When April and Steve Carver purchased the historic Redstone Castle in October 2016—after eyeing it for years en route to their cabin on nearby McClure Pass—they embarked on a two-year restoration to bring the 23,000-square-foot manor back to its former splendor. The results are exquisite: walls covered with French silk and Spanish leather, hand-rubbed mahogany accents, original custom Louis Tiffany chandeliers, Italian marble fireplace surrounds, and ceilings adorned with hand-frescoed plaster and gold glaze over aluminum leafing. The Carvers, who also own the Hotel Denver in Glenwood Springs, reopened the castle last November for daily tours with a bonus: 10 boutique rooms for overnight stays. 

Built between 1899 and 1902 for coal magnate John Cleveland Osgood and his second wife, Alma, the castle sits on 150 acres along the Crystal River south of Redstone. The original 550-acre property included a hydroelectric plant that powered the estate, also known as Cleveholm Manor (“Cleve” for Osgood’s nickname, “holm” meaning alongside a river). The castle and houses in the town of Redstone, which Osgood established for his coal workers, were among the first buildings in the United States to have indoor plumbing and electricity, explains property manager Jennifer Pazour, who lives on-site with her husband, Pete, in the former servants’ quarters. 

Originally, New York architects designed the manor, and craftsmen from around the country were hired for the intricate interior and exterior work, including hand-cutting sandstone blocks quarried nearby. To furnish their home, the Osgoods traveled the world collecting antiques. An estimated 60 percent of these original furnishings remain here. A space that originally served as trunk storage for guests like Theodore Roosevelt and J.P. Morgan has been renovated into an art room that contains memorabilia from the castle and a collection of work by historical painter Jack Roberts. 

The addition of lodging lets you fully immerse yourself in a time-travel experience. Stay overnight and play a game of pool on Osgood’s table in the lower-level billiard room, sit on the vintage bustle couch in the library, or soak in one of the claw-foot tubs. Or imagine you’re about to host a group of dignitaries and community members during Redstone’s first heyday, just like the Osgoods did themselves. theredstonecastle.com, 970-963-9656.