Back to Normal at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs

Poolside Luxe at The Broadmoor

What a difference a day makes. It sounds trite but boy, does it ring true.

A week can make even more of a difference. This past week of moisture—day after day of hard driving rains and good soaking showers—has changed the look of Colorado measurably. Although some of our grasses, bushes and shrubs were burned beneath the pounding sun of late spring and early summer, most of our flora has perked up and as I gaze outside my window here in Telluride, the scene appears lush and verdant.

Double Beauty

Today in Colorado Springs, the most destructive fire in the history of Colorado has been declared fully contained. There’s not a trace of smoke in the air (actually there hasn’t been for days). With the monsoonal flows of July and August seemingly settling in throughout the state, I can almost hear every Coloradan breathing a collective sigh of relief.

Now don’t be scared off by the word monsoon! Ours are nothing like what you would expect on the other side of the earth. In the Rockies during most of July and August, you wake up to blue skies that typically cloud over in the afternoon, just enough to give our glorious landscapes a good watering. By late in the day, the sun usually reappears, affording us spectacular sunsets and an abundance of rainbows. This doesn’t happen every day although typically it occurs just enough to keep our mountain-scapes green and fresh.

So in case you haven’t fully absorbed my message, I can tell you now is a great time to visit colorful Colorado. If you want to help those that have suffered from the tremendous outbreak of wildfires we recently experienced, plan a trip to Colorado. If you already have a trip planned, plan another. With all the national news coverage of the fires, you can bet the state’s tourism has been slammed. I wish CNN and others would now broadcast that this great Western state is looking mighty fine and that blooming wildflowers have replaced blooming wildfires.

Our tourism industry is a driving force for the state’s economy and it also employs thousands of workers. Most likely the greatest employer of all in the hospitality industry is The Broadmoor, one of the Grande Dames of American resorts, located in hard-hit Colorado Springs. I can’t fathom how many cancellations they’ve likely had—I just hope their business rebounds in spades. They’re offering a Summer Spectacular Rate that should draw visitors back although I imagine some vacationers have already formulated other plans.

Cheyenne Lake at The Broadmoor

I have had the immense pleasure of staying at The Broadmoor three times, once in the heat of August, twice in the fall. And have found it to be one of the loveliest properties in the world. With origins dating back to the late 1800s, this European-styled resort, founded on land acquired by a Prussian Count, exudes all the grandeur and charm of the finest hotels of the Old World. With Cheyenne Lake taking center stage and the Rocky Mountains as the backdrop, the site was set for what grew over the years into one of America’s finest resorts.

Poolside Refreshment

Good Times at the Golden Bee

I have lounged and napped several times around this endearing lake, swam in all three of The Broadmoor’s pools and taken brisk walks around their beautifully manicured grounds. I’ve been buffed and pampered at the heavenly Broadmoor Spa and lolled in their Relaxation Room nibbling on fresh fruit and sipping cucumber water while gazing at the magnificence of Cheyenne Mountain. I’ve laughed heartily at the Golden Bee, danced at the Tavern and dined memorably at Summit (twice, including once with Executive Chef Bertrand Bouquin) and Penrose Room, the only Five-Star and Five-Diamond restaurant in Colorado. Most of all though I’ve meandered about this rambling establishment delighting in its beauty at every turn. From exquisite bouquets of flowers, to plush fabrics, to the fine craftsmanship employed to embellish the more iconic sections of this resort and much more, I’ve been impressed with both the grand vision of The Broadmoor and the founders’ keen attention to details, all qualities that make it truly exceptional.

There’s no doubt that The Broadmoor ranks as one of the great landmarks of our country. It’s an institution that has wooed people for well over a century and I’m sure discriminating travelers will continue to flock here for at least another hundred years to come. Now, however, is the right time to go, it’s the right time to bring more business back to Colorado Springs.

You—just like a day—can make all the difference.

The Broadmoor, 1 Lake Avenue, Colorado Springs, 719-577-5775 or 866-837-9520.

Read The Penrose Room:  Colorado’s Piéce de Résistance to hear my take on The Broadmoor’s signature restaurant.

Check out Celebrating the Holidays with the Animals to learn about Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, one of America’s top zoos, situated near The Broadmoor.