Day 99: Baldpate Staff Tribute: 2011 - 2016

Our outstanding 2011 team, with managers Evan, Emily and Courtney ably corralling the gangs from Washington State, Oklahoma and New Mexico was especially fun, be it a night out at a Rockies game or rodeo adventure.

While each year we continue to receive compliments about our exceptional staff, the most recent years staffing has remained a challenge with less local and returning staff.  Campus job fairs were becoming less of the thing, and online recruiting began taking over for the most part.

With an ever-growing fall season we have relied heavily on our international staff to end well each season. Students from Romania, China, Russia, Croatia and especially Turkey have brought their enthusiasm and curiosity to help us grow in our world view.

Leah, Dillion and Sara accepted the challenges to lead our team in 2012 with students from 16 different colleges.  That’s a lot of different ideas to mesh!

Having staff return to help out in the fall or step up as managers is always to be cherished. That was the case in 2013 with Matt and Kayla were joined by Angela to lead our team of winners!

You already know the end of our 2013 season was the big flood, but certainly the brightest spot of the year was the arrival of my youngest granddaughter Lola. She burst onto the scene weeks earlier than expected and so visits to NICU were part of the season schedule for more than 2 months.

We were incredibly honored as well in 2013 to have Brad and Renee’s daughter, Lily, as our first “legacy” staff member. A loyal champion for years, we adored having her really join our Baldpate family in this way. The very next year, Alicia, another “legacy” gal joined, bringing photos of when her mom had worked at Baldpate in 1985.

Abby and Andy led our 2014 super team.  Having the rare opportunity to have an international student return in 2014 was super, but when Claudia brought along a friend, Clara, we knew we were especially fortunate. Those two certainly kept the smiles going.


During these years as well, our American History Savers partners, were deep into databasing our Key Collection and our guests were increasingly interested in learning more, so we decided to create a new Museum Curator staff position. First accepting the challenge to better preserve and improve our exhibits, create educational opportunities and presentations, were Lauren & Sara. Preparations for the Estes Park Friends of the Museum celebrations was a motivation for our 7 Keys Armchair Tour project which is still enjoyed today.

Realizing how big the project was, in 2013 we expanded to three curators, Luchana, Caitlyn, & Cameron. They were especially creative that year with their 1920’s exhibit, an idea which you will hopefully find repeated this summer in our 100^th Birthday Decades project.

Continuing the work, Rachel, Ryan, & Margie in 2014 and Bella & Matthew in 2015 diligently stepped up to work on the database and create activities for kids visiting the Keyroom.

With the end in sight of our Key Room database project, Topher, Hunter, and Natalie in 2016 worked steadily to catch up our unlogged key donations and stay up with our Key Room blogs. 

Since the time they were able to waddle through the sloping floors of Baldpate, my grandchildren Megan, Mason and Emily have always helped out when they have been on the property with their families. Last year was the first time my three oldest grandkids spent 10 days working alongside the staff without parents onsite. They had an amazing time and will be back this summer for a few weeks! Crazy to think that Jen was 14 and Mac was 9 our first summer and now our guests will be left in the capable hands of Megan (15), Mason (13) and Emily (13).

To enjoy more fun memories, check out our Centennial Staff albums from over the years.

Written by Lois Smith & Jen Macakanja

Centennial Staff Album at
https://www.youtube.com/embed/yS0LYcKBFvQ

Day 3: Colorado Cousins

Baldpate’s 1987 Staff, our first season open was really just the Colorado cousins!  My kids, Jen & Mac, my nephews, Steve, Jay & Vince, and nieces, Angela & occasionally little Liz. They ranged in age from 6-14 and delighted most of our guests, especially when they moved like a team from table to table.

Oh, the stories! Wasn't it Steve who could do nothing but laugh when he accidentally spilled 14 glasses of water on the beautiful guest of honor at her birthday party?! Or Vince, when presenting the bill, graciously informed the guest they could put the tip right back on the tray. Or the guest that put Jen in tears when after the third bowl of chili, he said he really didn't like it, "It tasted terrible!" 

Every day before we opened we would get together to say a promise and prayer.  I do recall about mid-way through that first season, when business was really picking up, the day we had quoted the well known verse from Isaiah, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will RUN and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  The kiddos all replied loudly with a big AMEN (let it be!)   

And run we did, for much to our surprise, our restaurant took off like crazy.  Several days we ran out of food just because we underestimated the crowd!

The kids would work extra hard during mealtimes and then head to Lily Lake to relax each afternoon. We always sent them off with the "Don't go in the Lake" rule. One of our guest those first years, Texas lawyer & artist, Larry Newman, captured their adventures which they proudly brought back to show - and it was clear that our rules were not always heeded!

Written by Lois Smith