Before & After: Hotel Maxwell Anderson

In 1915, The Hotel Denver opened its doors, right across the street from the railroad station in Glenwood Springs. Throughout the early 1900s, the railroad transported tourists, settlers and miners, connecting Denver and beyond to the mountains of Colorado. Last July, it debuted its multi-phase renovation, which began in early 2023, along with its new name: Hotel Maxwell Anderson.

The charming, modernized hotel has benefitted from enhancements in the lobby and public spaces, as well as a complete renovation of the 73 guest rooms and the addition of 17 new rooms.

Throughout, they have maintained its original charm with thoughtful nods to its history, including displays of antiques in the lobby and even old-school, black phones in the rooms.

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“The delightful old-world hospitality of this downtown Glenwood Springs boutique hotel has endeared locals and visitors alike since 1915, and we did not change that,” said Tony Sherman, owner of Terrapin Investments. “But Glenwood Springs continues to attract a new and broader demographic, and our lodging options need to reflect their preferences.”

“The delightful old-world hospitality of this downtown Glenwood Springs boutique hotel has endeared locals and visitors alike since 1915, and we did not change that.” Tony Sherman, owner of Terrapin Investments

The town holds a rich past. It became a popular destination when the world’s largest hot springs pool opened in 1888, drawing wealthy travelers, and even presidents, which resulted in the need for a new train station. In 1904, Denver and Rio Grande Railroad built the depot across from The Hotel Denver, and bars, restaurants and shops began to spring up around it.

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Art and Mary Kendrick, a bellhop and maid, respectively, saved up enough to open 17 rooms for rent in what became The Hotel Denver in 1905. They eventually transformed the entire block into a hotel and completed a three-story remodel utilizing brick in 1913. By 1922, the hotel boasted telephones, toilets in each room, an elevator, an impressive lobby and exterior lighting that rivaled the Denver Electric building.

During Prohibition, speakeasies popped up throughout town, and Chicago gangster Diamond Jack Alterie began staying at The Denver Hotel. One day, he emerged from the hotel with guns blazing, and another time, in 1932, he shot two salesmen through a closed hotel room door. As a result, a local judge ordered him to leave the state. Other notable, and more respectable, guests included the likes of Clark Gable.

“This hotel has so many stories to share, which have been cobbled together over the last century, so the design intent was clear to us from the beginning: To create a space in which storied history and modern luxury artfully combine,” said Christina Skopliak, lead designer of the current renovation and owner of Denver-based Wild Muse Interiors. “We wanted to preserve its much-loved charm and appeal by carefully stitching together an aesthetic in which the old and new occupy the same space.”

To begin with, the hotel underwent a name change because visitors regularly mistook it for the nearby Hotel Colorado and even wondered if the property was located in Denver, rather than Glenwood Springs. Its new name, Hotel Maxwell Anderson, honors Maxwell Anderson, a conductor who represents the legendary railroad route. According to the hotel’s website, Glenwood Springs always beckoned him, no matter how many towns he passed through.

MKD Associates oversaw the renovation. The architectural design, by Rally Dupps, added new rooms from previously underutilized retail and meeting space. Within the large, updated lobby, the team created direct access to the adjacent Glenwood Canyon Brew Pub, a staple in town since 1996.

The property has maintained elements that harken back to the town’s history, while blending modern finishes and amenities, like in-room dining, that guests expect these days.

For example, the reception area is sleek and modern with domed pendant lighting, yet behind the counter guests find a stained glass desk lamp and the red-tassled door keys guests used to unlock rooms. The tin ceiling tile remains, albeit updated with white paint.

The lobby is a treasure-trove of memorabilia, including a wooden telephone booth and a rosewood grand piano built in 1885 in New York. Historic photos fill the three-story lobby, which some of the rooms overlook. The original brick walls have been painted in an ivory tone, and other walls have been updated in blue and gray hues. The space is well appointed with cocktail tables, long, sleek leather sofas adorned with rich velvet pillows and opulent chandeliers. The rectangular gas fireplace is one of the focal points, surrounded in stone to complement the natural environment.

Wild Muse Interiors employed a sophisticated color palate and luxurious bedding, furnishings and textiles throughout the hotel. Sheer and blackout drapery replaces old curtains over the beautifully arched windows overlooking the mountains and railroad depot. Leather sofas adorned with faux fur pillows complement the mountain environment, and gorgeous area rugs over wood flooring welcome guests. An accent wall, painted in dark blue among the rest of the white walls, grounds the cozy bed in each guest room, while the high ceilings make the entire suite feel spacious.

The completely updated bathrooms blend contemporary design with historical elegance. Small, octagonal black and white tile flooring and a bathtub reflects the charm of Glenwood’s earlier days, while the showers’ modern, rectangular tiles and rain-head faucets add to the bathrooms’ contemporary style. Rounded edges on the new mirrors and an open vanity with a stainless steel rack below also contribute to the clean and airy aesthetic.

“The completion of this multi-phased renovation is a major milestone for the town, and we are excited to show off the history of the building alongside an updated new design that will delight any guest,” said Roger Smith, general manager of Hotel Maxwell Anderson. “As one of the original hotels in Glenwood Springs, this historic gem is an oasis for travelers looking for a boutique experience in the heart of town, and they will be delighted by these changes.”