Named for the seven women of Gordon Mace Jr.’s family, they included his wife, Tommie, and their daughters: Linda, Leean, Stana, Penny, Melanie, and Laurie.
A testament to the innovative spirit of Mace family, the tower and gift shop sat at the top of The Baldpate Inn’s drive, and directly across from Lily Lake. It opened in 1966. The tower sported unparalleled views of Longs Peak, the Estes valley, Trail Ridge and the northern section of Rocky Mountain National Park. The gift shop sold home décor, with “selections for the discriminating,” Gordon Jr. stated. This certainly piques my interest, and I would have loved to browse the gift shop and take in the views from the tower. These days, I enjoy shopping at the Baldpate Inn’s online gift shop and in person at the inn, with their variety of merchandise and collectables.
Today, the original tower of the Seven Lazy Queens is no longer there. It was closed off for several years before it was torn down, and I’m not throwing anyone under the bus, but the “Danger” and “Closed” signs may have been more of a challenge than a deterrent to some.
The building that housed the early gift shop now belongs to Rocky Mountain National Park, which is quite fitting, as they also own and manage Lily Lake. We are pleased to be surrounded with Rocky Mountain National Park lands, and salute the National Parks for their vision of preserving the past and looking toward to the future.
So if you are searching for a gift for that hard-to-shop-for friend, or even yourself, The Baldpate Inn’s history of providing unique and elegant items is certain to delight.
Written by Liz Rodgers
Source: Estes Park Trail, July 1, 1966
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