A Heavenly Spot – The Broadmoor’s Cloud Camp

As the sun’s golden rays began to set behind the mountain, we swung side-by-side in the hammock, captivated by the rose colored hues painting the Colorado sky. A gentle breeze, cocktail in hand and only the sound of nature surrounding us…this was perfection.

I was given a stay at Cloud Camp in exchange for this review, however, as with everything I write about, this review is completely unbiased and honest. For more information please visit my disclosures page. Thanks! 

The Wilderness Experiences at The Broadmoor promise to deliver you a taste of the outdoors with all of the luxury expected from this 5-star, 5-diamond resort. The majestic Rocky Mountains here in our own backyard offer the picturesque location for all three of their adventures: The Ranch at Emerald Valley, The Broadmoor Fishing Camp and Cloud Camp.

The hubby and I celebrated our anniversary at Cloud Camp. It sits 9,200 feet atop Cheyenne Mountain and boasts gorgeous, 360-degree views of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak and the surrounding Pike National Forest, Colorado’s Front Range and the eastern plains.

Our adventure began at “Base Camp” in the south tower of The Broadmoor. Here we were welcomed into an adorable fishing and wilderness shop where we checked in and were given our itinerary. There are only three ways to the mountain top resort: a ride in a 4-wheel drive vehicle, mule, or a 3-hour guided hike. Although my husband wasn’t completely thrilled at the idea, he agreed to the mule ride and our adventure began.

The mule ride turned out to easily be one of our favorite experiences of the trip. It was a different beginning to any resort retreat we had experienced and extremely fun. Though stubborn at times, the mules were sweet and happily sauntered or trotted their way to the summit. The guides were wonderful and knew just where to stop so we could capture incredible photos of the sweeping views.

It was truly one of the first incredible, almost once-in-a-lifetime, experiences we would encounter on this trip. As we approached Cloud Camp we were greeted by several of the employees and the General Manager, Sasha Burke. They were very welcoming and were happy to give us a tour of the property.

I’ll be honest, I love nature and the great outdoors and I was worried that in their quest to provide luxury, the Broadmoor would take away part of the natural beauty of Cloud Camp’s surroundings. I was wrong to worry. One step inside the magnificent lodge proved that 5-star luxury and the Colorado wilderness can exist in harmony together.

Towering timber beams and large stone fireplaces are reminiscent of grand lodges found throughout America’s National Parks while the smells emanating from the wood-burning fireplaces evoke memories of campfires with the family.

The inside is filled with rocking chairs and comfy seats perfect for a good book or a game of cards. Native American artifacts and motif adorns the walls, but the real show stopper is the wrap around deck and breathtaking views. From this cloud haven you can see for endless miles and may even catch a soaring eagle gliding above the pines.

Our cabin was like that of a storybook. Comfortable, quaint and yet luxurious and beautiful. Wall sconces lit the room similar to candlelight and nature noises filled the air from the tiny ambiance machine on the nightstand.

After a quick walk down the trail to checkout the two large cedar hot tubs, we returned to the lodge for cocktails and one of the daily activities – Cooking Class. Cooking Class is a tradition carried on from Spencer Penrose’s original Cheyenne Mountain Lodge opened in 1926.

We learned all of the details in making Coq au Vin which we were then able to enjoy during our 4-course gourmet dinner. After cooking class, we watched the flag retreat played to the appropriate “America the Beautiful,” and were ushered into dinner by the clang of the supper bell.

Dinner is served at an enormous community table fitting around 30 guests. It was wonderful to learn about where other guests were visiting from and what had brought them to this mountain top retreat. People from all over the country had come to experience Colorado wilderness and luxury at its finest. We were excited to find out that Jack Damioli, President and CEO of The Broadmoor had even brought a few friends to dine with us that evening.

Dinner was divine. It wouldn’t have mattered if you were a foodie connoisseur or an average diner, you would have enjoyed the selections and wine pairings. As guests excused themselves from the meal, many retired to their cabins, some went out to roast marshmallows at the outdoor fire pit and others, like us, walked around the property eager to see the spectacular nighttime views and walk off part of our over indulgence from dinner. The small hike was worth it. I have lived here nearly all of my life and yet I have never seen such an incredible view of our town. City lights glistened like distant stars, moonlit shadows danced on the mountain peaks and I felt like I was on top of the world.

Surrounded by beauty and content with delicious food, great conversation and incredible company, the husband and I sat at the cliff side perch and understood why this place was so special. Cloud Camp delivers more than just a luxurious resort retreat; it offers serenity and, at least for a few days, a break from the hustle and bustle. It offers a place to reconnect, to adventure and explore, and to reawaken the senses.  Cloud Camp doesn’t just provide a vacation spot, but an unparalleled destination perfect to truly absorb the majesty around you.

We weren’t able to take part in all of the activities offered, so we will definitely be returning next season to spend a little more time enjoying and exploring. Stay tuned for further posts about the lodging accommodations and activities available. Although children are welcome at Cloud Camp, as a mom, I know I would be a little hesitant with small children due to the surrounding cliffs and drop-offs. For a Wilderness Experience better suited for families, we also plan to take the kids on a trip to the nearby The Ranch at Emerald Valley next season.

Special thanks to the incredible employees we met during our stay. Every one was delightful and knowledgeable and made our stay that much better. (Especially Ms. Burke, who took a break from making the place spotless to show us around.)