Day 95: Baldpate 100th Birthday News!

With just seven days in our countdown to cornbread opening, thought we should give you the latest update on our 100^th birthday special plans.  Hopefully you have enjoyed our somewhat erratic preparatory journey through Baldpate’s Key moments over the past 100 years. And now for the partying!

You are all cordially invited to our Party Celebration on Saturday June 17^th, from 2 Pm until 5 PM in the Key Room. Have a glass of sparkly and some cake, we won’t make you sing!

Tickets for our live stage play, Seven Keys to Baldpate, will go on sale June 1^st on our website. Plan now which performance you prefer to attend, we anticipate having a sellout crowd.

Think about making it a special weekend with one of our Stay Play & Dine Theater Packages.

And bug those former employee friends to get on the books for a reunion weekend!  You know you want to do it!

Check our website often to see what’s new and if you can’t personally get back, order one of our new Birthday limited edition mugs in our online store available beginning June 1^st.

Written by Lois Smith

Day 91: Looking Back 100 Years (National Straw Hat Day)

100 years! So much has changed since 1917, when The Baldpate Inn opened its doors to guests. It was also the year that Estes Park was incorporated as a town. 

So let’s imagine a visit to The Baldpate Inn in 1917! There would be some considerable differences. This August 1930 photo shows just how much our aspen and pine trees have grown to change our driveway view.

When you pack, remember to bring your straw hat. Today is National Straw Hat Day, and yes, in 1917, straw hats were striking the fashion scene.

How to get to The Baldpate Inn? Perhaps in your brand new Willys-Knight! Driving license optional. Coming from further away? A ride on the SantaFe Railroad may be your ticket.

Making those essential hotel reservations: a very different method than today’s easy online reservations.

Always important on vacation, remember to pack your cash. The buying power of $100 in 1917 would be $2,081.31 in 2017!

While there are many changes that have taken place over the last 100 years, what remains unchanged at The Baldpate Inn is the gracious hospitality, excellent food, stunning views, access to adventure, and cherished memories.

Written by Liz Rodgers

Sources:

antiqueimages.blogspot.com

Inflation Calculation from DollarTimes

Day 66: Longs Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival Guest Invitation

One of the most popular attractions in the Estes Park area is the Longs Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival.  The festival is infused with colorful world class athletes, competing in jousting, caber-throwing, and more. It is quite a sensory experience with bagpipes and drumming, Highland and Irish dancing, as well as Folk music and Celtic rock. 

We have been honored over the years to have many Highland games families stay and dine with us. For some of our staff and guests it has been a unique new experience to actually witness men in kilts or the sound of bagpipes playing “Amazing Grace” before breakfast. 

Now, crazy as it seems, we don’t seem to have any sort of a key to bagpipes in our Key Collection. (Have one you’d like to donate? Please do!) 

We do have several keys with Scottish and Irish connections. Our collection includes the key to the Captain’s quarters of the four-masted “Star of Scotland” sailing ship built in 1887, which was operational until it was sunk by a German U-boat in 1942.  

As well, you can find the key to the Limerick Castle Stables in Ireland. And in 2013, we were most honored to receive the Adare Castle Key, from Adare Ireland, presented to us by the Countess of Dunraven after her visit to Estes Park.

The festival this year is September 7-10, 2017. The town packs out so make your Baldpate Inn B&B Lodging reservations now, and Dining Reservations after May 1^st. You’ll be able to enjoy the festivities in town and then retire to a mostly quiet retreat and excellent dining to refresh yourself.

Until then, Slàinte mhòr agus a h-uile beannachd duibh, which means, “Great health and every good blessing to you!” 

Written by Lois Smith and Liz Rodgers

Day 58: Reservations About the Past

Some of us will recall the days of making reservations before the days of the internet. Oh, the hold music and hours spent stuck in the radius of your phone cord… 

But how did it work even before when phones were not as common, and certainly more expensive?   If you can believe it, hotel reservations were completed via US postal correspondence for many years. 

In 1959, for example, if you wished to stay at The Baldpate Inn, you could mail an inquiry letter (stamps were 3 cents), and enclose a self-addressed envelope, so they could mail you back information and rates.

Taking a look at this typewritten letter, it surprised us that there was no form letter or standard copy; each time, the rates and information would be typed out individually. We are quite impressed with the lack of correction fluid (invented in 1956), or typos! Perhaps Mr. Mace had enough practice to type them in his sleep?

By the time we bought the Inn in 1986, at least word processors and computers were on the scene.  My first correspondence was proudly produced on our new state of the art, Apple IIc!  No instant email mind you, but faster and more error proof than a typewriter for sure. 

In those days as well, our local Chamber of Commerce provided a list of interested travelers, and we dutifully mailed our brochure to each of them in hopes they would call or write to make a reservation. Bulk mail was a saver but I was adamant about some personalization, so I hand addressed every one, sometimes 500 or 600 a week! (Jen here: some kids have chores like taking out the trash or helping with dinner, I remember being assigned the weekly task of helping address brochures, taping them shut and then sorting by zipcode!)

Today inquiries and reservations most often come via internet, both for B&B Lodging but many Dining Reservations (after May 1st) as well. Our reservation book is no longer a big ledger with a line and page for each day and room, but a software miracle that can accept input from anywhere in the world (most often correctly!) 

Recalling those early days, we couldn’t resist sharing this phone instruction we discovered from The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, instructing early phone users on phone operation and manners. We will all do well to remember that “Courtesy is the oil that lubricates the wheels of business; it smooths out difficulties and promotes the promptest possible connections.” Sage and timeless advice! 

Written by Lois Smith, Liz Rodgers & Jen Macakanja

Day 56: What it Means to Experience The Baldpate Inn (National Encourage a Young Writer Day)

Being a 100-year old inn, The Baldpate has many unique qualities! It may be unlike anything you’ve experienced before. While there are many modern conveniences at the Inn (such as wi-fi and cell phone service), a visit is reminiscent of a charming step back in time. 

There is simply too much to fit into one blog, and since it’s National Encourage a Young Writer Day, I challenge you youngsters and young-at-heart to write your own experiences of The Baldpate Inn, with all its unique attributes (and I’m sure I’ve missed a few!) and share them with us. Here’s a few prompts. Haven’t had a chance to visit us yet? Check out our video tour. 

World famous Key Collection and curiosities

Fresh and healthy Soup and Salad Buffet, enjoyed on beautiful handmade stoneware

Rustic lodging (My favorite description comes from an early brochure, “All rooms in the Inn are equipped with hot and cold water.  We believe in “roughing it” with a degree of comfort. The relative enjoyment of a bath is not necessarily a matter of geography.”)

Three-course breakfast! (Do the cinnamon rolls need their own composition? Probably!) And if you’re not a Bed & Breakfast guest, don’t despair! Just make reservations for a special celebration of Breakfast at Baldpate!

Evening snacks and Peachy-Keen (Are you noticing a food theme? It is a Love Language, right?)

Views from the front deck and the porch swing

Library and movie time

Sun deck parties

Aspen autumn glory

KeyThedral Theater Productions

Photo and art collections (Stay tuned for more on our photo collection!)

Gift shop

Hand hewn log furniture

Fireplaces: the warmth, sight, smell, and sounds of wood crackling ablaze

Hummingbirds, wildlife and bears

Your own memories! 

While The Baldpate Inn means something different to each guest who visits, at the heart of it all is a desire to serve all with excellent hospitality. Your experience is certain to be a memory you will cherish especially if you write it down.

Written by Liz Rodgers

Day 37: Tourist Cabins of The Baldpate Inn (National Goof Off Day)

Today, we turn our eyes back in time, to the Mace family soon after they set up their Homestead. The Maces had a natural gift for hospitality which would shape their future, and the lives of many they encountered.

In those times, traveling was not easy or quick. Although the Baldpate property was located in the remote mountains of Colorado, the Maces were not destined to be lonely or have much "goof off" time! A stream of hikers and travelers passed by on the road, and the Maces provided lodging and meals to folks so often that it inspired the construction of several “tourist cabins.”

Ethel Mace described the decision this way, “We decided to build a hotel or inn because it seemed that the guests might prefer to be able to eat and sleep here without having to worry about supplies. It was kind of funny because neither of us knew anything about hotels. I had been in one once and Gordon had about three or four times. We bumbled along though, and when we had finished, there were more guests than we could accommodate.”

The Mace family utilized their considerable talents and applied them to the surrounding natural resources to create the cabins and eventually the main lodge, building them by hand from hand-hewed timber cut from the property. 

Over the years four guest cabins were constructed and remain popular guest destinations to this day.  While so far, we have not found accurate building records, we’ve pieced together the most likely development in our Seven Keys Armchair Tour.

Just to the west of the Homestead, our Twin Sisters cabin is believed to be one of the first “Tourist Cabins” built. As you may detect from the framing of “twin” doors on its front porch, this cabin was originally a duplex cabin, each with one small bedroom and bath.

Twin Sisters cabin was updated by the Smith family in 2002, while Jen and her husband Pete were working at the inn. Pete jumped right into our family’s do-it-yourself methods, never shying from the challenge. Twin Sisters is now an updated delightful four person cabin, with a cozy gas fireplace, luxury bathroom with “twin” headed shower.

East of the Homestead is our Pinetop cabin, which we believe predates the Baldpate main lodge as well.  It was originally a two bedroom cabin that was renovated in the 1990s.  Nestled in the pine and aspen forest, Pinetop is now the perfect sweetheart getaway with its queen canopy bed, sitting area with gas fireplace, whirlpool tub for two, and a delightful outdoor porch with rustic railing.

Our Wrangler cabin was initially our most primitive cabin structure with just a stone fireplace for heating and a partial dirt floor. We are guessing it was originally the living quarters of the Baldpate Stables horsemen. 

One of the most colorful characters involved at the stables was Chuck Malone. His name is carved in the wooden mantle above the fireplace, along with what could be the Baldpate brand. Tune in for a future post to learn more about the Baldpate Stables!

In the 1980s, our Wrangler was also the home of the Baldpate Metro District’s handyman, Paul and his two dogs, Brown Dog and Black Dog.  Paul always had a story to share and checked in daily to see if there was leftover pie that needed to be eaten (most often with a generous helping of ice cream).

The Wrangler cabin was renovated by the Smiths in 1995.  It is now a delightful two bedroom cabin with original antique tub and native stone wood burning fireplace.

Since the roof of our Valley View cabin is visible in some of our earliest photos we think it was constructed shortly after the main lodge, around 1921. Charles Mace used it as a home before his Tikitiboo homestead was built near the top of our driveway.

Valley View was also known as “the Mitchell Cabin,” derived from a family who rented it each summer for a number of years. In the 1990s, this cabin was the favorite of actor John Ritter, of Three’s Company fame, where he stayed with his family each summer at Baldpate.

Our Valley View cabin was the first big renovation project for the Smith family in 1989. Updated heating was added to create our delightful three bedroom cabin. Still, history shines in the original unique red stone fireplace and seriously long skis used now as only as wall decoration. 

So, when you are ready to "goof off," which cabin will be your favorite?

Written by Liz Rodgers & Lois Smith

Sources: Baldpate Seven Keys Armchair Tour & Baldpate Archives

Day 34: Baldpate Architectural Significance & Buildings History

Alright, architecture buffs and scholars! Ready to match your knowledge to the architectural styles of The Baldpate Inn?

Which styles of architecture are present in the lodging of The Baldpate Inn?

    A.  Western Stick
    B.  Rustic
    C.  Shingle
    D.  Half Timber
    E.  All of the above 

If you selected "All of the above," you are correct!

 
Studying our unique Architectural significance, Baldpate’s Main Lodge is really a poster child for Western Stick Rustic style. Our Main Lodge building is unique as one of the few remaining structures in the area still being used for its original intent.

Western Stick Rustic architecture is really sort of a combination of the early Shingle, Stick and Rustic categories.

Stick houses in the east had generally plain and straightforward forms but were marked by vertical, horizontal and diagonal boards to create patterns on the façade. These boards are called “stickwork” and when they still contain bark on one side, they were known as “half-timber.”

Prevalent elements of Shingle style are the simple, and informal feel of the building and the tall rigid lines.

Rustic characteristics are similar to stick architecture in that there is prominent, vertical board and batten siding and the use of half-timbering. The Rustic category also makes use of unique materials taken from the surrounding landscape in order to remain consistent and unobtrusive to the natural surroundings.

So when you check out our features we are a match!  The board and batten construction, the big overhanging eves, and don’t those big front upright pillars look just like the neighboring trees!!

Trying to piece together the true timeline and buildings history of The Baldpate Inn has really been a jigsaw puzzle.   MacKenzie did the lion's share of work to figure out the actual various construction phases of our Main Lodge based a combination of old photos, room numbers listed in a guest registers, newspaper stories, and looking at such clues as where did the log beams end, along with a generous amount of guesswork.  We put this all together in a Summer Enchanted Evenings presentation of the 7 Keys Armchair Tour. 

With all that research & guessing, we came up with several major Baldpate building phases.

1918-1920: 
Initial construction of the main lodge. Guest registers and folklore say we opened with seven guest rooms along with our dining room, lobby and a kitchen.

1921-1934: 

Expansion during this time included eight more guest rooms on the East Wing over the Dining Room,  the small lounge on the West end of the main lodge, our big new Dance Hall building and our icehouse.

 

1935:

The final big expansion came with the addition of the West Wing, that included rooms upstairs, and downstairs, a Library and the now-famous Key Room dedicated to our ever growing Key Collection.

Of course with a puzzle this old, there are always missing pieces, when was the barn built?  Which cabins were first?  Did our Baldpate road sign exist before 1935 since before that our current drive was the main Estes Park Allenspark road?  Anyone know any answers?

Written by Lois Smith & Liz Rodgers