Ellie & George Caulkins
While George Caulkins' business interests ran from oil and real estate to citrus groves and banking, it will always be his involvement in the very early days of Vail for which he is most remembered. It is not an exaggeration to say that there would be no Vail today without the efforts of this modest man who, as one of the original eight founding board members, led the charge to raise the money that brought the dream to reality. Forming the Caulkins Securities Corporation in 1960, Mr. Caulkins used his business acumen and tenacity to raise the required $1 million ($8 million today) to get the resort started. As a result of his tireless efforts, the investments were secured and Vail opened on schedule, December 15, 1962.
A native of New Jersey, Ellie Caulkins moved to Denver when she married George Caulkins “after a courtship of two whole weeks," to whom she was married for forty-three years. Mrs. Caulkins has been active on the board of Opera Colorado since its beginnings, having served several terms as chair of its board and now lifetime honorary chair. In 2004, the Calukin’s family pledged $7 million to be used to build the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver in recognition of Mrs. Caulkin’s dedication to local and national performing-arts organizations.
Ellie Caulkins’ involvements stretch far beyond Denver and Colorado and opera: The Children’s Hospital, Graland Country Day School, the Berkshire Choral Festival, the Music Project for Television, University of Colorado Foundation, Vail Homeowners Association and the board of the Metropolitan Opera.
To view the complete 2016 Colorado Business Hall of Fame event presentation and acceptance remarks for Ellie & George Caulkins, click here.
A native of New Jersey, Ellie Caulkins moved to Denver when she married George Caulkins “after a courtship of two whole weeks," to whom she was married for forty-three years. Mrs. Caulkins has been active on the board of Opera Colorado since its beginnings, having served several terms as chair of its board and now lifetime honorary chair. In 2004, the Calukin’s family pledged $7 million to be used to build the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver in recognition of Mrs. Caulkin’s dedication to local and national performing-arts organizations.
Ellie Caulkins’ involvements stretch far beyond Denver and Colorado and opera: The Children’s Hospital, Graland Country Day School, the Berkshire Choral Festival, the Music Project for Television, University of Colorado Foundation, Vail Homeowners Association and the board of the Metropolitan Opera.
To view the complete 2016 Colorado Business Hall of Fame event presentation and acceptance remarks for Ellie & George Caulkins, click here.
