Jasper Co. IAGenWeb

Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa
B.F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912
Transcribed by Ernie Braida in July 2003

HOTEL COLFAX

To her mineral springs Colfax owes much of her present prosperity, and to these primarily the building of the Hotel Colfax is due James P. Donahue, its proprietor and builder, has been actuated in the building of the hotel by two motives: one, the care of the sick in a way to afford them all the advantages of modern science and the benefits of the curative waters of the mineral springs; the other, to provide in the midst of beautiful natural surroundings a hotel with all the most modern and exclusive features, where the well may enjoy recreation, and by rest and correct living build up a stronger state of health. For the Colfax is an ideal place in which to spend a month in relaxation from business or social cares.

The Hotel Colfax is situated to the east of the village of Colfax, one mile from the railroad station, and just twenty-three miles from Des Moines, the metropolis of Iowa. Access to the hotel may be had by the trains of the Rock Island, the hourly inter-urbans and the hotel has its own electric line to convey guests who come in this way to its doors, or by automobile, for the hotel is only an easy hour's run over good roads from Des Moines. The visitor who reaches the hotel finds upon alighting from the trolley or automobile that he is at the summit of the highest hill in Iowa. Surrounded by natural forests, the wide lawns, traversed by shaded drives, slope gently away from the hotel, and the vast extent and heroic dimensions of the buildings create a feeling of restfulness and quiet. One in the mood of solitude may find it here, even though there are a thousand guests about the parks and piazzas.

The air, the scenery, the wonderful surroundings alone, without the mineral springs, make the Colfax one of the most satisfactorily situated hotels of which man can conceive. From the Italian terrace you can see, on a clear day, eighteen miles over the shimmering river, the luxuriant forest, and the verdant fields. Walks passing through the hotel grounds in every direction enter and wind away through the forest, which encloses the buildings. Among the many pleasant spots in the vicinity is Lover's Leap, overlooking a great precipice. On returning from a stroll in the woods the hotel greets the eye of the wanderer like a fairy castle of the olden days of enchantment.

The hotel is so complete in itself, with its garage and ice and cold storage plants, its electric powerhouse, pumping system and laundry, so independent of the outside world, as aptly to be called a miniature city. The building is of Moorish design, a style of architecture so perfectly adapted to the beautiful surroundings as to seem to have been originated for them alone, and is absolutely fireproof in construction, and inside and out a color scheme is worked into every detail of wall, furniture, hangings and shades, as well as of towers and minarets, and the whole gives an impression of unity and completeness of decoration. The appointments of the hotel are equal to those of the most exclusive of this country or Europe, and the perfect service guarantees freedom from all petty annoyances of hotel life. In fact, the hotel is built on the plan of the most exclusive California hostelries, and run on the plan of an English country mansion.

To all the comfort of the hotel and the charm of its natural surroundings is added the curative and preventive properties of the waters of the Colfax mineral springs, which are the full equal of those sold from the famous Old World springs. The bathrooms of the hotel are unexcelled in equipment, the services of a medical adviser are provided for the use of the patrons, and every bath known to modern science, including the famous Manheim bath, may be here secured.

Truly nature, with her scenery of magnificence and beauty and her waters of wonderful curing powers, and man, with his hotel offering the acme of luxury, have combined to make Colfax one of the most attractive spots in the world for the healing and the delectation of man.

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