Buildings

Idlewild Lodge - idlewildlodge.github.io - Circa 1956 - Closeup Of Ritz Motel From Palisade Mountain

The Ritz Motel

In 1947 Albert Appleby, of the Appleby Motel, purchased Idlewild Lot 6. Here he began construction of a second motel which would be known as the Ritz.

Idlewild Lodge - idlewildlodge.github.io - 1932-01-29 - The Estes Park Trail - Stump Inn Burns Down

Stump Inn

In the early 1920s, Clarence H. Stump, a grain farmer from Loveland, purchased Idlewild Lot 17.

Idlewild Lodge - idlewildlodge.github.io - Circa 1910 - Cabin at Idlewild in Big Thompson Canyon - Fort Collin

The Idle Wild House

The first cabin built at Idlewild was most likely the Idle Wild House. Constructed in 1906, this building was Ella Van Bramer's personal residence and headquarters for her Idlewild Camping Resort.

Idlewild Lodge - idlewildlodge.github.io - Circa 1928 - Idlewild Lodge - Looking south at Idlewild

Cambrian Lodge

Shortly after purchasing Idlewild Lodge in 1921, George Dauth sold Idlewild Lot 1 and part of Lot 2 to the John Jones family.

Idlewild Lodge - idlewildlodge.github.io - 1960-09 - Covered Wagon Restaurant in the Big Thompson Canyon - Featured

The Covered Wagon Restaurant

Between 1946 and 1949 Hubert Appleby built a restaurant across the river from Appleby Motel called Appleby’s Cafe. The restaurant sat beside the highway between the motel convenience store to the…

Idlewild Lodge - idlewildlodge.github.io - Circa 1949 - Postcard of the Appleby Motel Complex

Appleby Motel

The history of the Appleby Motel begins in the 1920s after Ed Wild purchased the land west of Idlewild bridge that would later become the motel grounds. Ed Wild’s first construction was a stone cabin…

Idlewild Lodge - idlewildlodge.github.io - Circa 1930 - DAMFINO Facade

DAM’FINO

In October of 1921 George Dauth sold part of Idlewild Lot 2 to the Albert James Luther family. The Luther's built a cabin there, and named it the DAM'FINO. One of Albert Luther's sons, Lawton, wrote…