COLORADO SPRINGS — “The Broadmoor… (irritated pause) in Colorado Springs, Colorado (rolling of eyes).”
The concierge was flabbergasted that the person on the other end of the line needed explanation of our location other than the hotel’s storied name. Although her training and position would never allow it, what she probably wanted to say was, “The Broadmoor, you ignorant commoner.”
Far surpassing its role as just a place to stay, the legendary Colorado resort is a destination unto itself. Established in 1918 to wow luxury guests headed out West, founder Spencer Penrose went all out.
The elaborate design of the palatial hotel was fueled by a rivalry with the Antlers Hotel, the premier hotel in Colorado Springs at the time. Even the BROaDMOOR’s logo (written with a small “a”) is a dig at the Antlers.
Somewhere between creating the resort’s own lake, 54 holes of championship golf, a shopping district, 10 restaurants, numerous bars and cafes, tennis courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa, a six-lane bowling alley, a 280-seat movie theater, 779 guest rooms, suites, cottages and brownstones and a regal garden setting — I think Penrose won that race.
I’ve always been the first to head outdoors, but a recent stay at the Grande Dame reminded me how fabulous the indoors can be.
It’s amazing how quickly one can become accustomed to a high level of service. I have only recently been introduced to the concept of a concierge (I’m still learning how to pronounce it), yet by the end of my stay at the Broadmoor I wanted to take one of these helpful folks home with me.
I came from a family that would ask for help only if we were actually on fire — and even then we’d hesitate. (“I’m sure I can put this out if you just direct me to the nearest water fountain.”) Now here I was in the land of room service, car service, maid service, door service, table service and every other service you can imagine.
And what an elegantly appointed land it is. Shining marble floors reflect glittering chandeliers in great halls that smell of fresh rose topiaries. Framed by the luxurious draperies in your room, the hotel’s lake is a scene of swans and ducks gliding under arching fountains. During our stay I had the thought more than once, “This must be what it feels like to live at the White House.”
Indeed, many presidents have visited here, from Herbert Hoover in 1929 to President Obama. Their photos hang in the Hall of Fame along with a long list of heads of state, celebrities and sports stars. My favorite is the picture of the Shah of Iran and his wife in a paddleboat.
Usually when I’m on vacation I want to go-go-go, but at the Broadmoor an unfamiliar sense of contentment overcame me. I was perfectly happy to sit in my luxurious room with a cup of coffee, looking out at the leaves spinning in a cold wind.
It’s getting to be the time to retreat indoors more often, and the Broadmoor is a great place to come in from the weather.
This year weekend guests of the hotel can sample from “The Broadmoor Passport,” a collection of complimentary activities and programs all inside the hotel’s welcoming interior. From the first of November to the end of April, weekend guests can do everything from brush up on their dance moves to trying out fly-fishing. At one of my selected activities, Broadmoor Boot Camp, I learned that it’s not all about staying in your comfort zone.
That said, a lot of the enjoyment of the Broadmoor is unscheduled. With all the activities my daughters tried, their favorite was playing with their rubber swans in one of the inside fountains. They had a fabulous time, although I am a little worried about exposing my children to a setting far above our income level.
On the way home, when we were having trouble finding a gas station, my 7-year-old suggested we, “Just call the concierge” — and she pronounced it perfectly.
Chryss Cada is a freelance writer and a journalism instructor at Colorado State University. Visit her at .
