The Rapids Lodge, built by John Ish and his family, opened on June 12, 1915. This makes the lodge a century old in the summer of 2015....and is the same age as nearby Rocky Mountain National Park!
The building is built from local lodgepole pine and was the first building in Grand Lake to have running water and electricity, provided by a water wheel on North Inlet Creek.
Though gambling was illegal in the 1950s, there was action to be had at the Rapids! The lodge had a secret bell that was rung when aughorities pulled into the driveway. It alerted the guests, and allowed them time to "turn the tables" and hide the evidence of gambling.