Carlton House

About this property

Carlton House is a historic Spanish Colonial Revival house located in Pine Valley of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It has been used as a residence for Mrs. Albert E. Carlton, a country club called the Pine Valley Club and, among other Academy functions, a residence for the United States Air Force Academy Superintendent. Richard Requa, an architect from San Diego designed the Spanish Colonial Revival house. The main house was built in two phases: the first floor was completed in 1930 and the second floor was completed in 1935. A total of nine buildings were built on the Carlton House property, which includes two guest houses, an auxiliary kitchen, a tea house, pool house, bath house, two stables and a swimming pool. The complex sits on 25.9 acres of heavily wooded with pine, scrub oak and many varieties of evergreen. West Monument Creek crosses the southern edge of the property. Rampart Range to the west of the property affords scenic views from the house and property. Buildings simple in mass and pleasing in outline and proportion Walls built of rough masonry, finished on the exterior with stucco, whitewashed or tinted light pastel shades Roofs either flat or low pitched, covered with well rounded, burned clay tiles Ornament used with restraint, discrimination, and with definite reason and purpose Exterior interest obtained by wrought iron, wood or stucco, window grilles, shutters, balconies or similar practical features Focal point of exterior usually the main entrance where the finest ornamental work is concentrated Courts, patios and gardens an indispensable feature of the architectural treatment The house was first built as a residence for Albert E. Carlton and his wife Ethel Frizzell-Carlton. In 1928, Carlton purchased the property from William A. Otis to build a home for his wife. Carlton was a successful businessman, having invested in mines, banks and railroads. He was named "King of Cripple Creek" due to the success of his mines there, including Cresson Mine, "one of the most profitable mines in the town". Mrs. Carlton had become enamored of the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture during her travels across Southern California. Subsequently architect Richard Requa was hired to design their home. The house was a "leading social center in the region." However, Carlton preferred to live at The Broadmoor resort and never lived at the Pine Valley home. Mr. Carlton died in 1931. Mrs. Carlton furnished the home with antiques that she purchased in Europe and lived there until 1950. She donated antique furnishings to The Broadmoor.

Location

Categories

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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