Shelly’s Cottages history, and Patricia Kinson, Obituary
Pat & Henri Kinson, Shelly’s Cottages:
Henri Kinson was well known in the St. Vrain Valley School District. He was instrumental in saving Lyons’ schools from being shut down, and kids bussed to Longmont, when there was a big push in closing down “small town schools.”
Pat ran the motel along the St. Vrain River that was formerly property owned by the Welch pioneer family. It had a delightful island in the middle of the river, where they set some chairs for their guests. In their lobby they had old-time photos of the area from the turn of the 19th century. Initially they came to the lodge as a vacationing family. Eventually, they had their dreams-come-true and bought the place in 1968 and ran it for many years.
Over the past couple of decades, the place became known for its natural isolation (even though it is three miles from Lyons), and its outdoor beauty, and cleanliness. There were private cabins, each with hot tubs, and outdoor sitting space in the forested property, with the river and deer running by, and framed by the nearby mountains. Most rooms were about 30 feet from the river. Their YELP reviews were 5 star, and people returned over and over again for decades.
NEW SHELLYS COTTAGES
Kim and Troy Chartier, and young daughter, took over the place in 1998, maintaining the respect for the Kinson’s. Their emphasis was on romantic getaways for couples. Unfortunately the Great Flood of 2013 destroyed a lot of their place and financing was hard to come by, and it was no longer a resort. The property awaits new owners.
Henri and Pat Kinson
Henri and Pat Kinson’s moved to Lyons in the 1964, when the Lyons area was in deep campaigning to keep the Lyons Middle/Sr High here in Lyons. Henri served on the St, Vrain School Board for 16 years, and was replaced by Dana Crumb. The two men are fondly remembered and are called the “white knights of the Lyons Schools.” The school board was intent on closing the Lyons Schools for being too small. They attended hundreds of meetings, served on the School Board, and helped the Lyons populace save the school, for which a bond issue was passed for it in 1970; with it being completed and moved into February 1974. A truly great accomplishment for all of Lyons.
The Kinson’s came from Illinois where they operated Shelley’s cottages. He taught at Baseline Jr. High. When they retired, they had purchased a lot in Mexico to retire on, but Henri died in 1993, and was not able to fulfill his dream. However, his wife Pat and son, Roby, lived there and enjoyed Mexico. Pat had been failing in health the last few months and died in her sleep in September 2020.
They are survived by sons: Henri Ro (Class of 1970) wife, and several adopted children of Georgia; Roby (Class of 1971) of Mexico; and Bill (Class if 1975) of Las Vegas, Nev.; and several grandchildren. Pat Kinson will have a service in the summer of 2021 at the family plot in Illinois. We express our sympathy. Send condolences to the family at: hrk909@hotmail.com
