Celebrating 100 Years Of The Armstrong Hotel
256 South. Downtown Lodging . Established 1923.
100 Years Of Genuine Hospitality
1923 - 2023
“Then and now, The Armstrong Hotel has been the heartbeat of the Fort Collins community,” said George Prine, hotel general manager. “We honor the hotel’s storied 100-year history and look forward to providing guests many more years of exceptional hospitality and opportunities for entertainment and revelry, just as they did when the doors opened in 1923.”
Like a fine wine, some things truly get better with age. We’d like to think of ourselves as one of them! We are incredibly grateful to celebrate 100 years in the Fort Collins community.
It’s Time To Celebrate!
To honor the centennial anniversary, The Armstrong Hotel will be celebrating all year long! We will reveal new celebratory activities exclusively on our website and via Instagram (@thearmstronghotel) throughout the year, such as Craft Cocktails by the Decade and special musical guests in the infamous Ace Gillett’s Supper Club & Lounge.
Our Story
In 1923, Charles & Carolyn Mantz opened the original Armstrong Hotel in lively Old Town Fort Collins. Upon opening, it was the tallest building in town and advertised the hotel as the ideal location to explore Northern Colorado, from the Poudre Canyon to Rocky Mountain National Park.
In addition to welcoming visitors, the hotel offered Fort Collins residents a home away from home. Serving America’s growing love affair with the automobile, it housed the first chapter of the Colorado American Automobile Association (AAA), and during World War II, it was used as barracks for the U.S. Army. During the 1940s the hotel changed hands to the Gillett family, who lived on the second floor of the hotel for several decades.
The Fort Collins’ icon has a storied past that includes “secret booze runs” during prohibition, which lasted well into the 1960s. The hotel was home to eager entrepreneurs, illustrious professors, feisty farmers, a cat named Oreo and even paranormal activity with a friendly ghost reportedly looking like a bellhop with a gold-accented uniform.
The hotel underwent extensive renovations in 2019. Meticulous care was taken to create an atmosphere that celebrates the history while creating a modern and refined experience. Today, The Armstrong Hotel and Ace Gillett’s, Fort Collins’ beloved underground vinyl lounge and supper club, continue to create remarkable experiences for its guests.