Colorado excels at providing outdoor venues that impress. With 300 days of sunshine annually, a culture that embraces getting outside, and gorgeous landscapes, the Centennial State provides a year-round haven for groups looking to meet outdoors. Colorado Meetings + Events checked in with organizations, planners, and venues to gather ideas about connecting in nature during spring, summer, and fall.
Colorado’s landscapes are a major selling point as people grow more selective about the gatherings they choose to attend, prompting organizations and planners to aim for “delivering truly exceptional experiences to stand out,” says Kelly Layton, executive director of Destination Colorado Meetings. “Colorado’s awe-inspiring destinations, bucket-list adventures, and countless opportunities to explore the outdoors—paired with its warm and welcoming community—make it an easy choice for unforgettable meetings and events.”
There is always an outdoor component during the nonprofit organization’s Customer Appreciation Event (CAE) held each September. In 2023, Destination Colorado Meetings spent an evening at Flying W Ranch among the towering red-rock formations in Colorado Springs. A cocktail reception, dinner, rodeo, and musical performance by the Flying W Wranglers were among the highlights. Last year, the CAE in Beaver Creek included an excursion to Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument near Minturn for lunch, activities, and side-by-side all-terrain vehicle and Jeep tours with Nova Guides.
Destination Colorado Meetings also has tapped into Colorado’s admirable collection of amphitheaters, once holding a Beatles-themed CAE at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, located west of Denver in Morrison. Red Rocks’ 30,000-square-foot visitor center with meeting and event space made it a breeze for the group to host a preconcert gathering.
Mishawaka Amphitheatre, just 13 miles from Fort Collins, also offers the benefit of being close to a sizable community but still surrounded by nature. Known locally as “The Mish,” it contains an outdoor venue alongside the scenic Poudre River that can host more than 1,000 guests, while an indoor dance hall holds up to 75. The new 8,000-seat Ford Amphitheater in Colorado Springs and Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre in Greenwood Village also are worthy of mention and get groups outdoors in an urban setting. Check out the options for VIP experiences at both, such as preconcert receptions and special seating areas. The outdoor suites with fire pits at Ford Amphitheater are especially noteworthy.
Dillon Amphitheater in Dillon and Gerald R. Ford Amphitheatre in Vail offer full-on mountain experiences, host ticketed performances and free summer concerts, and are available for private bookings. The lakeside Dillon Amphitheater holds almost 3,700 and is known for hosting a “Movies on the Water” series, and the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheatre can hold around 2,500 and has the added benefit of being located next door to the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens.
Relax Amid Beauty
Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is the only botanic garden in North America dedicated to the preservation and conservation of alpine plant species and their associated habitats. Not only does it contain stunning gardens to wander, but there also is a rooftop terrace for up to 50 attendees seated and 95 cocktail-style, as well as the Children’s Garden Amphitheater for a maximum of 30.
In Denver, it is hard to beat Denver Botanic Gardens for communing with nature. The 26-acre York Street location has an amphitheater, solarium, pavilion, terrace, gazebo, gardens, and the Orangery that are available for private events, while its 700-acre Chatfield Farms in Littleton has a variety of venue options, from a barn and stables to a terrace and amphitheater.
Visit Colorado Springs embraced a garden environment and hosted its Tourism Awards Celebration last September at local Hillside Gardens. “Hillside Gardens is a different type of venue than we have used in the past, [but still offered] the elements needed for this event to be a success,” says Lindsey Pevey, partner relations manager for Visit Colorado Springs. “The attendees really enjoyed the uniqueness and charm of this venue. Holding this event outdoors allowed our attendees the time and space to appreciate the beauty of our city that our partners work hard to preserve.”
Selecting an outdoor venue was part of completely reimagining what had previously been a sit-down dinner and lengthy awards presentation without many extras. “We began the event with a welcome drink and directed attendees to the ceremony space where the awards presentation was succinct and lively,” Pevey says. “After the presentation concluded, we allowed attendees to enjoy the extensive buffet, wander through the gardens, and take in the sweeping mountain views at sunset. There was a DJ in the main reception area, as well as performances from local talent on one of [the venue’s] additional stages.”
Another option is to get artsy outside at two Loveland venues: Benson Sculpture Park and Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra. The lush 10-acre Benson Sculpture Park, with 178 artworks on permanent display, serves as a beautiful backdrop for any occasion, including the annual “Sculpture in the Park,” the nation’s largest outdoor juried sculpture show. Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra covers 26 acres, has more than 80 Zimbabwean sculptures and an amphitheater, and is the location of Sounds of Centerra summer concerts and Loveland Winter Wonderlights.
Satisfy Bucket Lists
For some groups, providing the opportunity to meet and check off a national park at the same time can be a smart strategy. In Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park is the most convenient since it sits adjacent to Estes Park and is bordered by YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park Center, which has comfortable lodges and cabins for accommodations and plenty of meeting and event space. The Stanley Hotel and Holiday Inn Estes Park also are good pairings with the national park.
What makes YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park Center exceptional is it is located on more than 800 acres and offers a wealth of engaging activities like archery, ax throwing, disc golf, an aerial challenge course, horseback riding, and sand volleyball. The property has hosted the Colorado-based Listen Foundation’s program Listen CI Camp every summer since 2004, with approximately 340 pediatric cochlear implant (CI) recipients, their parents and siblings, mentors, and volunteers in attendance.
Listen CI Camp uses an entire lodge in addition to several of YMCA of the Rockies’ meeting rooms and many available activities. “I have no doubt the conference director and his staff are the best in the country,” says Janette Cantwell, director of the camp. “We have multiple conference needs that require a dizzying number of resets and complex audiovisual requests to meet the needs of our CI recipients.”
She adds, “From rock climbing and pool parties to ax throwing and story time in the library, our families enjoy a variety of recreational activities offered by the YMCA of the Rockies’ programming staff. Before each camp session, the programming director and assistant director meet with us to tailor activities specifically to the needs of CI children.”
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is Colorado’s version of the Grand Canyon, but rarely draws large crowds despite its majesty. The park is near Montrose, a community that has meeting space and lodging options for small- to medium-size groups. Mesa Verde National Park, also in southwest Colorado, is about 65 miles from Durango and serves as a day-trip option for groups.
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is on the other side of the state and 35 miles from Alamosa. While Alamosa does not host many corporate groups, the new Kosmos Stargazing Resort & Spa is only 15 minutes from the national park and will eventually feature 20 domed stargazing villas, as well as a restaurant, spa, and planetarium, all set to be complete in 2027.
Savor the Options
A few destinations are especially noteworthy when it comes to fresh-air meetings. Even though Colorado Springs is the state’s second-largest city, being surrounded by mountains and having distinct rock formations translates into plentiful outdoor options at local attractions and resorts. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Glen Eyrie Castle, The Broadmoor, Cheyenne Mountain Resort, Garden of the Gods Resort & Club, and Flying Horse Resort & Club are among the many places for groups to consider.
Also on the Front Range, Table Mountain Meetings and Events in Golden can host up to 150 guests in the Columbine Room that has clear garage doors opening onto a spacious terrace surrounded by picturesque gardens. Sister property Church Ranch Event Center in Westminster is ideal for larger groups of up to 450 with an indoor Grand Hall and lush gardens, water features, and an outdoor area with an arbor and flagstone stage.
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora has expanded its outdoor meeting and event space over the past two years. The property added the Grand Lodge Lawn with 10,000 square feet of artificial turf and several fire features, as well as an adjacent games lawn featuring additional turf, fire pits, and pastimes such as bocce ball, cornhole, and giant chess. Gaylord Rockies’ newest venue is the Mountain View Pavilion with 12,100 square feet of indoor gathering space, 14,000 square feet of outdoor terraces and patios, and 15,000 square feet of lawn area. Also, large terraces have been added to Old Hickory Steakhouse and Mountain Pass Sports Bar, holding 96 to 108 attendees.
In the mountains, Vail Performing Arts Academy hosted its 30th anniversary fundraising event at The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Avon, Vail Valley. The hotel’s large size, central location, outdoor terrace area adjoining the Riverside Ballroom, and spacious lawn were among the reasons the nonprofit chose the venue for its July event, says Colin Meiring, artistic director and choreographer.
“The appetizers, cocktail introductory hour, and social mingling were held out on the terrace,” Meiring says, noting there was enough space to include a bar, eight high-top tables, and a central area for guests to interact. “Our event is youth-based, so there were a lot of younger kids who were able to use the terrace, as well as the lawn area to play games while the parents and older attendees could socialize indoors.”
With all the venue and activity options available and the abundance of natural beauty in the state, you might say hosting a meeting or event in Colorado without an outdoor component is a missed opportunity. So, give your attendees the joy of connecting with each other while connecting with nature, and lift an average gathering to standout status.
