The Mythical American West Come to Life at the Broadmoor

Photo: Courtesy of The Broadmoor, © Kevin Syms

When we stayed at The Broadmoor this past weekend, we were far from everyday life—but isn’t that the point? The Broadmoor transports guests to a different plane of existence, an almost magical place of endless little luxuries. Built in the Mediterranean Revival style in 1918, a popular architectural style in the early 20th century, buildings were added between 1961 and 2001, including Broadmoor South, Broadmoor West, Lakeside Suites and Tower West.

The Broadmoor “campus” spans 5,000 acres and includes a golf course, spa, fitness center and pools, Lake Cheyenne, 20 boutiques, seven restaurants and a convention center. There are other Broadmoor sites as well; see more under Adventures on their website.

The view from our room. | Photo By Heidi Kerr Schlaefer

On the first evening, we dined on food fit for royals at The Penrose Room. Indeed, royalty has most likely dined here. Recently remodeled, the restaurant—at the top of the South Tower—has been designed for timeless elegance. I enjoyed a Martini Experience, the tableside crafting of the perfect martini; even James Bond would have approved. The most unique and delicious bite of the entire weekend was the Temaki Tacos, a spicy blend of rice, avocado and yellowfin tuna, all wrapped in toasted nori and topped with salmon roe. Ryan, who has always wanted a baked Alaska, ordered one for dessert, and we all enjoyed the flaming tableside experience.

The Penrose Room. | Photo: Courtesy of The Broadmoor

Even though it was closed that evening, The Penrose Room staff showed me the new “speakeasy” tucked down a hall and through a bookshelf. Opened for special events, it’s an intimate bar perfect for a posh private party. The next day, we popped into Cafe Julie’s in Broadmoor Main to take in the beauty of the handmade chocolates and pastries. Of course, we had to eat something from the case, so we settled on a savory ham-and-cheese croissant and a delightful almond pastry.

Photo: Courtesy of The Broadmoor

Later that morning, we browsed The Broadmoor shops, discovering The Great Republic, an art gallery specializing in antique Americana, including rare flags, books, maps and a selection of American-made goods. The next night, we dined at Ristorante Del Lago, looking out at the sparkling lights around Lake Cheyenne. Here, the standout was the incredible Italian wine, which flowed freely as we feasted on freshly made bread, tender mussels alla Tarantina and various pastas.

Photo: Heidi Kerr Schlaefer

Photo: Heidi Kerr Schlaefer

Sunday brunch takes place in the Lake Terrace Dining Room. An amazing way to start the day, it offers an exceptional spread of food, plus a magnificent table of desserts. We could have brought Fritzi, as The Broadmoor is dog-friendly. However, we had so many events scheduled that we decided to board her. It would take a long time to explore all of the options—like Play at The Broadmoor (the bowling alley and sports bar), the Golden Bee, which we visited years ago, and much more. I have only scratched the surface of the offerings at The Broadmoor.

Photo: Heidi Kerr Schlaefer

Photo: Heidi Kerr Schlaefer