Rocky Mt. Rock Fireplaces...
Lodges, Logs & Luxury!

Rustic rock fireplaces in the mountain regions of the Great American  West are  timeless and pay homage to the hardy spirit and rugged determination of the explorers, trailblazers and settlers that went before us.  Inspired by the  majesty  of  the  mountains,  rustic  lodges  and resorts with massive
stone hearths were crafted from the mighty timber and stones found along their rugged slopes . . . . .

Old Faithful Inn Pictured Above

A microcosm of the majesty  and  grandeur  of  the mountains from which they arise, western rock fireplace designs tend to be monumental in scale.

From  the  booming  Industrial Revolution of the 19th century emerged a rapidly rising middle class. No longer the exclusive domain of the wealthy, travel and leisure -- spurred on by the rapid expansion of the railroads -- was available to nearly everyone.

Entrepreneurs  seeking  to  capitalize  on  the economic boom developed magnificent lodges and resorts to cater to the influx of  vacationers  and tourists.   Rugged and rustic in appearance -- constructed of native logs and  timber  --  the  lodges  and resorts belied the luxurious accommoda-
tions and service found within!

The Old Faithful Inn,  opened  in  1904 in Yellowstone National Park,  was
one of the outstanding resort developments of the period.   Colored post-
cards  such  as  the one pictured at top were created to promote the re-
sort  and  to  attract visitors.    The photos that follow show some of the
early  guests  outside  the Inn during the emerging years of the 20th cen-
tury.

Now,  more  than a century later,  the Old Faithful Inn  continues to welcome guests to its magnificent facility.    As shown in the images at right, little has changed in the building's exterior since it first opened in 1904.    Similarly,  as depicted  in  the  early postcard image
of   the   lobby   with  its  monumental
stone  fireplace,  pictured  below,  the more recent photo beneath it is nearly identical in appearance.

In  addition  to   the   majestic   stone hearth  --  a  "must"  for any mountain lodge  or resort  --  note  the  massive peeled and stained logs, as well as the naturally  shaped  branches  that  form the open balustrades.  A characteristic of  Adirondack Style  architecture from the  Adirondack Mountain region of up-
state New York,  it travelled westward and  mingled  with  other  architectural styles  to  form  a  distinctive  regional variation.

Adirondack Style Fireplaces

More Mountain Style Rock Fireplaces

The  architectural  flavor  of  western mountain   lodges   and  resorts  soon spread to the region's dwellings  . . . . and  continues to have wide appeal to the  present  day, as shown in the im-
age at left. Like the lodges and resorts of  times  gone  by, a rugged rock fire-
place is an absolute "necessity!"

The  monumental  stone  hearths  pic-
tured  below are outstanding examples of  present-day  incarnations  of rustic resort fireplaces of yesteryear. Framed by massive  peeled  logs,  they  harken back  to the heyday of grand mountain lodges!

As with the examples above,  the  two  striking designs pictured below are also of relatively recent origin.   The rugged hearth below,  left,  is crafted from huge blocks of cut granite. Below, right, large cut stones extend from the fireplace facing to form a cozy inglenook!

And finally . . . . . . . few rustic stone hearth designs exude the period ambiance of the stunning rock fireplace pictured below.  Complete with a rustic log mantel shelf, this present-day example simply oozes nostalgic charm!

Fireplace Design Pictured Above By Ewing Architects
For Colorado Ranch Of Fashion Icon, Ralph Lauren

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