The Heart of Manitou Springs. Award-winning. Luxurious. Romantic. 2nd Floor West

Despite Vrbo reporting scores of properties in Manitou Springs, this property is one of only about 40 vacation rentals actually in Manitou Springs. About to enter its seventh year, this property has hosted almost 3,000 guests and garnered almost 500 5-star reviews. See more than 100 of these reviews at Vrbo listing 1194615.

This property consists of three individual luxury apartments. On the first floor, a two-bedroom/two-bath unit sleeps up to six. On the second floor, there are two one-bedroom/one-bath units that each sleep up to four. There are separate listings for each of the three rental units. This listing contains pictures and pricing for the 2nd Floor West one-bedroom/one-bath apartment. Email us for help in renting one, two, or all three units, paying for only what you need to accommodate up to 14.

Information for renting all three units is at Vrbo listing 1194615.

Information for renting the 1st Floor two-bedroom/two-bath unit is at Vrbo listing 696207.

The 2nd Floor East one-bedroom/one-bath unit is at Vrbo listing 1074904.

Email us about combining units for your group, or for help in deciding what you need.

This historic, award-winning property sits across from a park with Fountain creek bubbling through it, just one block from downtown Manitou Springs. Originally the carriage house of Jerome Wheeler, one of the town’s greatest benefactors, this building has been lovingly renovated with beautiful detail.

Each of the three apartments is a fully-independent living space with its own digitally-secure, steel-clad entries. All are built to commercial building code with all-new electrical, plumbing and heating systems. Safety features include a one-hour fire separation between all units, smoke and CO detectors, and fire extinguishers. All are individually insulated for comfort and quiet.

These apartments feature well-equipped kitchens with granite countertops, dishwasher, full laundry, Roku-equipped HD televisions, original artwork, king-size beds with memory foam-topped mattresses, jetted bathtubs, air conditioning, a deck or patio, free parking, and wifi.

Every room is topped with crown molding (even the bathrooms) and textured in soft pastels. The living areas are finished with oak floors and wool rugs, while the kitchens and baths are fitted with porcelain tile. The bedrooms are topped with panned ceilings and floored with thick, sumptuous carpet.

The 2nd Floor West unit, priced in this listing, accommodates up to four guests. The bedroom features a king-size four-poster canopy bed, panned ceiling, and walk-in closet. The full bathroom is complete with jetted tub. This unit offers air conditioning and full laundry. The fully-equipped kitchen is finished with granite countertops and breakfast bar. The living room is equipped with a 55" 4K UHDTV with built-in Roku and a dual-reclining leather sofa. There is a 19" air bed available for additional guests. The French doors open to a beautiful deck with gorgeous views of the foothills. Enjoy breakfast or dinner in the beautiful outdoors. This unit is described in full detail at Vrbo listing 1074905.

The 2nd Floor East unit also offers accommodations for up to four guests. The bedroom is finished with a panned ceiling, a California king bed, a walk-in closet and a 40” HDTV. The full bathroom is complete with jetted tub. The full kitchen comes complete with granite countertops and breakfast bar, cooktop oven. and all the modern amenities. The unit is equipped with air conditioning and full-size laundry. A 19" queen air bed accommodates two additional guests. The living room is complete with a 55” 4K UHDTV with built-in Roku and French doors opening to an alluring deck with beautiful views of Pikes Peak's foothills. This unit is described in full detail at Vrbo listing 1074904.

The 1st Floor apartment is a spacious two-bedroom, two-bath unit. The master bedroom offers a four-poster king bed, 39" HDTV, and full en suite bathroom with jetted tub. The beautiful rose and cream colors of the bedroom complement the cherry wood furnishings. The guest bedroom includes a four-poster queen bed and gorgeous armoire and is finished in shades of cream and blue. The living room sports a 55" 4K UHDTV with built-in Roku and a beautiful leather sectional. A full kitchen, oak dining room, laundry, air conditioning, and full guest bathroom make this unit complete. Open the French doors to your large flagstone patio, equipped with a gas grill and dining table under the shade of a gazebo. This rental comfortably sleeps up to six guests with use of the queen size 19" air thick bed.

Historical

These vacation rental apartments are in Jerome Wheeler’s carriage house built in 1888.

A second cousin of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Jerome Byron Wheeler served during the Civil War, surviving to marry Harriet Macy Valentine (whose family founded Macy’s department store) in 1870. By 1879 he had become the president and a major shareholder of R. H. Macy and Company after the deaths of both its male heirs.

In 1882, Wheeler and his wife visited Colorado, seeking relief for Harriet’s severe bronchitis. They visited Manitou Springs, as it was famous for its mineral waters. In 1883, they built a summer home here, naming it ‘Windemere.’ This sat where the Post Office is currently located.

Soon, Wheeler began hearing reports of silver strikes in Aspen, and he purchased interests in promising mines. Although his time at New York City's most prosperous department store produced years of record sales and profits, Jerome Wheeler’s ambitions were shifting toward Colorado. Wheeler left his position and sold his shares in Macy’s in 1888.

Wheeler became involved in numerous mining ventures in Leadville and Aspen. He organized the Aspen Smelting Company, and built a mountain tramway to bring ore down the mountain to the smelter. He was president of the Croseus Gold Mining and Milling Company, as well as the Rock Hill Consolidated Gold and Silver Mining Company in Leadville. He was a partner in a marble quarry, and was president of the Grand River Coal and Coke Company. Before long, he was phenomenally wealthy.

He built two of downtown Aspen's landmarks; the Wheeler Opera House and the Hotel Jerome, putting nearly one million dollars in each. These are both thriving today. He built the first bank in Aspen, as well as a large residence, but never lived in the home. Known as the Wheeler-Stallard House, it currently serves as home to the Aspen Historical Society.

All told, he invested nearly $6 million into developing Aspen, and is remembered fondly as an icon there as a result.

Jerome Wheeler became a director of the Colorado Midland Railroad when it was organized in 1885, and brought rail connections to both Aspen and Manitou Springs. He and Colorado Springs railroad tycoon James John Hagerman invested over $100,000 in the extension of the Colorado Midland Railroad to the western slope, the first standard gauge railroad to cross the Continental Divide. Some of the rail beds and tunnels for this railroad can still be seen in various places around town and along US-24 west of Manitou Springs.

He started the Manitou Mineral Water Company, which was very popular back east and was even served at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.

He invested in the Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway, a cog railway that still transports passengers to the top of Pikes Peak.

As he had in Aspen, Wheeler also built the first bank in Manitou Springs, the Wheeler Bank. This yellow brick building sits at the east end of downtown.

Downtown sits a triangle of land with the clock donated by Wheeler to the town. His wife had been intrigued by a similar clock in Italy, so he spent $3600 to provide one for Manitou Springs.

In 1892, Wheeler became embroiled in the first of a series of lengthy and costly lawsuits over one of his silver mines. The combination of the judgments and the Panic of 1893, resulting in the crash of the value of silver, cost Jerome Wheeler nearly his entire fortune.

Wheeler's mining company laid off all its employees. His banks failed and closed for two years, but Wheeler paid his depositors every dollar and they lost nothing.

Manitou Springs continued to benefit from Wheeler’s largess, even after his fortunes had dwindled. He contributed $50,000 toward the construction of Manitou Avenue and outfitted a volunteer fire company. In 1913, after a devastating flood, he gave $10,000 to the city for emergency repairs.

Jerome Wheeler spent most of his remaining years at Windemere until his death on December 1, 1918.

New York. Aspen. Manitou Springs.

Jerome Wheeler was successful wherever he went, and he and Harriet certainly could have lived wherever they desired. But ultimately, they chose Manitou Springs as their home. Come to Manitou Springs and see what they discovered. This is a great place to be.

History of Windemere

Jerome Wheeler’s Windemere estate in Manitou Springs included an elaborate conservatory, this carriage house, billiard rooms and two bowling alleys. Roses for the Cliff House Hotel were grown in the conservatory and placed on guest's pillows each night.

After the death of the Wheelers (Harriet died in 1916), the estate was sold off, and the Wheeler residence was demolished for a hotel. The post office was built on the site in 1940.

The carriage house was divided into seven apartments about 100 years ago. The building fell vacant in the 1980's. We purchased the building in 1993 with the intention of developing it into a bed and breakfast. Ultimately, due to the constraints of time, money, full-time jobs, and kids to raise, the bed and breakfast was never realized. As they say, "Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans."

Come see why this property has now reached its highest and best use, over 125 years in the making. We think Jerome Wheeler would be pleased with what has become of his carriage house.