Cheyenne Mountain Resort, Colorado Springs- Full Review

Cheyenne Mountain Resort. Colorado Springs, Colorado

3225 Broadmoor Valley Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80906. Duration Of Stay- 2 Nights ($159/night)

The Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs is combined with the Country Club of Colorado, covering vast grounds which include an 18 hole golf course right at the base of Cheyenne Mountain- a dreamy backdrop that makes a wonderful setting for a wedding (as we saw during our stay!)

Our initial thoughts upon entering the resort were, “WOW!”. A well kept appearance yet inviting atmosphere is created in the lobby with huge panoramic glass windows overlooking the resort and of course, the unmistakable mountains behind it.

When entering you are greeted with the friendly staff to your right, and a general store (complete with Starbucks) to the left. Also from the lobby you can see the Mountain View buffet restaurant and their newly renovated Elevations restaurant, complete with multiple big screen televisions, a fully stocked cosmopolitan style bar and a substantial mouth watering menu.

As this was a stop on our Fitness Travel Series, we had selected this location for very specific reasons: at 6,200 ft. above sea level, this seemed a great candidate for the perfect fitness getaway- suitable for any and all fitness enthusiasts looking to challenge themselves to new heights, pun intended. Indeed, approaching the resort in the surrounding area we passed many trail runners and mountain bikers, presumably out training and making the most of the altitude benefits.

The accommodations are in separate lodge-style buildings to the main lobby, with direct parking outside them. Hot tubs and outdoor heated swimming pools are also next to the accommodation. Throughout the resort are the inescapable, breathtaking Rocky Mountain views, no matter if you are enjoying breakfast, in your room, or in the pool. The resort is a AAA Four Diamond Award Winner, and we can certainly see why.

Room Accommodations

The Cheyenne Mountain Resort hosted us on the top floor of the Dove Lodge which overlooked the remainder of the property, including the 35-acre lake, lavish fitness center and infamous Colorado mountains.

The room itself had a very “earthy” and traditional theme, with sizable living spaces and bathroom fixtures/amenities. Beds were among the comfiest we have ever experienced and we felt wonderfully rested after each night’s sleep. There was an undeniably cozy atmosphere where traditionally-styled decor met scenic beauty- an ideal refuge after a day spent hiking in the great outdoors… ‘quintessential Colorado’, if you will.

Fitness & Spa Facilities

Colorado is a very active state and as you might expect, it’s Country Club members are no exception. You can walk 2-minutes from your accommodation to the sports facilities, but you can also drive if you want to. Within the resort a huge array of activities are on offer, the most relevant of which we’ll delve into below.

The fitness facility is perhaps the resort jewel for us- thankfully, it is not your typical hotel fitness gym at all. Featuring a full-sized, well-equipped gym even including two squat racks, a fully rubberized floor, crossfit rig and spin studio amongst a plethora of free-weights, cardio machines, and generally everything you might expect to find in a regular gym- and more. There are free group fitness classes 6 days a week from Zumba to Pilates, Crossfit & Spin.

There is even an outdoor mural on the wall of the mountains, otherwise this would be one of very few parts of the resort that you couldn’t see them! All in all it was a perfect facility to get in some serious training to push yourself whilst away- and afterwards you can really make the most of the neighboring facilities to relax and unwind afterwards.

The men’s and women’s locker rooms have showers with complimentary soaps, and there are various products and amenities to use at your disposal should you forget your toiletries back in the room. There’s also a whirlpool and steam room in each changing area.

If you are using the spa facilities, you can expect plush robes and sandals- you walk from the locker room and into the relaxation area where you wait for your appointment as your reward from a grueling workout! We were both fortunate enough to experience the luxurious and quaint Spa for ourselves, and we were definitely not disappointed.

Rich had a 50 minute deep tissue massage to relax and loosen tight muscles, whilst Sara had a 50 minute neuromuscular massage treatment- a treatment to alleviate tension and built up stress. Great for releasing knots, less of a relaxation massage and more of a tension reliever. There was a very long list of various treatments available, and you could even get your hair styled or nails done whilst there too.

Another big draw for the resort was Tennis, with 16 courts in total (the most in Southern Colorado), 5 of which are indoor. We had our very own lesson with Steve Campbell- more on that later (see video).

Other notable fitness facilities include the year-round outdoor heated pool, and a seperate indoor pool (which was currently being renovated). There are beach volleyball and basketball courts, as well as a full 18 hole golf course which is also open pretty much all year round.

There is lots of natural wildlife around the sports facilities too, with plenty of greenery and a 35 acre lake which was mostly frozen over during our stay. This area of the resort comes to life during the Summer when you can rent canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards (complete with yoga lessons that take part out on the lake). It is also very popular for weddings in summertime, since you can have the beach AND the mountains.

Our Experience, Recommendations, and What We Did There

If the facilities weren’t already enough to recommend the Cheyenne Mountain Resort, the staff certainly make it so.

Steve Campbell is an absolutely brilliant teacher and extremely knowledgeable Tennis coach, and very humble too. It was fun talking about various coaching methods, biomechanics, and physiological qualities in athletes and we got the impression he enjoyed working with us too.

Darryl who was working at breakfast one morning was really friendly, as was our waitress when we had a meal at the Elevations restaurant and bar- they made our visit very enjoyable and we could have talked to you guys for hours. All the staff we encountered were not only very hospitable and professional, but also very personable, and that made a real difference, to feel like you were getting to know a person and not just a job title.

Rachel was also extremely gracious and helpful on our visit, providing wonderful insight to the resort and area as well as a tour of the complex upon arrival. Honestly, everyone we came across from the spa to the room service was very kind and a pleasure to interact with.

Do-

– Try your hand at Tennis with Steve! (skip to 07:22 to see highlights of our lesson) Steve’s passion for what he does really radiates and is infectious, no matter if you have ever played before, after a lesson, you will definitely want to do more.

– See and walk the Manitou Incline. If you are afraid of heights just don’t turn around and look down. You can also take a right at the top and walk/run back down on a lesser walked trail, much better than slamming your knees back down the steps of the incline.

– Have a meal at Elevations, the resort bar/restaurant which has a very cosmopolitan-lodge atmosphere, and the portions were very good in our opinion!

– Go to Garden of the Gods– Awe inspiring Sandstone rock formations with Pikes Peak in the background will make you feel like you are in Jurassic park. It’s free, and great for a casual stroll or a more serious hike around the area.

– People like to come and conquer all 54 of the ‘14ers’, or Colorado’s 14,000ft high mountains- a great way to see the state, and you only need climbing skills for some of them!

– Visit the U.S Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs: It’s just around the corner, our tour guide Taylor was very funny and knowledgeable- I found out we knew lots of the same athletes and many of my old competition were referenced throughout the tour. One thing I think America does very well is create a big deal about things and it was wonderful to see the athletes celebrated the way they were at this facility- and rightly so.

Summary

We can definitely see the advantage of getting up here for an active escape. Make the most of the altitude- train up here, compete at sea level, and reap the benefits. Less acclimated individuals may be surprised at how much a flight of stairs (or a sip of alcohol) can affect them at this level. Other things to note are that it seems a very family friendly place too. WiFi was sufficient, but could always be faster- we are heavy internet users (who’d have guessed!).

The lake, and the entire resort, are beautiful- lungs full of mountain air and plenty of opportunity for activities, combined with good beds for sleeping, and you have a recipe for a great training camp or getaway for a small group. Would definitely stay here for a week to live on the resort and train in the gym or out on the surrounding trails.

Usefulness For Athletes: An athlete’s haven, so it should come as no surprise that the resort regularly hosts elite athletes and staff. The resort with the best fitness facilities we have visited so far.