Colorado Stays: Garden of the Gods Wants You To…

It’s always extra special when the place you’re staying and the surroundings are in tandem, nurturing and adding to the experience. That’s definitely the case at the Garden of the Gods Resort & Club in Colorado Springs. The property is beautiful and offers so much on its own. But it’s also set right across from Garden of the Gods Park, with majestic, richly-colored, massive rocks. The natural sculptures are dramatic and, being in view of the Resort, give something different to look at all the time thanks to the changing light throughout the day and evening. There are some exciting things going on at Garden of the Gods. After a recent hosted overnight visit, here’s what you should know before you plan your getaway.

Hear our podcast about Garden of the Gods Resort & Club:

First, a little background on Garden of the Gods Resort & Club
Centuries ago, the area currently called Garden of the Gods was a Native American crossroads where tribes gathered peacefully. The great sandstone formations set against Pikes Peak were considered sacred ground. Because of this, rival tribes laid down their weapons when entering the Garden of the Gods.

The property, perched atop a mesa in Colorado Springs opened in 1951 as a private club, luxury resort and residential community. It was frequented by movie stars, businesspeople, artists, and musicians. After a change of ownership in the early 2000’s by an out-of-state company, two Garden of the Gods Club members, Brenda Smith and Judy Mackey, acquired the resort and renamed it Garden of the Gods Resort and Club. You can see photos around the property of some of the celebrities who visited over the years.

In the summer of 2023, Garden of the Gods underwent a major $40 million renovation. They offer championship golf and tennis, pickleball courts, an award-winning integrative med spa, STRATA, three outdoor swimming pools, two hot tubs and a variety of dining experiences.

Garden of the Gods Resort & Club Wants You to…

• Know it’s not a private club-only and that guests of the resort get the benefits of membership for the duration of their stay. That means taking advantage of the large and well-equipped fitness facility, exercise classes, the kids camp, recreation center, pools, golf and STRATA spa facilities. Many activities are included when you’re a resort guest but a few have applicable fees. Examples of options include Qigong, Tennis Clinic, Breathwork & Meditation, live music, Kids Club and special culinary events like Burger Night in the Kissing Camels Grille at the golf course.
• Get comfortable in the remodeled rooms with a beautiful, sleek, serene look, each with a view of Garden of the Gods Park. The décor is elegant but not stuffy. The bathroom shower heads (an overhead rain one and hand-held) are only surpassed by the deep soaking tub. We also appreciated the great coffee maker, tea options and mini fridge with actual cream for our hot drinks (none of that powdered stuff).

  

• Know you have options for different kinds of lodging from rooms and suites in the main building to the cottages and casitas nearby which are perfect for groups and families. They can even be sectioned off within them for a space of your own while still being able to spend time together.
• Know that you when you get a service at the STRATA Integrated Wellness and Spa, including massage, facial, manicure, etc., that also gets you a day pass so you have access to the salt room, sauna, steam room, showers, locker room, products, etc.
• Try the new menu at Grand View, a spacious restaurant with a beautiful new bar area, where every table has views of the Garden of the Gods. The new décor includes striking chandeliers and interesting fabric designs on comfortable chairs (appreciated as you linger over your meal). A wall of windows can open onto the expansive patio. Grand View is open to the public as well as resort guests and club members for breakfast, lunch and dinner, weekend brunch and happy hour. Don’t miss the Build Your Own Omelet which offers more than your usual list of options. I requested five kinds of veggies, bacon and cheese to go with my breakfast potatoes and toast. My husband got the Avocado Toast with mashed avocado on grilled sourdough, topped with two eggs, a heap of arugula, pickled onion and cotija cheese. There are also light options like Chia Pudding, pancakes, French toast and Huevos Rancheros. For dinner, our group had a special tasting menu to give us a sampling of the variety of new options on the menu. Among them, Beef Carpaccio with a horseradish crema and Peruvian peppers; Steamed Mussels in Stella Lager with chorizo and blistered tomatoes; Crispy Portabella Fries that are addictive; Roasted Mushroom Enchiladas that were my favorite (GF, V); Seared Diver Scallops in a chili butter sauce; and a Meyers All-Natural Prime Filet with truffle pommes puree (mashed potatoes) and a delicious Bearnaise sauce. A special shoutout must go to Nathan Gresham, vice president of culinary and executive chef. He has quite the pedigree, having worked at Galatoires Restaurant in New Orleans (he also owned several restaurants in Louisiana), cooked at The James Beard House, and worked at the Broadmoor Hotel and Cherry Hills Country Club. Not only does he absolutely know his stuff, he is very friendly and approachable. Executive Pastry Chef Pascal Goupil whips up desserts that are as beautiful as they are delicious. He ran La Maison Du Macaron and the French Oven Bakery in NYC. Order any of the desserts on the menu like Lava Cake, Colorado Springs Brownie, or Caramelized Apple Tart – you can’t go wrong.

  

• Grab a bite at The Rocks Lounge, exclusive to club members and resort guests. Menu items include Lobster Tater Tots, Sliders, Steamed Mussels and Pizza.
• Have a drink, sitting at the alabaster-façade bar in Grand View. This cozy area is new, having been created out of previous dining and storage areas. It’s a fabulous place to sit, sip and take in those views.
• Hop on the non-alcoholic drink bandwagon as Beverage manager Jesse Murillo launches a Dry Bar concept in Grand View this summer. It will feature more than six non-ABV cocktails plus non-alcoholic craft beers and wine alternatives. This may be particularly enticing for guests who are not used to the high elevation. It’s also great for those enjoying a wellness journey with STRATA or for business meetings.
• Access Garden of the Gods Park which is, amazingly, still free entry. Be sure to stop at the Visitors Center
• Take advantage of being in Colorado Springs to see all that it has to offer. Some of our favorites include the bike/walking path along the river, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, Fine Art Museum and dining and shopping. Colorado Springs has more than 30 museums, 19 galleries, 20 breweries, 10 performing art theatres, 136 parks, 105 miles or urban trails and 160 miles of park trails. Colorado Springs is known as the “Olympic City,” with the United States Olympic Committee Headquarters, more than 20 national Olympic governing bodies, more than 50 national sports organizations, the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, mentioned above.

Our tip:

While sunset behind the Garden of the Gods formations is beautiful and dramatic, get up early and either sit on your balcony or go for a walk near the reflecting pool. Take in the glow and drama of the morning sun hitting the rocks, highlighting their crags, crannies and gorgeous color. Look for the “kissing camels” formation (staff are happy to help you spot them).

Garden of the Gods Resort is located at 3320 Mesa Road. They can be reached at 800-923-8838. Their website is www.gardenofthegodsresort.com.

-By Courtney Drake-McDonough, Publisher and Managing Editor of InGoodTasteDenver.com

Please note: As is common practice, we were hosted for our meal and lodging as part of a larger media gathering to help facilitate this article. However, as is always our policy, our opinions are our own, honest and true.