1565 Colorado Blvd

Once a glowing mid-century relic with a crown-topped neon sign and a reputation that veered somewhere between retro charm and late-night cautionary tale, the Royal Palace Motel has officially been demolished.

Built in 1969, the six-story, 70-room motel was a symbol of roadside ambition. But like many aging motels along East Colfax and Colorado Boulevard, its glory faded into boarded-up windows and fading paint.

The property was purchased by Laramar Group for $7.3 million last year. In its place: a six-story, 155-unit apartment building with ground-floor parking.

Plans show a blend of white, gray, and charcoal-toned façades, balconies, and a pedestrian-friendly design wrapping the corner of E 16th Avenue.

Completion is expected in 2027, right in time for the long-awaited Colfax Bus Rapid Transit line, which will bring high-frequency service and dedicated bus lanes to this stretch of the corridor.

For now, the site is rubble. But Denver’s memory of the spinning disco ball and the neon crown still lingers, saved and preserved by local neon historian Jonny Barber, who rescued the sign before the wrecking ball arrived.

Because even in a city obsessed with what’s next, some things are too iconic to let go.

Drone footage provided by @naked_drones