Crest House
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Crest House | |
|---|---|
 Crest House circa 1950 | |
 Interactive map of the Crest House area | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Organic, Futuristic, Art Moderne |
| Location | Mount Blue Sky, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39°35′19″N 105°38′34″W / 39.58861°N 105.64278°W |
| Elevation | 14,120 ft (4,304 m) |
| Construction started | 1940 |
| Completed | 1941 |
| Cost | $50,000 |
| Owner | U.S. Forest Service |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Edwin A. Francis |
| Main contractor | Justus "Gus" Roehling |
The Mount Evans Crest House is a building, now in ruins, located at the summit of Mount Blue Sky in Colorado. It is notable for both its significant architectural design and its unusual location. Built at the terminus of the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway, it was the highest business structure in the United States.[1] Constructed between 1940 and 1941, it served as a restaurant, gift shop and tourist attraction until it was partially destroyed by a fire in 1979.
Inspired by his first visit to Mount Blue Sky in the 1920s, carpenter and German immigrant Justus "Gus" Roehling dreamed of constructing a "Castle in the Sky" for his then girlfriend (and future wife) Edith.
Financial backing was provided by Thayer Tutt (owner of similar attractions atop Pikes Peak and the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs), and Quigg Newton, future mayor of Denver.[2] With a design by notable Colorado architect Edwin A. Francis, ground was broken in the spring of 1940.
Roehling, his wife and his crew lived in tents at the Mt. Blue Sky Summit while construction was taking place. The extreme environment provided many challenges. No company would insure the building against loss or provide performance bonds during construction. Cold, damp conditions provided difficulties getting concrete to cure. All the materials had to be hauled to the summit or fabricated on site, and the high elevation afforded a building season limited only to summer months.[3]
With winter fast approaching, Roehling and his team were forced to abandon the uncompleted structure in fall of 1940. Upon returning in spring of 1941, Roehling found that much of the glass and woodwork had been destroyed during the hard alpine winter. Undeterred, Roehling and his team repaired the damage and completed construction by the fall of 1941.[3]
Crest House opened to much fanfare[according to whom?] in fall of 1941. Amenities provided to travelers by Crest House included a restaurant, gift shop, rest rooms, emergency oxygen, and an observation deck. It was particularly well known for its fried doughnuts, coffee, and hot chocolate.[citation needed] Early employees were Denver area college students on their summer break, who resided in bunks located in the rear of the building.[citation needed]
Thayer's Broadmoor Hotel Company operated the Crest House until 1956, when it was sold to the Stewart Corporation, which also operated the Pikes Peak Summit House. Under the terms of the original lease agreement, ownership reverted to the U.S. Forest Service in 1969.
