Four Romantic Colorado Inns

1- Niwot Inn- Hidden Retreat in the Boulder Valley

2- Denver’s Historic Castle Marne Evokes Victorian Splendor

3- The Sod Buster Inn- A Little Piece of Heaven in Colorado’s Cowboy Country

4- The Queen Anne Inn: Victorian Charm in the Mile High City

Story and photos by Ron and Nancy Stern

The Queen Anne Inn: Victorian Charm in the Mile High City

Built in 1879, the Queen Anne Inn stands as a tribute to the architecture of its day. Surrounded by other Victorian homes in the Clements Historic District, the home was designed by famed Denver architect Frank Edbrooke who also did the Brown Palace Hotel. 

Edwin W. Pierce, brother of Augusta Tabor and brother-in-law to Horace Tabor, owned the original home. The Tabors both played an integral role in the early history of Denver, and Horace was then Colorado’s lieutenant governor. The inn opened as Denver’s first bed and breakfast in 1987 along with its Victorian next-door neighbor. The tandem properties are currently run by the King family- Tom, Chris, and Dave.

There are 14 guestrooms including 5 gallery suites with such names as The Frederick Remington Suite (named and designed after the renowned Western sculptor with the same name), The Norman Rockwell Suite (featuring 20 of his prints), and The Alexander Calder Suite (complete with fireplace and colorful artwork throughout). All of these are ideal for the business traveler or those looking for a unique experience beyond the typical boring hotel rooms.

The main guestrooms are also equally impressive. We stayed in the Aspen Room located on the third floor in the turret with a partial view of Benedict Fountain Park. What is truly amazing is the mural, an Aspen forest complete with yellow and golden leaves, clouded skies, and even animals tucked behind bushes, painted on the inside of this turret. It’s no wonder that this is the most photographed room in the inn. Other “mural rooms” have walls painted with early Victorian scenes such as a garden party and a view looking outside your front window. Each room is uniquely appointed with antique furniture, queen-size beds, and your own private bath. Some come with hot tubs or jetted whirlpools.

The business traveler will also appreciate the extra features such as in-room telephones, modems, an available fax machine, and complimentary local calls. Fresh flowers and piped-in chamber music all add to the overall ambiance that is both pleasant and relaxing.

Each evening the inn offers complimentary Colorado wines served in their dining area. An adjacent sitting parlor with overstuffed furniture is ideal for reading or just relaxing with a cup of coffee or tea.  A full breakfast is served in the morning featuring cereal, fruit, juice, and a hot entrée.

There are many attractions within a short distance of the inn. These include the U.S. Mint, 16^th Street Mall,  Larimer Square and the U.S. Capitol, to name a few. Restaurants and dining options are numerous and the staff of the inn has a good collection of menus and will even make reservations for you.

Over the years, the Queen Anne has won many awards including: Best Ten B&B’s, Best Places to Stay in the Rockies, Most Romantic Destinations in Colorado, and The Best of Denver. The inn is also listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. Overall, a stay at this inn will bring back memories of a simpler time. Previous guests have included many honeymoon couples who found their stay at the Queen Anne to be, in the words of one, “glorious.” Room rates range from $75-400 with the latter for one of the suites. In case you may be one of those dreamers who have always thought about owning your own inn or B & B, the King family offers “full immersion” seminars for this purpose.  These four-day courses include room and breakfast and will teach you all the “ins and outs” (forgive the pun) associated with being an innkeeper.  For reservations or more information call (800) 296-6666 or visit their website at www.queenannbnb.com.