Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens
WHAT: RMGA Annual December Meeting/Election and Program
WHEN: December 8, 2014, 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm networking on the first floor, 7:00 pm the rest of the program. Historical presentation and tour.
WHERE: Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens, 2555 West 37th Avenue, Denver, CO 80211.
PROGRAM: Walter was still in college when he discovered the diamond-in- the-rock in 1991. Today, the Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens attracts many visitors to Denver’s historical Potter-Highlands neighborhood.
Guide Line Review
Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens Review
The Lumber Baron Inn and Gardens is a wonderful old mansion that Walter Keller has converted into a B&B. He bought a boarded-up condemned house on April 1, 1991 and had no idea that it would take so much time, money and historic expertise to refurbish the house. We had more than forty people attend this event.
Larry Foos introduced Walter Keller, owner of the Lumber Baron who gave us a history of the building. The house was originally built for John and Amelia Mouet. John was an important builder in Denver and the house has many types of wood displayed in the various rooms. For example, the front parlor woodwork is cherry, the back parlor woodwork is sycamore. The woodwork on the third floor is maple.
The previous owner had been a slum landlord and actually owed $265,000 on the house; he had used it as collateral on other rental properties that he owned. At the time, the house was cut up into 23 apartments! The first floor had three parlors as well as the entry, kitchen and a room off the entry used as an office now. The second floor had five bedrooms which are now the B&B’s and suite rooms. Two girls were murdered in the Valentine Suite, October 13, 1970. The case is still unsolved. The third floor had been a ballroom originally and is used today for banquets and as the mystery theater.
It took three and a half years to transform the house into a bed and breakfast and it opened for business in September 1994. Wellington Webb, former Mayor of Denver, and the Economic Development Office helped Walter finance the remodel. The house has been awarded 2nd place in the Great American Home Awards. Some of the stained glass is original. The ceilings in many rooms have been reproduced in wallpaper designed by Bradbury &Bradbury. The wallpaper matches patterns close to what was originally in these rooms or is designed to enhance architectural details found in the rooms.
Walter has had 112 mystery theater dinners during 2014, including five planned for the rest of the week and another four for next week. He started the mystery theater with people who are now involved with the Adams Mystery Playhouse at 24th and Federal. Walter has also had many casino parties as well and the casino tables were used this evening as serving tables.
We also had a magician as entertainment. The magician is also an actor and a casino dealer. Walter’s wife is a chef with a culinary degree from an Oregon school.
On the roof is the original star from the Walt Disney Celebrity Sports Center that was on Colorado Blvd. between Mississippi and Alameda avenues. Originally the star revolved but it is now glowing brightly on the roof of the Lumber Baron.
We were able to tour the suites on the second floor and the ballroom on the third floor on our own. Each suite is charming and decorated in period style. The bathroom area is modern in each suite. There are no elevators in the building and the stairs to the third floor can seem narrow. There is on-street parking around the neighborhood – plenty of spaces available.
We did not see any of the ghosts that the house has experienced in its colorful past. We had a lovely evening – Walter is an exemplary host.
--- Nancy Brueggeman
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