email: roadarch@outlook.com

Colorado Art Deco Gas Stations

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former station
Manitou Springs, CO

2012:
2023:
This former station was built in 1932. It was operating as a Skelly station in 1980. There is still a diamond shaped pole sign on the lot which probably advertised for Skelly originally. The housed Artist's Edge when these photos were taken in 2012. It now houses Camino Real Imports. For more, see this website. [map]

former station
Longmont, CO

2012:
2023:
This former station was built in 1937 from precast concrete. It was designed by Denver architect Eugene Groves. The station was known as "Johnson's Corner." This station is supposedly where Jack Kerouac caught a nap in 1947 as described in his book "On the Road." In 2003, after nearly being razed for road development, the station was moved from downtown Longmont to the Prospect New Town development. There were plans to use the building as a restaurant. However, an estimated $600,000 is needed for restoration. $550,000 has already been spent to move and stabilize the structure. These photos are from 2012. In 2015, grant money was awarded to Colorado Preservation for this project and restoration was begun. However, by 2017, nothing appeared to have been done. In 2019, the building had been painted white. By 2023, the project was moving along and a sign had been installed over the canopy. The original had neon while the new sign has backlit plastic letters. In 2024, the building began housing the Johnson's Station restaurant. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Conoco station
Denver, CO
This Conoco station was built in 1942 as the Wilson Conoco. The building would have had one or two canopies originally. The bathroom has the original tile. The exterior of the building would have also had green tile around the bottom. The porthole windows on both sides of the office and the curved glass backside have been covered up. For more intact examples of this design, see these in Texas. [map]

former station
Lakewood, CO
This former station is sheathed in metal panels produced by Peerless Sheet Metal Works. The station was built in the late 1940s and was located in Denver. In 2010, it was moved to Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park. These photos are from 2012. This station has been restored by the museum with vintage pumps and interior exhibits. Frontier was a popular brand in the area during the time when this station was built. The original branding of this station is not known. For more, see this website.

former station
Wheat Ridge, CO		 former station?
Denver, CO		 former station
Granby, CO
This former station in Wheat Ridge was also produced by Peerless Sheet Metal Works. It was integrated into another building. It now houses Pro-Tech Auto Shield & Nano Coatings. The fin on the left might indicate that only the side of the building is visible now. I don't know if the curved window is original. [map]

This Peerless building in Denver may have been a former station. It was later used by a car dealership. The building is now in storage at Queen City Architectural Salvage. [map]

This former station in Granby is another Peerless building. I don't know where it was originally located or if this was ever a Texaco or is just dressed like one. It is now installed at Tillotson's 50-50 Ranch. The building likely had the two fins on the front like the ones in Denver and Lakewood. [map]

Peerless Sheet Metal Works may have been established in New York, NY in the early 1920s, if these were the same companies. However, the only still-surviving buildings of this design that I know of are these in Colorado.

former station?
Canon City, CO
The building appears to be a former station. The panels appear to have been produced by Peerless Sheet Metal Works. The building has been vacant for many years. [map]

Classic Liquors
La Salle, CO
Classic Liquors is housed in a former gas station. The current owner bought the station in 1996 and replaced the dented, embossed metal panels on the building. The canopy, signs, and replica pumps were added at that time. A companion building next door was built at the same time to house the Dixie Roadway Cafe. That building is gone now. Both buildings were assembled from kits, most likely from Peerless Sheet Metal Works. [map]

Colorado
Canopies		 Colorado
Ice Boxes		 Colorado
Misc.

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Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com.