Grand Lake in Grand County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Smith Eslick Cottage Camp

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 17, 2015

1. Smith Eslick Cottage Camp Marker

Inscription. In 1882 P.H. Smith settled in Grand Lake. He built a hotel and also operated a sawmill, carpentry shop, and a large resort. Around 1915, along with the Alfred Eslick family, he built this Motor Court, designed to accommodate both visitors and their cars as automobile tourism changed the American West.

Take a look to see how these early entrepreneurs creatively adapted to the newly emerging auto tourism market with the unique architectural style seen here. Built when Rocky Mountain National park opened, it is thought to be the oldest remaining motor court in the U.S.
Saved and maintained by the Grand Lake Area Historical Society
Sign donated by the Rotary Club of Grand Lake

Erected by Grand Lake Area Historical Society and the Rotary Club of Grand Lake.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Rotary International series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1882.

Location. 40° 15.097′ N, 105° 49.404′ W. Marker is in Grand Lake, Colorado, in Grand County. Marker is on Vine Street north of Lake Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located on the

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west side of the street, on the Smith Eslick Cottage Camp grounds, overlooking the northeast corner of the building row. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 725 Lake Avenue, Grand Lake CO 80447, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Automobiles Come to Grand Lake (a few steps from this marker); The Smith-Eslick Family (a few steps from this marker); The Bay Window Cottage (a few steps from this marker); Why Did They Come? (within shouting distance of this marker); The Smith Eslick Cottage Court (within shouting distance of this marker); The Smith-Eslick Cottage Camp (within shouting distance of this marker); Grand Lake (approx. 0.2 miles away); Public Square (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Lake.

More about this marker. This marker is a large, painted, embossed wooden plaque, mounted vertically at eye-level on six-foot tall posts.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. The Smith-Eslick Cottage Camp

Also see . . . Cottage Camp. The Smith-Eslick family built what they called the Cottage Court, later referred to as Eslick’s Cottage Camp and Eslick’s Cabins. This was an overnight accommodation for automobile travelers, i.e. an early “motel” in today’s terms. This also explains the four

Smith Eslick Cottage Camp Marker (<i>tall view; Vine Street on left; cottage row on right</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 17, 2015

2. Smith Eslick Cottage Camp Marker (tall view; Vine Street on left; cottage row on right)

cabins separated by open “car ports”, all joined by a common roof. History experts from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Colorado Historical Society believe that the Cottage Court is probably the oldest original motel structure in the United States. (Submitted on February 12, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Colorado State Register of Historic Properties Plaque (<i>mounted on south end of building</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 17, 2015

3. Colorado State Register of Historic Properties Plaque (mounted on south end of building)

Smith Eslick
Cottage Camp
was placed on the
Colorado State Register of
Historic Properties
June 30, 2011

Smith-Eslick Cottage Door (<i>individual car port to the right</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 17, 2015

4. Smith-Eslick Cottage Door (individual car port to the right)

Smith-Eslick Cottage Interior image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 17, 2015

5. Smith-Eslick Cottage Interior

Smith Eslick Cottage Court Row (<i>wide view from marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 17, 2015

6. Smith Eslick Cottage Court Row (wide view from marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 14, 2019. It was originally submitted on February 11, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 321 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 12, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.