Manitou Springs Favorites

Favorite thing:
The town of Manitou Springs grew up around the gold mines in the Pikes Peak area in the late 1850s. The structure that became the 20-room boarding house known as "The Inn" originally was a stagecoach stop on the route from Colorado Springs to Leadville, one of the most famous stagecoach runs of the American West.

In 1886 Edward E. Nichols, who came to Manitou Springs to fight tuberculosis, bought The Inn, renaming it The Cliff House and converting it to a sophisticated resort hotel that capitalized on the sparkling waters and mineral springs in the region. In the 30 years that followed the founding of the Manitou Bath House Company, Nichols expanded the hotel from 20 rooms to 56, and eventually to 200.

(to be continued - see next tip)

Fondest memory:
Address: 306 Cañon Avenue
Phone: 719-685-3000
Cliff House Website

Favorite thing:
California real estate developer James S. Morley bought The Cliff House at Pikes Peak in 1981, turning the historic building into a 42-unit apartment building. But in its second disaster of the century, the building caught fire in March, 1982, the fourth floor roof sustaining so much damage it had to be replaced. In addition, the interior was stripped of all plumbing, plaster and floor coverings. The water damage sustained from the fire was so extensive as to threaten the very existence of the building, so immediate action was taken to preserve what remained. Due to the local economy, the building stood vacant for 16 years.

In 1997, Morley committed to the restoration, vowing to restore the hotel to its original distinction and fame, preserving the Rocky Mountain Victorian architecture of the 1800s, but incorporating 21st Century state-of-the-art technology and amenities. $9 million worth of restoration, refurbishing, and loving care have realized this vision.

Address: 306 Cañon Avenue
Phone: 719-685-3000
Cliff House Website

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Favorite thing:
This was the Historic Building of Manitou Spa, a resort place with mineral springs and bathes. For long time it was shut down without any use. Although it still looked nice outside, you could have noticed the desperate condition of its inside. In 2006 the building’s restoration began, and now the ground floor is taken by café, and I am not sure what will be on other floors.

Fondest memory:
I really regret that this spa is not popular anymore, because I deeply believe in healing effect of mineral waters, and it would be good to have such spa nearby.

Favorite thing: Jean Baptiste Francolon, a French Roman Catholic priest, became the parish priest of Manitou Springs in 1893. After a pilgrimage to Rome in 1894, Francolon began building Miramont Castle, incorporating nine styles of architecture from memories of his family home and travels with his diplomat father. The four story building was constructed mostly of Manitou greenstone.

Francolon and his mother, moved into the Castle in 1896. They lived there until 1899, when tget abruptly left the area and sold the property to The Sisters of Mercy, who opened a sanitarium there in 1904. The institution closed in 1928; thereafter only visiting Sisters from other parishes stayed at Miramont.

In 1946, Miramont was sold and converted into apartments. By July 1976, the Manitou Springs Historical Society purchased the derelict property and restored it with the help of many local volunteers.

Castle Opened:
Memorial Day – Labor Day 9 am to 5 pm Tue-Sun
Labor Day – Memorial day 10 am to 4 pm Tue-Sun.

Address: 9 Capital Hill Avenue (take turn up Ruxton Ave on the corner with Stratton spring (Girl’s sculpture)).

Phone 719-685-1011

Miramont Castle Web Site

Favorite thing: A condo complex on the photo was built just recently. Downstairs have stores and upstairs residential apartments. Those condos cost enormous money, something around $400-500 grand, mostly because of the expensive store square footage downstairs.

Favorite thing:
Now it is not a bank, but a souvenir shop. Stays on its own, however, in old times, it was surrounded by other buildings. The check books, bank stamps, and other bank stuff you can see at Miramont Castle Museum, Manitou Springs, in the bedroom of priest’s mother, Marie Francolon de Beaulieu.

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Favorite thing: Manitou's first library was established in 1900, in the Parish House of the St. Andrews Episcopal Church. The Reverend E.C. Bonell, rector of the church, organized a club of twelve women, including several from each church in the town of Manitou Springs. Now library has own building.

Canon Ave & Manitou Ave

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Favorite thing:
Jerome Wheeler donated this clock in 1889 for the opening of the Manitou Mineral Water Bottling Company. The clock, cast in Italy, was also a fountain. Water flowed from stylized dolphin heads into bowls; the lower bowls allowed a drink. The statue on top is of the goddess Hygeia, daughter of Aesclepius, Greek god of health and medicine.

Wheeler was a vice president of the family business, New York’s Macy’s department store, until coming west in 1883 for Mrs. Wheeler health. Wheeler became a millionaire from Leadville and Aspen mining investments. He founded banks in Aspen, Colorado City, and Manitou Springs, helped organize the Manitou Mineral Water Company, the Colorado City Glass Factory, the Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway, and the Colorado Midland Railroad. Wheeler lost much of his fortune in the 1893 Silver Panic and its ensuing lawsuits.