Broadmoor Hotel - Colorado Springs, Colorado

The beautiful city of Colorado Springs located in central Colorado is known for its excellent weather, outdoor lifestyle, and the facilities of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (“NORAD”). Ever since 1918, however, a splendid Mediterranean style hotel located on a small lake outside of town has contributed to the city’s reputation for gentle relaxation. The Broadmoor Hotel has maintained an illustrious history over the past century for hosting visiting dignitaries and serving as the backdrop for numerous conferences and important events. The continued growth and expansion of the hotel facilities, its numerous recreational amenities, and its fine dining have further solidified the Broadmoor’s reputation for excellence. It is one of the few hotels in the country that has received five-diamond and five-star status from AAA, Forbes, and other authorities.

Design and Layout

The 779-room resort occupies close to 5,000 acres of hillside, canyons, fields, and streams on the slope of the Cheyenne Mountains. The nine-story Broadmoor Main building at the hotel is known for its pink stucco design and prominent location on the east side of Cheyenne Lake. Notwithstanding the age of the building and periodic renovations, the guest rooms there are generally 400 to 600 square feet in size and feature a king size bed or two queen beds. The style of the guest rooms throughout the resort is described by the hotel as “a seamless combination of refined yet comfortable décor with sophisticated amenities for today’s discerning traveler.” The public areas of the main building retain some interesting features which harken back to earlier era.

From the main building, the massive resort unfolds around the circular path which surrounds the lake. In addition to Broadmoor South, Broadmoor West, and the West Tower buildings which contain other hotel rooms and suites, there are suites and poolside room selections available in the Lakeside Suites building. Finally, there are separate residential areas called the Broadmoor Cottages and Broadmoor Brownstones which offer condominium and villa living featuring one to three bedrooms, kitchens, and numerous amenities.

One major function of the Broadmoor is that it serves as a premier conference facility for regional, national, and international organizations. Two conference facilities on site collectively provide 180,000 square feet space for meetings and exhibitions.

Outdoor Activities and Hotel Amenities 

The outdoors plays a prominent role in the design and activities of the Broadmoor. Three separate golf courses located to the south of the lake were all designed by renowned professionals and often serve as the venue for tournaments. In 1995, the Broadmoor constructed a spa, golf, and tennis club to service the athletic needs of guests. The tennis center offers professional lessons as well as tennis camps and was run for many years by former US champion Dennis Ralston. The spa includes 43 treatment rooms, a fitness center with a full range of equipment and exercise classes, a hair salon and its own pool, sauna, and therapy facilities.

When it comes to activities, however, you are just getting started. The Broadmoor includes stables for horseback riding, paddle boats for enjoying the lake, and numerous trails for hiking, jogging, or riding bikes. For relaxation and family activities, there is a huge, heated infinity pool located adjacent to the north side of the lake with 14 whirlpools as well as a nearby playground and water slide area for children. Although the infinity pool is seasonal, there is also an indoor pool located on the hotel.

For guests seeking a true outdoor experience, the Broadmoor has developed several special ways to experience the mountain and enjoy the wilderness. First, all guests can readily visit one of Colorado's most famous waterfalls, the Seven Falls, which are in the South Cheyenne Canyon only a few minutes away from the resort. In addition to dramatic rock formations such as the Pillars of Hercules which flank the canyon, there is a 180-foot waterfall which comes down over the mountains in seven separate streams. Guests can admire the beauty, hike up along the waterfall or even take a zip line tour through the canyon.

For a more immersive experience, the Broadmoor offers three different lodging options on the mountain. One is a luxury mountain experience at the 16-acre Ranch on Emerald Green located on Cheyenne Mountain which has its own cabins, lodge rooms, lakes, and amenities. Another is a Cloud Camp which is a wilderness retreat situated 3000 feet above the resort. Finally, there is a fishing camp operated by the Broadmoor about an hour west of the resort on a stretch of the Terryhall River. Finally, for those who want to relax at the resort, there are 25 retail shops offering designer clothing, local wares, and souvenirs on site. 

Dining

With all these activities available, food remains a high priority for the Broadmoor. A total of 18 restaurants are available and there is something for everyone. Fine dining options include the rooftop Penrose Room which provides a five-star European cuisine experience featuring seafoods, meats and local offerings. Another renowned restaurant option is the Ristorante del Lago which provides an alfresco Italian dining experience and is modeled on the features of a Lake Como villa. The Summit Restaurant offers regional American cuisines as does the popular La Taverne steakhouse. The numerous other restaurants, cafes and lounges on-site include everything from a British pub to family fare, casual food, snacks, and treats. 

History

The Broadmoor had its origins in the efforts of a Prussian count to develop 2400 acres of land into a new suburb outside of Colorado Springs and attract people to the area by adding a casino and a small hotel nearby. After the hotel and several other ventures there failed to prosper, a wealthy Philadelphia mining investor named Spencer Penrose purchased most of the land and decided to build a resort at the base of the mountain. Penrose’s vision was to design a destination resort in the western United States that would be world class by using the finest artisans and professionals available. The Broadmoor was only one part of Penrose’s plan as he also built a road to the top of Pikes Peak to attract more tourists and ultimately bought the cog railway there too.

The rest as they say is history. After the hotel opened in 1918, it succeeded in becoming one of the most prestigious resorts in the country. Over the next 102 years, the hotel has hosted important banquets and international meetings, 9 Presidents and dozens of celebrities, movie scenes, and conventions. Along the way, the resort has included a ski area, an ice palace used for figure skating training and competitions, a polo field, and a rodeo and dance arena. Whenever the property began to lose its luster or encountered financial difficulties, however, new owners or investors have stepped in to refurbish, renovate, expand, and reinvent the facility.  The future looks bright for the Broadmoor to remain a top-rated resort.

Area Activities

There is plenty to do in the area around the Broadmoor for guests who are new to the area. The views of the mountains are spectacular from Pike’s Peak which is located about an hour to the west. Also, people enjoy visiting the Air Force Academy and the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Location

The Broadmoor is located 90 miles south of the Denver International Airport and can be reached by traveling south on Interstates 225 and 25, and then following the signs to the Broadmoor on Lake Avenue. The Colorado Springs Airport in only 20 minutes away from the hotel. The hotel offers airport shuttle services to both locations.