The Broadmoor

Colorado Springs, Colorado

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By Roger Cox, Editor

Resorts like the Broadmoor owe as much to their developer's ego as to anything else. Spencer Penrose, a turn-of-the-century mining magnate, bought what was then a small hotel in the foothills below Pike's Peak and set out to replace it with something grand enough to rival the finest hotels in the world. To that end, he hired the architectural firm of Warren & Wetmore, who had designed New York City's Grand Central Station and Biltmore and Ritz-Carlton hotels. From their drawing board emerged a vision of Italian Renaissance splendor in rosy-hued stucco and red tile.

Penrose then imported a battalion of skilled artisans from as far away as Italy to hand-decorate the walls, ceilings, and floors of the public rooms. While they were at it he and his wife traveled the world collecting paintings, sculpture, tapestries, and other fine pieces to furnish the rooms and lobbies. Finally, to complete the project he hired Frederick Law Olmsted, who had laid out New York's Central Park, to bring order to the foothills landscape, and legendary golf-course architect Donald Ross to design the first of what would eventually be three golf courses. The resort opened in 1918 to great fanfare. The combination of European opulence, a captivating setting, and pure, invigorating mountain air made it an immediate hit with international society. Then as now there was nothing to rival it west of the Mississippi.

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Tennis Features

Pro Shop: 719-577-5847
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Director of Racquet Sports Karen Schott oversees the entire operation, coordinating a highly credentialed, full-time staff of tennis and pickleball coaches and that in summer includes special appearances by current WTA touring pro Allie Kiick and her coach Lisa Raymond, the highly decorated winner of 11 Grand Slam doubles and mixed doubles titles. Also noteworthy are the Broadmoor's weekend summer and early fall camps (see Events for a complete list) including a special appearance by seven times Grand Slam singles champion Mats Wilander (see Calendar below). That camp is followed by several "Tennis With a Taste of Tuscany" weekends that combine tennis with Tuscan cuisine and Italian wines. Special events aside, the on-court activity varies seasonally. It reaches a zenith in summer. During those warm days of outdoor tennis the roster of weekly summer activities features not only the obligatory private lessons but several types of daily clinics, drill sessions, workouts, team competition (in a game called "105"), Quickstart tennis, junior day camps, complimentary round robins, and game matching. All of that is supplemented on selected weekends by adult camps, junior tennis camps, and tailor-made private camps for groups and teams.

Courts & Fees. Three terraced hard courts and a group of three pickleball cascade east from the tennis and golf pro shops into a complex of 1920s style cottages, each with eight bedrooms, an ideal accommodation choice for families, groups, and teams. The complex is completed by two Har-Tru courts located off a broad patio bordered by lounge chairs and umbrella tables, as if to encourage spectators. Though the weather may be mild enough to allow outdoor play throughout much of the year, the Broadmoor covers two of its hard courts with a bubble in winter. Court fees: $35/hour outdoor until noon, then $25/hour ($40/hour indoors available Oct.-Apr. only).
Altitude Caveat: The Broadmoor stands at just over 6,000 feet above sea level. Expect your endurance to flag in this rarefied air and take extra precautions against sunburn, including the use of an industrial strength sunblock, hat, and sunglasses.

Ratings (130 Reviewers)
Tennis Overall Tennis Staff Instruction	Game Matching	Cuisine Lodging Spa & Fitness	Dollar Value Other Recreation Setting	Romance Solo Travelers

Other Recreation

Golf Courses. Tee times for any of the following courses can be reserved by calling (719) 577-5790. Play is limited to guest of the resort and members.

Spa & Fitness Center. The clearest evidence of the Broadmoor's intention to appeal to a more active—and perhaps self-indulgent—clientele is its Spa and Fitness Center, which together comprise a four-level, 90,000-square-foot complex done in native stone, Italian tile, and hardwoods. The spa offers a full range of treatments, including massages, facials, milk and mud baths, and herbal wraps, inhalation rooms, several wet treatment rooms. Four of its massage rooms open onto private terraces for treatments outdoors with views of the Rocky Mountains. Its changing and sitting rooms have fireplaces.

The Fitness Center consists of an indoor pool with underwater music and a transparent ceiling, an outdoor lap pool, a mountainside Jacuzzi and lounging deck, an aerobics studio, and a state-of-the-art, attentively staffed gym—with windows on the golf course and mountains—outfitted with cardiovascular equipment and Cybex and other workout machines.

And ... In addition to everything else the Broadmoor has bicycle rentals, paddleboats for use on Cheyenne Lake, a trap and skeet range, a fly-fishing school, and horseback riding.

Children's Programs

From late May through Labor Day, the Broadmoor runs a "Bee Bunch" program for children 4-12. One counselor is assigned to every five children. Depending on their age, the activities may include visits to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (on the Broadmoor grounds), swimming in any of the three pools, arts and crafts, pony rides, paddleboating, scavenger hunts, or golf or tennis clinics. A full-day program from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. includes lunch; there are also half day programs, from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. In both cases there is an optional 6-10 p.m. evening program, which includes dinner. Family rates are also available and separate babysitting can also be arranged through the concierge.

Lodging

The Broadmoor has some 700 guest rooms generally arranged on either side of Lake Cheyenne and these are supplemented now by 44 cottages, near the courts and along the golf course, and brownstones in a mini neighborhood near the courts. In the past I've always preferred the rooms in the original hotel. Those rooms and the main lobby and entrance have been thoroughly refurbished to the extent of combining small rooms to create luxurious suites. They have the a modern Edwardian elegance, if that's not an oxymoron, only antique reproduction furnishings, original art, and hand craftsmanship can provide. I can't stay there without wondering who among the hotel's long roster of famous guests may have slept in that bed or wandered those halls. Though whoever they were would not have had a touch-screen at bedside to control the drapes, TV, and lighting, as my South Tower room did on my last visit.

On the opposite side of the lake stands the seven-story West Tower, which opened in 1997. Although that wing has none of the historic echoes, its rooms nonetheless stand out for their exquisite traditional decor and spaciousness. All of them have French doors that open out onto terraces with views of the mountains, lake, or golf course. The other lodging options are the cottages, ranging in size up to eight bedrooms and lining the fairway of the East golf course. And though you might not expect it, the hotel is pet friendly, even to the point of providing numerous pet services.

Restaurants

There are some dozen restaurants and lounges on the Broadmoor property. These range from the Golden Bee, a traditional English pub that serves yards of ale and steak and kidney pie, to the the Summit, an award-winning bistro designed by Adam D. Tihany that specializes in Latin, Southern, and Northern America cuisines.

Calendar

Aug. 4-6, 2023: Tennis With a Taste of Sicily

A popular tennis and culinary-themed weekend where tennis during the day (for 2.5-3.0 players) segues on Saturday evening into a Sicilian feast prepared in the chef's exhibition kitchen—while you sip Prosecco—and served on an outdoor patio accompanied by Italian wines.

Aug. 4-6, 2023: Tennis With a Taste of Sicily

A popular tennis and culinary-themed weekend where tennis during the day (for 3.0-3.5 players) segues on Saturday evening into a Sicilian feast prepared in the chef's exhibition kitchen and served on an outdoor patio accompanied by Italian wines.

Aug. 12-13, 2023: Weekend With Mats Wilander

Former World No. 1 player and 7-time Grand Slam singles titlist Mats Wilander directs an intimate weekend of tennis drills, play, and insight supplemented by an exhibition, courtside cocktail party, and an exclusive social reception and dine-around with Wilander to cap it off. Space limited.

Sept. 8-10, 2023: Adult “Tennis & Pit Mastering” Weekend Camp

A special weekend camp with special events on Saturday. After a morning of tennis, the action moves to the Championship Patio, where chefs will host an adventure in grilling, sharing tips and tricks using about hard wood, charcoal, smoking, rubs and sauces. Lunch follows, with paired wines and beers.

See Also

Among the other tennis resorts with the Broadmoor's grand style are:

• The Breakers Palm Beach, Florida
• The Boca Raton, Florida
• Sea Island Resort, Georgia
• The Greenbrier, West Virginia

Rates and Reservations

The Broadmoor

Travel Essentials

Seasons. Although the Broadmoor is open all year, the best time to visit is during the May-to-September high season when activity on the courts reaches its zenith.

Travel Instructions. By Air: The Broadmoor is 11 miles from the Colorado Springs Airport (COS).

General Tourist Information. Visit the Colorado Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau website or toll-free 800-888-4748 ext. 123.