Winter Park's Historic Beavers Lodge Under Threat
A local landmark is in jeopardy. The historic Beavers Lodge, a beloved fixture in Winter Park since its opening in 1940, is facing potential demolition to make way for a new development.
The proposed Roam housing project, spearheaded by the owners of Devil's Thumb Ranch, includes plans to replace the existing Beavers Lodge with a new community amenity center. The project would also add 218 residential units and commercial space to the area.
While the new development promises modern amenities and increased housing options, it comes at a significant cost. Many community members and preservationists are rallying to save the Beavers Lodge, arguing for its historical and architectural significance. The Grand County Historical Association has publicly voiced its support for preserving the lodge, emphasizing its importance as a piece of Colorado history.
A public hearing is scheduled for 13th August to discuss the proposed demolition and the Roam development. The outcome of this meeting will determine the fate of the historic Beavers Lodge and shape the future of Winter Park's landscape.
Roam is the most recent of several endeavors that the Fanches have undertaken in the Fraser Valley-a mix of philanthropic and development effort. Bob Fanch, Chairman, is a long time stakeholder in the Fraser Valley, having a home here for 40 years. Twenty years ago he and his wife, Suzanne, acquired Devil’s Thumb Ranch, and together built sustainably focused Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort comprised of 6,500 acres on five ranches along the Continental Divide, adjacent to several hundred thousand acres of Forest Service land.
The nonprofit off-the-grid Headwaters Center and Headwaters River Journey provides education about the issues of river diversion and water usage. The Ranches at Devil’s Thumb provides a legacy opportunity for 24 families on 550 acres located at Devil’s Thumb Ranch. Hideaway Station is a mixed-use condominium and commercial real estate development that received the 2018 Governor’s Award for Downtown Excellence in Winter Park.
This iconic and historic building is on Tuesday morning's agenda at 8am for the Winter Park Planning Commission to discuss demolition and replacement: “The intent is to demo the existing lodge and construct within the same general footprint for the proposed building.”
This building has some of the most unique architecture in Grand County and is likely the first guest ranch in the town of Winter Park—if not the first in the eastern portion of Grand County. This building is the first building that you see as you pull into the town of Winter Park, Colorado and it has been an iconic fixture for nearly the last century.
In a social media post B Travis Wright says:
"Demolition and replacement really is a failure of imagination and represents a missed opportunity for imaginative redevelopment. Denver’s Union Station is a prime example of how adaptive reuse can blend historical preservation with modern utility. Opened in 1881, and renovated in 2014, it includes a boutique 112-room hotel that occupies the upper floors, where historic details are preserved. This project not only revitalized a historic site but also transformed it into a lucrative venture, demonstrating that preserving heritage can go hand in hand with economic development. The Denver Union Station developers received millions of dollars in historic preservation tax credits. Since the renovation, the 1881 Union Station has been known as “Denver’s Living Room” and “The Crown Jewel of Denver.” This example highlights the opportunity for Beaver’s Lodge to follow a similar path, turning a historic site into a vibrant, multifunctional space. Moreover, it could maintain its role, as it has for more than 86 years, as a welcoming entrance to the town of Winter Park.
"Although the Town of Winter Park lacks a historic preservation board, and a demolition permit would not trigger a historic review, this does not diminish the community's power to influence outcomes and have your voice heard. While this is private property, you can encourage those involved, including but not limited to the planning commission and the town to get creative and generously incentivize preserving this structure. You can be that voice to say that this structure, this architecture, this history in Colorado matters."
This building has some of the most unique architecture in Grand County and is likely the first guest ranch in the town of Winter Park—if not the first in the eastern portion of Grand County. This building is the first building that you see as you pull into the town of Winter Park, Colorado and it has been an iconic fixture for nearly the last century.
