Entry No. 32 — the Fort Collins file — filed under: letterpress
Wolverine Farm Letterpress & Publick House
Wolverine Farm started as an independent press in 2003, moved into Fort Collins' Downtown River District in 2015, and now operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) cultural hub where 100% of profits fund literature, art, and community programming. The Publick House folds together a working letterpress studio — equipped with a Vandercook SP15 and a treadle-driven Chandler & Price 8x12 — Perelandra Bookshop (home to the largest poetry and art-book collection in Northern Colorado), a café serving local coffee and beer, and a rotating calendar of readings, workshops, and live music. The Reader in Residence program — an artist residency dedicated solely to reading — rounds out a place that treats slow, attentive culture as its whole purpose.
The story
In 2003, Wolverine Farm launched quietly as an independent publishing press. Twelve years later, they moved into a custom timber building at 316 Willow Street, staking out space in Fort Collins' industrial-arts River District just a few blocks east of Old Town. The setup operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit where 100% of profits go directly back into literature, local art, and community programming. You aren't subsidizing a corporate chain here; every espresso shot or pint of local beer you buy funds slow, tactile culture.
Inside, the building functions as a hybrid letterpress studio, literary tavern, and independent bookstore. The mechanical heart of the room belongs to two heavy iron workhorses: a Vandercook SP15 proof press and a treadle-driven Chandler & Price 8x12 platen press. Right alongside the ink rollers sits Perelandra Bookshop, which holds the largest dedicated collection of poetry and art books in Northern Colorado. It is also ground zero for hyper-specific literary gatherings—like the ongoing Letter Writing Club, book discussion groups, and a Reader in Residence program that gives artists dedicated time solely to read.
What it's like
Find it on Willow Street, set back in an industrial-arts pocket away from the main commercial strip. Step inside and you'll catch the scent of fresh printer's ink blended with espresso and draft beer. Downstairs feels like an unpretentious communal workshop where people crowd tables together for readings or sketch quietly over drinks; upstairs, Perelandra's poetry racks demand slow browsing. The catch: don't expect to just walk up and pull the arm on a press. The letterpress studio requires advance booking. If you don't have documented press experience, you'll need to book an Assisted Studio Rental so a staff member can coach you through handsetting vintage type without breaking the equipment.
The move: Book an Assisted Studio Rental: a staff member walks you both through handsetting antique type or prepping a digital file, and you leave with a freshly printed broadside or card you made together. Follow it with a beer and browsing Perelandra's poetry shelves.
📍 Before you go The letterpress studio requires booking in advance — walk-ins cannot use the presses. Assisted Studio Rental (guided, great for beginners) typically runs 2-3 hours; Independent Rental requires demonstrated experience. The bookshop and café are open to all without reservation. Check wolverinefarm.org for current hours, as they vary by season. Parking is available along Willow Street and in the nearby River District lots. The building is in an industrial-arts pocket a few blocks from Old Town.
- 📍 Fort Collins
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 316 Willow St, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Old Town Putt — Balance an afternoon of quiet analog printing with indoor mini-golf and frozen cocktails two blocks away at The Exchange.
- Fort Collins Ghost Tour (Old Town) — Follow up a daylight session with antique printing machinery by exploring Old Town's underground tunnels at night.
- burn. Candle Bar — Double down on hands-on craft by mixing custom soy candles right down the street after browsing poetry shelves.
- Focoleather — Keep your hands busy by pairing a letterpress printing session with a single-class leather stitching workshop.
Good to know
Can I walk in and use the letterpress equipment?
No. While the cafe and bookshop welcome walk-ins, press access requires an advance reservation. Beginners must book an Assisted Studio Rental (2–3 hours), where staff guide you through handsetting lead type or prepping artwork.
Do I need a reservation to visit the bookshop or cafe?
No reservations needed. Perelandra Bookshop and the Publick House cafe—serving local coffee and beer—are open to the public during normal operating hours.
What is the Reader in Residence program?
It is a specialized artist residency hosted by Wolverine Farm that supports selected creators with dedicated time and space focused entirely on slow, attentive reading.
Where should I park when visiting?
You can park along Willow Street or use the nearby public parking lots in the River District.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · perelandrabooks.com · coloradosun.com · kunc.org · english.colostate.edu
last checked: 2026-06-11