Winks Lodge

Winks Lodge was located near Pinecliffe, an hour’s drive from Denver. It was the main hotel and social hub at Lincoln Hills, a historic black resort community in Gilpin County. It was opened in 1928 by Denver businessman Obrey Wendell Hamlet, who went by the nickname “Winks.” The lodge was a popular destination among black vacationers until other resorts became desegregated in the 1960s. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

A Black Mountain Resort

Winks Hamlet’s lodge was in Lincoln Hills, a black resort community. At the time, Lincoln Hills was one of only a few black resorts in the United States. It was the only one located in the mountains.

In 1925 Hamlet bought property at Lincoln Hills with plans to build a destination lodge. After working on the wood and stone building for three summers, the lodge opened for business in 1928. It operated during the summer and fall and was the first full-service resort in the area.

Winks Lodge was popular among the African American community in Denver and across the nation. Famous black musicians who played in Denver, such as Lena Horne, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington, often stayed at Winks Lodge. Hamlet also arranged for black writers such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston to give readings at the lodge.

Over the years, Hamlet added cabins and a tavern to the property. Hamlet’s wife, Naomi, served home-cooked meals at the lodge until her death in the 1940s. After 1952, cooking duties passed to his second wife, Melba, whose barbecue was believed to be the best for hundreds of miles around.

End of an Era

Hamlet ran Winks Lodge until his death in 1965. After the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination in public accommodations, resort communities like Lincoln Hills were no longer necessary. It became possible for blacks to travel freely to resort communities like Estes Park.

In 1971 Melba Hamlet sold Winks Lodge to Eileen and Guy Dart. In the late 1970s, black historian Bertha Calloway and her husband bought the lodge. Calloway wanted to restore the lodge and preserve the area’s history. In 1980 she got the lodge listed on the National Register of Historic Places at the state level of significance.

In 1985 Rob and Martha Tomerlin bought Winks Lodge. The Tomerlins maintained the lodge and preserved its history for two decades.

Today

In 2006 Winks Lodge was acquired by the Beckwourth Mountain Club, a nonprofit that offers outdoor recreation opportunities for black and urban youth.

In 2008 Denver businessman Matthew Burkett bought property at Lincoln Hills and established the Lincoln Hills Fly Fishing Club. He co-founded a charitable organization called Lincoln Hills Cares.

In late 2014, the National Register of Historic Places listing for Winks Lodge was elevated from state to national-level significance for its role in African American history.

Winks Lodge was located near Pinecliffe, an hour’s drive from Denver. It was the main hotel and social hub at Lincoln Hills, a historic black resort community in Gilpin County. It was opened in 1928 by Denver businessman Obrey Wendell Hamlet, who went by the nickname “Winks.” The lodge was a popular destination among black vacationers until the 1960s. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

A Black Mountain Resort

Winks Hamlet’s lodge was in Lincoln Hills, a black resort community. At the time, Lincoln Hills was one of only a few black resorts in the United States. It was the only one located in the Colorado mountains.

In 1925 Hamlet bought property at Lincoln Hills. His plan was to build a destination lodge. After working on the wood and stone building for three summers, the lodge opened for business in 1928. It was the first full-service resort in the area. The lodge operated in the summer and fall.

Winks Lodge was popular among the African American community in Denver and nationwide. Famous black musicians who played in Denver, such as Lena Horne, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington, often stayed at Winks Lodge. Hamlet also arranged for black writers such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston to give readings at the lodge.

Over the years, Hamlet added cabins and a tavern to the property. Hamlet’s wife Naomi served home-cooked meals at the lodge until her death in the 1940s. After 1952, cooking duties passed to his second wife, Melba, whose barbecue was believed to be the best for hundreds of miles around.

End of an Era

Hamlet ran Winks Lodge until his death in 1965. After the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination in public accommodations, resort communities like Lincoln Hills were no longer necessary. It became possible for blacks to travel freely to resorts such as Estes Park.

In 1971 Melba Hamlet sold Winks Lodge to Eileen and Guy Dart. In the late 1970s, black historian Bertha Calloway and her husband bought the lodge. Calloway wanted to restore the lodge and preserve the area’s history. In 1980 she got the lodge listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1985 Rob and Martha Tomerlin bought Winks Lodge. For two decades, the Tomerlins maintained the lodge and preserved the historic nature of the property.

Today

In 2006 Winks Lodge was acquired by the Beckwourth Mountain Club, a nonprofit that offers outdoor recreation opportunities for black and urban youth.

In 2008 Denver businessman Matthew Burkett bought property at Lincoln Hills and established the Lincoln Hills Fly Fishing Club. He co-founded a charitable organization called Lincoln Hills Cares.

In late 2014, the National Register of Historic Places listing for Winks Lodge was elevated from the state level to the national level of significance for its role in African American history.

Denver businessman Obrey W. Hamlet bought some land west of Denver in 1925. Mr. Hamlet’s nickname was “Winks.” His land was at a black resort community called Lincoln Hills, along South Boulder Creek. Hamlet wanted to build a lodge. It took three summers to complete the three-story, wood and stone lodge. Six guest rooms and a bathroom were on the upper floor. The lobby, kitchen, and dining area were on the main floor. There was also a room called a lounge where visitors could relax. On the lower floor was space for storage and a workshop. The lodge opened in 1928. It was the main hotel of Lincoln Hills.

A Black Mountain Resort

Winks Lodge was built at a time when there were only a few resorts in the United States where African Americans could stay. Lincoln Hills was the only black resort located in the mountains. It was only an hour’s drive from Denver. Winks Lodge was a popular vacation spot for African Americans in Denver and elsewhere.

Visitors could get meals, a room, hike, fish, and go horseback riding for only $3.00 per day. Famous black musicians stayed at Winks Lodge before or after they performed in Denver. Hamlet also invited famous black writers to stay at his lodge. The famous musicians and writers shared their music, poems, and stories with the guests. Years later Hamlet added some smaller cabins so more guests could stay. Hamlet’s wife served home-cooked meals at the lodge.

End of an Era

Obrey W. Hamlet ran Winks Lodge until he died in 1965. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 had been passed the year before. In the United States, it was now against the law to discriminate. Blacks were free to visit resorts of their choice. They were now able to enjoy resorts like Estes Park. All-black resort communities like Lincoln Hills were no longer necessary.

Today

There have been several different owners of Winks Lodge since Hamlet’s death. Black and urban youth, as well as US military veterans, have enjoyed outdoor activities at Winks Lodge. Efforts have been made to restore the lodge and open it to the public in the future. In 1980 the lodge was listed among important historic places in Colorado. In 2014 Winks Lodge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of the role it played in African American history.