A New Life for La Vista Motel Walking Tour

Tour Description: Join the visionary developer and designers behind the renaissance and recent re-opening of the La Vista Motel on Colfax Avenue, which was once known as the “Gateway to the Rockies” in the mid-century heyday of travel by automobile The La Vista’s distinctive design, iconic signage, and roadside charm capture the spirit of Denver’s fame as a stopover for westward adventurers. Built in 1956 and renovated in 2025, the La Vista simultaneously offers a nostalgic reminder of a bygone era and newly renovated interiors, exteriors, and restaurant appointed with modern and comfortable amenities.

About the La Vista: La Vista Motel received a complete makeover and new amenities such as a coffee shop and cocktail bar creating an inviting hospitality experience while still reflecting its original form. “From the flooring and wall coverings to the systems within the building, everything is new and updated,” said developer Nathan Beal. “We’re really excited to offer a new hangout for both guests lodging with us and anyone who wants to stop by and visit our stretch of Colfax.” The revamp included 23 guest rooms and a unique venue for meetings and events, and pays homage to the motel’s past with a chic design and style that embodies the 1960s featuring vintage pieces and retro designs.

About the tour guides: Nathan Beal, founder of St. Bernard Properties, leads his Denver-based development firm with a mission to rejuvenate historic buildings and thoughtfully build new spaces in neighborhoods around downtown. With a background in both accounting and computer science, Beal brings analytical precision and a design-first mindset to each project. St. Bernard Properties specializes in blending architecture, community, and mobility, prioritizing high-quality renovations and mixed-use developments that respect neighborhood character. The firm’s name—draws inspiration from the life-saving St. Bernard dog—symbolizes its commitment to revitalizing places and supporting the vitality of Denver’s built environment.

Melissa Friday founded Xan Creative as a Denver-based design studio to specialize in branding and interior design for restaurants, hospitality venues, and commercial spaces. Their design ethos is summed up in their own “Xanifesto,” declaring themselves “Enemies of Sameness” and aiming to bring each brand’s soul to life through immersive, purposeful spaces. With a background in both culinary work and industrial design, Friday has built a firm that understands how restaurants function operationally—and how they should feel experientially. Xan Creative’s portfolio includes well-known Denver projects such as Snooze A.M. Eatery, where the team refined the brand for multiple Colorado locations, and Postino Wine Café, where the visual texture and spatial narrative balance sophistication with playful character. The firm emphasizes design that is functional first—flow, seating, operations matter—and then gorgeous: materials, lighting, color palette are layered to create an experience that patrons remember.

Ryan Goold is the Denver Studio Director and Senior Architect at Sopher Sparn Architects, a Colorado-based firm celebrated for its design leadership in sustainable, mixed-use, and affordable housing projects. He brings a strong technology- and sustainability-driven mindset to his work, focused on integrating emerging tools and responsible design practices across hospitality, residential, and urban-infill developments. Under Goold’s leadership in the Denver studio, the firm emphasizes community-engaged and adaptive reuse projects — such as the LA Vista Motel renovation. Goold actively participates in industry mentorship and leadership; he serves on the ULI Colorado Young Leaders Group (YLG) steering committee, moving from participant to co-chair and helping emerging professionals navigate real estate and design’s future. His work reflects a commitment to thoughtful places—prioritizing design that serves both client values and broader community impact, aligning with values of livability, sustainability and equity.

Accessibility: We will be moving between floors throughout this tour and will not have access to the elevators. The group will use stairs to move up the building. There will be minimal opportunities for seated rest.

Following the conclusion of this walking tour, La Vista will host a optional happy hour cash bar featuring a custom DAF cocktail and mocktails at El Piñon on site.

Refund policy: The Denver Architecture Foundation is a nonprofit educational organization. Ticket sales support the Foundation in continuing to provide quality events to the public. We are unable to provide refunds or credits for any reason less than 48 days prior to the event.

Please note that DAF tours take place rain, snow or shine. If your tour includes an outdoor portion, please dress for the weather. DAF staff will contact all attendees directly should a tour be cancelled for any reason.

Photo provided courtesy of La Vista Motel.