Recently, my partner Mike and I visited the Garden of the Gods Resort and Club, a luxury resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado that overlooks Garden of the Gods National Park, which is located in a transition zone between the grassy plains of eastern Colorado and the peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

The Ute people were the original inhabitants of the area, and many Native American people still have connections to the park and region. It was Rufus Cable, a surveyor from Denver City, who came up with the name Garden of the Gods in 1859 after seeing the breathtaking red rock sandstone formations at the base of Pikes Peak for the first time and declaring it a “fit place for the gods to assemble.”

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In 1909, the children of Charles Perkins, a local resident who loved the area, donated the 480 acres their father owned to the city of Colorado Springs so it would thereafter be free and open to the public. In 1951 when Margaret and Al Hill opened Garden of the Gods Club, an elite members-only club, it quickly became an exclusive retreat for the rich and famous, from Hollywood stars to powerful politicians. Vintage photos of celebrities who have been guests—Walt Disney, John Wayne, and Gene Autry stayed here—are displayed on the walls of the bathroom in the main lobby.

In 2013, local business owners and club members Brenda Smith and Judy Mackey bought the property and renamed it Garden of the Gods Resort and Club. They wanted the wider public to be able to come and experience the beauty and serenity of the place.

Mackey, a healthcare executive, wanted to create an integrative healing center where resort guests, club members, and the general public could go to see doctors like cardiologists who practice Western medicine as well as acupuncturists, herbalists, and other integrative health practitioners.

When we first arrived on Friday evening, we were greeted by Director of Marketing Marie Rossow, who gave us a tour of the property, including the reflection pool where she explained that people used to swim when the Garden of the Gods Club first opened in the 1950s.

Today it’s a reflection pool for guests and club members to enjoy, especially in the early morning hours when you can see the reflection of the red rock formations in the water. 

Why You’ll Love It

The original owners wanted to incorporate nature into the design of this place, and so did the new owners when they began renovations seven years ago with the construction of The Gateway Building. That’s where Strata Med (an integrative medical center) and Strata Spa and Salon are located.

Renovations were completed in June 2023 and include the redesigned Grandview Restaurant, updated guest rooms, and the addition of a fire pit on the patio at The Rocks Lounge. Additionally, there are three new tennis courts, six pickleball courts, and an updated reception area and salon at Strata.

“Really what we’re doing is continuing to build our legacy,” says Brenda Smith, Co-Owner of Garden of the Gods Resort and Club. “This place has always been a beloved escape from reality where relaxation and revitalization are possible. Now, we’re pleased to introduce a refreshed version of Rocky Mountain paradise that will delight generations to come.”  

Rossow thinks of the resort as a place where you can choose your own adventure. Maybe that’s sleeping in, taking a yoga class and enjoying a buffet breakfast at the Grandview Restaurant. Perhaps you’d rather wake up early and play a round of golf or join a pickleball team.

Or maybe you’re the kind of person whose adventure includes a massage and facial at Strata Spa, a swim in one of the three pools on the property, and a soak in the hot tub.

Accommodations

Garden of the Gods Resort and Club offers an intimate and cozy environment with 117 guest rooms, as well as cottages and casitas situated in a secluded area of the resort.

Mike and I stayed in a Master Suite, which afforded a view of one of the 19 rock formations sculpted by millions of years of geological activity. A fireplace offered warmth and coziness during the snowstorm on our second night at the resort.

On the second morning, Mike went off to take a yoga class at Strata Fit, while I took a swim in the outdoor infinity pool, which is heated to 88 degrees Fahrenheit.

It was only 25 degrees outside, and the experience of watching the mist rise from the surface of the water coupled with the view of the red rock formations in the distance was so astonishing that I understood why they called this place Garden of the Gods.

Dining

Dining options open to all guests include:

• Beach & Cable Barista, where you can get coffee or smoothies (the peanut butter smoothie is amazing!)

• The newly renovated Grand View Restaurant, an upscale, fine dining space

• The Rocks Lounge & Dining Room, a casual dining space serving lunch and dinner

Rossow mentioned the importance of offering healthier food and drink options on the menu since the resort makes wellness a priority. Carefully crafted mocktails, handcrafted drinks resembling their alcoholic counterparts, are one of those items.

On our first night at the resort, Mike ordered a drink called The New Fashion at The Rocks Lounge. Made with Spiritless Kentucky, a non-alcoholic bourbon, it was mixed with a chamomile orange reduction and sweetened maple syrup.

One of the highlights of the renovation project is the Grand View Restaurant, which has been completely transformed. An onyx bar imported from Turkey is a focal point.

On Saturday night, Mike and I were treated to a carefully crafted and immersive multi-course meal paired with non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages created by Executive Chef Nathan Gresham, Executive Sous Chef Kelley McCann, and the Culinary Team at Garden of the Gods Resort and Club.

We were seated near a bank of windows along the back of the restaurant that invites the magnificent view inside. The name, Grand View, certainly lived up to its promise.

Gresham spoke with us before the meal and said the staff was excited to meet the challenge of preparing courses that met our dietary restrictions (Mike eats fish but not meat, is dairy-free, and tries to avoid refined sugar) while showcasing the culinary style of the resort.

I’m fairly adventurous when it comes to food (I’m not a big fan of most seafood though) so I couldn’t wait to see what they came up with. We were told that every course would be paired with a specific wine or cocktail that complimented each dish.

When sourcing food for the restaurant, the culinary team focuses on sustainability and overall health and wellness. All of the meat and seafood, for example, is sustainably raised. I tried beef tartare for the first time and was pleasantly surprised by the flavor and texture of the beef.

We met Jesse Murillo, the Food and Beverage Manager, who is passionate about the resort and club’s non-alcoholic drink options. So was Mike, who doesn’t drink alcohol for personal reasons.

“I felt like I was allowed to enjoy the full dinner experience that most people have by default since most places serve alcoholic cocktails or wine,” Mike said. “Being able to try the many varieties of craft mocktails was fun. I also liked being able to taste mocktails that were specifically paired with the food.”

Murillo informed us that they serve Three Spirits botanical elixirs, Seedlip non-alcoholic spirits, and a non-alcoholic botanical wine by Three Spirits called Sharp. Using ethically-sourced plants and innovative fermentation methods, Three Spirits has managed to create a beverage that’s good enough for any celebration.

Mike’s Favorite mocktail was the resort’s take on the New York Sour with egg white, cinnamon, and black pepper. While not officially on the menu, it was created specifically to pair with our dinner. Feel free to ask one of the bartenders to create a mocktail for you if you don’t see one you like on the menu.

Spa & Wellness

Strata Med and Strata Spa, which are open to the public, are located in the Gateway Building, while Strata Fit in the main building is only accessible to resort guests and club members.

The name Strata was chosen for a couple of reasons. Stratum is a layer or a series of layers of rock in the ground. And because health and wellness are never a linear process, the name is also reflective of the layers of healing and wellness that happen here.  

Strata Med offers an extensive array of internal medicine services, including comprehensive assessments and tailored treatment strategies to ensure that every individual attains their optimal health. Medical Director Dr. Michael Barber is a leading Board-certified internist, cardiologist, and electrophysiologist.

Meanwhile, Strata Spa provides a tranquil and therapeutic experience with magnificent views of the mountains and breathtaking open spaces.

On Saturday, Mike and I arrived at Strata Spa where we were treated to the Strata Glow & Massage, a 110-minute treatment that left us feeling relaxed and renewed.

After we checked in with the concierge team, we changed into the most comfortable spa robes and enjoyed tea and snacks in the relaxation area, where all we could hear was the soft bubbling sound of a water fountain installation.

Then we were escorted to the spacious Couples Suite, a private treatment room with its own shower, where we experienced a 30-minute full-body exfoliation with a gentle but effective Environ liquid exfoliant followed by an 80-minute personalized massage using a deeply nourishing body oil with vitamins A, C, and E, which left our skin soft and glowing.

Mike told me that it felt like a journey rather than just a massage. “The rest of the day I felt more connected with myself,” he said. “I also loved being able to share that experience with you in the Couples Suite.”

Tania McCorkle, Director of Wellness Programming and Development, told me that the Strata Glow & Massage services are some of the most popular on the menu. “Couples’ massages have increased 40 percent since Covid,” she explained, so they’ve added more of them. Since the pandemic, guests have also asked for longer massages so there is now a 100-minute option on the menu.

All of the spa services are customizable to guest preferences, and while there are no signature services per se at the spa, each service has certain touch points. For example, all massage services begin with essential oil aromatherapy using oils from TARA Spa Therapy, a female-owned company, and end with warm booties.

I really enjoyed the aromatherapy at the beginning of my service. After my massage I sat in the Pink Himalayan Salt Inhalation Room with infrared deep-heat therapy for stress management. I also enjoyed the herbal sauna. Both Mike and I left feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Recently, McCorkle added several Ayurvedic services to the menu to balance the chakras and doshas according to Ayurvedic principles.

“If you can’t pronounce it,” quipped McCorkle, “you should probably go do it.”

For more information on Garden of the Gods Resort and Club, call (800) 923-8838, visit their website and follow on Instagram: @ggresortandclub. To book your next stay, click here.

3320 Mesa Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80904

More Luxury Stays and Getaways:

Discover Nemacolin, a World-Class Resort and Spa in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands

The Inn at Bay Harbor Offers a Luxurious Lakeside Retreat in Northern Michigan

[Photos courtesy of Garden of the Gods Resort and Club/Erin Dougherty]

Erin Dougherty earned her undergraduate degree in Creative Writing from Seattle University and a Master’s in English from Duquesne University. She has been Associate Editor at Launchpad magazine and a contributing editor to American Salon magazine