Two Dames and a Dog at Denver's Grand Dame

November 12, 2018

Darla Worden,

Recently The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Denver’s Grand Dame, invited Mountain Living to explore the historic hotel and its numerous offerings. My friend Sandy was visiting from Wyoming, so we decided to make a "Girlfriend’s Getaway" weekend of it, and bring Henri, my dog. I was astounded to learn The Brown Palace is dog friendly in all rooms, not just a few.

At check in, Henri was a model companion; hotel guests kept stopping to pet him.

We started our stay with a private tour by hotel historian Debra Faulkner who has worked at The Brown for 10 years and really knows her stuff. Highlights of the tour included learning about The Brown’s own artisanal water well that services the entire hotel, the Brown’s bee hive that makes honey for the chef and also is used in The Brown Palace Honey Lavender spa products like lotion and soap.

The hotel has an employee contest to name each of the hives, and some of the clever suggestions include “Honey, I’m Home,” and “Buzzingham Palace.”

Debra shared a few ghost stories—after all the hotel opened in 1892, so there’s sure to be a few ghosts hanging around, and who could blame them for not wanting to check out—and she even leads a “ghost tour” in the hotel. For history lovers, you don’t have to be a guest at The Brown Palace to participate. There’s a nominal fee for the tour, but it’s worth it.

After all that walking, we were parched so we had cocktails in the gorgeous Italian Rennaisance-style lobby. It’s so much fun to imagine the people who have walked through the magnificent lobby through the years or, like us, who have sat and enjoyed a cocktail while the pianist plays. Notable guests include The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Presidents Ronald Reagan, “Ike” Eisenhower and Theodore Roosevelt.

Following drinks in the lobby, we had dinner in the splendid Palace Arms, the fine dining restaurant at The Brown Palace, where we enjoyed a fall tasting menu prepared by the Chef. Also, it was fascinating to learn that one of the largest collections of Napoleonic military antiques in the world is located here.

The gorgeous Reagan Suite—decorated in California Ranch-style with an amazing view down Broadway— was comfortable and luxurious. In the morning, room service, followed by a visit to the lovely Brown Palace spa completed our visit.

On the elevator, an Atlanta couple told me they had just returned from a trip mountains exploring Vail and Aspen, and that they always stay at The Brown Palace before they head to the high country and on their way back home to Georgia. It’s the perfect launching pad for mountain adventures. I couldn’t agree more!