Entry No. 132 — the Denver file — filed under: victorian-mansion
The Estemere
The Estemere is a genuine 1887 Queen Anne Victorian mansion — 18 rooms, seven fireplaces, a billiard room with stained-glass panels, a carriage house, and a chapel — sitting on 6.5 acres above 7,000 feet, built by Palmer Lake's dentist-founder and now a lovingly restored private residence. Its storied history as a millionaire's retreat, a girls' camp, and a Depression-era weaving school is documented in a full-length architectural history published by the Palmer Lake Historical Society.
The story
In 1887, Dr. William Finley Thompson—a dental surgeon who practiced in London and San Francisco before lighting out for the Rockies—decided tiny Palmer Lake needed a monument to grand ambition. He platted the town as a health resort and built Estemere: an 18-room Queen Anne Victorian with seven fireplaces, a billiard room lined with stained glass, and an observatory tower perched above 7,000 feet. Thompson rode the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad daily to his Denver dental office, playing the wealthy mountain visionary. The act didn't last—by 1890, his grand dreams had drained his bank accounts, and he fled town to dodge creditors.
The estate didn't stay quiet for long. Gold-milling tycoon Eben Smith bought the 6.5-acre property in 1898 for $5,000, turning it into a summer retreat for wealthy elites. Over the next century, Estemere lived an absurd series of second lives: it operated as a summer girls' camp, a Depression-era hand-weaving school, and a facility for underprivileged children, before decades of neglect set in. Later private owners spent years digging out the basement to stabilize the foundation, replacing missing trim, and restoring the ash plank floors and carriage house.
The history here is so dense that the Palmer Lake Historical Society published a full-length architectural book just to keep the timeline straight. You won't find signposts or a gift shop at the gate—just a sprawling 19th-century estate sitting above the lake, looking every bit like a high-altitude Victorian gothic set piece.
What it's like
Drive up Glenway Street and pull off near the historic district, keeping in mind that Estemere is a strictly private residence—no wandering the 6.5 acres, creeping onto the porch, or blocking driveways. The payoff is standing on the road below to study the turrets, multi-tiered roofline, stained-glass transoms, and the detached chapel with its campanile bell against the mountain backdrop. Combine your road-side viewing with the historical society's self-guided walking tour through town, then take the short stroll down to Palmer Lake itself. Unless you catch one of the rare interior tours arranged by the historical society, treat this strictly as a look-from-the-outside stop.
The move: Walk or drive up Glenway Street to admire the Estemere's dramatic Victorian silhouette from the road, then continue on foot through Palmer Lake's walkable historic district (the Palmer Lake Historical Society runs a self-guided walking tour that includes the estate as a stop), finishing with a stroll to the lake itself just minutes away.
📍 Before you go The Estemere sits at 380 Glenway Street in tiny Palmer Lake, about an hour north of Denver and just off I-25 between Denver and Colorado Springs — an easy day trip. It's a private residence, so admire the silhouette from the street and stay respectful; don't wander the grounds or block driveways. Interior tours happen only on rare special occasions through the Palmer Lake Historical Society, so treat this as a look-from-outside stop, not a walk-through. At roughly 7,000 feet, late spring through fall is best for strolling; winter brings snow and ice. Pair it with the historic district's self-guided walk and the short wander down to the lake itself.
- 📍 Palmer Lake
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 380 Glenway St, Palmer Lake, CO 80133
Hours: Mined 2026-06-07 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Palmer Lake Star — Look up at Sundance Mountain to view this 457-foot hillside star built in 1935, located right in the same tiny town Dr. Thompson tried to convert into a resort.
- Scileppi's at the Old Stone Church — Pair one 1880s architectural showpiece with another by driving 17 miles north for dinner inside an 1888 rhyolite Catholic church.
- B&B Cafe — Head 18 miles north to Castle Rock for lunch inside a 1946 cafe where two historic bullet holes remain embedded in the ceiling and mirror.
Good to know
Can I tour the inside of the Estemere mansion?
No. Estemere is a private residence and is closed to the public. Interior tours are extremely rare and happen only during special events organized through the Palmer Lake Historical Society.
Where is Estemere located and how do I get there?
It sits at 380 Glenway Street in Palmer Lake, Colorado, roughly an hour south of Denver and just off I-25 between Denver and Colorado Springs.
Who built the mansion and why?
It was built in 1887 by Dr. William Finley Thompson, a Baltimore dentist and founder of Palmer Lake, who envisioned the town as a mountain health resort before facing bankruptcy in 1890.
What outbuildings sit on the property?
The 6.5-acre estate includes a carriage house with an apartment and workshop, a chapel featuring a campanile bell, a caretaker's cottage, a multi-car garage, and historic rock retaining walls.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: palmerdividehistory.org · gazette.com · coloradocommunitymedia.com · coloradoencyclopedia.org
last checked: 2026-06-07