Cheyenne Lodge...... Colorado Springs??

[Susan Phillips]

Dick just said something like where it was is now on private land and you can't go there.

If they wanted visitors, it would've been in an HRB, unless, like I've wondered, it really was just a day destination for observation, recreation and dining and people didn't stay overnight.

And of course it was only open in summer. Not that that matters.

[dmcgrann]

And then there's Penrose's zoo, built on the side of the mountain. I found a reference that its gila monster was kept at the Cheyenne Lodge to keep it warm. Nobody ever calls it the Broadmoor's Cheyenne Lodge. But if it were really independent, why doesn't it have an entry in an HRB? And if it were part of the Broadmoor, why didn't it have an entry any year under the Broadmoor's big ad?

The Broadmoor ads I've seen in Hotel Red books don't list much, if anything, as far as amenities or specially named facilities.

One possibility might be to look in a AAA book or a Duncan Hines book, if anyone has any laying about. I have a 1950 Duncan Hines "Adventures in Good Eating" but its MIA right now.

[teabear]

Could the Cheyenne have been rented out only for private affairs? Maybe it was only available to a select group of people, so that's why there isn't much information about it? Just some thoughts.

[Susan Phillips]

A footnote to this discussion: I ordered an old book, "The Broadmoor Story," by Helen Geiger and it arrived today. There is absolutely no mention in its 50-some pages of the Cheyenne Lodge or of Penrose building a road to the top of the mountain. And no photos of Cheyenne Lodge, either.

I suppose the mystery continues.

[dbstoneware]

Taking the information that Susan came up with in posting #13:

Spencer Penrose of The Broadmoor hotel fame built a toll road up Cheyenne Mountain in 1925 so that people could gaze down on his hotel complex. Area residents objected to him scarring the mountain for what they considered a self-serving motive so he built a spectacular pueblo-style lodge at the top.

Cheyenne Lodge was popular with honeymooners and tourists but also was open to residents for summer lunches and accommodations until it was torn down in 1956. In 1999 The Broadmoor announced possible plans for a $1.5 million log-and-stone retreat for resort guests on Cheyenne Mountain.

Acccording to the link that Jackie came up with regarding the opening of the lodge in 1926, we definitely know that it was there and built by Spenser Penrose. Susan's info says that it was used by honeymooners and tourists until it was torn down in 1956.

I think the one thing we have overlooked here is the fact that we are talking about Cheyenne Mountain, home of NORAD (if I remember correctly) for they literally blasted a bunker inside this mountain that was supposedly blast proof!! We don't know if the Lodge was actually sold or taken by the military (eminent domain); but it would have made a nice bullseye for one of Russia's Tupelo (SP??) bombers back before ICBMs had the capability and perhaps the military wound up with what was on top of the mountain??

Just a thought; but might answer why we can't find out any info about who supposedly bought the place and either let it go to rack and ruin; or was it taken by the military and you know how info would have been lost on that little transaction (if indeed there was a transaction and not taken by eminent domain).

Something to ponder?????

[Susan Phillips]

My questions:

Just because it was built by Spencer Penrose doesn't mean it was owned by or part of the Broadmoor. It could have simply been a separate venue that he owned and operated separately.

If people could spend the night there, why doesn't it appear in an HRB? (Possible answer: because it was owned by the Broadmoor)

If it was part of the Broadmoor, why wasn't it advertised in their big HRB ads each year?

I called the Colorado Historical Society which is where I found out about the book. They also suggested contacting the county library system where the Broadmoor/Pike's Peak are located.

[dmcgrann]

Maybe you oughta try these people:
http://www.cmhc-kiva.com/aboutus.htm

Spencer Penrose built a lot of things, including a zoo (1926), and his own tomb (the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun), on Cheyenne Mountain. The zoo remains there today, so it's not like the government took the whole mountain for NORAD.

[dmcgrann]

By the way, hope you all saw this:

http://library.ppld.org/specialcolle...ay.asp?ID=4086

I like the fact that the flag was presented by the 7th New York regiment - the same outfit I recently acquired a service plate for.

[Susan Phillips]

OK, if you go to the page that David pointed us to, navigate to the bottom, and it says: "See Also: | Cheyenne Lodge | Hotels" and of course those are links.

The Hotels link includes lotsa hotels in the area, including the Broadmoor. Why would the Cheyenne Lodge have its own listing were it not unique among the area's attractions?

Great photo, by the way, David!

[Jackie]

I agree Susan. I am really leaning towards this being a separate entity that over the years because of the builder and the logistics people have assumed it was part of the Broadmoor.

[Susan Phillips]

I just tried the Ask A Librarian feature, but after typing it all out it rejected my message because I don't have a library card there. Guess you have to be a resident. So I just e-mailed the library's director with the same questions. We'll see if she replies.

Lacking that, we might be able to contact Carol's arch creamer nemesis and see if she would do the asking on our behalf. I believe she lives in the area.

[CarolCardona]

She lives in Golden.

[Susan Phillips]

Gosh, I wonder how you knew who I was typing about, Carol?

[dbstoneware]

I love that we can disagree with one another so we don't just fall into line like a good bunch of soldiers !! I can't imagine how boring this place would be if we agreed with one another right off the bat !!!

[CarolCardona]

As far as I know, I only have one arch nemesis.