In the Fall/Winter 2014 issue of Mountain Meetings, we suggested mixing mountains and cities and giving groups the best of both worlds by including two towns on a meetings or incentive itinerary, such as Reno/Lake Tahoe, Billings/Red Lodge, and Denver/Winter Park. However, it’s also possible to experience mountains and city all in one place such as Colorado Springs, Colorado.
I usually think of city first when hearing the name Colorado Springs since it is the second largest community in Colorado with a population of approximately 432,000. However, it’s also all about the mountains with the local Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun definitely in the mountains along with Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods being dramatic parts of the landscape.
Colorado Springs has many great lodging properties but the best at combining mountains and city with a flourish is The Broadmoor. With the recently introduced and still expanding wilderness experience properties and attractions, groups can easily combine a stay in the mountains at the nearby The Ranch at Emerald Valley or Cloud Camp for a few nights to enjoy quiet and upscale mountain rustic and move to the fancier more refined atmosphere at The Broadmoor.
I recently had a chance to stay at all three properties during one visit and to see the major progress underway at Seven Falls, which was devastated by flooding a few years ago and purchased by The Broadmoor, which is thoughtfully improving the attraction located less than a mile from the resort and adding a Colorado-centric eatery, Restaurant 1858. With a grand re-opening planned for Aug. 13, Seven Falls is surround by canyon walls that will make two adventurous zip line courses possible, The Broadmoor Soaring Adventure, with one opening in August and the other in September.
Want to start out in the mountains? The Ranch at Emerald Valley is definitely about being laid-back and enjoying activities like horseback riding, hiking, archery, lawn games, fly-fishing and playing board games in the lodge. Meetings on the lodge’s back patio or inside the lodge provide a casual option. Cloud Camp offers incredible views of the valley, seems especially far from the city but it’s not and has a lodge that stuns with a huge dining table for family-style meals, painted ceiling panels and incredible Western art collection. The lodge and its large patio, along with and a new stand-alone meeting venue under construction just below, offer lots of great options for gathering and relaxing. Cloud Camp includes mule rides, guided hikes, cooking club with the chef, yoga, lawn games and archery in the stay.
Acre wise, the ranch is larger and more spread out, but both offer The Broadmoor’s well-known attention to detail, customer service and outstanding cuisine, plus it is possible to hike between the two with The Broadmoor transferring baggage. The Broadmoor Fishing Camp, another wilderness experience property, opened in June approximately 70 miles away for day or overnight excursions.
It also was nice to have a night at The Broadmoor with a choice of 62 meeting rooms and a total of 185,000 square feet for functions as well as a wide variety of dining, shopping and activity options. I tried out the spa, a few restaurants, tennis and shopping. Golf, bowling, movies, paddleboats, fishing, and large indoor and outdoor pools are just a few of the many other diversions on property.
Know of any other major cities in the mountains that we can talk about next or consider for an article on this topic in the future? Drop me a line at beth.buehler@tigeroak.com.
