Starter Hotel: The historic Starter Hotel is at the corner of Main and 7th Street in downtown Durango, Colo. The hotel has been a landmark in Durango since 1887. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Hotel Lobby: Stepping through the front entrance of the Strater Hotel is like stepping back in time. The beautiful hand crafted woodwork is everywhere beginning at the Reception Counter to the detailed columns and trim work. Above are crystal chandeliers and the detailed ceiling. Not visible are the window coverings, other furnishings, and the artwork which adds to the beautiful space. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos
The historic Strater Hotel sits on Main Street in downtown Durango, Colo. Opening in 1887, this magnificent hotel dates back to the mining era in western Colorado and has served Durango ever since opening. The four story hotel was state of the art when it was built and after modern updates and renovations, the hotel is an elegant living museum today.
The Strater Hotel’s exterior features red brick and white sandstone trim or lining. While the exterior is certainly impressive and a landmark in downtown Durango, the interior is where the hotel shines.
When you enter the lobby of The Starter Hotel, it is like traveling back in time to another era. You will see a beautiful hand crafted reception counter for checking into the hotel along with many other wood details throughout the room. The decor is American Victorian and the furnishings are all American Victorian antiques.
Hanging from the ceiling in the lobby of the Strater Hotel are crystal chandeliers, the walls are covered with custom Victorian era wallpaper and plush velvet Victorian drapes can be seen on the windows. The lobby is not large but it certainly makes a statement to anyone who walks in the front entrance.
The Strater Hotel owns the largest collection of antique American Victorian walnut furnishings in the world. These stately furnishings are used in public spaces, restaurants, and all guest rooms in the hotel. Also beginning in the lobby are displays and display cases of artifacts which depict life in the old west and the mining era in western Colorado. The hotel is truly a living museum.
Visitors can choose between three restaurants in the Strater Hotel. The Mahogany Grill offers steaks and other fine dining menu items, The Office Spiritorium serves appetizers and cocktails, and the Diamond Belle Saloon serves a variety of items from salads and burgers to steaks and many other selections. Each of the restaurants are furnished and decorated in Victorian style and each has a unique vibe.
The Diamond Belle Saloon is an authentic western saloon complete with a piano and ragtime pianists. On nights when the ragtime pianist is not playing, a variety of performers take the stage but there is music every night at the Diamond Belle. The waitress staff at the Diamond Belle are known as Belle Girls and are dressed as dance hall girls. The decor, the bar, and the workers make one feel like they have stepped into an old west saloon in the 1800s. We had dinner, listened to the ragtime pianist and enjoyed a wonderful evening.
Each of the rooms at the Strater Hotel have their own unique personality as well. All rooms are uniquely decorated with American Victorian furnishings but each room is unique. The Strater also has several rooms dedicated to a famous person who was a regular patron of the hotel. For example, Room 222 is the hotel room directly above the Diamond Belle Saloon. Iconic Western author Louis L’Amour spent weeks every summer at the Strater and always stayed in Room 222 because the sounds, smells and atmosphere above the saloon gave him inspiration when writing the western novels about life in the early American west.
In addition to the antique furnishings at the Strater, the hotel has numerous exhibits and display cases filled with artifacts from the old west days in Colorado and the western U.S. Of course, there are several displays about early Durango, mining in western Colorado as well as the railroads that serviced those mines. The Durango & Silverton train was founded during the gold and silver mining days to transport metals from the mines around Silverton to smelters in Durango. Other items featured are a brass mailbox in the lobby, antique cameras, and even a display of shotguns from the 1800s.
Durango, Colo. is always a great place to spend time but one should make time to enter the Strater Hotel and look around. The hotel is packed with so much history of the west. The hotel encourages those who are not staying at the hotel to come in and explore. There is a self-guided tour of the first floor that is free to anyone. The visit at the Strater Hotel was the highlight of our stay in Durango. Next visit, we hope to stay at the Strater and get the full experience of this iconic western hotel!
Editor’s note: Longtime Los Alamos photographer Gary Warren and his wife Marilyn are traveling around the country, and he shares his photographs, which appear in the “Posts from the Road” series published in the Sunday edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.
Lounge: Just beyond the lobby is a lounge and sitting area. The woodwork is again a focal point but the antique walnut American Victorian furniture also attracts one’s attention. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Sitting Area: A sitting area just off of the lobby area gives patrons a space to sit and relax. Two display cases on the far wall can be seen featuring antiques from the 1800s and a feature about the railroad. Behind the photographer are two more display cases and a portion of the display of 1800s era shotguns is seen on the right side of the photo. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Diamond Belle Saloon: The Diamond Belle Saloon is one of the few authentic western saloons in existence today. The bar and saloon decor are authentic to the era when this bar was the main gathering place in Durango over 100 years ago and waitresses are dressed as dance hall girls of the 1800s. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Diners: Diners in the Diamond Belle Saloon enjoy drinks and meals while listening to the ragtime pianist. The pianist was on break and speaking to patrons when this photo was taken. The old piano and decor throughout the room is very American Victorian. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Lobby Elevator: The lobby elevator with brass doors and a stained glass canopy will make you stop and look twice. Again the ornate Victorian decor surrounds the area throughout the lobby. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Brass Letter Box: A brass letter box (mailbox) is mounted on the lobby wall near the entrance area. This antique letter box is still in use today by patrons of the hotel. This is an example of the antiques seen all around the hotel. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com