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 Briar Rose.
Briar Rose is a fun and mellow blue run, but sometimes has moguls. If you’re not a fan of bumps, check Breckenridge’s groom report before heading to the mountain so you don’t get into something that you don’t love. I’m not sure how this run on Peak 9 was named, but there is a wonderful restaurant named Briar Rose Chophouse and Saloon in town that you must check out. Reservations are recommended. The Briar Rose run connects back into Country Boy which leads you back to Ten Mile Station, the lodge at the top of Quicksilver Chair.
Daughter of Robert W. Foote.
The theme of this historical gallery is about a girl named Ella Foote who lived in Breckenridge in the early mining days. She appears in one of the most famous pictures of Breck during the “Big Snow” of 1898–1899, peering through a snow tunnel that had been built by residents. See if you can spot this photo in your gallery. Ella’s father, Robert W. Foote was a prominent Breckenridge businessman, owning Denver Hotel on Main Street and becoming the first general manager of Wellington Mines Company. There was a mine named the Ella Mine, assuming that it was named after her. He held office as the mayor twice among other public service and political accomplishments.
But enough about her father; Ella Foote wrote the history of Breckenridge at 11 years old for a school assignment which ended up being published in the local newspaper The Summit County Journal and became a talking point for the town because it was still a bit unclear if Breckenridge was intentionally spelled as we know it today, or if it was supposed to be Breckinridge. You can read part of her essay in the original newspaper here. If you want to learn more about how Breckenridge was named, see this article by Breck History.
The newspaper archives dropped Ella Foote after the early 1920’s and I couldn’t find further information about her after an alleged marriage to the name Theobald. If you know of Ella’s further whereabouts, let me know.
THE HISTORICAL ARTWORK.
From top to bottom:
Ella Foote on horseback Main Street: Young Ella Foote poses with her horse on top of a snowbank in front of R.C. McKillip’s Livery and Feed Store on the east side of Main Street in Breckenridge, Colorado. A horse drawn sleigh with passengers is stopped near the livery entry. The building with the bell cupola is Fireman’s Hall. Original creator: Circa 1899; Unidentified. Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado.
Ella Foote peers through a snow tunnel: “In this most celebrated image (above) of Victorian Breckenridge, young Ella Foote peers through a snow tunnel across Main Street during the Great Winter of 1898. That year it began to snow on November 27, and continued until February 20, 1899. Snow rose to the rooftops, people exited buildings through second story windows, and tunnels were dug across roads to allow foot traffic. The trains were helpless against 40-foot snowdrifts and Breckenridge was completely cut off from the outside world for 79 days.” Original creator: Circa 1898–1899; Unidentified. Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado.
Denver Hotel on snow covered Main Street, Breckenridge: The Denver Hotel on the west side of snow covered Main Street, Breckenridge, Colorado during the “Big Snow” event of 1898–1899. Snowfall totaled over 32 feet that winter; it was so deep it reached the hotel’s second-floor balcony. The two-story wood frame building featured paired gables and a shared false-front with the words “DENVER HOTEL”. The Post Office shares the hotel’s covered portico. Next door is a false front building with signs announcing “Bankrupt Stock” in the storefront windows. Original creator: 1898–1899; Unidentified. Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado.
Ella Foote uses wooden skis to cross a snow drift on Main Street, Breckenridge: Young Ella Foote, dressed in an overcoat, bonnet and scarf, uses a pole for balance and wooden skis or snow shoes to cross over a enormous snow drift in Breckenridge, Colorado, during the “Big Snow” of 1898–1899. Tunnels were dug through enormous snow drifts to allow passage to buildings on both sides of Main Street. In view above the snow pile is the false-front of R.C. McKillip Livery and the bell tower of Fireman’s Hall. Left foreground shows part of the Denver Hotel’s covered portico. Original creator: Circa 1899; Unidentified. Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado.
People under the portico of the Denver Hotel on snowy Main Street: Men and women stand in snowdrifts covering the sidewalk under the portico of the Denver Hotel on Main Street in Breckenridge, Colorado. Others stand in the snow in front of Evans Pharmacy. In view is a barber’s pole advertising “Baths”. During the “Big Snow” event of 1898–1899, heavy snowfall had reached the second story of most buildings. Tunnels were dug to allow passage on both sides of the street. Original creator: 1898–1899; Unidentified. Summit Historical Society Collection. Image created by Breckenridge History, Colorado
The Wellington Mill, east of Breckenridge: The Wellington Mill in French Gulch, east of Breckenridge, Colorado. Handwritten caption on the front: “Wellington Mill.” Original creator: circa 1930s-1940s (Creation); Unidentified. Breckenridge History Photograph Collection. Breckenridge History, Colorado
