What do you do with an 1890's hospital, located at the top of a hill, just a short walk from gambling and fine food?
You create a hotel that displays the true character of the turn of the century and add those few modern specials that make staying there a true pleasure.
Named the St. Nicholas Hotel after the hospital that once occupied the same building, it can simply be called a historic mountain inn.
Noel and Denise Perran Susan Adelbush have blended the old and the new into the ultimate lodging experience. Be it the opulent design of the parlors or the roof-top hot tub with a view of the Cripple Creek valley, you will feel as though everything was made just for you.
It took a year of renovation work (most of it done by the owners themselves) and almost $450,000 to transform a rundown hospital into the present show piece.
The dream was to have a hotel with every amenity possible. And the design can only be described as something you would see in the movies - from the woodwork to the fixtures, opulence was in the mind of the owners.
Each of the 15 rooms offers something not found in any other room. In some, the view of the surrounding area will hold your attention for hours; others have enclosed balconies. All of the rooms have one thing in common - romance.
Besides the atmosphere of the rooms, The St. Nicholas has a roof top hot tub with a view you can only imagine. The water is kept at 104 degrees year round allowing you to sit in the warmth and relax when ever you're in the mood. Just around the corner from the hot tub is the sauna, and that's right, probably the only one in the state with a view.
The main floor features the Boiler Room Tavern, so named because the barback is the front plate off the original coal boiler. This has to be seen to appreciate the craftsmanship put into it so many years ago. On some weekends and on special occasions, live music will also be offered in the tavern.
The rooms run in price from $76-98.11 tax included. The cost of the room includes a continental breakfast each morning. The breakfast is a well prepared and presented combination of pastries, fruit, juice, coffee and specialty teas.
Those interested in touring the casinos can take the short downhill stroll right into the gaming district.
Some of the specials offered at The St. Nicholas include a 15 percent discount for firefighters and police officers and is know as the "Guns and Hoses" special. The entire hotel can be reserved to accommodate 40 people in a group.
If there is a birthday, anniversary or romantic weekend in your future, contact the staff of The St. Nicholas at 689-0856 or stop in an see them at 303 North Third Street in Cripple Creek.