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In the mid-1970s the YMCA of the Rockies recognized the need for an auditorium and began making plans to explore the construction of a 300-seat auditorium along with a new conference dining room. Jim Bellatti, the chairman of the YMCA of the Rockies, who was also the president of the YMCA of the USA, extended an invitation to the YMCA World Alliance to host a meeting at the YMCA of the Rockies. This was the impetus the Estes Park camp needed to begin construction on a new auditorium. Walter G. Ruesch, the managing director of the Estes Park camp (1950-1980), began an aggressive fundraising campaign - even asking donors to donate money for a seat. Donor's names were engraved on a brass plaque and affixed to the arm.Dedicated in 1980 and named after Walter G. Ruesch, the Ruesch Auditorium has hosted many large conferences groups from around the world, including the 8th (1981) and 18th (2014) Meetings of the World Alliance of YMCAs, the 100th Anniversary of YMCA camping, and a 1987 meeting of the World Wilderness Congress.In 2008-2010, the Ruesch Auditorium underwent major renovations with the addition of the new Assembly Hall and the reconstruction of the north side facade of the building to better match the Western Stick architectural theme of our YMCA.

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Ruesch Auditorium is dedicated to Walter G. Ruesch, who served as the Managing Director from 1950-1980. The original building was dedicated in 1980, and was built to accommodate large groups. From 2008-2010, the building was updated by adding a gallery façade and the outdoor Aspen Dining area. It was also expanded with the addition of the Assembly Hall, a modern conferencing facility for meetings and events serving up to 1300 people. The conference hall serves groups large and small with flexible meeting spaces.

YMCA of the Rockies- Ruesch Auditorium

This tour explores several of the historic buildings located at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. Day passes to the site can be purchased from the Programs Office located in Sweet Memorial. This is an easy, fairly flat walking tour. If you decided to add Mountainside Lodge to the tour, be prepared for a steep hike. Mountainside Lodge can be accessed from the top of Bible Point and is situated at the base of Emerald Mountain. Please keep in mind that Mountainside is often reserved for private events and not open to the public.  We hope you enjoy this beautiful and historic walk that captures not only the history of the YMCA of the Rockies but also the history of tourism and architecture of the area. While you are here, please enjoy the natural landscapes of this beautiful, uplifting location. Don't forget to bring water!

Before becoming Hyde Chapel, this building was used as a classroom, conference room, program space, and as a place of worship. Originally built in 1913 as an assembly hall for participants attending the summer education camps, wings were added to each side of the building five years later to provide space for increasing attendees. Pattie Hyde Barclay, the youngest daughter of A.A. Hyde, a long time supporter of the YMCA of the Rockies, funded renovations of the assembly hall. Her condition was that it not only be named after her father, but that it also reflected his values and personal mission, which was inspired by Andrew Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth and the Sermon on the Mount. Hyde Memorial renovations were completed in 1956 with the addition of a chancel, a bell tower, and a small prayer chapel,dedicated to the memory of H.L. Dannen, downstairs. Henry Dorsey Jr. provided the finishing touches to the renovations by donating a bell he nick-named "Duke." However, much like the earlier building, Hyde Memorial was a multi-purpose building holding conferences and meetings as well as religious services. To establish the focus on spiritual programming, a full time chaplaincy was founded in 1994 with the appointment of Rev. Bill Huth. He set a goal to renovate Hyde and restrict its use to religious services and spiritual programming. On November 7, 1999, renovations began again on Hyde Memorial. New siding, insulation, and windows and state of the art music equipment were included. It was completed in the summer of 2000 and dedicated and renamed Hyde Chapel in 2001.

  Originally the Assembly Hall, the building was renovated to create a space to focus on practicing faith. Since 1956, Hyde Chapel has held  church services and other religious activities at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park.  It is named after A.A. Hyde, the inventor of Mentholatum and philanthropist who played an important role at the YMCA.  The chapel reflects the principals and values of Hyde, who believed that exploring nature could deepen one's faith and find their calling to serve God and their community. 

YMCA of the Rockies- Hyde Chapel

The Administration Building was designed by Colorado architect Thomas P. Barber in 1910. Barber was well known for his ecclesiastical and municipal buildings in Colorado Springs and around the state. He designed several churches in Denver, Longmont, Montrose, and Trinidad Colorado. The builder hired to construct the Administration Building was Fred Beckstrom of Boulder. Beckstrom may have been the builder associated with the Hotel Boulderado built in 1907 in Boulder. The Administration Building was designed in the Western Stick style, which was mirrored after the Adirondack camp style buildings found on the East Coast. These styles used locally sourced natural materials to create a rustic getaway from the rapidly industrializing cities. The Western lodges found throughout the western national park system developed their own distinct rustic style using pine logs and local stone. The Administration Building at the YMCA of the Rockies is a very good example of this style. The interior of the building, while still retaining the natural stone features, wooden floors, and log pillars was updated in the 1940s to include knotty pine paneling - a popular architectural feature of the 1940s and 1950s. Go to the East end of the interior of the building to find a memorial of Sampson hanging over the fireplace. Sampson was a resident bull elk who grazed on the YMCA grounds for almost 6 years. The YMCA of the Rockies is a sanctuary for our local wildlife because hunting is illegal on our grounds. In 1995, Sampson was hunted from a truck with a cross-bow and the hunter was prosecuted. Donors funded a life-size sculpture which now stands at the intersection of highways 36 and 7 in downtown Estes Park.  Outside the Y Kids Statue stands to the northwest of the Administration Building and was sculpted by Jane DeDecker of Loveland, Colorado. It was installed for the Centennial Celebration of the YMCA of the Rockies in 2007. The sculpture consists of four children spelling out the letters Y M C A. The clothing of the children was designed to reflect the different styles of clothing worn throughout the century. The model was presented to the YMCA National Assembly. Several YMCAs wanted to have smaller versions made to recognize donors.  Behind the Administration Building you will find the Jellison Library. At the YMCA of the Rockies, there has been a library or lending library since the mid - 1920’s. The library was dedicated in July, 1964. In 2018 the children's section, which comprises the downstairs area, was refurbished. In 2019, a new entry to the children's library was landscaped and handicap parking was made available at the upper level. Notice the nearby Women's Building. By the early 1920s women and children represented as many numbers as did men attending Summer Conferences. The wives formed a Women’s Auxiliary and raised funds for the building. Led by Mrs. Henry Kallenberg and Mrs. Henry Dorsey, the women raised all but $1000 needed to complete the construction.It was first used in 1924 and became the center for child care and programming for women. This was the first day camp at the Estes Park Y. Today the YMCA of the Rockies has the distinction of having the oldest continuously operated YMCA day camp in the United States. In the Mid-1920s, representatives of the various YMCA state organizations that attended the summer student conferences raised funds for their own state cabins where they could hold meetings during the conference. The Texas cabin is good example of those early cabins.

Built in 1910 for $9,200, the Administration Building was originally used for social gatherings and dining. Notice the Western Stick style of architecture on the front side of the roof and over sized windows. In 1949, there was an addition of knotty pine paneling to the interior and a Rustic Room soda fountain.
 
In 1977, there was a major renovation to winterize the building. In 1994, in another renovation, the Rustic Room was removed and the General Store and restrooms were added. In 1995, the Rustic Café was added as a place to gather for ice cream and take-out food. 

YMCA of the Rockies - Administration Building

Built in 1911, the Walnut Room was originally intended to serve as a gymnasium and as a general meeting space. It is constructed using the Western Stick style. Western Stick was a popular architectural style in the late nineteenth century and is evident throughout the historic structures found at the YMCA of the Rockies. Western Stick mirrored the Adirondack Style found on the east coast and drew on the aesthetics of the day by using design elements found in nature. Logs and local stone were used to construct chalet-type structures set in a rustic and rural setting. The goal was to provide guests with a peaceful and regenerative experience far away from the rapidly industrializing cities. Look closely at the building and notice the extensions from the eaves with a "notch" at each end. This notch appears to be a trademark of the architect Thomas P. Barber who designed several buildings at the YMCA of the Rockies in the early twentieth century. Barber, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado was known for his work in designing churches, hotels, apartment buildings, and commercial structures. His more noticeable achievements included the city hall in Colorado Springs. Due to the success of the Y camp, the Walnut Room was converted to a dining hall in 1912, but following a major snow storm in December of 1913, which effected the whole region, the weight of snow piled on the dining room roof caused it to collapse. Despite the damage inflicted on the building, the dining room was ready for use by the summer of 1914. In the past, the basement of the Walnut Room has served as an arts and crafts studio, a beauty parlor, and now the association camp Post Office.

The Walnut Room is one of the oldest buildings at the YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park center and dates from 1911. Funded in part by A.A. Hyde to honor the first center director, Bruno Hobbs who tragically died in upstate New York, the Walnut Room was originally constructed to serve as the summer camp gymnasium before moving to become the camp dining room.

YMCA of the Rockies- The Walnut Room

In the mid-1970s the YMCA of the Rockies recognized the need for an auditorium and began making plans to explore the construction of a 300-seat auditorium along with a new conference dining room. Jim Bellatti, the chairman of the YMCA of the Rockies, who was also the president of the YMCA of the USA, extended an invitation to the YMCA World Alliance to host a meeting at the YMCA of the Rockies. This was the impetus the Estes Park camp needed to begin construction on a new auditorium. Walter G. Ruesch, the managing director of the Estes Park camp (1950-1980), began an aggressive fundraising campaign - even asking donors to donate money for a seat. Donor's names were engraved on a brass plaque and affixed to the arm. Dedicated in 1980 and named after Walter G. Ruesch, the Ruesch Auditorium has hosted many large conferences groups from around the world, including the 8th (1981) and 18th (2014) Meetings of the World Alliance of YMCAs, the 100th Anniversary of YMCA camping, and a 1987 meeting of the World Wilderness Congress. In 2008-2010, the Ruesch Auditorium underwent major renovations with the addition of the new Assembly Hall and the reconstruction of the north side facade of the building to better match the Western Stick architectural theme of our YMCA.

The Sweet Memorial building was constructed in 1960 and named after William Sweet. It became the permanent home of the Program Department. Prior to 1960, program activities were scattered throughout the camp and were crammed into any available space. For the first few years, Sweet Memorial also served as the winter office for the YMCA of the Rockies, as the main Administration Building was not winterized. Although the Sweet Memorial dates from the mid-twentieth century, it mirrors the Western Stick architectural style present throughout the camp and uses red sandstone, which is found along Highway 36 around Lyons and the St. Vrain River, as opposed to the river rock or gneiss rock found in other camp buildings. Inside, knotty pine paneling - a mid-century style - covers the walls, while the fire place is constructed from the same sandstone found on the exterior. William Sweet led a group of six hikers on a 25 mile journey from the Grand Lake Encampment over the Continental Divide, after having been elected President of the Board of Directors, to the original site of the Wind River Lodge. Look towards Mount Ypsilon: you will experience the same view that those men did. Do you see the 'Y' in the mountain? The story goes that Sweet proclaimed the "Y" as God’s message that the YMCA belonged in the vicinity. It was then, that he proposed the 1908 encampment be held at the Wind River Lodge however,others on the Board of Directors suggested returning to Grand Lake again for the 1908 Encampment. Sweet prevailed and the 1908 Encampment was held in Estes Park with 93 delegates attending from 9 states and even a delegate from Korea. It was a success and the following spring in 1909, the YMCA purchased 334 acres and various buildings from The Estes Park Land and Development Co. for $8,500.00, and the YMCA of the Rockies was launched.  The Sweet family continues to be a strong supporter of the YMCA of the Rockies.

This building was named after William E. Sweet, who was a successful investment banker in Denver Colorado. He was elected President of the Denver YMCA at age 22, joined the YMCA National Council at age 35, and was the 23rd governor of Colorado between 1922 and 1924. He pledged $25,000 towards constructing a YMCA building in Denver and was instrumental in establishing YMCAs across Colorado. Sweet attended the 1907 meeting of the Western Conference of the YMCA and led a small  group across the Continental Divide to the site of the Wind River Lodge, where he proposed the 1908 encampment meeting be held. 

YMCA of the Rockies - Sweet Memorial

The Lula W. Dorsey Museum structure began as a 1924 addition to the original Wind River Lodge.  When the lodge was slated for demolition in the late 1970s, Lula W. Dorsey, a long time supporter of the YMCA, provided funds to save a section of it for a museum. Lula Dorsey's connection with the YMCA dates back to 1918. Her family played important roles in the growth and modernization of the YMCA of the Rockies. The Estes Park location provided this Texas family with an escape from the heat in the summer, and all family members enjoyed the scenery and outdoor lifestyle. Lula Dorsey's father, Henry, constructed private cabins for his family, and both Lula and her brother Henry, Jr. donated money to modernize and construct new cabins and build amenities such as the Longhouse (indoor basketball courts, roller skating rink) and the swimming pool. The museum was just one of the many gifts left to us by the Dorsey family. The old Wind River Lodge was moved to the center of the camp in 1910 to provide accommodation for the conference goers, but by the early 1920s it was evident that more space was needed. The 1920s saw the expansion of car tourism and mobility and an increase in prosperity. This was the roaring twenties and people were on the move. The growth of local tourism, due to the opening of the Rocky Mountain National Park, meant more guests to the camp. The YMCA decided to upgrade the Wind River Lodge and added two new sections - a center addition and a new wing. Some of the original stick architecture was plastered over and a new roof line was added, but the new style retained some of the existing features - such as the wrap around porch and rustic log pillars. The new west wing included downstairs shower rooms, bathrooms, and living spaces, with more bedrooms upstairs.The west wing lodge addition was moved to its present location in 1977 and the museum officially opened in July of 1979. The center addition was also moved to become staff housing, but that too was demolished, like the original lodge, several years later. Today, the museum has created period rooms to represent the feel of early twentieth century lodge accommodation along with exhibits telling the history of the YMCA of the Rockies and its early founders. Behind the museum you will find three historic cabins, as well as the rock labyrinth.  The Labyrinth- In the rear of the museum complex is located The Labyrinth. This was a gift from the Messerschmidt Family in 2007-2008. The pattern of the path is a variation of the traditional one at the Chartres Cathedral. It is generally seen as a walking meditation. There is only one way in and the same way out.  Mariposa Cabin: Mariposa Cabin was built by the Estes Park Land and Investment Company as an expansion to the Wind River Lodge resort in 1905. It was constructed from scrap lumber and felled trees. Mariposa was moved along with the original Wind River Lodge in 1910. It served as staff housing, a barber and beauty shop, first aid station, and museum until it was moved to its present location in 1977. Cabin 40: Cabin 40 was built around 1910 and began life as a four room sleeping cabin with four separate entrances. The original outside walls were half wood and half canvas. Light was provided by Coleman gas lanterns and water was provided by a faucet located just outside the cabin door. Over the years the YMCA rustic cabins went through many transformations, from simple wood and canvas sleeping quarters into year-round two-bedroom family cabins. The museum staff rescued Cabin 40 in the winter/spring of 1996 when it was moved to its present location and remodeled into the style of a 1949 tourist cabin. Purple Finch: Purple Finch was built as tourist accommodations in 1905 by the Estes Park Land and Investment Company. It was originally located uphill from the Wind River Lodge. During its time, Purple Finch has served as administrative offices, staff housing, guest accommodations, and conference meeting spaces. In 2008 it was moved to its present location to serve as a space for museum programming.

The YMCA of the Rockies was established in 1907 and held its first conference at the site in 1908. The site contains many buildings - the earliest dating from 1905 and are built in the Western Stick style of architecture. The Estes Park Center is also home to the Lula W. Dorsey Museum, which details the history of the association and early inhabitants of the area. The museum is housed in a 1924 lodge addition to the 1902 Wind River Lodge, now demolished.

YMCA of the Rockies  - Lula W. Dorsey Museum.

A.A. Hyde became involved with the YMCA of the Rockies in 1908 when he attended the first annual conference at Wind River Lodge. Quickly thereafter, he joined the Board of Director and became one of the Y's most ardent supporters. In 1910, the board approved a broader scope for the camp by serving an expanded range of conferences and family vacationers and by offering programming beyond the leadership programs developed for YMCA leaders in the western conference. These major changes fundamentally changed the course of the camp to a conference center and family resort providing fellowship and friendship to all who followed Christian principals and practices. This move in focus spoke loudly to A.A. Hyde, who had a strong moral compass and a belief in equality and equity for all. Hyde was guided by the Sermon on the Mount and Andrew Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth. As a result of these influences, Hyde gave away 90% of his yearly earnings without regard to race, religion, or nationality. He built schools, overseas missions, and he sponsored young men to come to the United States to improve their education. When providing financial support, Hyde considered all projects that sought to improve the lives of all people, but each project needed to have a budget and merit. Much like modern grant applications today. In 1921, A.A. Hyde purchased 78 acres on the northern boundary of the YMCA camp from F.O. Stanley and deeded it to the camp. Hyde, however, had a vision for the land. As part of his personal philosophy and work in social justice, Hyde envisioned a space where Christian workers with small incomes could find accommodation at little or moderate cost and have the advantages of experiencing the inspirational features of the camp's environment. This vision came to fruition in the construction of Fellowship Park. For Hyde, Fellowship was a place where all people, of all faiths, and from all parts of the country, had the opportunity to develop the true spirit of fellowship and understanding. This planned communal living began to take shape in 1922 when Hyde oversaw the planning and layout of the site. Hyde chose a location near an expansive boulder, which had been deposited during the last glacier event. The rock, later named "Rock of Ages," had biblical implications and became the meeting place for Hyde's communal bible study groups in the evenings. The community house, which exhibits features from the arts and craft architectural style including a large porch and abundant windows, had one large living room, two bathrooms with showers, a kitchen and laundry area, and manager's quarters. Surrounding the main building of the property, Hyde built simple cabins known as the 'Mineral Cabins': Onyx, Agate, Granite, Crystal, Quartz, and Mica. These cabins were also fashioned after the arts and crafts style. Fellowship was a place for all people to stay for a small fee. In return, they were required to perform one hour of house work a day, attend nightly Bible Study at the rock, and abide by a strict code of conduct that was similar to "Leave no Trace" and included, don't harass birds or animals, don't pick the flowers, no camp fires outside designated areas, conserve water, and clean up your mess. Hyde not only cared about people but also nature. Today, the community house has been turned into a rental donor-supported cabin, but it still retains many of the exterior and interior features, such as the large front porch, roof line, and river stone fireplace. In 1926, A.A. Hyde built a companion lodge known as Friendship. Friendship was built in the western rustic style and is characterized by the exterior and interior use of local river stone from Glacier Creek, which runs near the property, rock debris from the last glacier, and logs felled on property. Friendship Lodge and Park are notable for the pair of duplex auto cabins and Hyde's foresight in recognizing the rise of auto tourism to Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park. Auto cabins were one-roomed cottages, joined together by a carport, and were equipped with a stove, table, chairs, and a folding bed. They provided tourists and conference attendees with an affordable place to stay while touring the West. Camping spots could be used for free provided those visitors attend bible study in the evening. As with Fellowship, Hyde also constructed Friendship next to an expansive glacial boulder where he would hold meetings in the summer. By the first season, a total of thirty-five people stayed at Friendship. Today, Friendship Lodge operates as the living quarters for senior female YMCA volunteer seasonal staff, and is also used by day camp attendees.

In 1921, A.A. Hyde purchased 78 acres of land,adjoining the YMCA on its northern boundary, from F. O. Stanley for $5,000. Hyde donated the land to the association on the understanding that it would be used to build accommodations affordable for all people. Out of this donation came Fellowship and Friendship - two lodges and an assortment of vacation accommodations for visitors to experience the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains.  

YMCA of the Rockies- Friendship and Fellowship

Guy LaCoste, who worked in the newspaper business in Denver as an editor for the Denver Post, visited Estes Park in the late 1890s where he recognized the growing popularity of Estes Park and its potential for the tourism industry. Determined to be part of this growth, LaCoste took advantage of the Homestead Act of 1862 and staked a claim for 360 acres east of Emerald Mountain. In order to fulfill the requirements of the act, LaCoste built a small dugout on the slope of Bible Point and moved his parents up to the property. While maintaining his newspaper career, LaCoste continued to purchase land as it came available, which resulted in his property growing to 1,000 acres total. In 1901, with partners George D. Sullivan and Arthur B. West, LaCoste incorporated the Estes Park Land and Investment Company with a stated purpose of buying, selling, and leasing real estate, and constructing hotels and inns. The company built the Wind River Lodge and it officially opened in the summer of 1902. Built in the rustic Western Stick style, familiar to the style found in the Adirondack camps on the East Coast, the lodge possessed a broad roof made of local timber, porch posts and railings made from local trees, and log siding made from native Ponderosa pines with the bark still intact. The aesthetic was that of a rustic building, despite being a framed construction. Overall, the Wind River Lodge was seen as a rustic manor used by the wealthy for relaxation and recreation in the mountains. Over several years, LaCoste increased the number of properties at this location to include a more substantial homestead cabin next to his original dugout, two guest log cabins, and tent cabins. The Western Stick style was used in these additional buildings too. While LaCoste attempted to purchase more land from the Earl of Dunraven, another land speculator in the Estes Park valley, his plans never materialized, and by 1907, LaCoste had moved from Estes Park and sold his interest (334 acres) to the Estes Park Land and Investment Company. With LaCoste's departure, F. O. Stanley filled the void. He along with Burton D. Sanborn, bought up large portions of Dunraven's holdings. In 1907, the newly formed Western Conference of the Young Men's Christian Association began looking for a permanent location where they could hold annual conferences and a summer school for leaders in the YMCA. A group of six conference attendees, under the direction of William Sweet, set out from their meeting site in Grand Lake, Colorado and headed over the continental divide towards Estes Park. Sweet, a Denver investment banker, was appointed chairman of the new committee charged with finding a new home for the conference. After a day's travel, the group found themselves at the Wind River Lodge in Estes Park. Sweet already owned property in the town and knew of the Lodge's existence. Moreover, as a local investment banker, he was familiar with the various landowners and corporations eager to sell or purchase property in the Estes Park valley. After some discussion among the conference goers, it was decided that the 1908 western conference should be held at the Wind River Lodge, and in the late spring of 1909 the YMCA finally took control of the property, paying $8,500 to the Estes Park Land and Investment Company. In 1910, the YMCA moved the lodge and several cabins to a more central location on the property to better serve conference attendees. The popularity of the camp increased and by the early 1920s more families were coming up to the YMCA of Estes Park. This placed a strain on the existing facilities. The Board wanted to build a new lodge, but had a tight budget and instead opted to expand the Wind River Lodge. This addition consisted of a lobby on the first floor and guest rooms on the second floor. Meanwhile, the west end expansion provided additional accommodations such as bathrooms and shower rooms downstairs and guest rooms upstairs. With the new addition came changes to the roof line and the removal of the Western Stick ornamentation to the roof and the upper siding and the addition of plaster and features more common in mock-Tudor architecture. Despite these changes, the camp buildings retained their rustic charm and, today, newer buildings are constructed with the same rustic aesthetic. Expansion of the camp continued through the 1960s and 1970s with the construction of more modern lodges and cabins. Compared to these new living spaces, the Wind River Lodge looked cramped and old fashioned. The Board decided to demolish the lodge since the cost to modernize it was too prohibitive and its location was perfect for a new conference space. The lodge, however, was important historically for the Y and for the growth of Estes Park's tourist industry. Some long time supporters of the YMCA of the Rockies lamented the proposed destruction of the lodge and decided to take action. Lula W. Dorsey heard of the plans to demolish the lodge and proposed that the 1924 expansion become a museum to celebrate the history of the YMCA of the Rockies. Her family had been involved with the YMCA of the Rockies since the late 1910s and she was well respected among the board members, who took up her offer. Once again, the lodge building was on the move. The west wing of the lodge was moved to its current location where it houses the Lula W. Dorsey Museum. The Ruesch auditorium and Aspen Dining now occupy the site once filled by the Wind River Lodge. Today, near the Coleman Cabin, a rock and plaque marks the place where the original Wind River Lodge once stood.

 In 1902, Guy Robert LaCoste constructed the original Wind River Lodge as part of his effort to become a key player in the tourist boom sweeping the area. In 1909 the YMCA purchased the lodge, surrounding buildings, and land for $8.500 from LaCoste's Estes Park Land and Investment Company.  In 1910, the YMCA moved the lodge to the center of the camp's operations.

With guest registration rising, an expansion to the building was added in 1924 and included a new center structure and a west wing.  In the 1970s, it was scheduled for demolition but Lula W. Dorsey, a longtime supporter of the YMCA of the Rockies, provided funds for the west wing expansion to become a museum celebrating the history of the YMCA.

YMCA of the Rockies- Original Wind River Lodge

Mountainside Lodge was constructed between 1919 and1920 at the request of Dr. John Timothy Stone. Stone was an important spiritual leader during the early years of the YMCA of the Rockies, and like many others found peace and spiritual renewal in the mountain setting. In addition to his work at the YMCA's student conferences he was also the leader of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, which became one of the most important Presbyterian churches in the United States. Mountainside was not the first building constructed by Stone; that was his study and summer cabin, which was built out of local rock and logs and a little west of lodge in 1915. The study held a commanding view of the Continental Divide. For the construction of Mountainside Lodge, Dr. Stone hired George Wiard as the contractor.The site chosen was remote and high upon Emerald Mountain. Like the study's original site, it too had expansive views, but more importantly for Stone, the rocky outcrop was a manifestation of his theology of building his life upon The Rock - God. Because of its remote location, Wiard moved his family on to the site. An existing cabin was enlarged for Wiard's family, while Dr.Stone provided a milk cow and a teacher for Wiard's children. The Study became a school during the daytime and a bunkhouse for workers at night. Wiard hired Norman Fogelstadt as his stonemason. Using native gneiss rock from the slopes of Emerald Mountain, Fogelstadt constructed the foundation and lower level of the building, and inside he constructed a stone arch and large fire place. The logs also came from the nearby hillside. By the time they were harvested, the trees were well cured, standing dead lodge pole pines due to a fire in 1900. Only the windows, doors and flooring had to be purchased. Everything else was milled on site. Ready for occupancy in 1920, it became spiritual and social hub for the YMCA despite its remote location. Stone invited members of his Chicago church to join him, along with other Presbyterian clergy. In 1924, to help finance a world tour of Presbyterian missions, Dr. Stone reluctantly sold Mountainside Lodge.The new owners converted the lodge into a commercial hotel and added a large dining room, a commercial kitchen and third-floor guest rooms along with more guest cabins. In 1935, Dr. Stone's original cabin, The Study, burned down. It is believed that a spark from the fireplace set fire to the building. The ruins of this study can still be seen nearby the Mountainside Lodge. Between 1924 and 1956, Mountainside Lodge changed hands several times. From 1935 to 1939, Martha Allesbrook leased the lodge and operated it as the Allesbrook Camp for Girls. After that time the lodge was operated as a commercial hotel for several different owners with no physical changes made to the area. In 1956, The YMCA of the Rockies had the opportunity to purchase the Mountainside Lodge and its surrounding property. Additional bedrooms were added in the basement and the lodge was soon booked out on a regular basis, but more modern accommodations located closer in to the main camp began to diminish the popularity of the Mountainside Lodge and plans called for its closing. When management looked into rehabilitation, costs seemed out of reach and so in 1994 the Y secured bids for its demolition. Throughout the latter half of the 1990s, numerous people worked on feasibility assessments for rehabilitating the lodge. Those studies led to the lodge being placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The State Historic Fund paid for an assessment, and in 2004 granted almost a quarter of a million dollars towards its rehabilitation. With pledges from donors, Mountainside Lodge was saved. After a year-long campaign to raise funds, the rehabilitation of Mountainside Lodge began in 2005. Mountainside Lodge remains as a significant example of Rocky Mountain Rustic Architecture and as important surviving tourist accommodation associated with the early development of the Rocky Mountain National Park. Since its reopening, Mountainside Lodge’s secluded location, expansive views, and rustic feel have made it one of the most popular family reunion and wedding locations at the YMCA of the Rockies.

Around 1915, Dr. John Timothy Stone picked a rock on the side of 8,740-foot Emerald Mountain for a private retreat he called The Study.

In 1919, Stone selected a place for a summer lodge, now known as Mountainside Lodge. In choosing the location, he said, "Great thoughts are born where men and mountains meet."





YMCA of the Rockies- Walk About the Y

YMCA of the Rockies- Ruesch Auditorium

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information