When I called Pat Raney to ask permission to use her photo of the Eslick Motel (which she graciously gave) she told me how she came to shoot it. She was working on her wonderful book titled "Rocky Mountain Rustic" (its gorgeous and still available), and was walking her dog down by the lake. She went past a modern motel and saw all these old cars. The drive from Estes to Grand Lake is a favorite activity for the vintage car clubs and we get 2 or 3 a year. She started talking to them about their cars and the idea popped into her head that these were the kind of cars that would have stopped at the Eslick Cottages and parked in the attached "garages". They were happy to accommodate and Grace gave permission to drive across the lawn and thus we have a great 1920 picture taken in 2004. Thanks Pat for your permission and for the beautiful book.
Eslick CottagesAttended a presentation this week on Old Motels of Colorado. It was well presented by a gentlemen that documents historical architecture. He talked about the Eslick Motel and said that in 1927 Grand Lake had 18 motels listed in a travel guide. He also said that he thought the Eslick Cottages were most likely the oldest still intact in Colorado. The Rocky Mountain Rep. Theatre, through an anonymous donation was able to buy the property for their new theatre on the condition that the cottages not be torn down. I think. DH and I rode around town after and took pictures of what we knew/thought to be remains of old motels.
Most of the building are still in use either as summer rentals or private cottages
It was getting a little late in the evening to be taking pictures.
But I got a killer one of the sunset.
Old Motel sign at the edge of town.
13 comments:
Cool Motels - I would stay in them!! Love the first picture!!
God Bless,
Gretchen
I remember places like that, from road trips with my Dad and Mom when I was young. They were dotted across America.
This is a great post, I can see all the effort you went to, to plan and execute it. Thanks.
What wonderful photos - I love places like this, we stayed somewhere quite similar in Montana once and it was SO great.
Love that 1st shot. Wouldn't it be fun to stay there? I remember visitng my grandparents on the lake in NH as a child. Looked a lot like this.
Beautiful photos of a beautiful place. Wish I could see it in person.
What an interesting post! I love the quaint old hotels! Love the vintage cars, too! I will have to share that one with my husband!
Hope you have a great weekend!
~Hugs, Rhonda :)
Cool photos, this looks like
the resort area in my home
state, except there are no
mountains as grand as the
wonderful state of Colorado has!
I'm coming back in a bit, with J. He will love this wonderful post!
Thanks and have a great weekend!
Pat
What lovely pictures and especially love your banner of the Grand Lake. When I was an exchange student from South Africa in North Dakota (more than 35 years ago), my US family and I spend many weekends on a lake on the Canadian border and these photos made me homesick for those faroff days. Thank you for visiting Thatchwick Cottage! Love Eleanor
What a cool idea for VTT!!
Ew, I just showed these to hubby and we love 'em! Happy Weekend! :)
What? No "Bottle Cottage" on the north end of town. I haven't been by for several years so I don't know what kind of condition it is in.
I love all these cabins and cottages. It makes me think of the good old days when people used to take their families to stay in places like this during the summer. We have lots of little places like this in Eureka too!
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