This month’s “Preferred Vendor of the Month” is the historic Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens.
When we met Walter & Julie, it was love at first sight – we liked them instantly! They are always a pleasure to work with as they really care about their guests and clients, and make every event a meaningful one. We always look forward to every chance we get to work with them and photograph at their incredible venue. It really is a sight to behold and if you haven’t been there, you’re missing out!
It’s been 20 years since Walter bought the Mansion and we want to wish him and Julie a very special HAPPY ANNIVERSARY – you’ve done a really beautiful job on making The Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens absolutely breath-taking!!!
“The mansion was built in 1890 by John Mouat, a Scottish immigrant who had amassed a fortune in lumber. Between 1889 and 1892, the Mouat Lumber company built over 200 buildings in Denver, helping to transfer the town from a mining camp to the glittering city that it would become. Built along Cherry Creek, overlooking the rowdy mining camp below, Mouat built the “best” building for himself, his wife and five children.
Showcasing his finest “wares” in the 8,500 square foot mansion, each room featured a different type of wood varying from oak to cherry to sycamore, maple and more. With an eye for detail, every fire place mantle included distinct carvings and fine details. Wood in the dining room included numerous carved rosettes representing the varied species of trees used in the guest rooms, each which had its own private bath and a phone. The third floor, which the Mouat’s utilized to host lavish parties, featured a 20 foot pyramid ceiling and a shining maple floor. It was the largest and grandest house in the neighborhood.
Alas, like many historic buildings, the mansion passed through a number of hands through the decades until it finally was nothing more than a run down tenement building.
By the 1990’s the building was in such terrible shape that the city had condemned it. However, in 1991, the once glorious structure was saved by Walter and Julie Keller. Fully restored today, the Kellers went through the long and tedious process of removing the many years of neglect and restoring the building’s original grandeur. Today, it serves as the Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens, one of Denver’s most beautiful examples of Queen Anne architecture, plays host to weddings, murder mystery weekends and overnight guests.” (Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, © August, 2007)
