Theodore Roosevelt after an unsuccessful day of hunting, Hotel Colorado maids presented him with a stuffed bear pieced together with scraps of fine material. Later, when he did bag a bear, his daughter Alyce admired it saying, "I will call it Teddy." The term caught on and became the name for the world's most popular toy, the Teddy Bear.

The hotel may no longer cater to gangsters and presidents, but it is a popular and comfortable hotel nonetheless. My room was clean and comfortable, and the very high ceiling made the room seem extra spacious. The large halls outside the rooms contain chairs, couches, and coffee tables for lounging - I enjoyed sitting in the halls while working on my laptop. During the summer, the hotel restaurant serves dinner in the peaceful courtyard among trickling fountains and lush vegetation. The food and drink were great, and after dinner I took a glass of wine with me to enjoy while I strolled the halls of the hotel and browsed the historic photos of past celebrity guests. I enjoyed my time at the hotel very much and I look forward to returning soon.

The hotel has wireless Internet, but the signal in my room was too weak to work properly. However, I didn't mind sitting outside the room in the comfortably appointed hall, where the connection worked fine.

- Aaron Walton