by Anna Aughenbaugh
Fort Collins, Colo.
March 14, 2008

The Peck House, located in Empire, Colo., was established in 1862 to serve visiting mining investors. James Peck, an adventuresome wealthy Chicago merchant, lured by gold, and his three teenage sons, came west in 1860. James chose to build a four-room house with a view of the lovely Empire valley. Mrs. Mary Grace Peck brought the family goods by wagon train to Empire in 1862.

James continually invited mine investors to stay at the house for free, but after awhile, Mary Grace convinced him to establish a hotel. In 1872 a second story and veranda were added, and she became a full-time innkeeper and cook. The Peck House soon became a stage coach stop for stages going over Berthoud Pass. A billiard room, poker room, bar, and a ladies parlor were added, making the hotel the social center of Clear Creek County. To comply with a new law, a library was added to the bar for the education of the miners.

The Lake Michigan Ship’s bell hung over the door and was rung three times a day to call the boarders to meals. It also heralded the arrival of the daily hack from Central City to Georgetown.

James ingeniously provided running water by hollowing lengths of aspen with a hot poker and fitting them together, running the pipe from a spring to the house. He generated power with the Peck House water wheel, giving them the first electric lights in the area, and also supplied electricity for the town. In 1881 the first telephone in Empire was installed in the hotel.

Early guests were P.T. Barnum, General Sherman, General Greenville M. Dodge, John A. Logan, as well as railroad engineers, prospectors, sportsmen, and tourists.

James Peck died in 1880, from pneumonia, caused by a fall from his carriage on Union Pass in 1880. His wife and eldest son, Frank, continued to run the hotel. The hotel remained in the family for nearly 90 years, until Margaret Collbran and Louise Harrison, granddaughters of Adolph Coors, the founder of Coors Brewing Company and Henry Collbran, one of the founders of the Midland Railroad, purchased it in 1955 and changed the name to Hotel Splendide. They did basic structural restoration before selling it in 1969. It changed owners several times and the name was once again The Peck House.

Gary and Sally St. Clair spent their honeymoon there in 1980 and returned to buy the hotel. Like the Pecks, they moved in with their three teenagers. They fell in love with it and have strived to retain the Victorian charm as they have replaced water pipes, added bathrooms and a Jacuzzi. The 11 rooms, all non-smoking, are filled with antiques, some of which Mrs. Peck brought by ox cart from Chicago. A small parlor can be used for visiting or reading. There are no televisions or phones, making it easy to feel as though you have stepped back to a simpler time.

In 2001 the veranda was replaced, making it a wonderful place to relax while savoring the view of the valley, mountains and extensive gardens.

A continental breakfast of homemade breads, coffee and juice is served 8 – 9:30 a.m. The restaurant is open to the public Sunday - Thursday, 3 to 9 p.m. and 3 to 10 on Friday and Saturday. Gary is an award winning chef who prepares creative cuisine such as Trout Clara Lu, Chicken Marsala, Mrs. Peck’s Beef and Oyster Pie, and Steak Au Poivre, which are enjoyed by local food connoisseurs as well as those from Denver and other nearby cities.

Special dinners are prepared for Father’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, Christmas Eve and Day. Gary’s cooking has made the restaurant a finalist for Uncle Ben’s 10 Best Country Inns of the Year award and was the winner of the Governor’s award for Colorado cuisine.

The Peck House is a member of the Association of Historic Hotels of the Rockies and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a great place to use as a base for touring the area. Just minutes from Empire, Georgetown and Idaho Springs, you can enjoy galleries, museums and concerts, or explore Guanella Pass and hiking trails. Winter Park and Central City/Black Hawk are each a half-hour drive. Rocky Mountain National Park, Glenwood Springs, Aspen, Hot Sulphur Springs, Leadville, and Grand Lake are 2 or 3 hours away. Whether you want to take in the sights, go river rafting, tour a gold mine, or ski, The St. Clairs can help you plan your itinerary.

The Peck House is located 2 miles off I-70 on Hwy. 40 in Empire at 83 Sunny Ave. Reservations can be made by writing to: P.O. Box 428, Empire, Colo., 80438; or calling (303) 569-9870. For more information go to:http://www.thepeckhouse.com/dinner.htm.
You are sure to enjoy your time there, whether it is to stay in one of the lovely rooms, or to enjoy Gary’s delicious dinners.