September 10, 2022, was a day many Idaho Springs locals had waited a long time for…a chance to see the inside of Castle Eyrie. The Castle dates back to 1882, when Thomas Barbour Bryan, his wife and daughter , both named Jenny, moved in upon completion of the home’s construction. Daughter Jenny designed the Castle and decorated it with pieces of fine art, some of her own making, and family heirlooms brought from Virginia. Beautiful china graced the dining room table then, as it does now. Mr. Bryan was an attorney , businessman, entrepreneur and mine speculator. He even became Mayor of Idaho Springs. The Bryan family only occupied the home for a few years, returning to Chicago in 1884. The building lay vacant until 1889.
In 1891 the Castle began operating as a boarding house. At one point it was known as the “Castle Hotel.” It was operated as a boarding house as recently as 1963. In 1967, Robert F. Metzler, then Superintendent of the Clear Creek County Schools, purchased the property and returned it to a private residence. Soon after purchasing the Castle, Mr. Metzler offered two teachers free accommodations if they would help renovate the property. One of those teachers is Charlie Resanovich, who lives in the Castle today. Charlie has been leading the most recent restoration projects, following the passing of Robert Metzler in 2020.
Members of the Columbine Garden Club and their guests enjoyed afternoon tea and tours of the Castle, lead by Charlie, who has great stories to tell about the many architectural modifications, floods, fires, unique guests, art and furnishings which adorn the Castle today.
Columbine Garden Club meets on the second Thursday at noon at the Idaho Springs Elks Club. For more information, contact Amy Tomlinson at 303-888-5429.
