The 'Bear Legends' Continue at Hotel Colorado - Reward for Photo of Recent Bear Visit

The 'Bear Legends' Continue at Hotel Colorado - Reward for Photo of Recent
Bear Visit

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo., July 10 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, July 7th the
Hotel Colorado had an unexpected visitor wander into its main lobby -- a 2
year old female black bear. Though she didn't stay for long, some Hotel
guests were able to snap a picture of the surprising visit. In an effort to
document this historic visit, Hotel Colorado's General Manager, John Burns, is
offering a reward for anyone who captured this moment on film. As a reward
for the photo(s), the Hotel Colorado will provide a two nights stay in a
Premier Suite and dinner for two at Baron's Restaurant.

Of course, the Hotel is no stranger to bear stories. Since it opened in 1893,
Hotel Colorado has had its fair share of furry guests.

According to one legend, the famous "Teddy Bear" was born at Hotel Colorado.
To cheer Theodore Roosevelt after an unsuccessful day of hunting, Hotel
Colorado maids presented him with a stuffed bear pieced together with scraps
of fine material. Later, when he did bag a bear, his daughter Alice admired it
saying, "I will call it Teddy." The term caught on and became the name for the
world's most popular toy, the Teddy Bear.

In the 1920s, one of Hotel Colorado's most frequent visitors was never allowed
inside the Hotel's doors. This was because the guest, known to the staff as
"Pete," was a full-grown Colorado black bear. Occasionally, when Pete would
decide to take a tour of the surrounding area, it was the job of ground's
keeper, John Pretti, to find the bear and escort him back to his residence
near the Hotel. The mischievous companion always returned willingly, strolling
alongside John, back to his home at Hotel Colorado.

Similar interactions have since occurred over the years, including two cubs
who were nursed to health at the Hotel in 1929 and then donated to the Denver
Zoo.

"Our experiences and encounters with bears have always been very friendly,"
said Burns. "This recent sighting acted as a reminder of the rich history and
rapport Hotel Colorado has with this impressive animal."

The Hotel plans to be cautious and respectful of their bear visitors, while
remembering how they've shaped the Hotel over the years. If you have any
information about the recent photo, please contact John Burns at
1-800-544-3998 ext. 112.

SOURCE Hotel Colorado

John Burns, Hotel Colorado, 1-800-544-3998, ext. 112