Stanley Hotel owner John Cullen wants an Estes Park developer to scrap plans for a retail complex in front of the historic building.
Instead, Cullen is proposing that the 7-acre site, owned by the town of Estes Park, be developed with nine luxury cottages and include a 100-foot-wide wildlife migration corridor.
“Obviously, we’re very concerned about what is built in our front yard,” said Bob Shelley, the hotel’s general manager. “If they want to keep it open space, that’s fine.”
Estes Park was in the process of selling the property to developer Ed Grueff of Estes Wins LLC, but Cullen sued, and a judge ruled that the contract was void.
“Before the town goes back into contract with him, we would like them to take one last look at the opportunity to go in a different direction,” Shelley said. “We’re not saying our plan is the one and the greatest, but we don’t believe the current proposal is what’s best for that lot.
“We want to create more open space or a development that looks for ways to bring more tourists to Estes Park in ways of building more lodging.”
