History of the Elkhorn Lodge
Elkhorn Lodge
The Elkhorn Lodge & Guest Ranch received its first guests in 1874, prior to that it consisted of the old lodge and a barn. The ‘old lodge’ dates back to 1871 and is still in use - it's the oldest continually occupied structure in Colorado. Originally, the James family started a cattle ranch but determined that lodging for Estes visitors, hunting elk and transporting the meat to Denver was more profitable.
From the 1870’s to the early 1900’s, this practice decimated the elk population. In 1913 the Elkhorn, with others, arranged to have 40 specially built wagons created to transport elk to Estes Park to regenerate the elk herds - which had become essential to the continued flow of tourist to the area.
For thousands of years Estes was a hunting, fishing & mountain climbing paradise. Bushels of trout were caught from the Fall River prior to 1900 where the Elkhorn’s guests would order their menu requests in the morning for their dinner that evening (these were the pre-refrigeration days). As the trout populations declined, the Elkhorn started the State’s second fish hatchery in the 1890’s, in the area once occupied by the Elkhorn’s private trout pond. The State of Colorado then operated the hatchery and subsequently moved it.
In a building now called the Woodshed, the Elkhorn operated the first ice house in Estes Park. During the winter months large blocks of ice would be cut from the Fall River and stored in the ice house for use during summer months. Some of our more senior guests recall their experiences of working at the Elkhorn and cutting and transporting the ice by horse wagons - hard and difficult work.
When you tour the Elkhorn property, some historical highlights include Estes’ first school house [1886], Estes’ first church, and the original stage terminal – the Coach House. The Elkhorn Lodge's hospitality was recognized throughout the world, and prior to the start-up of the Stanley Hotel [early 1900’s], the Elkhorn was the premier lodge in the area with a dining room seating over 200 and remains today as it was 100 years ago. The Elkhorn’s popularity was such that tents were erected each summer to accommodate guests when the Main Lodge was full.
Elkhorn’s guests came from around the world. One of the most prominent, Pieter Hondius, related to a royal European family, even married a James daughter and from that time the Hondius name has become an instituion within the Estes Valley. At one time, the Elkhorn’s land holdings increased and included more than 3,000 acres in the Horseshoe Park area which was transferred to the Rocky Mountain National Park in the 1930’s; that area is one of the more popular locations for wildlife viewing. Elkhorn’s guests would routinely ride horses from the Main Lodge to horseshoe Park over Deer Mountain for picnics and enjoy the views.
Doctoral history students visit the Elkhorn in order to experience the early life of Teddy Roosevelt, who visited and traveled the area and, many years later after his political life, started his own ranch named the Elkhorn. In 1977, the Elkhorn Lodge & Guest Ranch was designated a National Historical District by the US Congress.
The Elkhorn Lodge and Guest Ranch is currently managed by O'Dells Western LLC.
From the 1870’s to the early 1900’s, this practice decimated the elk population. In 1913 the Elkhorn, with others, arranged to have 40 specially built wagons created to transport elk to Estes Park to regenerate the elk herds - which had become essential to the continued flow of tourist to the area.
For thousands of years Estes was a hunting, fishing & mountain climbing paradise. Bushels of trout were caught from the Fall River prior to 1900 where the Elkhorn’s guests would order their menu requests in the morning for their dinner that evening (these were the pre-refrigeration days). As the trout populations declined, the Elkhorn started the State’s second fish hatchery in the 1890’s, in the area once occupied by the Elkhorn’s private trout pond. The State of Colorado then operated the hatchery and subsequently moved it.
In a building now called the Woodshed, the Elkhorn operated the first ice house in Estes Park. During the winter months large blocks of ice would be cut from the Fall River and stored in the ice house for use during summer months. Some of our more senior guests recall their experiences of working at the Elkhorn and cutting and transporting the ice by horse wagons - hard and difficult work.
When you tour the Elkhorn property, some historical highlights include Estes’ first school house [1886], Estes’ first church, and the original stage terminal – the Coach House. The Elkhorn Lodge's hospitality was recognized throughout the world, and prior to the start-up of the Stanley Hotel [early 1900’s], the Elkhorn was the premier lodge in the area with a dining room seating over 200 and remains today as it was 100 years ago. The Elkhorn’s popularity was such that tents were erected each summer to accommodate guests when the Main Lodge was full.
Elkhorn’s guests came from around the world. One of the most prominent, Pieter Hondius, related to a royal European family, even married a James daughter and from that time the Hondius name has become an instituion within the Estes Valley. At one time, the Elkhorn’s land holdings increased and included more than 3,000 acres in the Horseshoe Park area which was transferred to the Rocky Mountain National Park in the 1930’s; that area is one of the more popular locations for wildlife viewing. Elkhorn’s guests would routinely ride horses from the Main Lodge to horseshoe Park over Deer Mountain for picnics and enjoy the views.
Doctoral history students visit the Elkhorn in order to experience the early life of Teddy Roosevelt, who visited and traveled the area and, many years later after his political life, started his own ranch named the Elkhorn. In 1977, the Elkhorn Lodge & Guest Ranch was designated a National Historical District by the US Congress.
The Elkhorn Lodge and Guest Ranch is currently managed by O'Dells Western LLC.