Denver’s Historic Train Station Just Got Another Elegant Makeover
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Throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s, Denver's Union Station was a bustling transit hub, welcoming as many as 50,000 passengers per day. But as highways sprung up and air travel became more accessible, the city’s historic train depot—like many others across the country—grew quiet. By the early 2000s, it mostly sat empty.
A decade ago, a group of forward-thinking preservationists got together and decided to revitalize the historic downtown structure, which dates back to 1881. What followed was a $54 million renovation that was completed in 2014 and transformed Union Station from a neglected relic to a must-visit gem, complete with shops, restaurants, bars, comfy seating areas, and a luxury hotel. Two years later, the building got another boost in the form of a light-rail service to and from Denver International Airport, making Union Station the first place many travelers see when they arrive in the city.
This summer, Union Station has undergone yet another makeover. In early July, crews put the finishing touches on an $11 million, six-month refresh of the stately depot. They remodeled the Great Hall—the train station's spacious, high-ceilinged main public area—updated the Cooper Lounge cocktail bar, and overhauled 8,000 square feet of meeting and event space. At the Crawford Hotel located inside the station, they renovated the 112 guest rooms and added a new lobby.
Their overarching goal? To freshen up the bustling landmark while paying homage to its 143-year-old history. More than 10,000 people pass through Union Station daily, and over the last decade, the building’s managers have learned a lot about how people actually use the space—whether that’s downtown professionals grabbing a quick latte at Pigtrain Coffee Co., commuters hopping on a regional bus, travelers arriving from the airport, or sightseers passing through on Amtrak’s California Zephyr train. “It was time for an update,” says Ed Blair, the area general manager for Sage Hospitality, which manages the station.
The most recent renovation directed much of its efforts toward the Crawford Hotel, which was one of just three Denver hotels to be awarded a prestigious “one key” rating from Michelin in its first-ever hotel guide this spring.
In the guest rooms located upstairs in Union Station’s old attic and offices, designers with DLR Group and Sage Studio added new jewel-toned decor meant to evoke the golden era of train travel, including scalloped headboards, vintage-inspired sconces, heavy drapes, and eclectic, locally sourced art. Bold, floral wallpaper now covers the ceilings, and newly built arched doorways pay homage to the “Mitzpah Arch” that stood in front of the station from 1906 to 1931. But, by far, my favorite new addition to the guest rooms are the Loftie alarm clocks, which are pre-loaded with bedtime stories about Dana Crawford, the trailblazing preservationist who helped save Union Station, whom the hotel is named after.
Another major change was the addition of the Crawford Parlour, a dedicated lobby offering private elevator access to the guest floors. Prior to the renovation, travelers checked into the hotel while standing in the lively Great Hall. Now, they enter a quiet, separate space with plush seating, welcome cocktails at the ready, and a large painting that incorporates a black-and-white photograph of Dana Crawford. The new lobby also makes it possible for The Crawford to host private experiences, like caviar and oyster tastings, as well as live musical performances. (After checking in for my stay a few weeks ago, I sipped a glass of sparkling wine to the tunes of an elegant harpist.)
In the Great Hall, designers added new furniture and light fixtures, improved the flow, and added features to make the space more conducive to private events—like hip-high metal gates that can be extended to close off seating pods. They also preserved many architectural details, like the circa-1914 terrazzo flooring, the 2,300 plaster columbines decorating the surrounding arches, and the gold sconces (which they retrofitted to accommodate LED bulbs).
The Cooper Lounge, a sultry cocktail bar perched above the Great Hall on the open-air, second-floor mezzanine, has also updated its decor and furnishings. The bar's food and drink menu got an overhaul, too, and now features dishes like short rib hummus, duck croquettes, and mushroom ravioli. My favorite cocktail from the new menu was the Smoke and Spades, a zippy drink made with Japanese whiskey, lapsang souchong tea, lemon, ginger, honey, and soda.
This summer's renovations aim to solidify Union Station’s place as “Denver’s living room” and carry on the work preservationists started ten years ago. And, if all goes to plan, the update should help ensure Union Station remains a key part of the city’s fabric for another 143 years.
“We like to say that ‘you cannot build history,’” says Blair. “It’s important to save historic buildings so that visitors and locals can come to know and appreciate our collective memory.”
“Updating them and taking care of them adds to their longevity, but it also breathes new life into them, he adds. "It helps create a legacy along the way. We have noticed a renewed interest in Denver Union Station, as folks are excited to see the updates we’ve made.”
Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
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