Hello friend,
Welcome to the Wedgewood Lodge, slope-side, next to Snowflake Lift. Snowflake is a one-of-a-kind two-person lift that has a mid-load station and 70-degree turn to put you at Peak 8. It’s personally one of my favorite lifts of all time especially when snow is quietly falling, blanketing the landscape in Colorado’s legendary white powder.
We’re extremely stoked that you have chosen Breckenridge, and even more so that you’re staying with us. We pride ourselves in being a long-standing boutique experience, with studio spaces to three bedroom townhomes. We’re still family-owned and operated and specialize in group travel and weddings. Whether you’re here for the ski season or a summer getaway, we are only a few blocks from Main Street and just a stones throw from the slopes where you can ride and hike.
We renovated in 2023–2024 and within that renovation we decided to customize each and every space with unique historic photographs curated by me (Jules)! The artwork in your unit is unique to you and contains a piece of Breck’s history. In addition, you’ll see some of my own photographs sprinkled throughout the space. Each unit is also named after a run somewhere in Breck’s 3,000+ acres, with the story behind it explained below. Unfortunately, we only have 52 units, so a lot of runs were left unmentioned but we hope that you get to explore as much as you can. At Wedgewood, we love where we live and want to display how far the town has come. Thanks for coming, and enjoy your stay.
How to get to Grits.
Grits doesn’t have a specific connection to history but grits and flapjacks were common campfire foods for prospectors, and I just think the names are full of humor. This run is a black diamond in Peak 10 that juts out from Crystal. It’s a short tree run that lands on Upper Lehman and is worth a visit. I recommend only advanced riders attempt Peak 10.
Gibson Hill.
This area in Breck was home to Gold Run Placer over 100 years ago. Gibson Hill had valuable gold, like many of the mines in the area. A lot of the photographic evidence we have of this area is from the J. Frank Willis Collection, which makes sense because they owned property on Gibson Hill, but information is fragmented. You can read more about Breckenridge’s general mining history here.
From top to bottom:
View from the Willis property on Gibson hill, 1000 ft above town, showing Breckenridge in the distance: View of Breckenridge and the snow-covered peaks of the Tenmile Range looking southwest from Gibson Hill. The location of the Willis family property is indicated by a pink color tint on the building’s roof. Original creator: circa 1880s-1903 (Creation); Westerman, Otto. J. Frank Willis Photograph Album. Breckenridge History, Colorado.
View of the Willis Property, as seen from Breckenridge: North end of Breckenridge, Colorado with the Willis property above on Gibson Hill. The property is indicated with a pink color tint. Original creator: circa 1880s-1903 (Creation); Westerman, Otto. J. Frank Willis Photograph Album. Breckenridge History, Colorado.
View of Breckenridge with Gibson Hill in the background: View of Breckenridge, Colorado, looking northeast with Gibson Hill in the background. On the right is the 1882-built frame schoolhouse on Harris Street. Other false front and frame buildings are in view, including the Breckenridge Masonic Lodge on Washington Avenue and Main Street, and Barney Ford’s home on the opposite corner. A tall lodgepole tree stands in the left foreground. Original creator: Circa 1896–1900; Unidentified . Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado.
Hydraulic mining crew at Gold Run Placer on Gibson Hill near Breckenridge, Colorado: Hydraulic mining at Gold Run Placer on Gibson Hill, near Breckenridge, Colorado. Circa early 1900s. Men from the pit crew stand by while a “Giant” (a high pressure nozzle fitted on a hydraulic pipe) directs a powerful jet of water towards the base of a gravel bank. Original creator: Circa early 1900s; Unidentified . Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado.
Breckenridge, Colo, from Gibson Hill: View of Breckenridge, Colorado, looking southwest shows dwellings and commercial buildings of the town. Landmarks include two churches, false fronted structures and, in the foothills, numerous mining facilities. A frame, gable roofed structure is in the left in the foreground, and in the background, snow covers the peaks of the Ten Mile Range. Original creator: [1890–1899?]; Westerman, Otto. Denver Public Library Special Collections, X-1951.
J. Frank Willis with his bicycle outside his house on Gibson Hill, east of Breckenridge: J. Frank Willis’ one and half story front gable frame house on Gibson Hill, east of Breckenridge, Colorado. Outside, Willis holds his bicycle by the handle as he props his left foot on the bike pedal. A second bike leans against a tree by a dirt path. He wears a cap, coat, and knickers with stockings. Original creator: Circa 1880s-1903; Unidentified . Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado.