Broadmoor Turns 100, Celebrates in Style

If you were about to turn 100, how would you celebrate? A party that lasts a day? Maybe a week? How about the whole year — the choice that just seemed right for a place as rich in history as the elegant and storied Broadmoor. Officially opened by Spencer and Julie Penrose on June 29, 1918, the luxurious five-star, 5,000-acre resort is a testament to a bold vision to build a grand resort at the gateway to the Colorado Rocky Mountains, The Broadmoor President and CEO Jack Damioli says. 

“Under only three owners since 1918, and always as an independent property, The Broadmoor has continued to grow and thrive under the watchful eyes of these great stewards,” he says. “This is what makes our centennial more important than just the number of years we have opened our doors to guests. It is what differentiates us.”

At a Centennial Weekend Gala in June, guests included current owner and billionaire entrepreneur Philip Anschutz, who fulfilled a lifelong dream when he bought the Broadmoor in 2011 from the Edward Gaylord family. He has since invested millions in improvements and upgrades, including an expansion of the resort’s Western art with paintings from his own collection and a zipline longer than a championship golf course.

Speaking of championship golf courses, Jack Nicklaus won his first major title at the Broadmoor, and it’s  the site of this year’s 2018 U.S. Senior Open. Other resort features include a super-exclusive retreat, Cloud Camp, atop Cheyenne Mountain; a vintage Western experience at the Ranch at Emerald Valley; and a Fly Fishing Camp on the banks of the Tarryall River, where the record for the largest trout is currently held by a 10-year-old girl.

Although the actual opening was in June, the party won’t end then. Every month through year’s end will highlight a special aspect of the resort, with golf and the Broadmoor Invitation in July; gardening in August; and holiday entertaining classes including the creation of a gingerbread Broadmoor Main in November, among other events.

And throughout 2018, guests can indulge in the Broadmoor Centennial Celebration Package, which includes Classic accommodations; a copy of “The Broadmoor Story” – a new pictorial history book; sparkling wine and a candy nut tin during the first night’s turndown service; $60 breakfast credit per night; and suites available at 25 percent off published rates (starting at $190 per person, per night based on double occupancy).

As for the next 100 years, owner Anschutz has put his beloved Broadmoor in a 100-year trust to ensure it stays in his family and retains its commitment to excellence.

“I don’t suppose there’s anything in life that’s guaranteed,” he told Forbes magazine in 2016, “but we’ve done everything we can to achieve just that.”