Stan D.
Yelp
I was surprised how much I liked this place. It is still a work in progress, but I love that this old, historic building is being used for this purposed, and being kept alive. The woodwork inside is classic, beautiful, and worth the visit. The place has obviously been remodeled some since its Victorian days, but all the upgrades are done in good taste combining both modern comfort, and Victorian charm. The owners are good about keeping the classic "feel" of the Inn while using it as a bed and breakfast.
We we went, we had almost unlimited access to the entire property, and were given a tour by the owner, Chris Chiari who was gracious enough to share what he knew about the history of the place, the history of its owners, and his plans for the future. I probably knew about the Election of 1876, but I never really connected how Thomas M. Patterson affected that election, even if it wasn't the way he wanted to. I also found out that Patterson was a volunteer in the Civil War, serving in the 11th Indiana Volunteers on an initial three month enlistment. It was interesting to me to find out that this unit was a "Zouave" unit, and fought at the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and Shiloh, but Patterson isn't mentioned in any reports of that, and he probably didn't see action. He mustered out in 1862, and went to law school before his political ambition brought him to Denver.
The nice thing about this "Castle," (the owner prefers to call it a "Castle," and I concur"), is it's prime location. It is very near what used to be Denver's Millionaire's Row, and is easy walking distance from many interesting mansions constructed around the same time. There is a lot of history in a small space. There are also a lot of good restaurants serving just about anything you would like to eat, including excellent vegan and vegetarian options. It's also easy walking distance to the Capitol, and did walk over there just as session was starting.
The website notes "free parking," they don't say much about that. There are Three spaces right by the carriage house to the North side along 11th, but those fill up fast, and they are on first come, first served basis. There is a loading area right by those spaces on the street where you can drop off your luggage, and drive over to Grant Street to park for free. The Inn has six or more reserved spaces at the Grant Street lot, and the Inn will give you a placard to put in your window so you don't get towed. It's an easy walk back to the Inn.
Note that the Bar has limited hours, and it is in the large carriage house to the West of the main building. The hours are 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and you will be treated to great stories if Chris is behind the bar. The former bar in the basement is not open at this time, and it is being converted into a smoking den. While staying here, be sure to take the history walk that includes, (among others), The Cresswell House, The White-Peabody Mansion, The Pennborough, The Dunning-Benedict Mansion,The Sheedy Mansion, The Molly Brown House, The State Capitol, and The Charline," Each of these has great history attached, and this is possibly Denver's most historic neighborhood when you include Cheesman Park and the Botanical Gardens.
I highly recommend this Inn/Castle for anyone, but especially those particularly interested in history, and Victorian architecture. There is an elevator for those who cannot climb the stairs, but I found the stairs to be more enjoyable, and an easy climb.