Frisco Lodge Innkeepers and Staff

When Jody and Charlie Anderson drove up to Frisco in the summer of 1961, they had no idea that they would be beginning a family tradition that has spanned over 50 years.

Charlie and Jody were thinking about a change in location when they heard the rumor that the Frisco Lodge was for sale. They set out for Frisco from their home in Denver (in those days it was quite an adventure over Loveland Pass) and fell in love with the Lodge and Frisco (as many people still do) and purchased it from the current owners/innkeepers, the McLucas family, shortly thereafter.

They moved to Frisco in June of ’61 and settled in with young daughters Cheryl, Susan, and Laurie. They got their first taste of winter soon after in early September, when the largest Labor Day storm in modern history struck the area with over 3 feet of snow. Welcome to the Rockies!

In 1961, alpine skiing was still in its youth in the region.  Loveland had been open since 1936 and Max and Edna Dercum had started Arapahoe Basin in the 1940s.

Construction on the Dillon Dam, forming Lake Dillon, began in 1963. The Anderson’s provided housing to the electricians working on the dam. This provided them with income as they built their new business. The North Lodge was constructed in 1965 which coincided with the opening of the 2^nd chairlift and expansion of the Breckenridge ski area nearby.

The nearby Vail Ski Area was first opened in 1962.

As the Anderson’s daughters grew up, they saw many changes in the area. The Keystone and Copper Mountain resorts opened in 1972. When the Eisenhower tunnel opened in 1972, the area began to mature into the world class resort region that it is today. The sometimes difficult travel over Loveland Pass (formerly the main route into the region from the Denver area) was eliminated as a mandatory route, and tourist traffic increased dramatically.

Charlie Anderson was the mayor of Frisco for many years and oversaw the addition of much of the town’s infrastructure. Jody was a founder of the Frisco Gold Rush, and she is still recognized as a major contributor to the growth of the town and its skiing heritage.

The area’s resorts expanded throughout the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. With the opening of the 2^nd bore of the Eisenhower tunnel in 1979, unrestricted 4 lane interstate traffic flowed in and out of Summit County year-round.

Jody continued to live in Frisco doing community service and telling many stories form the past until she passed in 2011.  Charlie Anderson resided in Arizona City, AZ until he passed away in 2010.

The McLucas family children still stop by the lodge from time to time to see the changes that have occurred at the Lodge and to the Frisco/Summit County area

The owner’s of the Frisco Lodge, daughter Susan Anderson and husband Bruce Knoepfel, purchased the Lodge from Susan’s mother in 1985. Jody and Charlie divorced in the early 80’s. Charlie relocated to Minnesota and Jody stayed in Frisco.

Bruce on the Slopes

Susan enjoying a winter day

Bruce has traveled worldwide extensively through his passion for alpine ski coaching. He strives to have the Frisco Lodge be a “Home Away From Home” for the Lodge’s guests. With his travels throughout the world, he is frequently amazed at the aloofness of the travel industry and has as his mandate that no one will ever feel neglected or unimportant at the Frisco Lodge. At the Frisco Lodge he particularly enjoys sharing the unique ambiance of the Lodge while getting to know guests from across the country and around the globe.

Susan raised her children Justin, Erica, and Alex at the lodge with Bruce. She and Bruce have continued to operate the Lodge as a Bed and Breakfast since the mid-eighties. The Lodge has seen many changes, including a complete renovation during the early 2000’s.  Constant upgrades have been implemented each year since, as Susan and Bruce welcome guests from around the world.

Bruce and Susan operate the lodge with the assistance of managers  Tonya, Shawn, Elle, and Alex. They are all proud to maintain the history of the lodge and the historical heritage of the area. Many historic buildings are disappearing from Summit County and Colorado; the lodge staff take pride in preserving this piece of Frisco history.

Susan has been a paramedic on the Flight for Life helicopter service and recently graduated from the Colorado Mountain College School of Nursing.

Tonya Sutcliffe

Assistant Manager and Innkeeper Tonya Sutcliffe grew up in a small shoreline town in Connecticut and then went to school in New Hampshire.  Once she traveled out west, she never thought about going back to the east coast.  After being on the road for a few months, Tonya decided to call Summit County home in 2000.  She joined the team at the Frisco Lodge in late 2009.  Tonya spends days off skiing, camping, playing soccer, and hanging out with her dog, Nali.

Shawn Bailey, is a Frisco native and has been involved with the Lodge for many years.  Shawn has a passion for cooking, continually delighting guests with her latest culinary creations. Shawn has a wealth of knowledge about Frisco, Summit County, and the surrounding area. When not at the Lodge, Shawn enjoys spending time with 3 other generations of Baileys…her grandson, daughter, and father.

Alex with the local Priest at Lake Titicaca, Peru (The lake is at 13,000 feet).

Alex currently works at the family business. You may speak with him taking reservations and throughout your stay.

Shawn Bailey