Daniels & Fisher

Historical landmark · Central Business District

Daniels & Fisher

Historical landmark · Central Business District

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1601 Arapahoe St, Denver, CO 80202

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Daniels & Fisher by Photo by Richard Cummins/age fotostock
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Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null
Daniels & Fisher by null

Highlights

The Daniels & Fisher Tower, an iconic 1910 clock tower in downtown Denver, boasts stunning architecture and panoramic views, making it a perfect venue for events and tours.  

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1601 Arapahoe St, Denver, CO 80202 Get directions

denver.org

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1601 Arapahoe St, Denver, CO 80202 Get directions

+1 303 877 0742
denver.org

Features

wheelchair accessible entrance

Last updated

Jul 24, 2025

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"This iconic clock towerbecame aDenver landmark when it was completed in 1910 as part of the Daniels & Fisher department store. Inspired bythe Campanile in Venice and designed by architect Frederick Sterner,the 20-story edifice was the tallest building west of the Mississippi when it was built(Seattle’s 484-feet-tall Smith Tower took the title in 1914). Guided trips into its interior are available through Historic Denver Walking Tours. The department store was demolished around the early 1970s, but the tower soldiers on alone,and serves as a space for weddings, corporate gatherings, parties, and occasional performances. Findsome laughter and entertainment on the weekends at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret in the tower's basement."

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Eric L

Google
The Daniels & Fisher building is a standout with its beautiful clock tower, elegant and full of historic charm. It’s a cool landmark right in the middle of downtown Denver. I stopped by in late April and, to my surprise, it was snowing! Made for a unique scene, though I do wish the weather had been a bit nicer.

Pravesh Vir Siddhu

Google
The iconic clock tower in in downtown Denver. At night, it looks mesmerizing when there is projection show on the building.

Aldis Rudzitis

Google
Beautiful tower from the outside and inside. Really nice view to the city and mountains. interesting history.

Mark N

Google
This just opened for self-guided tours this year. You start by taking the elevator to the 17th floor and you're welcomed by the caretaker. There are two 360 walk around areas with open views, views of the clock inside and outside. Definitely recommend.

Jeramia Valentine

Google
The Clocktower in Denver, officially known as the Daniels & Fisher Tower, is a stunning landmark that stands proudly at the heart of the city’s downtown area. Built in 1911, its classic Italian Renaissance design has made it a symbol of Denver’s architectural charm and historical significance. Once the tallest building west of the Mississippi, the tower continues to draw attention with its distinctive silhouette and intricate details. Positioned along the 16th Street Mall, a vibrant pedestrian-friendly promenade, the Clocktower truly serves as a centerpiece of activity in Denver. Its location makes it ideal for leisurely walks or even gliding along on scooters, as visitors can soak in the urban energy of the area. By day, the tower’s timeless design complements the bustling atmosphere of surrounding shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. What makes the Clocktower truly magical, however, is how it comes alive at night. Its nightly light projections transform the historic structure into a dynamic work of art, captivating everyone who passes by. Special occasions and events bring creative displays that highlight the beauty of the tower’s facade, making it a must-see spectacle for locals and tourists alike. Additionally, the interior hosts unique events, including tours and performances, giving visitors a chance to step inside and connect with Denver’s history in a meaningful way. Whether you’re a Denver native or just visiting, the Clocktower offers a perfect blend of historical charm and modern allure, serving as a focal point for both the city’s past and its lively present.

Onward TheyGo

Google
Visited: 30/06/2023 We didn't have long in Denver so walked around all the statues and other icons the city, which is super fun. This Clock Tower was really nice architecturally and stands-oout among the glass office complex buildings around it. It has a really pretty garden around the bottom too. Would have been nice to visit inside it if we had had the time.

Michael Wu PhD

Google
This iconic clock tower in the downtown Denver area is hard to miss. Especially after dark, there will be projection mapping light shows on the wall of this tower. If you're in the area at the right time, it's worth checking it out.

Curt Raffi

Google
A beautiful tower right on the 16th Street Mall. It was built in 1911 and was part of a department store called Daniels and Fisher. The store was demolished in 1971 but the tower was refurbished and turned into offices and condos.
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Robert S.

Yelp
Built as part of the Daniels & Fisher department store in 1910, the D&F tower was the tallest building between the Mississippi River and the state of California at the time of construction, at a height of 325 feet. The building was designed by the architect Frederick Sterner and modeled after The Campanile (St. Mark's Bell Tower) at the Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy. The 20-floor clock tower has clock faces on all four sides. A 2 1/2 ton bell occupies the top two floors of the building, above the observation deck. The tower is located within Denver's Skyline Park and the basement level has been home to the Clocktower Cabaret entertainment venue since 2006. The tower was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 3, 1969. At night this building is lit up with a nice laser light show on its southern facade. It's a landmark in the Denver night skyline.
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Bruce K.

Yelp
Beautiful classic structure in downtown Denver that I knew nothing about before I saw it. So there was really no way for me to make advance arrangements for a tour of the building. Serious bummer because it's really lovely. I love "getting high" and this would have been awesome. If you're part of a group and you know in advance that you're coming to Denver, make arrangements through http://historicdenver.org/tours-events/walking-tours/. And when you do the tour, let me know how it goes.
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Daniel S.

Yelp
Once upon a time the tallest building in Denver and west of the Mississippi River stood at the northeast corner of 16th and Arapahoe Street. It is the Daniels & Fisher Tower (abbreviated D&F Tower) which towers above this very corner today. The D&F Tower story began in 1911 when the Architect Frederick Sterner's workers completed it. Standing at 325 feet (some sources state it is 330 feet), Frederick Sterner designed the tower after the Campanile (also called the St. Mark's Bell Tower) in Venice, Italy. The D&F Tower would tower over the Campanile by two feet. Although it would be the tallest building west of the Mississippi for a few years and in Denver for forty years, on December 3, 1969; the tower made National Register of Historic Places status and is a historic landmark today. For over a century its Renaissance Revival architecture has been an inspiration to History and architect buffs. From the top of the flagpole at 375 feet above the 2 & 1/2 ton bell to the Denver soil, the twenty story D&F Towers resemblance to the Campanile is astonishing. The similarities include terra cotta and brick, four faces of Seth Thomas clocks, and cornices. As the story goes, Frederick Sterner did not design D&F Tower for philanthropic reasons. The owners of Daniel & Fisher Department Store commissioned him to design the tower as part of their new location. In 1910, when the attached 400,000 square foot department center part opened, commerce was shifting from Larimer to 16th Street. Up until 1957 the department store stood at this location. In this time May Department store took over. They were looking for greener pastures south on 16th Street. They would relocate to Zeckendorf Plaza. It looked like a bad ending for D&F Tower. The urban renewal movement was sweeping across the country. Its weapon the wrecking ball had already demolished the attached department store. The wrecking ball threatened D&F Tower. Thanks to preservationists, D&F Tower was saved and it has lived happily ever after. From reading the previous paragraph, I need not mention that I am a city historic landmark aficionado. I cherish spending time just admiring historical and charming landmarks such as the D&F Tower. Whenever I strolled down the 16th Street Mall or perpendicular Skyline Park, I was captivated by the Campanile of Denver. The Renaissance Revival architecture is a striking contrast to the modern towers surrounding it. It reminds me of the time I spent by the Water Tower in Chicago taking in this charming historic tower surrounded by modern skyscrapers. Living in Las Vegas, it reminds me of the Campanile at the Venetian Resort & Casino. It also reminds me of Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom. Just like the famous Magic Kingdom landmark, the majority of people experience D&F Tower by looking at it instead of going inside. From my understanding, there is limited access for the general public to go inside. Based on my post-vacation research, April is the prime time to visit the observation deck and throughout the year, private reserved tours are the other means. On account of the limited accessibility, I did what I have done by Cinderella's Castle. I walked the surrounding sidewalks concurrent to snapping away at my camera. The best views are from the miniature golf course at Skyline Park. It is a neat sight taking in a 325 foot D&F Tower rising above a miniature Union Station and State Capitol Building framed by pine trees. The best time of day to capture D&F Tower is at sundown when the upper levels illuminate purple. The time that I spent taking in D&F Tower added to my quality of vacation time in the Mile High City. Speaking of quality time, there is a nearby Starbuck's off the 16th Street Mall that has an outdoor patio overlooking the tower. However, if you are not up for quality coffee, there are several quality eateries in the shadow of the tower. It is only two blocks southeast of Larimer Square that is home to some quality eateries and offthe 16th Street Mall that is home to several. It towers above a prime downtown location close to many of the city's attractions and the Union Station light rail lines making it convenient to many visitors. When in downtown Denver, I highly recommend setting aside some time to take in the charming and historic architecture of the Campanile of Denver.
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Erin W.

Yelp
I am a local Denver wedding photographer and I was selected to photograph a wedding here in September. A few weeks before the wedding, I met with the owner and the couple at the tower to preview the space. I was completely blown away! The venue (Clock Tower Events) is comprised of the 4-5 top floors in the tower and give you a beautiful 360 view of Denver as well as an inside view of the clock. Due to these unique elements, I was able to capture tons of creative shots of the couple both inside and outside on the balcony. Not only is it a beautiful space, but all staff that I worked with was kind and willing to help however they could. If you are looking for a unique venue in the heart of Denver, I would highly recommend checking it out!
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Anton K.

Yelp
Completed in 1912, the Daniels and Fisher Tower was originally a centerpiece department store and the highest building west of the Mississippi River when it was first built. It is 372' tall. The design was inspired by the Campanile in Saint Mark's Square in Venice. It's on the National Registry of Historic Places since 1969 and is located prominently on the 16th Street pedestrian mall in Denver. There is an elevator for the first 17 floors which are occupied by permanent residents. The remaining 4 floors are used to host weddings, other events and the clock which was designed by Seth Thomas who also designed the clock in Grand Central Terminal. There is an observation deck which gives you a 360 degree view of Denver. The upper rooms are uniquely designed but small. The wrought iron stairs which take you from the 17th to the 20th floor are another feature. The 21rst floor spiral staircase is inaccessible to tourists. Public tours are available at $15. If you go online there is a virtual tour of the 17th-21rst floors but does not give you the experience of seeing the clock or walking out onto the observation deck which is a grand view. The basement is occupied by "Zannies Clock Tower Cabaret".
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Patrick S.

Yelp
Great place for a party! Recently went to a friend of a friend of a friends 40 something birthday party! If you need to throw yourself a party and you have the money to waste do it here for hell sakes! The top 4-5 stories are open space and can be rented for social events...you can walk out onto the balcony below the clocks and get a great 360 degree view of downtown Cowtown! It's a sweet view... You take an elevator up above the housing levels and open into the tower from which you climb 2 levels of wrought-iron stairs to the main party room...it's fun and scenic, a little cramped but definitely different! My major turn on is the exterior architecture and it's connection to a by-gone era of Denver! It definitely adds some flair and fun to 16th Street and is just another monument to Denver's individuality!
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Zack T.

Yelp
We had an exceptionally beautiful wedding here, there are lots of odd aspects to the venue (e.g. only has stairs, uneven floors, only one bathroom, little room for the caterers, few electric plugs, AC is fairly weak, difficult to find parking near the venue, etc) but the only problem which frustrated any efforts to fix or prepare for was the unprofessionalism of the venue's employees. Jodi and Bart are very nice people but by the end I disliked trying to work with them. 1. They ignored efforts to contact them. After we had paid for the venue it took about 5 calls on average to get a hold of them, no message I left was ever returned. 2. They lied to us. The building's common meeting room on the 14th floor is available for the bride to get ready in, but it needs to be reserved one month in advance. We came in person and called weeks in advance and each time were told the room was reserved for us. Three days before the event Jodi called my wife and told her someone else had reserved the room. It was incredibly frustrating. + Beautiful, unique venue - Unproffesional staff Our wedding was amazing here but I wouldn't use it again, the stress of working with the staff wasn't worth it.
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Dustin G.

Yelp
This old historic building has some real character, and is almost always empty. A very tall and slender clock tower, which totally seems Edgar Allen Poe to me, this building is located off of the 16th street mall, and has Lannie's Cabaret in the basement. When I went in through the cool looking brass revolving doors, it was empty, minus the cleaning dude. So it seems that the building has seen some busier times. In any case there was a plaque explaining the building's historical significance (which I won't bore you with here),and all that. If you are in the region - which seeing as how it is along the 16th street mall you probably will be - take 5 and check it out.
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Melissa Z.

Yelp
We were planning our wedding in Denver from Houston and I was elated when my fiance suggested the Clock Tower on 16th Street Mall. I went to college in Denver and this was my stomping grounds. The venue itself is gorgeous and I love the historic background. We had to pay the full amount as a deposit to reserve the space for the wedding and reception, which was non-refundable. The price was comparable to what we would have paid to book separate spaces for the ceremony and reception, and saved us a lot of logistics with coordination of two locations. We had the 17th floor through the 21st floor to use with our booking. We were also given access to the 14th floor to use as the bridal suite. The elevators go up to the 17th floor only, and from there you take the stairs because they are unable to put an elevator in for the higher floors. The ceremony was held on the 18th floor. The capacity for seated guests was 60, and it was pretty tight. We lucked out, and of the 125 guests we invited, less than 50 showed up - making it the perfect space for our event. The venue is set to go with a sound system that worked great for our small crowd. We brought in an iPod with our ceremony and reception music and Bart played DJ for us. They were also very accommodating because I wanted to use YouTube to do Live Event so our friends that couldn't make it could watch the event in real time. We bought a 100 foot Ethernet cable and ran it from the 14th floor to the 18th floor so I could set up my laptop with an external microphone and camera. It was the first time a live event had been streamed in the venue and it turned out really well! Jodi of Clock Tower Events helped us coordinate everything and worked with our vendors. She is very sweet and easy to work with. We hired her for day of services at a very reasonable fee of $400. We used Bistro Boys Catering and they worked with us to come up with a menu that would be easily consumed while standing and moving since the space was not conducive to a seated dinner for the amount of guests we had. The views we enjoyed during the reception with the sunset were phenomenal. Jodi recommended Dave of Camara Photography, who has shot at the venue on multiple occasions, and our photos turned out gorgeous! We had shots in the venue, in the belfry and on 16th street. We couldn't have been more pleased. There were only a few small glitches to the day: 1. There was no full length mirror in the bridal suite on the 14th floor while we got ready. We were all trying to use a small mirror in the bathroom that was hard to get in front of because the toilet was in the way. 2. The cake was put in the wrong location on the 18th floor and did not include the decorations we had brought to be used with it. 3. The music during the ceremony had some delays because Jodi would signal down from the 18th floor to Bart on the 17th floor (another Clock Tower employee) when to play the music and he had some difficulty with the iPod. Overall, it was a huge success. We were very happy with the entire event and would recommend the venue and Jodi's services to others. I can't imagine a more perfect place for my wedding. All of our guests were really pleased with the entire experience and said it was one of the most memorable weddings they've ever been to. My official rating is 4.5/5 stars.
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Savannah K.

Yelp
The Clock Tower in and of itself is a beautiful, stunning venue. However, the staff leave much to be desired. I booked my wedding pretty far in advance, and when time came to start getting back in touch with the staff to get everything in place for the wedding, it took a month of relentless calling and emailing to get any sort of answer back. This problem of extremely disjointed communication continued up until about two months before my wedding, which was pretty stressful. It turned out that the Clock Tower had also changed its policy on decorating between the time when I had booked and when my wedding was - while I had paid for it, apparently they no longer offered that service. While they agreed to honor this part of the contract in the end, it took more effort on my part than should have been required and unfortunately I had an extremely subpar experience. First, I had to do not one, but two walk throughs. The first one I spent about an hour walking around with the house manager with all my vendors, going over a detailed list of decoration instructions. The manager was extremely disinterested and brushed off all concerns, saying he does this all the time, and everything would look fine. The vendors even expressed their concerns afterwards about how apathetic he had been. Then about two weeks before my wedding, I was called by another staff member asking why I hadn't done a walkthrough yet. I explained that I had, but apparently on their end nothing had been written down. I emailed my detailed decoration instructions a second time and arrived early on my rehearsal day to do yet another run down. Despite these two walkthroughs, detailed prior instructions, and my questioning of the staff on whether they had any questions, I still received a call at 3 pm on my wedding day saying that they didn't understand the instructions, and that a lot of the things I had asked for (such as fairy lights to be wrapped around railings) could not be accommodated due to power concerns, etc. This would have been great to know before I dropped money on decorations that could not be used. My parents had to rush down on their daughter's wedding day to help a family friend who had volunteered as a day of wedding coordinator and spend a good portion of their time directing the staff and helping them set up. The reason I paid for decoration set up and break down was so my family could spend time with me - not setting up decorations. While my parents said the staff did their best to be helpful once they arrived, and while their mannerisms were always polite and helpful, I feel it was a situation that could have been avoided entirely by simply paying attention. Did it look good in the end? Yes, I'm sure my pictures will be beautiful. But unfortunately I feel one of the most lingering memories I'll have of my wedding is the stress of that call and sadness I felt that my parents were busy setting up decorations instead of spending time with me.
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Christina E.

Yelp
If you're having a special event, check out the Daniels and Fisher Tower. We attended a Holiday Party there this year, and it was fabulous. You can book events on the 17th floor and above, and this party spanned all of them. The floors above 17 are only accessible by stairs, but walking up the different floors lead to separate rooms that were all unique and incredibly cool. We were behind the clocks on some, and able to walk out to a narrow walkway on others to take in the amazing views of the city. The 21st floor had a spiral staircase that we couldn't climb, leading to the tippy-top of the tower, and from there we could enjoy the chimes when the hours changed. It was awesome. From the inside or the outside, this is a beautiful downtown Denver landmark has amazing charm and character. It's one of my favorite historical landmarks in Denver.
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Tasha B.

Yelp
The D&F Clock Tower is very unique and provides a beautiful backdrop for the wedding ceremony, which is held on the 18th floor where the clock faces are. Our wedding of 60 guests worked ok in the space. The ceremony floor isn't large enough to provide seating for all 60 guests so we opted to do partial seating (for ~20 guests) & standing room for everyone else. The con of this approach was that several of our guests who were standing near the back of the room said they couldn't see the ceremony. We used the rest of the floors (18-20) for our reception and had food stations available on each floor. One of the reasons we choose this venue was so that guests could spread out and take advantage of each floor. One thing to note: The bar is setup on the 20th floor and the majority of our guests tended to stayed in this area - the space is tight so there was a bit of a challenge moving around on that floor. In terms of the venue, what you get is what you see. Our ceremony & pictures came out beautifully and our guests enjoyed the uniqueness of the Clock Tower. In terms of the staff, there could definitely be more engagement from start to finish. Our contact at the Clock Tower was Jodi and she seem disengaged throughout the entire process. I was constantly reaching out to Jodi to schedule my walk-throughs (both with the caterer and to discuss floor plan layout and decor) and for my rehearsal twice (the first time it was scheduled it was not put on the calendar). Also, the week of my wedding Jodi asked to postpone my rehearsal by 1 day. If Jodi happened to take notes during our any of our meetings, she often left them "at home" for any subsequent meetings. This meant I had to go over the same details again. Jodi also provided day-of coordination services, which should have included creation of the day-of timeline and coordination with all of the vendors. I had to negotiate a lower fee with her because she wasn't actually doing any of those activities. Post wedding, there has been no communication whatsoever from Jodi. As a venue point of contact I wouldn't expect any follow-up, but Jodi presents herself as a separate business (Three-O-Three Event Planning). I would expect some type of post-event follow-up from a hired day-of coordinator. All in all - if you love the venue just know what you are getting into. You may have to do more leg work on your end to keep everything on track. I also wouldn't recommend hiring Jodi for day-of services.
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Sheila W.

Yelp
This is certainly one of the most recognized Denver landmarks in the downtown area. I think it is a very lovely tower with quite a history. I remember back in the 80s they used to drop things off it for radio promotions. Kind of strange, but I guess it was what you did in then.
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Rachael L.

Yelp
Despite many changes, this has always been a historic landmark of Downtown Denver! I vaguely remember coming here and shopping with my Mom when I was little. It was a department store then and I remember eating in the cafe on one of the upper floors. A little history if I may! "William B. Daniels and William Fisher opened a five-story department store in 1864. After travelling to Venice, Italy, Daniels became mesmerized by the Renaissance architecture and wanted a reminder of the beauty in Denver. He decided to build a structure modeled after the Campanile (St. Mark's Bell Tower) at the Piazzo San Marco in Venice, Italy. Construction of the clock tower began in 1910 and finished in 1912. The tower prided itself in being the highest structure west of the Mississippi River at the time, standing at 325 feet."
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Lonna M.

Yelp
I was very disappointed. My fiance and I wanted to book this venue for our wedding. I e-mailed on January 11th and called two different days after that and still haven't received a response. That would have been easy business.
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Jojo P.

Yelp
We had our wedding at the Clock Tower last month, and it was amazing! Such a beautiful place, and from start to finish, it was all wonderful! We used Gourmet Fine Catering per their recommendation, and the food and staff were wonderful. We hired the venue sales person to help tie everything together. She was really good at working with us on the price as we did not have a lot of extra money. Even though we did all our own planning she was so nice about being there for all of our questions. And it was so nice to have her (Jodi) on the our wedding day, and the few days before to make it all happen.
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Sherri S.

Yelp
We looked at the D&F tower as a possible wedding reception venue. The positives are the price, the staff, and the views. For $3000 for a reception venue that includes all of the tables and existing decor, it really can't be beat for a bride on a budget. Also, we found the communication and availability of both Holly and Jessie to be very open and flexible. They were easy to get a hold of via email and when we showed up 2 hours early for our tour (because of a misjudge of timing on an earlier appt), they easily accommodated us. Also, the 360 degree views of Denver and the Mountains is exceptional. The downsides were the space and set up as well as the overall outdated feel. While certain things about this venue are amazing (the clock background would make a perfect picture backdrop), there was a definite disconnect with the flow of the room. If you have a party of 25-50 people, it would probably work. But there was absolutely no way to get our party of 100 people onto one floor for the first dance or cake cutting. I've also been told that this venue is very difficult for caterers because of all of the stairs. The stairs are a open metal grate with traction, which made the idea of having a few drinks and climbing them in a long dress terrifying. Also, we went to look at this venue with our mothers and both had a really hard time with the height. There was a lot of looking up to climb more stairs that made everyone feel shaky. Regarding the needed maintenance, this is a very historic old building. The space itself could use a revamp, but there were large orange KEEP OUT signs on the center stairwell as well as caution tape in areas that made it feel a little grungy. I am sure they would remove it (maybe?) if a wedding party were to book the space. Overall, cool venue idea and the price was perfect, but it just did not fit our needs.