Ponderosa Lodge at La Foret Conference and Retreat Center is a historic lodge in
Black Forest, Colorado
Black Forest is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by El Paso County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Colorado Springs, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of th ...
. It is a
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
Colorado State Register of Historic Properties The Colorado State Register of Historic Properties, administered by the History Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, is a listing of significant historic resources. History Colorado maintains a list of the Colorado State Registe ...
.
History
The lodge was built in 1928 as
Alice Bemis Taylor Alice Bemis Taylor (October 15, 1877 – June 22, 1942) was a philanthropist and was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 2010.
For her significant contributions to Colorado College, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and the Colora ...
's summer retreat.
Designed by
Jules Jacques Benoit Benedict
Jules Jacques Benois Benedict (April 22, 1879 – January 16, 1948) was one of the most prominent architects in Colorado history, whose works include a number of well-known landmarks and buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Place ...
, the summer home was similar to other mountain homes that he designed, using "native construction material", including
ponderosa pine
''Pinus ponderosa'', commonly known as the ponderosa pine, bull pine, blackjack pine, western yellow-pine, or filipinus pine is a very large pine tree species of variable habitat native to mountainous regions of western North America. It is the ...
from
Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak is the List of mountain ranges of Colorado#Mountain ranges, highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, in North America. The Ultra-prominent peak, ultra-prominent fourteener is located in Pike National Forest ...
's western slope, and displaying "the finest craftsmanship." One of Benedict's signature elements is the grand staircase in the main hall. He also designed an "elaborate fireplace", with custom iron work. Ponderosa Lodge is one of the properties submitted as multiple submission of Benedict's work for the Colorado Register of Historic Properties.
La Foret
Ponderosa Lodge is one of two historic properties located in the La Foret Conference and Retreat Center. The
Taylor Memorial Chapel
Taylor Memorial Chapel at La Foret Conference and Retreat Center is a historic chapel in Black Forest, Colorado. It is a National Register of Historic Places listing.
Black Forest fire
Ponderosa Lodge and other buildings at La Foret Conference and Retreat Center were spared from the
Black Forest fire
The Black Forest Fire was a forest fire that began near Highway 83 and Shoup Road in Black Forest, Colorado around 1:00 p.m. on June 11, 2013. As of June 20, 2013, the fire was 100 percent contained, were burned, at least 509 homes were sa ...
(June, 2013), at least partly due to mitigation efforts.
The retreat center created the "Black Forest Strong" organization to serve as a resource to the recuperating Black Forest community. The seven point plan includes grief counseling, serving as a community resource center, providing aid to victims and organizing events. In addition, the plan includes preservation, reseeding efforts, and mitigation training and services.