The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

The Broadmoor is one of America's great resort hotels, a pink-stuccoed Italianate palace set beside a lake at the foot of Cheyenne Mountain, where the Rocky Mountains meet the plains. Opened in 1918 by the adventurer and entrepreneur Spencer Penrose, it has welcomed presidents, film stars and generations of families, and it holds a remarkable distinction: it is the only property in the world to have held a Forbes Five-Star rating every year since the awards began in 1960.

Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

The resort lies on the south-western edge of Colorado Springs, at around 1,900 metres, on the eastern flank of the Front Range. Cheyenne Mountain rises directly behind it, and Pikes Peak, at 4,302 metres one of Colorado's most famous summits, towers to the west. Colorado Springs Airport is about a quarter of an hour away, and Denver International Airport roughly an hour and a half by road.

The surroundings are full of attractions: the red rock formations of the Garden of the Gods, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, which climbs to the summit, and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, founded by Penrose himself in 1926 to house his growing menagerie.

Rooms and suites at The Broadmoor

The main resort has several hundred rooms and suites spread across its historic buildings around Cheyenne Lake, decorated in a classic, elegant style with rich fabrics and traditional furniture. Rooms in the original main building have the most historic character, while newer wings offer more space; request a view of the lake or the mountains.

Beyond the main campus, The Broadmoor has created two remarkable wilderness retreats. Cloud Camp, around 3,000 feet above the resort on the site of Penrose's 1927 mountain lodge, has seven lodge rooms and eleven cabins with views over Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak. The Ranch at Emerald Valley, about eight miles away on the edge of Pike National Forest, has ten restored cabins beside a chain of mountain lakes.

The main hotel's architecture is part of the experience: Italianate towers, loggias and fountains arranged around the lake, with mature gardens, art collections and historic photographs throughout. Wandering the grounds at dusk, as the lights come on across the water and the mountain darkens behind, feels like stepping into another era of American travel.

Facilities at The Broadmoor

The Broadmoor is famous for golf, with championship courses that have hosted major USGA events, including the original course designed by Donald Ross and opened on the day the hotel launched in 1918. The spa is one of the finest in the country, and there are pools, tennis courts, a falconry academy, fly-fishing and countless other activities.

Dining is outstanding. The Penrose Room, the resort's signature fine-dining restaurant, reopened in 2025 with interiors inspired by the travels of Spencer and Julie Penrose, and there are around twenty restaurants, cafés and bars across the resort, from steakhouses to a lakeside English pub. Families are especially well looked after, with children's programmes and a huge range of outdoor adventures.

The mountain moment

The defining moment is a ride up to Cloud Camp, high on Cheyenne Mountain, by jeep, horse or on foot, followed by lunch or sunset on the terrace as the city lights begin to twinkle on the plains below and Pikes Peak glows in the evening light.

Closer to the resort, Broadmoor Seven Falls, a series of waterfalls in a narrow box canyon owned by the resort, offers hiking, zip lines and dinner at Restaurant 1858, while the Pikes Peak Cog Railway climbs to the summit for views across four states.

Why The Broadmoor is one of the best mountain hotels

The Broadmoor earns its place as one of the grandest and most complete resorts in the American mountains. It is large and can feel corporate, especially during conferences, and it sits on the edge of a city rather than in the wilderness. But its history, its service, its extraordinary range of activities and its spectacular mountain retreats make it a true destination, ideal for families and anyone who wants everything in one place.

When to go to The Broadmoor

The Broadmoor is open year-round. Summer, from June to September, is peak season for golf, hiking and the mountain retreats, and the busiest time. Autumn brings golden aspens in the foothills, clear skies and fewer crowds, often the best time to visit. Winter is mild for the Rockies, with sunny days and festive events at the resort, though Cloud Camp and the Ranch have limited winter seasons, so check opening dates. Spring brings wildflowers and lower rates.

For the best of both worlds, many guests combine a few nights at the main resort with a night or two at Cloud Camp or the Ranch at Emerald Valley, which together offer one of the most varied mountain stays in the American West.