The ruins of the Crest House, atop Mt. Evans, Colorado. Built 1941.
Art Moderne-style design by Denver architect Edwin Francis.

Situated at 14,420 feet above sea level, this was once the highest
structure in the world!

Mt. Evans is the only Fourteener in Colorado with a paved road that allows you to drive to the top. The Mt. Evans Highway is the highest paved road in North America.

A propane tank exploded, decimating the beautiful structure with fire in 1979!

My wife Shannon, remembers watching the Crest House burn from her parent’s home in nearby Evergreen, CO.

There has been talk of restoration. If they ever do, I hope they retain Edwin Francis’ original design!

I scanned this from a postcard to show the original star shaped window fenestration. This looked incredibly futuristic for 1941!

Construction actually started in 1939, but there is limited seasonal
access to the road due to snow.

The drive on the uppermost switchbacks is often interrupted by Mt Evans’ famous herd of mountain goats, here molting for the summer.

On one Mt. Evans visit, I saw mountain goats perched on the very tops of the Crest House archs, peering out toward Denver. I wish I had a camera with me that day!

The tops of all Fourteeners in this area are covered with craggy rocks. The design of the Crest House sits so naturally among these rocks, that it appears to belong here.

Sad views of the decimation. . .

The main star-shaped room currently serves as an open-air observation deck.

At 14,000 feet, you are level with the clouds.

Edwin Francis also designed this American Red Cross building in 1951, located alongside Speer Avenue in Denver. I will be posting more photos of this wonderful red sandstone structure in the near future.

Crest House, Mt. Evans, CO.