Diane Butler
Jake Meyers
One minute, I am surrounded by bucolic tranquility, casting a line into a mountain stream in the heart of the Rockies with nothing but the whispering wind above and the gurgling creek below. The next, I am screaming, zooming down a 1,800-foot zip line at 45 miles per hour, 500 feet above a canyon floor. This dichotomy epitomizes The Broadmoor; there is something for everyone.
The resort’s guests have included presidents and titans of industry in its 100-plus year history. Prussian Count James Pourtales bought the original 2,400-acre tract at the base of Mount Cheyenne to create the suburb of Colorado Springs and build a casino. In 1916, mining magnate Spencer Penrose acquired the 40 acres where the casino sat and developed the resort. Two years later, The Broadmoor opened to the public.
A 90-minute flight from Dallas (followed by a 20-minute drive), the resort has grown and expanded over the years, blending luxury, history, and adventure into any stay. I spent two nights at the fly fishing camp, which is about 90 minutes west of Colorado Springs, into the Lost Creek Wilderness. The lodge includes seven private cabins that sit close enough to hear the rushing of Tarryall Creek, which offers some of the best fly-fishing in Colorado. Our guide taught us techniques and where to cast. Within 20 minutes of wading into the cool waters, I was catching fish, surrounded by towering firs and granite domes. The lodge has access to five miles of private waters, surrounded by mountains bursting with color and rocky outcroppings.
A step up from the “camp” food one might expect, we ate Wagyu burgers, succulent pork chops, and roasted vegetables that would match anything one might find back in civilization. One morning, I took a break from fishing to flex my Old West credentials, taking a horseback ride through Eagle Rock Ranch, where the Gottenborg family runs a pasture-raised beef operation in the hills of southern Park County.
The resort offers a host of activities: high-flying ziplines, canoeing, paddle boats, falconry, a five-star spa, two PGA-caliber golf courses, a pool that overlooks Cheyenne Lake, a renowned tennis program, and 23 specialty boutiques selling everything from fine clothes to home décor. I opted for The Broadmoor’s “soaring adventures,” which entailed harnessing up and zipping across South Cheyenne Canyon, walking across shaky rope bridges suspended above rocky crags, and rappelling off a platform to land at the foot of Seven Falls, a seven-tiered waterfall.
LEFT TO RIGHT Restaurant 1858 gives diners a unique experience on the banks of Seven Falls.; The resort offers numerous indoor and outdoor opportunities for socializing with other guests.
When the daily adventures come to an end, the real decision is choosing where to eat. The resort’s 20 varied restaurants include Colorado’s only five-star eatery, the Penrose Room. My wife and I dined at La Taverne, an airy and sunlit steakhouse that sits off the main lobby, enjoying sesame-crusted seared tuna, a succulent porterhouse, and flavorful prime beef tartare, paired with a merlot.
Our expansive suite overlooked Cheyenne Lake. Other options include guest rooms, cottages, brownstones, and a large estate house. One of the highlights of the resort is seeing everyone with their furry companions. The Pitty Pat Club, named for Penrose’s wife Julie’s adored poodle, keeps pets entertained while guests head out for the day’s adventures.
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