Barth Hotel sits in downtown Denver in a brick building built back in 1882, and folks sure remember the old chamfered entryway, which some call a bevel, and the high 18-foot ceilings on the first floor, and the late Victorian style that shows up in the tin-pressed ceilings, oak mezzanine, and the big steel columns that you just don't see much anymore, all of which have gotten work done over the years, like the big renovation in 2005. Over the decades, this building went from the Union Warehouse to different hotel names-Union Hotel, New Union Hotel, Elk Hotel, then Barth Hotel-and since about 1987, it offered assisted living for older adults under Senior Housing Options, the nonprofit folks who've run other senior places in Colorado, always talking about dignity, affordability, and a mix of people, even though the place itself has accessibility problems, like steps up into the bathrooms that make it tough for wheelchairs.
Now, Barth Hotel's closed for good, but before then, it gave seniors private rooms, some with private baths, and views out over the city, offering meals in a common dining room, home-cooked and meant to be healthy, plus snacks, and people could spend time in activity rooms, join devotional and wellness activities, or head offsite for field trips. It became known for the Warning Track Party Room, where folks could make their own plans for celebrations, sitting near Coors Field's busy spots with all that ballgame energy. Housing and care covered everything somebody might need if they needed a bit of help-bathing, dressing, medication, even incontinence care, diabetic care, and non-ambulatory services, and there was medication help and daily care services, too, and staff tried to make sure nobody lost their sense of respect or choice. Residents didn't have to worry about bills for water, sewer, trash, heat, or electricity, and there were on-site laundry options, common rooms for relaxing, and places to meet friends, but still that old feeling of living inside a landmark tied to Denver history, and folks were reminded of the Barth Family, who ran other hotels in the past, and the place even provided a safety net for displaced older people, always focused on open doors and affordable rates.
Barth Hotel counted 62 rooms, and though it's sitting empty now, the historic designation and the National Register of Historic Places keep the doors safe from demolition, requiring any changes to get city approval, so the past isn't forgotten even as future plans remain uncertain, especially with the building needing millions in repairs and upgrades, and with income rules set to last decades. It always stood out as a building with a story, a mix of old hotel charm and senior living care, smack in the lively heart of Denver.
