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An old sign above the antique marble drinking fountain in the lobby at the historic Hotel Boulderado proudly proclaims “pure cold water from the Boulder owned Arapahoe glacier.” This sign is but one of many links to the rich Victorian past of this first luxury hotel in Boulder located at 2115 13th St., one block from Boulder’s popular Pearl Street Pedestrian Mall. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Hotel Boulderado has been meticulously restored to its original early 20th century grandeur. The elegance of the lobby's stained glass ceiling, cantilevered cherry staircase, antique and reproduction furnishings provide the feel of the past while providing the comfort for today's discriminating traveler.

Victorian charm has never left Hotel Boulderado. Today newly wed couples descend gracefully down the grand cherry wood staircase after their weddings on the mezzanine. Each year over 130 couples choose the Hotel Boulderado for their weddings, according to Tracey Kirk, director of sales and marketing. She points out that the hotel becomes a gathering place for leisure guests on weekends while business people utilize the hotel during the week for both meetings and lodging. The hotel has a full range of guest services and modern amenities, including digital phone lines and a 24-hour business center. The hotel can host meetings from 10-200 people and receptions up to 300. 

Its colorful past
The Hotel Boulderado, which opened on New Year’s Day 1909, was named for the words "Boulder" and "Colorado" so that no guest would forget where he or she had stayed. To provide its guests with every human comfort all bedrooms were fitted with light fixtures that ran on both natural gas and electricity.
Funds were raised for the hotel’s construction by selling $100 stocks to local businessman, thus making it historically significant for its involvement in the community. The lobby reflects the age in which the hotel was built. Many of the furnishings are antique, including a coat rack and 1815 hall clock. The original 1906 elevator with a sliding iron gate still carries guests to upstairs rooms. Its safety is assured through regular inspections.
Boulder was “dry” when the hotel opened, and no liquor was sold within the city limits for 60 years. The Catacombs, Boulder’s first bar, opened in 1969 in the hotel’s basement.
Early guests included conservationist Enos Mills, poet Robert Frost, actress Ethel Barrymore, actor Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. and Wild West gambler Bat Matterson. In recent years, the hotel has attracted the rich and famous, such as Robert Redford, Shirley Chisholm, Phil Donahue and Charles Kuralt.
Dining and guest facilities
This grand hotel has grown from 42 to 160 rooms since two multi-million dollar expansions in 1985 and 1989. The Spruce Room is located on the lobby level of the hotel with the original storefront windows and renovated in an art deco theme. Many of the guest rooms and suites feature magnificent views of Boulder and the Rocky Mountains. The hotel has a four-star restaurant, two bars, and a unique gift shop.

Q's Restaurant was awarded the Mobil Four Star award, superior ratings in the Zagat survey, and the Denver Post’s four stars for food, service and ambiance. In the elegant dining room, Chef John Platt and his staff serve delicious contemporary American cuisine, adding their own creative spark, dynamic style and artful presentation. Seasonal menus feature fresh seafood, meat, game and vegetarian dishes. A salad of organically grown Boulder County greens accompanies all dinner entrees. The wine list is comprised of an eclectic array of American and International selections. Private rooms are available for meetings and celebrations. It is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Reservations are recommended, especially for its popular brunches on Saturday and Sunday.
The Corner Bar provides an ideal location for a quick lunch, a lively happy hour, late-night meal, local beers or perfectly poured martini. The menu, by Chef John Platt of Q's Restaurant, features fresh salads, superb sandwiches, unique pastas and appetizers served in the dining room or outdoors on the patio. Signature dishes include the mango BBQ shrimp salad and the sumptuous salmon sandwich. Food items are served 11:30 am to midnight Monday through Friday and 2 p.m. to midnight every Saturday and Sunday.
The famous Catacombs Bar, one of the first liquor licensed bars in Boulder, is open from 4:30 p.m. to 1:30 am Monday-Friday, and 7:30 p.m. to 1:30 am Saturday-Sunday. Live blues jam every Monday and music showcase on Wednesday-Saturday. Bar menu is available until midnight.
Only moments away from the many activities in and around the city, Hotel Boulderado is located in Boulder's downtown historic district containing many fine restaurants and electric boutiques. The hotel provides more than just history—it gives one a view of a bygone era. For reservations or more information, call 303/332-4378 or visit HOTEL BOULDERADO.

Hotel Boulderado filled with Victorian charm
By Margaret Malsam