LOOKING FORWARD TO 2021
By Tim Mosier Trail-Gazette
Elkhorn Lodge will get historic remodel
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slate of renovations, remodels, and new construction is fast approaching for the Elkhorn Lodge property. The old Elkhorn Lodge is on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), along with five other buildings on the property and developers are aware of their significance. According to the projects Statement of Intent documents, 197 hotel units are proposed in two main buildings on site. One is a new 132-unit stand-alone hotel and the other is an addition containing 36 hotel rooms that will be annexed to the existing Elkhorn Lodge Building which has 29 existing hotel rooms within. Several other buildings that are not on the NRHP will be saved and remodeled including the old school house. Developers say they plan to go to great lengths to ensure this historic feature to remains and they have intentionally had the new hotel building designed to be architecturally compatible to the old Lodge. In addition to these hotel uses, there are two new restaurant pads being developed and one renovation of the Coach House for restaurant use. These restaurant sites will be offered for rent or sale to regional or local restaurant venders. Below one of the restaurants (Hillside), there is a small retail front. An additional (new) barn building for the continuing
The Historic Elkhorn Lodge in Estes Park
long standing horse operation on site is being built far south of the old barn site. “It’s a great opportunity for the Town, both for the redevelopment of an area that has come to need it and for providing a real quality, high-
16 • LIVE WELL ESTES | FALL EDITION
end development,” said former Town Board Trustee, Eric Blackhurst. “This is a really terrific project for the town as a whole; a real anchor for the west end of Town.” Developers say the back-
File photo / Estes Park Trail-Gazette
drop of thick trees on the hill south of the new hotel and existing Lodge will basically remain untouched in an effort to protect the roof of the new hotel from extending above the skyline or horiSee ELKHORN, pg. 20
