L
u and Ethel Holland opened the venerable Holland House on Washington Avenue in 1946. The family rented out rooms, served breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and hosted countless business and community gatherings until closing the institution in 1982. Ultimately, the property was bought by local developers who would transform it into the southwest-styled Table Mountain Inn one sees today.
Holland family members still live in the area. Artie Holland volunteers with the museum helping inventory and catalog our growing photography collection.
Museum member, Beyer Patton, recently donated this menu from the early 1960s. I hear the steak dinner is to die for. The prices are right too.
–Mark Dodge, Curator
October 2020 UPDATE
Check out these actual recipes from the Holland House and print them at home!
I worked at the Holland House as a waitress in 1964 or 1965 my picture is on a postcard working behind the counter I am very interested in finding this postcard as it would be very interesting to my family Thank You Norma Jennings
Hi Norma-
Thanks for your comment. I’m not aware of any Holland House postcards with people in them, but now that I know I’ll keep my eyes peeled.
Best,
Mark Dodge
303-277-8714
Thank you so much for your reply.There was a gift shop connected to the restaurant and that is where the postcards were sold.Thank you for keeping an eye out,it would be great if they would appear.Norma Jennings
Norma, if you were still working there in the fall of ’69, you may have seen the Lowry AFB Drum & Bugle Corps march past the hotel down Washington. If so, you may have seen me in the front row on a snare drum. 🙂 I have a picture of that parade and me and sent a copy to the current manager of the Table Mountain Inn.
I would love to find the recipe for their wine Sundae sauce. It was a special treat when I went to the Holland house with my grandparents.
Hi Bren- Sorry we don’t have that recipe, but the Holland family shared some others for: dumplings, pie dough, Swiss steak, egg nog, and champagne punch. All are available on recipe cards at the museum. Also, this post is now updated with six recipes you can print from home.
Mark, if you and Artie are interested in a photo of the Lowry Drum & Bugle Corps parade from fall of ’69 with Holland House sign visible in background, let me know. I will be glad to send you a jpeg of it for the museum. I was a snare drummer in the D&B while attending Lowry for Munitions Maintenance School from Aug to Dec of ’69 before being sent to Phan Rang AB, Vietnam. Good times in Denver and hope to visit again before I check out.
My family used to go to the Holland House in the 60s. I clearly remember the Hamm’s beer commercials with bears and waterfalls, in the bar. Life was better with fewer people; three generations ago.
I worked in the Holland House Coffee Shop and Lounge while I was in college during summers and breaks. (GHS ‘60 CU-Boulder ‘65) I have wonderful memories working there. Willie working the grill in the Coffee Shop. Mr Holland butchering a cow in the back, and Mrs. Holland personally calling me over Christmas vacation to work. We both knew I would never say no to her, and my Mom always kept my black skirts ready to wear to work. Great memories! I actually came here to see if there was a picture of the beautiful staircase in the hotel lobby. If there is, would you please post it. Thank You
Thanks Kathy-We’re taking a deeper dive into the Holland House story later this fall in the remodelled Touch Gallery, so stay tuned. If you have any good Holland House photos or other stories please drop me a line.
Mark Dodge
My family would on very special occasions have dinner at the Holland House. I was very young but remember the painting on display with a cow that would much like the Mona Lisa stare at you regardless of the angle. Wonderful memories!.. Is there a Picture of this painting anywhere? Thanks
That’s great David. The painting you remember is titled, “Colorado Today” by Hal Shelton. It still exists and hangs at the Golden Community Center. A postcard of the painitg was made too, and can viewed by searching under Holland House in the online collection at https://goldenhistory.pastperfectonline.com/
Mark Dodge
I remember it as well!