#STAYSURSY

Shoppable rental homes designed to support local artists + makers.

#shopthestay

WHO WE ARE

The Sursy is an experiential design and development group based in Denver, Colorado.

We’re obsessed with innovation in real estate and the built world and have designed a new way to stay, shop, and experience at the intersection of design, retail, and hospitality. Our mission is to create eclectic destinations that bring locals and travelers together, to serve the modern traveler and consumer, and to support our local makers every step of the way.

THE STUDIO

Our interior design team, offering residential and commercial design services and a suite of Airbnb optimization services.

THE COLLECTIVE

Our growing portfolio of shoppable rental homes, all filled with locally made furnishings, artwork, and decor so guests can #shopthestay.

THE SHOP

Our online shop allows guests and non-guests to explore our design projects and purchase the items for sale in our shoppable spaces.

THE GROUP

Our commercial development team, currently building a ‘Shoppable Motel and Neighborhood Destination,” coming to Colorado in 2021.

NOUN:

SURSY [Sir-See]:

A southern slang term for a ‘souvenir’; a memorable item you bring back from a trip.

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Imagine a drive down #westcolfax in the early 1940

Imagine a drive down #westcolfax in the early 1940s, pulling up your Chevy Coup Pickup to check in for a little roadside R&R at White Swan Modern Auto Court.

I got to tour the granddaughters of the original owners around The Swan this week, and share a meal over at @lakewood_grill listening to them reminisce on their time living here (two different times) over the course of the late 40s through early 60s while their parents were running the place.

The layout of the main residence and front lobby remains nearly the same, with the iconic corner windows still intact today. There was once a gift shop, a heated pool, and a giant bbq pit on the site, shaded by beautiful, large elm trees 🌳

This is a part of the motel story I couldn’t have dreamed up if I tried. What a gift it is to get to flip through dozens of old photos to be able to pull inspiration for our future redevelopment from, and to learn about the original building, neighborhood, and people that made this place what it was way back when. ✨We’ll make this spot a Colorado landmark for another hundred years yet!

📍The White Swan Motel …dare I say she’s st

📍The White Swan Motel

…dare I say she’s starting to look cute?!

We are giving the sign a facelift next week with a fresh paint job + a tune up to the old neon. Thinking of restoring the top right ad box to again read “Heated Pool” as it once did 😉

While these rooms weren’t by any stretch of the

While these rooms weren’t by any stretch of the imagination the worst we’ve tackled (more reveals to come!), the transformation that fresh paint + new flooring brings to them is almost unbelievable.

The flooring and painting teams will continue work over the weekend, with me spending my time making final punch lists for each room that will drive us across the finish line in getting these rooms ready to rent again by October 1.

Up next? Furnishings! If anyone has lightly used or new sleeping pillows, bed frames, sheets (of any size) or towels, I will be starting to accept donations on Monday! Send me a DM to coordinate a pick-up around the Denver area, or swing through The Swan any time to drop-off 🦢

Thank you to everyone for the words of encouragement on this phase of the project 💪🏽 It’s hard as hell work, but really such a gift to be able to act on a dream in such a tangible way after years of this living only in my head. It’s not lost on me how much has happened in just a short 3 weeks, so even on the tough days I’m trying to soak in and enjoy every moment of this unforgettable part of the motel journey!

Happy Friday, y’all 🍻

#roadsiderevival
#staysursy
#westcolfax
#40westarts
#lakewoodcolorado
#whiteswanmotel
#motelmakeover

What a difference a day makes… ➡️swipe➡️

What a difference a day makes… ➡️swipe➡️ to see the front entrance facelift in progress!

#roadsiderevival
#staysursy
#motelmakeover
#40westarts
#westcolfax

The sticky note caption says it all! I had the be

The sticky note caption says it all!

I had the best hour long Zoom yesterday with the granddaughters of John Capelli, who was the original owner of what was then White Swan Court. These three sisters lived at the motel as children in the fifties and sixties, and shared story after story about their experiences calling this slice of Colfax home. Some of my off-the-cuff faves:

• The build was originally financed by the one and only Glenn Miller: the American big-band trombonist, arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was the best-selling recording artist from 1939 to 1942!

• There was at one point a pool surrounded by large elm trees in the middle of the two original buildings, with a giant barbecue pit built into the ground at the back of the property.

• White Swan Court was the furthest west building on Colfax at the time of its construction, with the still-standing Mesa Motor Lodge and Rocky Mountain Motel being built right around the same time!

• John Capelli’s father was Angelo Capelli, who was the original owner of @mybrothersbar (aka still the best burger in town if you ask me 🍔)

I. Love. This. Stuff. What fun it is to get to learn about the history straight from the relatives of the original joint — three sisters too, just like my sisters and I 😊 Makes me so, so happy to be able to restore this piece of their families’ legacy and learn about its deep roots along the way as we shape the future of The White Swan now and into its next 80 years!

Let there be GREEN! Tomorrow we will wrap up the

Let there be GREEN!

Tomorrow we will wrap up the exterior stucco painting, with fresh door trim coming in hot from there! I’m excited to add back in some paint contrast against the freshly green walls, and ohhh how rewarding it is to start to see the new flooring go in + plumbing and electrical fixes happening. We still have a ways to go, but we’ve come a hell of a long way in the 2.5 weeks since we bought the place 💯

…have you read the @denverwestword article that dropped today about the immersive 3-mile stretch that is America’s longest Main Street? We are thrilled to have our #motel project included amongst the likes of @meow__wolf + of course @casabonitadenver 🌀To get to be a part of the @40westarts movement and the @westcolfax community continues to be a dream come true (…err: a dream in progress 😉)

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