How To Make the Most of Your Stay at the Crawford Hotel, Which Just Got a Makeover

A decade ago, Denver Union Station was a dilapidated, empty shell of its former self. But a major $54 million revitalization project completed in 2014 spruced up the landmark and breathed new life into the once-deserted train depot.

That investment paid off: With a luxury hotel, shops, restaurants, and light rail service to and from Denver International Airport, Union Station is now a thriving hub for global travelers and Denver residents alike. The historic building—which dates back to 1881—has been so well-loved (and so well-used) in the past decade that it was time for another refresh.

In July, crews wrapped up an $11 million renovation of the Crawford Hotel and several of Union Station’s public spaces. “Denver has changed so much and grown so much,” says Jessica Werner, executive vice president of Sage Studio, the interior design arm of Sage Hospitality Group, which manages Union Station. “It felt like a moment where we really needed to honor the past but tell a new story.”

The hotel’s makeover comes on the heels of a prestigious accolade: In April, the Crawford became one of three Denver hotels to earn a “one key” designation from the Michelin Guide in its inaugural review of American hotels. Here’s what’s new at the Crawford—and how to make the most of a staycation at Denver Union Station.

The Lobby

What’s new: Before the recent renovation, the Crawford’s lobby was a tiny alcove off the Great Hall, Union Station’s main room. For hotel guests, this meant standing in line with their bags amid all the daily hustle and bustle of the train station. To create a more luxurious and relaxing experience, designers with Goodrich and Sage Studio created an entirely new, separate lobby area called the Crawford Parlour. Tucked in the corner of the Great Hall, the parlour is outfitted with two plush seating areas for weary travelers with plenty of room to maneuver around with luggage. The space features two-tone wood flooring, tapestry-inspired fabrics, and curated knick-knacks inspired by the eccentric style of Denver philanthropist and Titanic survivor Molly Brown.

“We really leaned into her self-proclaimed ‘daughter of adventure’ story,” says Werner. “Some of her style reflected her boldness as a person, but a lot of it had to do with her being a global traveler and collecting pieces from where she had been.”

Front desk clerks now offer welcome drinks—a choice of red wine, white wine, prosecco, or a Negroni, as well as still or sparkling water—and travelers can access a private elevator to the guest floors. In the future, there are hopes to host live music and intimate events, such as caviar and oyster tastings, in the Crawford.

Don’t miss: The portrait of Dana Crawford, the hotel’s namesake and the pioneering preservationist who helped save Denver Union Station. Part black-and-white photograph, part painting, the large-scale piece by mixed-media artist Annie Decamp shows a young Crawford sitting on a pile of bricks in a dress and heels. The same photo appears on the cover of Mike McPhee’s 2015 biography of Crawford, which sits on the coffee table in the lobby.

The Guest Rooms

What’s new: Designers with DLR Group and Sage Studio made mostly aesthetic changes in the Crawford’s 112 guest rooms (starting at $348 per night in August), located upstairs in the building’s old offices and attic space. They decked out the light-filled retreats with art deco-inspired furnishings and materials in regal hues of burgundy, olive green, gold, and dusty royal blue. Scalloped headboards frame the beds, and low-slung chaise lounges and matching chairs offer additional seating.

They painted the walls bright white, but covered the ceilings with a dramatic custom wallpaper inspired by the feeling of stepping into an upscale train car, says Werner. From bed, guests can gaze up at large-scale flowers set against a deep, midnight blue background. “It was a really interesting way to create something that felt like this self-contained, immersive, luxury space,” she says.

Don’t miss: The newly built arched doorways that separate the sleeping area from the bathroom and entryway in each guest room. Designers added this feature as a subtle nod to the Mizpah Arch erected in front of Denver Union Station in 1906. (In Hebrew, “mizpah” means “may God be with you until we meet again.”) Standing 65 feet tall and 86 feet wide, the arch was illuminated by 1,294 light bulbs. But in 1931, officials deemed it a traffic hazard and tore it down. They sold the arch’s 70 tons of steel for scrap.

The guest rooms also pay homage to Dana Crawford in not-so-subtle ways. Before dozing off, listen to the custom bedtime story about her life and legacy loaded onto your in-room alarm clock. (More subtly: As you flick off the reading lights built into the headboard, note the sconces’ similarity to a pair of simple pearl earrings—Dana Crawford’s jewelry of choice, says Werner.)

The Setting

What’s new: As part of the renovation, designers also refreshed some of Denver Union Station’s public areas (another effort led by Goodrich). In the Great Hall, they removed the shuffleboard tables, added built-in banquette benches, and built four permanent kiosks that will be leased to to-be-announced Denver retailers. To make the space easier to subdivide for events, they also installed functional elements—like retractable, decorative gates that signal an area is closed to the public without blocking the view. The Cooper Lounge cocktail bar, located on the open-air, second-floor mezzanine, got new banquette seating, high tables, and built-in stone Champagne bucket stands.

Don’t miss: The new food and drink options at the Cooper Lounge. Try the gambas al ajillo (shrimp bathed in olive oil, garlic, lemon, and chili flakes, with a side of crusty ciabatta bread) and the Go Fly A Kite! cocktail (made with bourbon, amaro, grapefruit liqueur, fresh lemon, and grapefruit juice).

Another fun perk for hotel guests? Every day of your stay, your room key gets you a free cup of coffee at Pigtrain Coffee Co. and a free cup or cone of ice cream at Milkbox Ice Creamery, which are both located just off the Great Hall. Grab one (or both) and spend some time people-watching.