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Old Timers
tell us that this was the stage stop, and then the
Stagecoach Inn for as long as they can remember. We're
not sure when this all started, but travelers and locals
alike have always found good western fare at the
Stagecoach for many years.
True to
western lore, there are conflicting stories regarding
the Stagecoach's history. Credible accounts have
identified the rustic log structure which houses the
entrance, parlor and lounge as Helen Hunt Jackson's
summer cottage and was built in 1881. Helen Hunt Jackson
was a famous American author, poetess, and champion of
Native American rights. Her novel 'Ramona' is still in print
today after more than 300 printings and in many
different languages.
The barn-like structure which houses the main dining room, side porch and kitchen
was the first electric company in Manitou Springs which boasted electricity before New
York City. The generator was powered by a 45 foot diameter water wheel in Fountain Creek.
Later the building became the home of the Manitou Springs Journal. One of the paper boys
for the Journal, A.B. Armstrong, later bought both buildings and transformed them into
southern Colorado's first pick for true Colorado Comfort
Food. He and his family operated the
Stagecoach for many decades and was famous for his fried chicken and biscuits with cherry
preserves. Famous patrons of the past include President Eisenhower, and Pa, Little Joe and Hoss Cartwright.
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