Summary

History of Olin Hotel Apartments

Can you imagine what life was like in Denver 100 years ago?  People arrived in Denver through Union Station because trains were the main source of transportation.  Streetcars were running along Colfax Avenue and Broadway. Our beautiful gold domed Capitol was just completed in 1908.  Prohibition was in full effect, but of course speakeasies and bootleggers were common.  There was little doubt that Denver was a key hub for industry in the Rocky Mountain Region and people traveling from out-of-town needed a place to stay.

Thanks to the vision of John Huntington and his business partners, they built a posh hotel at 1420 Logan to welcome businessmen and public officials to our great city.  With the beautiful new state Capitol just a block away, it was a perfect gathering place for politicians or those that wanted to be near politicians.

The Grand Opening was celebrated by a lavish dinner dance with over 300 of society elites, businesspeople and public officials attending.  At a cost of $350,000 it was opulent. That would be $6.4 million today!

Most people don’t know that the Olin is the second hotel to occupy that space.  In 1890, The Vallejo was built as a family hotel.  It had 34 suites, a dining are that seated 88 and two billiard rooms.  The owner, Daniel Evans, died in 1899. He was thrown from his carriage and never recovered.  The property changed owners a couple of times, but by then it had lost it’s shine and the community was changing around it. In 1907 John Huntington purchased the property and created the glamourous building it is today.  It was a family hotel until Huntington’s death in 1958.  In the early 60’s to revitalize the hotel, the Peppermint Cave was opened.  It was modeled after the NY Peppermint Lounge and was Denver’s premier place to do the dance craze, the Twist.   In 1967, the name was changed to the Olin Motor inn before it became halfway house for troubled youth.

The Olin Hotel was the first property the newly formed Ecumenical Housing Corporation, now Senior Housing Options, Inc. purchased in 1980.  It has been through a couple of remodels, the most recent in 2022 with the renovation of the top floor and it now has 112 units. The Olin Hotel Apartment residents enjoy a game room with a pool table and large screen television.  There are laundry facilities for self-use and a central kitchen for parties and special events.  The jewel is a beautiful courtyard where residents can plant gardens and enjoy the view of the Colorado state capitol.  Located a half block from Colfax, residents will soon be able to enjoy the renovated BRT transit along Colfax.

Capitol view remodeled unit

 

Brought to you by Chat CPT and Senior Housing Options

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