Thinking Caps On: What Should This Former Colorado School Become?
Realtor.com
A school building that dates to 1899 has since been converted into a residential space. The 14,848-square-foot building is the former Victor School in Victor, CO, and it’s on the market for $990,000.
The one-time school comes with some poignant memories of its past students.
“When you come in those original, historic front doors that still say ‘Victor School’ on the glass—on the right-hand wall, there’s a list of names of all the people that went to Victor School who fought in World War II,” says listing agent Karen Schaefer, with Re/Max Properties. “That list has remained for all these years. Despite all of the paintings and conversions, everyone has always painted around those.”
ExteriorGreg Busby, Buzz Home Production
Part of a ‘historic area’
Schaefer explains that the schoolhouse is part of a historic area that was founded because of gold-mining claims.
“People went there to dig gold, and people started to homestead,” Schaefer says. “Ultimately, they needed to build a school, and it ran as a school from 1899 until sometime in the 1970s.”
That’s when all the area children began going to school in nearby Cripple Creek.
Entry with student names on the rightGreg Busby, Buzz Home Production
StairsGreg Busby, Buzz Home Production
The building has many original features, such as trim, crown molding, and the chute that once took coal to the boiler in the basement.
“It looks and feels like a school,” Schaefer says. “It still has the original chalkboards that were there.”
Bunk roomGreg Busby, Buzz Home Production
BedroomGreg Busby, Buzz Home Production
BathroomsGreg Busby, Buzz Home Production
These days, the building is set up with 11 bedrooms and six bathrooms, and the current owners have used the space both as their primary residence and to run a soccer camp program.
“Some [of the bathrooms] are very much like a school bathroom with multiple stalls … and one of them has an original drinking fountain next to it, which is just amazingly cool,” Schaefer says. “A few of them have been converted into showers and whatnot, to accommodate the current owners and the needs of the camp.”
Open spaceGreg Busby, Buzz Home Production
KitchenGreg Busby, Buzz Home Production
Living space and game roomGreg Busby, Buzz Home Production
Two huge rooms upstairs are empty, as is the former auditorium space downstairs. The spaces could be turned into just about anything: a playroom, gym, office, home theater—you name it.
The building also includes two apartments with small kitchens. One of these spaces has two bedrooms and a separate entrance.
The building, which sits on a 2.3-acre lot, is flanked by spectacular vistas.
“It has the most extraordinary mountain views,” Schaefer says.
The property also comes with 12 plumbed sites, which would work for RVs or campers.
‘Many possibilities and opportunities’
Schaefer says there has been interest from people wanting to turn the building into a dance studio, long-term housing, and vacation rentals, among other potential uses.
“It has so many possibilities and opportunities,” she says. “I think the perfect buyer is some creative investor who really wants to see their vision come to life and make a difference in a small town.”
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