Lobby of the Dove Inn in Golden. (Dove Inn)
A Victorian home in Golden from the 1800s has received a face-lift.
Libby and Regan Foster purchased the Dove Inn at 711 14th St. for $1.7 million in November, and since have poured $150,000 into renovating the 6,000-square-foot home. Last week, the Dove Inn hosted its grand opening for guests and locals.
“Golden has been my favorite town ever since I moved here,” Regan Foster said. “It will always have that small-mountain feel. It’s just a fun, gorgeous little town … we’re super close to walking the main strip.”
Built in 1866, the Dove Inn has 10 bedrooms, each with its own bathroom.
Regan Foster moved to Colorado 16 years ago and was working as a firefighter for the City of Aurora when a friend sent him a listing for the inn, which previously was a bed and breakfast. Foster, 34, also has a background as a general contractor and flips houses.
“I feel like one of the reasons why people want to stay in Airbnbs is they’re being disenchanted at a big corporate hotel,” Foster said. “(The Dove Inn) is like a big home with a very fun, creative atmosphere.”
The couple took a trailer and visited shops nationwide to decorate each room with antique dressers, lights and other accessories.
“We brought in more Victorian charm and also brought in a modern aesthetic,” Foster said. “It’s very hip and up-to-date … every single room is different.”
The inn now has 10 guest rooms. (Dove Inn)
The inn has incorporated some modern tech as well, including smart locks from manufacturer Yale on guest room doors. Instead of checking in at the front desk, guests receive a text or email after booking with a code to enter their room. And the owners provide Netflix streaming instead of cable TV.
An iPad in the common area features videos from local coffee roasters teaching guests how to prepare various cups of coffee, such as in a Kemex, Aeropress or French press.
The inn will provide a light continental breakfast for guests each morning.
“We wanted to encourage people to relax and hang out and learn to make a high-quality cup of coffee,” Foster said.
The couple hired two employees to help run the inn and plans to hire two more.
When the Fosters rent out their own home on Airbnb, they stay in the inn’s carriage house. The couple funded the purchase and renovation of the hotel through loans and a silent investor.
“I think we have a pretty strong market for a staycation – people who don’t want to travel far but want to get out of Denver or neighboring cities,” Foster said, adding that the School of Mines brings many visitors to their inn. “I think it’s a mix between local and national and international (guests).”
Lobby of the Dove Inn in Golden. (Dove Inn)
A Victorian home in Golden from the 1800s has received a face-lift.
Libby and Regan Foster purchased the Dove Inn at 711 14th St. for $1.7 million in November, and since have poured $150,000 into renovating the 6,000-square-foot home. Last week, the Dove Inn hosted its grand opening for guests and locals.
“Golden has been my favorite town ever since I moved here,” Regan Foster said. “It will always have that small-mountain feel. It’s just a fun, gorgeous little town … we’re super close to walking the main strip.”
Built in 1866, the Dove Inn has 10 bedrooms, each with its own bathroom.
Regan Foster moved to Colorado 16 years ago and was working as a firefighter for the City of Aurora when a friend sent him a listing for the inn, which previously was a bed and breakfast. Foster, 34, also has a background as a general contractor and flips houses.
“I feel like one of the reasons why people want to stay in Airbnbs is they’re being disenchanted at a big corporate hotel,” Foster said. “(The Dove Inn) is like a big home with a very fun, creative atmosphere.”
The couple took a trailer and visited shops nationwide to decorate each room with antique dressers, lights and other accessories.
“We brought in more Victorian charm and also brought in a modern aesthetic,” Foster said. “It’s very hip and up-to-date … every single room is different.”
The inn now has 10 guest rooms. (Dove Inn)
The inn has incorporated some modern tech as well, including smart locks from manufacturer Yale on guest room doors. Instead of checking in at the front desk, guests receive a text or email after booking with a code to enter their room. And the owners provide Netflix streaming instead of cable TV.
An iPad in the common area features videos from local coffee roasters teaching guests how to prepare various cups of coffee, such as in a Kemex, Aeropress or French press.
The inn will provide a light continental breakfast for guests each morning.
“We wanted to encourage people to relax and hang out and learn to make a high-quality cup of coffee,” Foster said.
The couple hired two employees to help run the inn and plans to hire two more.
When the Fosters rent out their own home on Airbnb, they stay in the inn’s carriage house. The couple funded the purchase and renovation of the hotel through loans and a silent investor.
“I think we have a pretty strong market for a staycation – people who don’t want to travel far but want to get out of Denver or neighboring cities,” Foster said, adding that the School of Mines brings many visitors to their inn. “I think it’s a mix between local and national and international (guests).”
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