From April Fools to Friday the 13th

Campbell family plans anniversary summer celebration to commemorate 125 years of continuous operation for the Hotel Wolf and 41 years of family ownership

Doug and Kathleen Campbell often joke about the fact that they bought the Hotel Wolf on April Fools Day. Obviously not superstitious, they are celebrating the hotel's 125 anniversary on Friday the 13th. The Campbell family has been the proprietors of this immensely popular establishment for 41 years.

For any person that comes to Saratoga and doesn't know this historical landmark, the Hotel Wolf is an L-shaped, two and one-half story, brick and frame building on the corner of Bridge Ave. and First St.

The building has a steeply-gabled roof with dormers and many rectangular windows. The Wolf is one of the most impressive historic structures in Saratoga.

"When I went into the deal, it was out to preserve the building," Doug said. "On the exterior, on the foundation to stabilize it and keep it intact, replaced some bricks on the outside."

He said one of the things that he finds interesting is that Neil Gorsuch's (the newest supreme court justice) great-grandfather built the Hotel Wolf. Doug said he did reach out to Gorsuch to come to the 125 celebration, but the justice's schedule did not allow him to attend.

"Our family has owned this business for one third of its life," Judd Campbell, son of Doug and Kathy said. "It really is mind boggling if you think about it."

He is right. Towns and businesses in the West are young in comparison to the USA as a whole. Although the Valley has been a gathering place for native Americans and, later, fur trappers for years; it was the decade of the 1860s and the presence of transcontinental transportation routes; first the Overland Trail and later the Union Pacific Railroad; that helped to stimulate interest in the Valley.

Saratoga is said to be named for the famous Saratoga Springs in upper New York State, which was popular at the time because of its hot springs, that were believed to have curative properties.

During the years 1874 and 1875 a smallpox epidemic hit local tribes of the region, and the victims were brought to hot springs that would become a part of Saratoga, for treatment. The "Indian Bath Tubs" didn't help the sick get better, but springs and Valley itself, was a place ranchers found inviting for growing crops for their livestock.

Frederick G. Wolf, founder of the Hotel Wolf, was a native of Germany who came to America in 1869 and eventually found his way to Rawlins in 1875 with his wife Christina, where he became a foreman for the Union Pacific Railroad. Suffering from rheumatism, Wolf traveled to the hot springs in Saratoga in 1887 seeking relief for his illness. Wolf stayed and began development on the now famous hotel with his wife. It opened to the public on January 10, 1894 and served passengers on the Union Pacific between Encampment and the Walcott Junction. His wife had been a baker in Germany and oversaw the women's parlor on the second floor.

In 1901, the Wolf's son, Frederick M. Wolf, drowned. Ironically he had survived the Spanish-American War and served with George Sisson, who purchased the hotel in 1913. F.G. Wolf had died in 1910 and, at first, his widow leased to Sisson and then he purchased it. He renamed the hotel after himself. In another twist of fate, Sisson, a fisherman of ability, drowned in 1935 while fishing on the North Platte. In 1937, J. Earle Moore, an outdoorsman and fisherman, purchased the hotel and changed the name back to Hotel Wolf. He died 10 years later, and his widow, Mary Moore, operated the business, known again as the Hotel Wolf, for another 30 years.

According to the 1974 nomination form for the National

Register written by M. Moore, since the hotel was opened its appearance has been changed, but not drastically altered. The strongest change was made within a few years of it being built. A frame extension was added onto the south end of the west leg of the hotel, giving the building a more pronounced "L" shape and changing its dimensions from 42 feet deep by 60 feet wide to approximately 95 feet deep by 60 feet wide. A minor change was when three brick chimneys were removed for a central heating system. Currently one central stack in the rear central portion of the hotel is all that is needed. Among other changes are: a single-door entrance to the saloon on the northeast corner of the building; two windows have been filled with brick on the east face of the hotel, otherwise all the windows remain. A less noticeable structural change was made when a portion of a frame extension which formed the kitchen in the rear of the hotel was removed. The roof of the remaining portion of the extension was covered with aluminum to prevent water from leaking into the back room formerly used as the kitchen.

Attached to the face of the building is a twelve-foot-wide wooden porch. Like the roof of the hotel, the porch is wood-shingled. From the front porch two doors lead to a main entrance to the hotel's hallway that gives access to the main dining room on the left and the bar area and guest registration on the right. The present hotel dining room was formerly the bar. The present bar, was a barber shop. On the second floor of the hotel are three hallways with sleeping rooms. Room No. 1 was originally a ladies parlor.

From the second floor the staircase leads upward to the garret-like third story containing more hallways and sleeping rooms. The ceilings of this story are low and sharply-angled because of the steep inclination of the roof and the shape of the roof dormers.

In late 1974, the Hotel Wolf was put in the inventory of the National Register of Historic Places for Wyoming.

The Campbells purchased the hotel with Michael Self in 1977. That partnership ended in 1983 when Self wanted to buy out the Campbells or be bought out. The Campbell family discussed their options and decided they wanted the Hotel Wolf. The Campbells, to this day, remain sole owners. They strive to maintain historic ambiance while bringing modern conveniences where necessary.

"If you ask if we own the hotel or the hotel owns us, it depends on the time of day," Kathy said, laughing.

Now the "Grand Ol' Gal of the Valley" is celebrating being 125. The birthday is a little early since the true birthday would be in the dead of winter. The festivities the Campbells want to share with friends and patrons could very well be compromised if done Jan. 10.

Starting at 1:30 p.m. Pat Sheehan will be bringing a turn-of-the-century carriage and horses to give rides through town. Between 2-3 p.m. C.J. Box will be doing a book signing.

There will be an open house from 3-5 p.m. featuring the celebration of No. 9, "The Joe Pickett Room."

Kathleen told of a person she had not talked to in over 40 years who called her up and said they had read about the Hotel Wolf in the newest Joe Pickett book.

"That is why Chuck is a part of the celebration, because he and Joe Pickett have become a part of the hotel," Kathy said.

Through the years the site of the Hotel Wolf has been sought as a desirable business location, and from time to time the building itself receives the interest of those who would purchase it.

"We have been approached to sell the place over the years," Kathy said. "One in particular would have paid any price, but he wanted to turn the hotel into a Crystal Palace like they have in Denver where they have dance hall atmosphere and I couldn't see locals wanting to come here for that sort of stuff and our local customers are so important."

Judd said his goal, as time goes on, is to continue the way his parents have for the past forty plus years. He gives credit to the Hotel Wolf's staff that come in every day to carry on what Doug and Kathleen have created.

"I look at it as a job we are doing for the community because I feel we are vital to the health and vibrancy to our town," Judd said. "It is a lot of work, but we will keep on doing it and I can say for myself, I still enjoy the place."

Doug encouraged all to come and visit "the grand old gal" for her birthday.

"Everybody in this town, everybody in this state or anyone that has come here and cared about this historic landmark hotel are a part of this place," Kathy said. "I have to thank the people who have supported us and the hotel over the years because it is why The Wolf is still here today after 125 years."

 

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