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The Stanley Carriage House

Estes Park, Colorado
Where History and Hospitality Converge

Originally constructed in 1909, The Carriage House is the last of the original four historic structures on the Stanley Hotel campus in Estes Park, Colorado, to undergo renovation. Once home to F.O. Stanley’s iconic steam-powered vehicles and later repurposed briefly as a motel in the 1950s, the building sat vacant for over 25 years before its recent transformation. In partnership with Saunders Heath, MOA ARCHITECTURE led the careful rehabilitation of the building, preserving its historic charm while adapting it for modern use. The revitalized Carriage House now houses The Post Chicken and Beer restaurant on the first floor and Aiden Sinclair’s Underground—an 86-seat immersive theater—on the lower level.

Size

15,187 SF

Scope

  • Adaptive Reuse
Exterior sign for The Post restaurant reading ‘THE POST CHICKEN & BEER,’ surrounded by rocks, greenery, and yellow flowers with The Stanle Hotel visible in the background.
Interior of The Post restaurant featuring orange booth seating, wood‑clad walls, exposed ceiling structure, and patterned red‑and‑teal flooring.
Honoring Legacy Through Design

With deep respect for the building’s rich history and the legacy of the Stanley Hotel campus, the design team approached the project with an emphasis on historical accuracy and preservation craftsmanship. Since the structure lacked a foundation, the original roof was carefully removed and set aside while a 14-foot-deep foundation was excavated within the perimeter walls. Meticulous documentation and measurement ensured the historic roof structure could be reintegrated onto the newly stabilized building. Where original materials could not be salvaged, the team sourced matching materials and construction techniques to honor the character of the original Carriage House. The design was not only about restoration—it was also about revitalizing a forgotten space for a new generation of guests and locals alike.

Exterior plaque displaying the historic Carriage House and Stanley Hotel signage mounted on white siding.
Entrance area of The Post restaurant featuring a central fireplace, exposed wood ceiling, patterned flooring, and large windows overlooking the landscape.
A Century Old Space Transformed

The restoration of The Carriage House breathes new life into a long-neglected piece of the Stanley Hotel’s heritage, turning it into a vibrant cultural and culinary destination. On the main level, The Post Chicken and Beer brings its signature welcoming atmosphere and locally loved fare, while the lower level introduces a distinctive entertainment experience through Aiden Sinclair’s Underground, a purpose-built theater venue for the famed illusionist. This successful blend of preservation and adaptive reuse not only strengthens the historic identity of the Stanley campus but also enhances its relevance to today’s visitors. The Carriage House now stands as a testament to thoughtful restoration and the power of storytelling through architecture.

Interior of The Post restaurant at the Stanley Carriage House featuring an open bar, exposed wood ceiling, orange booths, and patterned red‑and‑teal flooring.
Interior view of The Post restaurant showing a diagonal wood-plank accent wall with a blue decorative skull, large windows, hanging globe lights, and red-and-green patterned flooring.
Interior seating area at Aiden Sinclair’s Underground featuring long rows of high‑back chairs, a raised platform, wood‑accent walls, and overhead theatrical lighting.
Stage area inside Aiden Sinclair’s Underground with wooden tables, arranged seating, framed posters on the wall, and theatrical lighting.
Entrance area of The Post restaurant featuring a central fireplace, exposed wood ceiling, patterned flooring, and large windows overlooking the landscape.
Interior view of The Post restaurant featuring cylindrical hanging light fixtures, orange booth seating, and a striped accent wall with large windows in the background.
Wide exterior view of the carriage house with white siding, red roof, and stone-lined landscaping under a blue sky.
Close-up view of a sculptural metal light fixture suspended from an exposed wood ceiling with visible bulbs and structural beams.
Library-style entrance to Aiden Sinclair’s Underground featuring built-in bookshelves, wood-paneled walls, frosted glass doors, a polished concrete floor, and overhead lighting with exposed bulbs.
Wide view of Aiden Sinclair’s Underground showing rows of wooden tables and chairs, blue accent lighting, wood‑paneled walls, and a suspended grid ceiling with theatrical lighting.
Framed vintage camping poster displayed on a diagonal wood-plank wall with a cylindrical hanging light fixture nearby.
Interior of The Post restaurant featuring orange booth seating, colorful vertical wall panels, exposed wood ceiling, and patterned red‑and‑green flooring.
Restored white carriage house with columns, landscaped garden beds, and mountain backdrop under a blue sky.
Exterior plaque displaying the historic Carriage House and Stanley Hotel signage mounted on white siding.
Entrance view of The Post restaurant showing a colorful rooster sculpture, double‑sided fireplace, exposed wood ceiling, bar seating, and patterned red‑and‑teal flooring.
Library-style room inside Aiden Sinclair’s Underground featuring wood-paneled walls, built-in bookshelves filled with books, a polished concrete floor, and an overhead grid of exposed lightbulbs.
Interior of Aiden Sinclair’s Underground with wooden tables, rows of seating, dim theatrical lighting, and a stage area at the front.
Bar interior at The Post restaurant featuring a long counter with metal barstools, exposed wood ceiling structure, built‑in shelving with bottles and glassware, and red‑and‑green patterned flooring.
Interior wall detail at The Post restaurant featuring mounted fish sculptures, a taxidermy-style animal form, green tile wall, and an exposed wood ceiling.
Interior view of The Post restaurant with orange booth seating, wood‑paneled ceiling structure, hanging cylindrical light fixtures, striped accent wall, and a host station near large windows.
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