Built in 1917, the Seven Keys Lodge dining room retains its rustic character, with crooked floors, warm wood paneling, exposed beams and walls lined with historic photographs—including autographed portraits of U.S. presidents, Hollywood stars and other prominent figures collected by original owners Charles and Stuart Mace. Credit: Cathy Creagh / Estes Valley Lodge

IYKYN stands for “If you know, you know,” but I didn’t know that the Seven Keys Lodge — formerly the Baldpate Inn — is the scene for award-winning songwriters and musicians with wide recognition for their talents. 

I also didn’t know that the Outlaws and Legends Steakhouse is at that same location, serving great food. 

Although a Google search shows they are “closed” every night, they are actually open 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays for a Cowboy Breakfast.

Apparently, people up and down the Front Range do know about this unique venue and come up to Estes Park for the concerts and elevated mountain dining.

Some of the performers have written songs for Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, and Dierks Bentley, among others.

Co-owner Mark Powell, an accomplished musician himself, hosts live music on Friday and Saturday nights from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

Powell explains on the site’s Facebook page that the focus is on songwriters because when the songwriters perform, “You hear the song — but you also get the story behind it. You hear where the idea began, the line that almost didn’t make the cut, and sometimes the story that changes the way you hear a familiar song forever.”

Powell has had eight number one hit singles and has won two Song of the Year awards in Texas country music. He is the founder and producer of the Outlaws and Legends Music Festival in Abilene, Texas, now in its sixteenth year.

On Friday and Saturday, Sept. 4 and 5, from 8 to 10 p.m., Powell welcomes Rico Gonzalez and Emily Jean Anslover, acclaimed songwriters and entertainers honored by the Texas Country Music Association for their fiddle playing.

Check the website for details about these musicians and to buy tickets, which are $40 each night.

The outdoor amphitheater at Seven Keys Lodge showcases songwriters performing their original music. Credit: Cathy Creagh / Estes Valley Voice

On my two recent visits to Seven Keys, I met visitors from Colorado and Wyoming who are devoted fans of the various songwriters’ concerts and the restaurant. Again and again, I heard that people “come for the music,” but I also heard only good things about the food.

One regular customer from Evergreen could not name his favorite dish from the dinner or tavern menus because “Everything on here is delicious,” he said.

My husband, who has celiac disease, had the Bourbon BBQ Steak and mashed potatoes ($18) from the tavern menu and said it was the perfect size, about six ounces of a really good steak, with a great BBQ sauce.

I decided the Rocky Mountain Chili here ($14) is the best I’ve ever had — just some slight heat from spice and terrific flavor from the combination of elk, bison, and beef.

A couple from Boulder said they keep returning for the music, the Whiskey Peach Duck ($34), and the Surf & Turf, which is Angus beef tenderloin and lobster ($78).

Angus beef steaks range from $42 to $75 ala carte, and side dishes are $7 to $8.

Both nights I visited, I heard fans of bartender Seth Dunn praising his service and two specific cocktails – his bloody Mary, and the Keyhole signature drink, a smoked old fashioned, each $14.

I enjoyed a delicious mocktail with lavender called the Ethel ($14), with some distinct flavors that stood up to the tasty, tart lemonade.

Guests can enjoy panoramic views looking down on the Estes Valley from homey furniture on an outside covered patio, sit inside by the massive fireplace and take in the rustic charm of this 109-year-old building, or visit the legendary Key Room and bar.

The Key Room, a historic lodge attraction, displays more than 28,000 keys donated by visitors over the past century, each with a tag explaining its origin.

Believed to be one of the world’s largest collections, the Key Room includes keys from the White House, Frankenstein’s castle, and Hitler’s bunker. Visitors may add to the collection by tagging and leaving a key of their own.

The Key Room at Seven Keys Lodge displays more than 28,000 keys donated by visitors over the past century, including keys said to be from the White House, Frankenstein’s castle, and Hitler’s bunker. Each key is tagged with its origin, and visitors may add their own to the collection. Credit: Cathy Creagh / Estes Valley Voice

Hostess Catherine Ringel said, “The family traditions and memories here are beautiful.” She told me about three separate, unrelated couples who visited for anniversaries this week.

“Couples meet here, some get engaged here, and some spend their honeymoon here,” she said. “They’re always coming back.”

Details like actual twisted tree trunks used as wall decor and stair railings accentuate the rustic nature of this beautiful establishment. The old wooden floors are uneven, and rooms in the lodge have a bit of a tilt to them. There are four cabins to rent on the property as well.

The lodge is at the end of a dirt road, 9,000 feet up on the steep side of a heavily forested mountain at 4900 S. Highway 7 in Estes Park, and is an idyllic setting for getting away from it all.

Concerts are held on a stage in an outdoor space with heaters, a blazing fireplace, and blankets provided for guests. The view from here is also spectacular.

In 2020, Powell and his wife, Meredith Powell, bought the property, which is open seasonally. Sept. 27 will be the last day of the 2026 season.