We first became aware of Garden of the Gods Resort and Club when my husband was dutifully keeping his eyes on the road while driving in Colorado Springs, Colorado – but I let mine wander to take in the view. On one side were the stunning reddish rocks known as Garden of the Gods jutting up to the west, craggy, majestic, and beautiful. I happened to look to the other side of the road just in time to see a sign for Garden of the Gods Resort at the base of a long, uphill drive. “They must have amazing views up there!” I said to my husband. We were determined, right then and there to find out if that was the case, with a stay at the Resort.

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Not long after, on a late fall weekend, we did, indeed have a hosted opportunity to find out that Garden of the Gods Resort, a just-over-70-year-old property, makes the most of its geologic neighbors across the street by making sure every lodging room, lounge, restaurant, pool, spa, and workout room all face its glory as the rocks change color and mood as the sun rises and sets.

Garden of the Gods Resort is more than just your typical resort. Besides the things one would expect that fall under the concept of a resort (places to eat, sleep, and do, making it unnecessary to leave for anything you may need), they are also a membership- and health-based entity. Coloradans, and people from all over the world who have the means and desire can do one of a variety of membership levels that let them access private dining, golf, luxurious swimming pools, spa and health treatments, special events, and other perks. For locals, it’s like having their own country club. Strata Integrated Wellness & Spa offers a holistic approach to health and wellness with everything from nutrition to acupuncture to women’s healthcare, and functional neurology chiropractic care. The gorgeous spa tends to your needs from skin care to a mani/pedi, hair treatments, and a relaxing steam. You don’t have to be a member to enjoy the relaxing lodging, dining, fitness, or spa opportunities though!

Relax in this beautiful sauna at STRATA at Garden of the Gods Resort.

Because most of us can “just” be guests of the Resort, let’s focus on that experience. Even if you’re only there for a night, like we were, there’s plenty to fill your time and renew you. As a guest, you’ll receive a Weekly Activity, Wellness, Recreation & Dining Guide in your room to assist with spending your time just the way you want. Use that, but also, allow me to suggest a plan for your stay:

A room (and everything else) with a view at Garden of the Gods Resort and Club

Upon entering, through the lobby, take note of the view out the massive windows in front of you. You’ll be seeing plenty of that during your stay. After checking in and being shown where everything is in the spacious room, including a pay-as-you-drink wine dispenser (think small wine wall), take a moment to step out on your patio and take in a deep breath of fresh air. Plan to be back here before sunset because it’s bound to be a beauty as it disappears over those rocks.

Feeling hungry, but not wanting to fill up too much before dinner, head over to Beach & Cable Barista, serving Starbucks Coffee drinks but with baked goods, sandwiches, salads, and other nibbles prepared by the culinary staff at Garden of the Gods Resort. The staff will make you feel totally pampered and tended to even though you’re just getting a couple of salads and some coffee to go like we were (get the grilled salmon salad – trust me!). The encounter more than hints at one of the most remarkable things you’ll encounter here – the level of customer service. But more on that in a moment.

After your quick bite, stroll around, map in hand for guidance, to locate the year-round heated Infinity Pool and the seasonal Three Graces Pool Complex (pool, hot tub, cabanas, and bar & grille) that’s plenty large for frolicking or just floating. Tone up with a walk, run, or climb on the many machines in the Fitness Center. Maybe get a mani-pedi and take a steam at the Spa & Salon, all before dinner.

The Infinity Pool at Garden of the Gods lets you do laps or just float and take in that view.

Before dinner, grab a drink in The Rocks Lounge & Patio where live music may be playing. Then, a few steps away, in The Rocks Dining Room & Patio, it’s off to dinner where the extensive menu ensures you’ll find something you’ll want, whether it’s lighter or heavier, more veggie-centric or paleo-plentiful. We found the prices to be very reasonable, akin to what you’d find at most restaurants – something of a rarity for most resort settings. The menus change seasonally but if you go when they have the Colorado Lamb Green Chile don’t miss it! It’s warm, spicy, and delicious. Burger freak that I am, I had to order the Rocks Burger with ½ pound patty of Colorado beef, cheddar cheese, green leaf lettuce, vine-ripened tomato, red onion, and a savory/sweet Rocks Sauce on a brioche bun. My husband had the Bison Flat Iron Salad with wild arugula, shaved ham, honey crisp apple, goat cheese and an aged sherry vinaigrette. For dessert, we shared a seasonal tart that combined two of my favorite things, pumpkin and pecan, served with a scoop of ice cream. Night had fallen by then and the guitarist was still playing soulful tunes. Had it been warmer that night, we would have sat out on the huge covered patio that spans the lounge and the two restaurants, facing the flower garden, Reflection Pool and, yup, that view.

The Bison Flat Iron Salad was a plentiful, and regional twist on a steak salad.

Back in our room, before turning in, we sat on our patio and took in a different view, the blanket of stars above us. We couldn’t see the rocks at all except for the famous “kissing camels” formation down the way which the Resort illuminates from across the road. It’s the inspiration for one of their other restaurants, the Kissing Camels Grille, across the way at the golf course.

We slept with the blinds parted to allow the early morning light, gradually illuminating the rocks, to wake us up. We sat up in our window-facing bed and watched the colors and textures change like our own nature show. Desperate to capture the scene (and not just in our minds), my husband and I went out on our balcony with a cup of coffee and our cameras to take it all in. As if on cue, four deer leapt by below us and onto the grassy area outside the restaurants where we’d been told to expect to see them getting a morning drink from the fresh-water Reflection Pool.

Sunrise sets the craggy rocks of Garden of the Gods aglow at sunrise. This is your morning view!

With that great start to our day, we headed to breakfast, served in the Grand View Dining Room. With options including smoothies, avocado toast, and benedicts, we chose the Front Range Breakfast with two eggs any style, homestyle potatoes, choice of Applewood smoked bacon, country ham or breakfast sausage plus toast or English Muffin and the Huevos Rancheros with two eggs, blue corn tortillas, cheddar cheese, black beans, sour cream, pico de gallo, green chilies, and homestyle potatoes. It was all served with a dose of the attentiveness and customer service we’d already grown to expect at Garden of the Gods.

Start your day well with Huevos Rancheros in the Grand View Restaurant.

The customer service experience at Garden of the Gods Resort and Club

At any high-end resort, which this is, you’d expect good customer service. And Garden of the Gods has it but there seemed to be a difference. We were frequently said “hello” to in the hallways, asked if there was anything we needed,  escorted versus just being pointed in the direction of, and were never left wanting for anything. More than that though, there was a sincerity and warmth about the encounters that is not the usual. I later found out, (I just had to ask), that it’s part of their company culture. You may see staff put their hand to their chest as if to say, “I really mean it.” While some may find this trite, I found it endearing. Staff are also empowered to do what they need to make something right or better for the guest (without having to ask management). While we didn’t have to have anything made right during our stay, it is nice to know that a guest can get immediate assistance when needed. In the short time we were at Garden of the Gods Resort, I left having felt a genuine connection with staff. I said goodbye to our servers, the concierge, the barista at the coffee shop, the woman who had checked us in the day before and the man who brought us our car. Sure, it’s their corporate culture but it felt very warm and real and I left having experienced many little “slice of life” moments, feeling more positive about our stay than I would have, had the staff just been plodding along in their day, saying the requisite things. It was an important extra that added to our experience.

I suggest signing up to receive notifications from Garden of the Gods Resort on their website so you’ll know of specials, events, and other news.

Garden of the Gods Resort and Club
3320 Mesa Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80904
719-632-5541
www.GardenoftheGodsResort.com                                                                                                                                                         – Story and photos by Courtney Drake-McDonough and James McDonough

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Please note, we were hosted at Garden of the Gods Resort & Club to help facilitate this article. However, as is always the case with the writers and editors of Real Food Traveler, that doesn’t sway our commitment to providing our readers with an honest and objective opinion of our experience there. Learn more in our disclosures page. And learn more about Real Food Traveler on our About page.