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. 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 magnif- icent 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 accommodations 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 postcards such as the one pictured above were created to promote the resort
and to attract visitors. The photos that follow show some of the early guests outside the Inn during the
emerging years of the 20th century.
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, pic- tured
below, the more recent photo be- neath 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
Adiron- dack Style
architecture from the Adiron- dack Mountain region of upstate New York, it travelled westward and mingled with
other architectural styles to form a distinctive regional variation.
The architectural flavor of western mountain lodges and resorts soon spread to the region's dwellings . . . .
. and con- tinues to have wide appeal to the pres- ent day, as shown in the image at left. Like
the lodges and resorts of times gone by, a rugged rock fireplace is an absolute "necessity!"
The monumental stone hearths pictured below are outstanding examples of pres- ent-day incarnations of
rustic resort fireplaces of yesteryear. Framed by mas- sive 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!
For more information about any of the fireplace designs pictured here, please
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and we'll be hap- py to provide it for you.
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