05-03-2025
Morrison's first-ever boutique hotel for Red Rocks concertgoers set to break ground
A boutique hotel designed for Red Rocks concertgoers will break ground in Morrison this month — the town's first commercial project in 60 years, developer Chad Wallace tells us.
Why it matters: It will not only be Morrison's only hotel but is expected to funnel millions in tax revenue to the town — marking a major shift for a community long resistant to change.
Zoom in: The Red Hotel, on Bear Creek Avenue, will be roughly 15,000 square feet, three stories high and have 22 rooms.
Each room "will have its own identity" with a distinct Colorado-inspired theme, Wallace, COO of Evergreen-based Root Architecture, says.
There will be a coffee shop on the lower level that serves beer and wine in the evening and a rooftop terrace. There won't be a restaurant, however, because Wallace wants to drive business to local eateries, "not compete."
By the numbers: Room rates will range between $300 to $1,000 per night, depending on the season, Wallace says.
And 10% of profits will go to organizations serving the Front Range, he tells us.
Friction point: The project faced fierce pushback from Morrison's planning commission over whether its arrival would alter the town's historic character.
Wallace and his team navigated three redesigns and a 19-month permitting process before getting the green light.
The intrigue: In the wake of the Red Hotel's controversial approval, the Morrison Town Board dissolved its planning commission and replaced it with a community action committee — a move town officials say will modernize development rules; but critics argue it centralizes power.
What's next: Groundbreaking is set for mid- to late-March, with an opening targeted for the 2026 Red Rocks concert season.
"Our hope for the Red Hotel is this becomes the No. 1 sought-after place to stay for these people traveling from all over the country and all over the world to see their favorite artist" at Red Rocks, Wallace says.
