The interior of the Livestock Hotel when completed in October 1946 by American Stores of Philadelphia.
Just one tenth of the original Livestock Hotel remains on the south lot of Watertower Place bordered by D Street and the Alley. The structure was built after the purchase of the Nuckolls Packing Co. by American Stores of Philadelphia in 1946 and signaled a major investment and upgrade to the extensive livestock receiving system at the meat packing plant.
Della Nuckolls served as President of the Nuckolls Packing Co during the wartime years and communicated with Jay C. Hormel to secure the future of the Pueblo plant which was closed from 1942 - 1946.
The Nuckolls Packing Company was closed in May 1942 during WWII due to tin rationing, meat market controls, and price ceilings. President Della Nuckolls worked closely with Jay C. Hormel (see private letter from 1946) during the war to prepare the Pueblo plant for a strategic reopening. Unlike Nuckolls, Hormel was able to keep his plant operating because he contributed upwards of 70% of meat production to the war effort. Much of the wartime production at Hormel was SPAM which became a staple both at home and abroad. The Pueblo plant opened again under new ownership in 1946 in the name of American Stores which was based in Philadelphia. American Stores was best known for its extensive ACME Market grocery store chain along the East Coast and its Lincoln Meats brand. With new ownership came significant and necessary capital investments to bring the plant up to date and to meet the capacity goals set forth by American Stores.
The new LIvestock Hotel was the single largest upgrade to the facility and a major enhancement to the overall system in which livestock were brought to the plant in the Grove. The new building was carefully integrated with a series of covered easeways and shutes that enabled animals to travel easily and safely from the Hotel to the kill floor shute entrance on the west side of the main building. According to the Pueblo Star Journal, the cost of design and construction totalled $100,000. American Stores secured the services of Olson Construction Co., a regional specialist in the packing industry and based in Salt Lake City, to complete the project in the Grove neighborhood.
The single story brick and concrete structure measured 320 feet in length and 100 feet in width. Exterior walls climbed to 18 feet in height with a 30 foot balcony overlooking the main floor. The design also included a stamped concrete floor system which allowed for better traction for the animals and is still visible today and serves as an outdoor event space. The interior of the structure showcases the heavy timbers that were used to support the vaulted roof and upper windows that allowed for ample light to penetrate the expansive space. The new facility also included a modern fire suppression system for protection. The Livestock Hotel was designed to accommodate up to 2,000 cattle or 6,000 sheep at one time. According to plant operations, animals were not on the grounds for more than 24 hours.
Most recently in August 2019, the Livestock Hotel was chosen as the venue for the first annual Change Your Mind Art Festival. The exterior shell of the building served as the ideal location for all of the musical groups who performed throughout the day at the festival.
The Livestock Hotel today serves as the ideal venue for visual and performing arts and a variety of public and private gatherings.
Local artist, gallery owner, and designer Jeff Madeen recently completed a series of architectural renderings of the Livestock Hotel for the owner of Watertower Place. The development team is considering several use options for this unique gathering space which totals more than 6,000 square feet. Current buildout considerations include a new corporate headquarters for a major engineering firm, dedicated special events and meetings pavilion with a commercial kitchen, bar and lounge. The adjacent plaza area to the west of the Livestock Hotel is ideal for special events, festivals and faires —- giving Watertower Place all the indoor and outdoor amenities necessary for a successful occasion. In the near future, the main entrance to Watertower Place will move to the south side of the property at the corner of D and Plum Streets. This new entrance will be adjacent to the Livestock Hotel making access and parking more ideal for visitors. This meetings and events destination will be folded into the existing 22,000 sq ft of special event event space atop Watertower Place on the former kill floor. To learn more about how you can host your next event at Watertower Place, visit our dedicated section on our website.
Architectural rendering of the former Livestock Hotel by local artist and designer Jeff Madeen. The current brick facade can be found on the north, east and south sides of the building. This design concept highlights the use of special glass windows facing the west.