Supporting History

The State Historical Fund on the Road

June, 2001

Among Colorado's historical treasures, there are churches and barns, houses, and office buildings, carousels, power plants, and a long list of other resources. But if given the opportunity to make a list of such things, how many among us would remember to add gas stations, drive-in theaters, miniature golf courses, tourist cabins, and other icons of our roadside culture? Well, the automobile has been with us now for over 100 years. And every day that goes by adds more roadside landmarks to the list of properties potentially eligible for listing on the State or National Registers of Historic Places. Once designated, such properties qualify for grants from the State Historical Fund. But to date, only a very few such properties have come forward.

Last summer, the World's Wonder View Tower in Genoa was the subject of a Historic Structure Assessment grant. The tower is a roadside wonder, famous throughout the United States. Construction began in 1926 alongside U.S. Highway 24 east of Limon. It was the dream-child of Charles W. Gregory, who as a railroad engineer often passed by the site and thought about the market potential of a tower that would touch the sky. When completed, the tower reached 60 feet, and operated as a motel, gas station, restaurant, and tourist attraction (referred to in roadside parlance as a "one stop"). It offered westbound tourists their first sight of the Rocky Mountains, and continues to claim a view (apparently verified by Ripley's Believe It Or Not) of no fewer than six states.

As time passed, Gregory elaborated on his original masterpiece. Wood-frame additions were covered in stone, interiors converted into imitation caverns, and Native American murals added for regional flavor. The site was an official Greyhound bus station, as well as a recognized truck stop. But Gregory died in 1942, and the property fell into disrepair. Ten years later, work began on a new alignment of Highway 24, which became Interstate 70.

The highway was moved from right outside the Tower's front door to a location some distance away and on the backside of the building. As traffic speeds increased, it became more difficult to attract passing motorists to stop at the Tower. The motel, restaurant and gas station were closed, but the Tower's view has continued to attract visitors. The current owner operates a unique museum, featuring a large collection of Native American artifacts, among other things.

The Historic Structure Assessment concluded that restoration costs would be substantial and complex, due to the variety of construction techniques utilized and the deteriorating condition of the property. But the owner proceeded with the first priority, and applied for a grant from the Fund to assist in replacing leaky roofs, repair the staircase to the Tower, and to paint the Tower. That grant was awarded, and work should begin in the near future. The owner's partner in the project is the East Central Colorado Resource Conservation and Development Council. Assisting with historic preservation efforts in their region is one of their main community development objectives. This unusual property continues to be a landmark on Colorado's eastern plains, and carloads of visitors are still welcome.

A little closer to the Denver metro area (but without the 6-state view) is Gil and Ethel's Barber and Beauty Shop, a roadside landmark relocated by the City of Lakewood to their twentieth-century museum in Belmar Park. Originally located on Alameda Avenue in Denver, Gil and Ethel's was built in 1948. A one-story cinder block structure, its exterior is covered in glazed tile, and glass block windows decorate its curved corners. A large rooftop clock was unfortunately stolen while the building stood vacant, waiting for demolition. Although moving historic buildings is almost always discouraged, Gil and Ethel's was headed for the same dump that ultimately received the Airplane Club and other Alameda landmarks. The City of Lakewood stepped in and acquired the building, which was moved to its new home on Wadsworth Street in April of 1998. There, it became the centerpiece of the Lakewood Heritage Center's Colfax Hub, which represents the roadside history Lakewood shares with its neighbors in Denver and Aurora.

Once the building had been moved and designated at its new site, it qualified for assistance from the State Historical Fund. A $95,000 grant helped with total exterior and interior restoration as a 1960s beauty shop and a late 1950s variety store. Gil and Ethel's will reopen to the public on July 19, complete with stunning neon, and everyone is invited to attend.

There are many other such roadside landmarks waiting for their owners to recognize their significance. If you think you have such a property, and would be interested in listing it in the State or National Registers of Historic Places, contact Dale Heckendorn, the State and National Register Coordinator, at 303/866-4681.

BY MARK WOLFE, Director, State Historical Fund