I’ve stayed at some phenomenal luxury hotels in Colorado — Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, RockResorts’ Osprey, Westin Riverfront, The Little Nell and St. Regis Aspen, in particular, come to mind. But no other Colorado property can truly compare to The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Its sheer size, fascinating 90-year history, 54 holes of championship golf, brand-new spacious cottages, a million and one places to eat (okay, 18), a full-service spa, swimming pools and a gorgeous setting on a lake at the base of a mountain are just a few of the reasons I think The Broadmoor is the best luxury resort in Colorado.
My family and I spent one night at The Broadmoor (courtesy of the resort) before we hopped on a plane at the Colorado Springs airport this summer. One night is by no means enough time to truly enjoy all of its amenities, but we packed in as much as we could into, oh, 18 hours there. Here are just a few of the highlights we enjoyed:
The Ambiance: I felt as though I was dropped right into a scene from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. The manicured grounds, rolling green golf courses and historic decor in the public spaces, to me, exude glamour. We pulled up to the property’s security gate, gave our name, and then continued on to the porte-cochere, where valets greeted us – by name – which gave us a clue to the incredible service we’d receive all weekend. Lots of “How is your stay Mrs. Williams?” and “Whatever we can do to help, Mrs. Williams.” I loved the intricately tiled mosaic floor in the entryway to the lobby, as well as the historic photos, marble staircase, ornate chandelier and brass escalators.
The Tavern: The steaks were excellent at this landmark restaurant at The Broadmoor, dating back to 1938. We ate in its enclosed “Garden Room,” filled with lush vegetation and twinkling lights overhead. No fusion foods or unusual entrees here; just favorite hand-cut prime steaks, chops, seafood, prime rib, plus shellfish appetizers, soups and salads. One must-see: Bottle Alley, where all the liquor and wine bottles that were consumed during Prohibition are displayed; check it out just not far from the entrance to The Tavern (also near the main lobby).
The Swimming Pools: We arrived on an unusually chilly and rainy day in July, so we took the kids to The Broadmoor’s indoor heated pool (near the spa, which I wish I had time to experience), with outdoor hot tub and heated lap pool. This is a huge boon for parents who like to be able to keep a close watch on their kids, as the indoor pool is not huge and there are plenty of lounge chairs if you don’t feel like going in yourself! The next day, just hours before we had to get on a plane, we hit the big, outdoor swimming pool, where we were greeted by one of about a dozen staff members whose sole job is to outfit you with fluffy beach towels and lead you to lounge chairs. The outdoor infinity pool is next to Cheyenne Lake, so matter where you are in the pool — or adjacent hot tub — you’ve got great views of the grounds. Two water slides entertained the kids — that is, until my son got sick (yes, puked) in the pool, and closed it down. While that’s an entire blog post in itself, let’s just say that a) it was hugely embarrassing and b) The Broadmoor staff responded quickly and with grace (not making us feel badly at all). And yes, we did make it to our flight and he traveled the rest of the day without incident.
The Cottages: We stayed in one of the brand-new (as of May 2009) two-bedroom, one-story cottages just off the 18th fairway of the east golf course. At the same time charming and elegant, these accommodations feature high ceilings, window doors that open to an expansive veranda, heated bathroom floors, and hand-crafted area rugs. We all appreciated the luxurious bedding and the mini fridge to store our drinks and snacks.
Of course all of this luxury does not come cheap. I found standard rooms starting at $270 a night this fall, and the rack rate for the smallest one-bedroom cottage is $1,400 a night. Do ask about summer specials that run through September 30, 2009, and otherwise check out the Specials & Packages page.
Top photo: Courtesy the Broadmoor; others by me!
I stayed a couple of nights at the Broadmoor a few years ago…when I went out there to join my parents’ during their 50th anniversary trip (they honeymooned in Colorado). Beautiful place, but a bit over my budget as a normal matter of course
I remember enjoying the Tavern and walking the grounds. Two days wasn’t enough to really enjoy the place to its fullest, either.
Have a brother-in-law who live nearby there. After reading your article, we just might visit there a couple nights. This will actually be the first visit to Colorado. The Broadmoor sounds awesome.
Hope I’m not in the pool if your son’s around.