Obrey Wendell “Wink” Hamlet

Left: Obrey Wendall "Winks" Hamlet. Right: Clarence Hamlet and Winks Hamlet

Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1893, Obrey Wendell “Winks” Hamlet moved with his family to Denver’s Five Points neighborhood at an early age. By age 30, Winks had established himself as a respected entrepreneur in the Black community, operating a successful coal business and the “Winks Moving Service.”

In 1923, Winks became one of the first investors in Lincoln Hills, a mountain resort created for African Americans during the era of segregation. Known for his resourcefulness and commitment to excellence, Winks began developing entertainment venues at the resort, including the iconic Winks Panorama Lodge. With the support of skilled carpenters, stonecutters, and bricklayers—regardless of their color—Winks oversaw the construction of the three-story, six-bedroom lodge, completed in 1928. His meticulous attention to detail often took him deep into the mountains to find the perfect materials for his projects.

Beyond Winks Panorama, he built the Honeymoon Cabin, Orange Cabin, and Winks Tavern, attracting thousands of Black vacationers annually, many drawn by advertisements in Ebony magazine. Winks also played a significant role in the community, serving as a game warden, steward of the land, and unofficial transport for young girls traveling to Camp Nizhoni.

Later in life, Winks contributed to the construction of the first Pine Cliffe fire station. By the time of his passing in 1965, Winks Hamlet was celebrated as a visionary entrepreneur and a key figure in both Denver’s Five Points neighborhood and Lincoln Hills, leaving a legacy of resilience, community, and Black excellence.