Touring a French Chateau

I can't think of too many things I enjoy more than traipsing through old houses --
marveling at the amazing craftsmanship,

feeling the soul of the house, and wondering about the people who've lived there before, 

so, when I had the opportunity to explore the best surviving example of 

French Renaissance Chateauesque-style architecture in Denver, I swooned.
Step into history at the Croke-Patterson Inn. 

Chateauesque refers to a French style of design characterized by 

steeply-pitched roofs, elaborate towers and spires. 

Designed by architect Isaac Hodgson in 1891, the Croke-Patterson mansion was based
on the 16th century Chateau Azay-le-Rideau in France's Loire Valley. 

Don't you just love the towers?

Inside, I was greeted warmly by the manager, Michelle, who was busy preparing breakfast 

for guests. She turned me loose to look around 

but not before I snapped her picture on the grand staircase. 

The 12,000 square foot chateau was originally owned by Thomas Croke,
an early irrigation developer.

The Croke-Patterson mansion is now a luxury inn complete with 

beamed ceilings, stained-glass and an attached carriage house. 

The three-story Patterson Inn has nine bedrooms, 

and a lovely dining room

where I drifted away in daydreams of a bygone era.

Here's the grand reception hall.

There's even a cozy pub-style room in the basement. 

 Over the years the chateau has been a dance hall, a boarding house, 

a radio station and an office complex. 

What I noticed most about the Inn now was the attention to details, lending it an authentic feel.

Rumor has it that the house was haunted. 

According to legend, Croke only entered the mansion once and was so shaken 

by whatever was there, he never returned.

He sold the house two years later to U.S. Senator Thomas Patterson 

who owned the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Times. 

Incidentally, the Patterson Inn is located at 11th Avenue and Pennsylvania Street, 

just a couple of blocks from Molly Brown's Denver mansion. 

If you missed my post on the unsinkable Molly's house, you can read about it HERE. 

Oh, and by the way, no ghosts were encountered during my visit!

You can learn more about this luxury bed and breakfast at
www.pattersoninn.com.

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