Beau Kelly
In April of 1917, the construction of the Broadmoor Hotel began. Spencer Penrose spared no expenses in the development of the first class resort designed to attract national and international guests. In a little over a year, he invested over $3 million to construct his dream hotel, modeled after Europe’s finest hostelries. The Broadmoor opened in June of 1918 with 350 guest rooms and the aura of a European grand hotel. The Penrose’s never felt that the Broadmoor was “finished,” and they continued to invest their fortune to improve the iconic hotel. The couple added polo grounds, a rodeo stadium, an ice rink, and a second golf course to improve the luxurious experience in Colorado Springs.
The Broadmoor continues to operate within the framework of its visionary founder 96 years later. On May 16, 2014 the west wing of the hotel will reopen, unveiling a complete transformation including two new restaurants, the addition of 31 additional rooms and an entirely refurbished lobby designed to mirror the style of Broadmoor Main. Spencer Penrose’s world class hotel and golf course was recently named the #1 golf resort in America, and the resort receives the Forbes Travel Guide’s five star rating and AAA’s five-diamond designation on an annual basis.
Owner Phil Anschutz and CEO Steve Bartolin’s commitment to innovation upholds the Penrose standard of excellence. The hotel has expanded from 350 to 770 rooms. It now includes The Ranch at Emerald Valley where guests can fish, hike, or ride horses as well as Cloud Camp, a lodge and 11-cabin luxury retreat, which will open soon on top of Cheyenne Mountain.
When The Broadmoor opened in 1918 Spencer and Julie invited all of their friends to a grand opening gala. They would likely do the same at the Ristorante Del Lago this week.