Like many of Old Town Fort Collins’ buildings, the Armstrong Hotel has a long and curious history. Of the dozens of historic hotels that graced downtown, it was the last to open, and the only one still operating today. In 1923, Charles and Carolyn Mantz opened the original Armstrong Hotel and named it after Carolyn’s deceased father, Andrew Armstrong, whose house once stood on the property. When it opened, the hotel was the tallest building in town, boasting two elegant dining halls, 41 guest rooms, and various retail shops. The Mantz family advertised the Armstrong Hotel as the ideal location from which to tour the Poudre Canyon, as well as Rocky Mountain National Park.