Who the Heck is Bonnie Brae?
Today I’m going to tell you about the charming Bonnie Brae neighborhood in Denver, Colorado. When you’re new to Denver and you see the name Bonnie Brae so much in this area, you probably wonder who Bonnie Brae was and what she did that was so special. Bonnie Brae actually isn’t a person, the name represents a Gaelic term that means “Pleasant Hill” . It was developed in the 1920s by a guy named George Olinger was a prominent mortician and real estate developer in the Denver area and he was inspired by the name’s Gaelic meaning and wanted to create a neighborhood in Denver that looked and felt like a peaceful Scottish village, complete with curvy, winding streets and Tudor-style homes. Despite setbacks during the Great Depression and World War II, Bonnie Brae has become a thriving community with a strong sense of pride and engagement. In this blog, I'll share some of the history and highlights of the neighborhood, including its notable landmarks, dining and shopping options, parks and outdoor spaces, and some of the luxury homes currently on the market. If you're considering a move to Denver or just looking for some inspiration for your next Denver outing, Bonnie Brae is definitely worth a visit. So, let's dive in!
About Me:
My name is Jessica and I am a real estate agent here in Denver. I get calls and emails everyday from people just like you, who are looking for help on making their move to Colorado and I absolutely love it!
I love talking about my state and guiding people through the process of finding a home here
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Where is the Bonnie Brae neighborhood and how did it get there?
The Bonnie Brae neighborhood is located southeast of downtown denver and just east of Wash Park. It was originally developed in the 1920s by George Olinger, who was a prominent business man - he was mortician, casket manufacturer, and real estate developer at the time. Olinger’s vision for the Bonnie Brae neighborhood had been inspired by a subdivision he saw in Kansas City that was named Bonnie Brae. Olinger hired a prominent landscape architect to carry out his vision and design the street system to mimic what he’d seen in Kansas City and to give the feel of a peaceful Scottish village. This design differed greatly from the grid system that made up other Denver neighborhoods and is one of the unique features of the Bonnie Brae neighborhood.
Sadly, in 1928 Olinger’s real estate development company went bankrupt and most of Bonnie Brae fell into the city’s hands for tax debt. Development didn’t really pick up again until after the Great Depression and World War II. After the war, custom homes in Bonnie Brae started being built again and the area started gaining the reputation for fine living and beautiful homes.
Bonnie Brae Architecture
Part of Olinger’s original plan for this neighborhood was to control the architectural style of the homes that were built in Bonnie Brae. But after it fell into the hands of the city, the original covenants of the development were no longer enforced and people could build whatever style of home they wanted to. So you’ll see Tudor style homes, English cottage, mediterranean, post-war ranch homes, and then some contemporary designs which have replaced some of the original homes.
Landmarks
One of the many special things about this neighborhood is that a couple of the original businesses that opened in Bonnie Brae in the 30s and 40s still exist today. The Bonnie Brae tavern was opened by Carl and Sue Dire in 1934 and the Bonnie Brae Conoco station was opened by Ken Wilson on the same block in 1942. Ken’s grandson still runs the Conoco station to this day.
Community
Bonnie Brae has a strong sense of community, and people in this community tend to be really engaged with community meetings and events and activities. The pride that Olinger originally envisioned for this neighborhood definitely still exists today.
Bonnie Brae Denver Dining and Shopping
Bonnie Brae has a commercial area between Exposition and Ohio Streets that includes Bonnie Brae Ice Cream, Bonnie Brae Tavern, the Bonnie Brae Conoco, and Bonnie Brae Liquors as well as other shops and restaurants. Here’s an interesting little tidbit, there’s a restaurant in the LoHi neighborhood of Denver called Linger - and it’s in a building that used to be one of George Olinger’s mortuaries. So, kind of a morbid setting but it’s a really cool spot and the food is great. And it has some history to it.
Parks and Outdoor Spaces:
Bonnie Brae Park was developed in 1936 and represented kind of a turning point for the neighborhood because it was meant to be the centerpiece of the community and was part of the original design. So when the park went in, it completed the vision and soon after is when development picked up again. The park covers about 5 acres and it has a pond, picnic area, playground, walking path and tennis courts and remains the epicenter of the Bonnie Brae neighborhood to this day.
If you’re in the market for a luxury home in Denver that’s rooted in community and thoughtful design, Bonnie Brae is an area you will definitely want to check out.
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