Christopher Herr's grandparents, Ralph and Hazel Underwager, expected to build their retirement home on the Boulder land they bought in the '60s. Ralph's death from pancreatic cancer in 1968 — one week before the planned move to Colorado from Illinois — changed everything. "It was a broken dream for my mother," says Kay Gillespie, Christopher's mom. "She could not have built a house on that land."
Kay's mother, Hazel, deeded the land to her. Kay held onto the property with thoughts that its sale might eventually provide needed college money for her children: Christopher and his sister, Katherine Acott. That wasn't necessary, and Kay — happily settled in Fort Collins — had no desire to build on the site. By the time Christopher was working toward a career in architecture, he already was dreaming about building on the family land.
June 30, 2001: Christopher and Tina were married at Estes Park. The two had met four years earlier at a friend's wedding. Their romance was long-distance at first: Tina lived in Alaska; Christopher, in Florida.
And the winner was . . .
In early 2004, the Rocky Mountain News ran an item in Home Stretch, asking readers to write to HGTV for the chance to be on Dream House. Friends passed it along to Christopher and Tina, who imagined taking part would be fun and submitted a video entry.
The producers reviewed nine pitches and picked the Herrs. Why were they selected? Christopher and Tina met the producers' key requirements of being interesting, approachable and engaging, and they were planning to build a visually stimulating house. Other factors working in the Herrs' favor were Boulder's funky feel and natural beauty — and that Tina was carrying the couple's first child.
Featured
-
DNC in Denver
Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
-
The Crevasse
A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.
-
Deadly denial
Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.
-
Final Salute
The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.
-
'Colorado's burning'
Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.
-
Columbine shootings
Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.
-
The Crossing
Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.
-
Osveli's journey
Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.
-
Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.
