Famed architect Charles Dilbeck was known for his distinctive “Texas ranch house” style, which he claims to have originated while living in Dallas. This style incorporates a single-story design and wide-open layouts to reflect Texas’s rural heritage and celebrate its ties to agriculture and ranching. In addition, he was known for adding quirky details to his designs, offering a bit of whimsy and delight.
Born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Dilbeck followed in his father’s footsteps and began working at a lumber company, where he modified stock house plans and designed structures tailored to customers’ specific needs. He moved to Tulsa, where he established an office and garnered a devoted clientele until the stock market crash in 1929 demolished his business, forcing him to relocate to Dallas.
Throughout his career, he built between 225 and 300 residences in Dallas and other cities. His residential commissions can be found from Colorado to Tennessee, Texas to Kansas. In addition to the ranch house designs, Dilbeck created homes that looked like they came right out of a fairytale. He favored massive chimneys, tall windows, unusual stone and brick patterns, vaulted ceilings, and often a small turret at the front entrance.
Colorado Springs has its own Dilbeck-designed home, known as the Hill Summer Residence and located at 3440 Hill Circle. It is situated in the Kissing Camels Neighborhood and is currently on the market with a listing price of $2,395,000, it was designed in his “Texas ranch house” style in 1952.
Purposely oriented to provide a direct view of Pikes Peak and overlook the Garden of the Gods rock formations, the home was originally designed as the summer residence for Mr. Al G. Hill and Mrs. Margaret Hunt Hill, originally from Dallas.
Mr. Hill was responsible for the development of the Garden of the Gods Resort and Kissing Camels Club, which hosted many celebrities, including John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Walt Disney, and Claudette Colbert.
Mrs. Hill was the daughter of H.L. Hunt, co-owner of Hunt Petroleum. A well-known philanthropist and avid preservationist, Mrs. Hill was appointed by the Governor as a member of the Texas Historical Society and served on the White House Preservation Fund Committee in the 1980s. Her brother, Lamar, founded the Kansas City Chiefs in 1959, and later the American Football League.
Hunt was also the founding investor in Major League Soccer (MLS) and owned the Columbus Crew, Kansas City Wizards, and FC Dallas. Today, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States, running annually from 1914 (not including the pandemic years 2020 and 2021).
While the home has been extensively remodeled, the original sandstone fireplace and two of the home’s bathrooms have been preserved. A gourmet kitchen includes a NanoWall sliding glass wall leading to the back patio with stunning views of the Rocky Mountain region. Wide-plank white oak hardwood floors, Quartz countertops, and original architecture details round out the features.
Fans of Dilbeck’s work are known as “The Dilbeckians,” a group of architecture aficionados who are fascinated by the masterful and magical work of the legendary twentieth-century architect. They have started the Dilbeck Architecture Conservancy with a goal to introduce and share with as many people as possible the allure of Charles Dilbeck.
The Conservancy helps Dilbeck homeowners learn how to restore and preserve their homes, provides research about Dilbeck’s work, organizes educational programs, and organizes outings to experience his designs firsthand. His unique architectural style left a lasting impression for future generations to enjoy. The home is listed on the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties.