Emerald Valley Ranch: A Luxury Hideaway in the Colorado Wilderness
September 16, 2026Introduction
I am so pleased to introduce you to this amazing resort! We traveled to The Broadmoor in July 2026, and we were absolutely stunned. It checked all of our boxes: kids' activities, luxurious amenities, exceptional cuisine, stunning mountain views, golf, a fabulous spa, and enough activities to keep everyone entertained. You really could not go wrong with this resort.
What I love most about The Broadmoor is that it works equally well for a couples' getaway, a girls' trip, a guys' golf trip, or a family adventure. We traveled over the Fourth of July, when the resort was completely full, yet it never felt crowded. The property is so expansive, with numerous sitting areas and spaces tucked throughout the grounds, that it almost felt like we had the place to ourselves. It was quiet, peaceful, and incredibly relaxing.
It should come as no surprise that The Broadmoor has earned its reputation as one of America's premier luxury resorts. It is the longest-running Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond resort, and after experiencing it firsthand, I can absolutely understand why.
The resort opened in 1918 when founder Stephen Penrose had a dream of creating the most luxurious hotel in the world. More than 100 years later, that vision is still very much alive. Even though the property is historic, you never get the feeling that it is old, dated, or dingy. The resort was renovated in 2011 and feels remarkably fresh while still preserving the character and heritage of the original property.
And The Broadmoor has grown significantly since its early days. What began with the historic main tower has expanded into multiple towers surrounding the famous lake, luxurious townhomes and residences, and two exclusive wilderness escapes: Cloud Camp and The Ranch at Emerald Valley.
There are really several different ways to experience The Broadmoor. If you want traditional luxury with golf, a kids' camp, spa, exceptional dining, and a seemingly endless list of excursions, the main Broadmoor resort is the place for you. If you are looking for something more secluded and adventurous, I would recommend adding Cloud Camp or The Ranch at Emerald Valley to your trip.
We actually did a combination of the two, spending four nights at The Broadmoor and four nights at The Ranch. If you are interested in reading about our experience at The Ranch, check out my review [here].
If you want to do a similar combination, I would recommend at least four nights at The Broadmoor and three or four nights at The Ranch. Keep in mind that The Ranch requires a shuttle transfer, with the earliest arrival around 3 p.m. and the latest departure around 11 a.m. Because of that, I really think you need at least three nights there to make the trip worthwhile.
Accommodations:
★★★★★
The accommodations were absolutely luxurious. We booked two connecting standard rooms, and I promise you, these views were anything but standard!
Our rooms looked out over a beautiful mountain vista, and honestly, I would recommend the standard mountain view over the "premium" lake view. I actually thought our mountain view was prettier. There is something about waking up and looking out at those Colorado mountains that never gets old.
The rooms had beautiful upscale bathrooms and comfortable interior sitting areas, and everything felt exactly as you would expect from a five-star resort.
My only complaint? The cloth shower curtain.
I know this is a completely ridiculous thing to complain about in an otherwise luxurious room, but it really gives me the ick when I'm showering and the curtain decides it wants to wrap itself around my body. 😂 Give me a beautiful glass shower any day!
Other than my personal shower-curtain phobia, the rooms were wonderful, comfortable, luxurious, and had absolutely spectacular views.
Cuisine:
★★★★★
Every single meal we had at The Broadmoor was fantastic!
There are numerous dining options throughout the property, ranging from elegant fine dining to casual pubs and golf-course restaurants. We ate our way through quite a few of them, and I was consistently impressed by both the quality of the food and the level of service.
Penrose Room
Named after Broadmoor founder Stephen Penrose, this fine-dining restaurant is an absolute must.
We loved Penrose so much that we came back a second night! That should tell you everything you need to know.
I highly recommend ordering the Martini/Manhattan cart. Phillip will custom-make your cocktail tableside right in front of you, which is such a fun experience. He even came back and made a special tableside Shirley Temple for my son.
It is little touches like this that exemplify luxury. The Broadmoor doesn't just provide good food; it creates experiences.
For an appetizer, I highly recommend the tableside Caesar salad. The kids were fascinated by the preparation and even got to participate in making it, which turned an elegant dinner into something the whole family could enjoy.
For dinner, we ordered the Beef Wellington, which was cooked to perfection and served with a delicious sauce. Pro tip: Order extra sauce! It was so good. The shaved asparagus was the perfect accompaniment, and the wine pairing was delicious as well.
And then there is dessert...
You absolutely have to try the tableside Baked Alaska. Watching it come together tableside was just as fun as eating it. The selection of handmade ice creams and sorbets was also fantastic.
And I almost forgot to mention the stunning views from this top-floor restaurant. Between the food, cocktails, service, views, and overall experience, Penrose is one of those restaurants that makes a trip feel special.
A visit to The Broadmoor would be incomplete without dinner at Penrose.
And if you have the opportunity, have two dinners at Penrose. 😉
La Taverne
The French steakhouse at The Broadmoor is another restaurant that should not be missed.
I would recommend requesting a table in Le Jardin if possible. I think it really elevates the ambiance. That said, the main dining room is beautiful as well. It has a unique combination of Gaston's Pub meets Alpine Chalet, which creates a warm and cozy atmosphere.
If you like dirty martinis, you absolutely have to try the Steakhouse Dirty Martini.
Wow.
The Penrose Martini was excellent, but this dirty martini was something else. Their house-made Worcestershire sauce adds a salty, umami flavor that takes the cocktail to another level.
Everything we ordered here was fantastic, and I would definitely recommend adding La Taverne to your dining itinerary.
The Summit
The name is a bit of a misnomer because The Summit is actually located on the first level of the convention area. In my mind, I was picturing stunning mountain vistas, so I was a little disappointed by the lack of a view.
Fortunately, what The Summit lacks in scenery, it makes up for in flavor and service.
Everything on the appetizer menu looked delicious, so we decided to skip the entrees and order several appetizers instead. Every dish was perfectly prepared, and the timing of the service was excellent.
I would definitely recommend having dinner at The Summit. However, if you are trying to decide between Penrose, La Taverne, and The Summit, my ranking would be Penrose first, followed by La Taverne, and then The Summit.
The Golden Bee
The Golden Bee is the perfect spot for a casual lunch in an authentic English pub.
The cocktails, draft beers, and mixed drinks were fantastic, but the real star for me was the fish and chips. They might honestly be some of the best fish and chips I have ever eaten.
The appetizer pretzel was also amazing, and the beer cheese made a great little snack to enjoy with a drink.
This was such a fun, relaxed lunch spot, and I would highly recommend it.
The Grille
Located at the clubhouse, The Grille is an upscale golf-course restaurant featuring handhelds and entrees.
I would have liked to see a few more shareable options and lighter fare on the menu, but everything we had was enjoyable.
And if you're looking for a cocktail, try the Smoked Manhattan. It was a great choice.
Restaurant 1858
Located at Seven Falls, Restaurant 1858 is the perfect place to stop for a meal after hiking.
You do have to pay admission to the park to access the restaurant, and Seven Falls can get very crowded. I would recommend arriving close to opening, doing your hiking and climbing first, and then planning an early lunch at 1858.
I absolutely loved the "gold miner" theme, from the drinks to the décor. It was fun, unique, and completely appropriate for the setting.
Definitely worth checking out.
Restaurante Del Lago
Restaurante Del Lago is open for breakfast and dinner, so unfortunately, we didn't have an opportunity to eat here during our stay.
It has beautiful views overlooking the lake and appeared to have a lovely ambiance, so I would definitely consider trying it on a future visit.
Activities:
★★★★★
There are SO. MANY. THINGS. TO. DO. at The Broadmoor!
This resort really does have something for everyone. It would be perfect for a family vacation, guys' golf trip, girls' spa getaway, or romantic couples' retreat.
We were there for eight nights between The Broadmoor and The Ranch, and we still didn't come close to experiencing everything.
Kids' Camp – Bee Bunch
My kids had an absolute blast at Bee Bunch.
Each day, the kids participate in different activities, including gold panning, fishing, games, and playground time. There is also a dedicated area where the kids can hang out and play.
My kids genuinely enjoyed their time there, and I loved having an opportunity to enjoy some of the resort's other amenities while knowing they were having fun.
Soaring Adventure
One of our favorite excursions was the Soaring Adventure.
This is a high-flying zipline adventure that takes you across canyons and over some seriously rickety suspension rope bridges. It was exhilarating, and I would absolutely recommend doing it.
If you have the choice, I would recommend the Ultimate Zipline rather than the shorter Fins course.
There is one very important thing to know: everyone in your party needs to weigh at least 90 pounds to guarantee enough momentum for the zipline. If your child is close to 90 pounds, they do have weighted vests available, but the added weight makes the zipping more difficult and, honestly, less enjoyable for the kids.
Our son didn't quite meet the weight requirement, so he spent that day at Bee Bunch instead.
Pikes Peak
There are several ways to reach the summit of Pikes Peak, which sits at 14,115 feet, including hiking, biking, driving, or taking the cog railway.
None of these options are for the faint of heart, but the easiest—and probably most enjoyable for most visitors—is the cog railway.
Be prepared for the altitude. Drink plenty of water, use the restroom before you leave, and don't be surprised if you experience some altitude sickness at the top. There is also a significant temperature difference between the station and the summit, so bring a jacket.
And now for my most important Pikes Peak pro tip:
AS SOON AS YOU GET OFF THE TRAIN, GO GET YOUR DONUT.
Do NOT stop for pictures. Do NOT stop to admire the view. Go straight to the cafeteria and get in line for the famous Pikes Peak donut.
You must have a donut at the top.
And don't make the mistake of buying an extra donut to bring back down. Due to the change in atmospheric pressure, the donut will completely flatten out by the time you reach the bottom. Trust me.
Once you have your donut, then go enjoy the view and take your pictures.
Here's why this strategy works: the cafeteria line will become ridiculously long once everyone else gets off the train, takes their pictures, enjoys the view, and then realizes they need to get their donuts.
You'll already have yours, you'll have avoided the long line, and you'll have the scenic views to yourself for better pictures.
You're welcome. 😂
Seven Falls
Seven Falls gives you the opportunity to take a short hike to the base of the famous waterfalls.
To be completely honest, I found the falls themselves a little underwhelming. However, the stair climb to the top was an exciting challenge and definitely made the experience more worthwhile.
After you've challenged yourself to climb to the two different viewing platforms, head over to Restaurant 1858 for a nice meal or a fortifying beverage.
There were also tons of other activities we didn't have time to experience on this trip, including white-water rafting, wilderness adventures, rock climbing, falconry, horseback riding, tennis, pools, and the famous Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
Spa:
★★★★★
I really enjoyed myself at The Broadmoor's fabulous spa. It is a beautiful, restorative, and relaxing space, and I could have happily spent an entire day there.
After check-in, you are wrapped in a heated plush robe and given a tour of the facilities. The spa includes a sauna, steam room, oxygen room, and fireplace room where you can relax and warm up.
There is also a lovely coed relaxation room complete with teas and snacks, as well as a beautiful balcony overlooking the golf course and mountains.
Honestly, I could have spent all day relaxing here.
That said, there were a few things that kept this spa from reaching the level of my absolute favorite spas, such as Kohler and the Sanctuary at Kiawah.
First, there was no hot tub in the spa itself. If you wanted to use a hot tub, you had to go downstairs to the hotel's main hot tub.
Second, the treatment rooms were located directly off hallways where people were constantly walking by. As a result, there was quite a bit of foot traffic, chatter, and the sound of footsteps outside the treatment room. For me, that takes away a little from the peaceful, secluded feeling I want during a spa treatment.
Finally, while the treatments themselves were very enjoyable, they didn't have quite the "IT" factor that makes a treatment truly memorable.
I had the Signature Massage and the Almond Orange Body Scrub. Both were lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed them, but neither treatment felt particularly unique or special.
So while I absolutely give The Broadmoor Spa 5 stars, it doesn't quite make my personal top-spa list. The facilities are beautiful, the atmosphere is relaxing, and it is definitely worth spending some time here during your stay—but for me, Kohler and the Sanctuary at Kiawah still have the edge when it comes to the overall spa experience.
Golf:
★★★★☆
Please click here to read Doug’s review of the BROADMOOR EAST and BROADMOOR WEST courses.
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Final Thoughts
The Broadmoor absolutely blew us away.
This is one of those rare resorts where you can arrive with an entire family and somehow everyone leaves feeling like they had their own vacation. The kids have Bee Bunch and endless activities, the golfers have world-class courses, the spa lovers have a beautiful place to relax, and the foodies have more than enough restaurants to keep them busy.
And despite visiting over the Fourth of July when the resort was at full capacity, the enormous property never felt crowded or chaotic. Instead, it felt peaceful, elegant, and incredibly well cared for.
The combination of luxury accommodations, exceptional dining, incredible activities, beautiful scenery, golf, and family-friendly amenities makes The Broadmoor one of the most versatile luxury resorts we have visited.
Whether you're looking for a romantic mountain escape, a girls' spa weekend, a guys' golf trip, or a family adventure, The Broadmoor truly delivers.
The Broadmoor: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We absolutely loved our time here and would happily return. In fact, I think the biggest problem with The Broadmoor is that there simply isn't enough time to do everything!
