Garden of the Gods Club and Resort is the ultimate Colorado Springs destination if you are seeking peace and luxury. It radiates calm vibes and well being. You feel the magnitude of your surroundings amongst red rocks and mountains, the comfort of luxurious accommodations, and the warmth of a kind and friendly staff.

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Garden of the Gods Club & Resort History

Shortly after opening in the 1950’s Garden of the Gods Club & Resort became a favorite Hollywood hang out for movie stars like John Wayne and Robert Mitchum. In the 60’s, they created a golf course, named for the famous rock formation in view, the Kissing Camels. Soon they added tennis, and over time the club became a local icon. The image above is the original pool, now a lovely water feature to enjoy while dining.

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The Lobby

The lobby immediately sets the mood with decor appropriate for the location. For design geeks like me, the ambiance throughout this property is swoon worthy. Every little detail, every texture and surface is there with intention. Look at this cowhide chair! It’s as comfortable as it is beautiful.

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The Room

Rooms are huge and open. I was wowed as soon as I opened the beautiful turquoise blue door. There is a blend of shimmery elegance and rustic coziness. We were greeted by two bucks outside our balcony when we arrived.

Instead of drapes, there are plantation shutters on the sliding doors. They block out light wonderfully and they look beautiful. It’s rare to see these in hotels. When you open them, stunning views are revealed as you’re staring straight at Garden of the Gods Park and Pikes Peak. Bed linens are soft and posh, and the bed faces the gorgeous views and gas fireplace. The sofa doubles as a hideaway bed.

Textures are everywhere, like the cuddly furry throw, bedside lamps with silvery faux alligator skin (and USB ports), hard wood floors, quartz top nightstands and desk, and floor lamps made with iron and stone. Design elements are fabulous and fit the surroundings perfectly. You feel like you are in Colorado, and you feel like you are in a luxurious special place.

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The Bath

A spacious bath area offers a vanity, walk in closet, and shelving with storage for food items and whatnot along with the coffee-tea station and safe. There is also a mini fridge. Colors are sandy earth tones, and surfaces are quality with undermount sinks, quartz countertops and light wood.

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Magnificent Views from the Balcony

When you stay at Garden of the Gods Club & Resort, you have to order room service breakfast and enjoy it on the balcony. We had a lovely meal consisting of yummy breakfast salad, fresh fruit, and bacon, eggs and toast. I could sit out there for hours watching the ever changing landscape. It transforms all day long with cloud formations and lighting. We had a couple of brief storms, and it was a treat to hear thunder because we rarely get that where we live. Enjoying a thunderstorm with this view is a magnificent thing.

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The Pool

Views poolside are breathtaking and face the Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak. The infinity edge perfectly frames the picture. In the evening it’s cool and tranquil, and a wonderful place to watch the sun set. During the day the water sparkles in bright turquoise. It had been a rainy season this year so everything was extra green and lush.

I wish I’d had a whole afternoon to spend at this pool, but I savored every minute of the time I had. If you’re a pool person like me, you’ll want to allow plenty of time for this extra special pool. It’s a highlight of the resort.

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The Food

My favorite place to eat at Garden of the Gods Club & Resort was The Rocks. You can sit inside and enjoy a spacious, high end lodgey atmosphere or sit outside and soak in the views of the Garden of the Gods. I love fire pits and there are several on the patio, and food always tastes better alfresco.

We had a late lunch after our Jeep tour with Adventures Out West. If you are staying here and want to get to know the area, a Jeep tour is a great way to get acquainted and they will pick you up right at the hotel. After our tour, we were extra excited to sample the menu. We ordered half-portions of mostly pub food to share family style so we could try several different things. I began with a refreshing Pineapple Cilantro Margarita. See the view? What a place to have a craft cocktail!

My favorite was the Coconut Shrimp. Not a trace of greasiness, but nice coconut flavors and crispiness. I love coconut anything and this paired well with the pineapple in the margarita.

I like healthy food too, and it was nice to see heath promoting things on the menu like the Bop Bop Bowl with Quinoa, Wild Rice, Basmati, Barley, Scallions, Sugar Snap Peas, Pickled Shredded Carrot, Baby Kale, Wild Mushrooms, Soy Ginger Lime Sauce, and Gochujang Glaze. This is just a half order, and we shared it.

My son really wanted the Avocado Fries. They are served up in a cute little fry basket with soy sauce for dipping. This is the first time I’ve ever tasted Avocado Fries and they were great, but pretty dense. A couple bites and I was already getting full.

The Curry Fries are delicious and something different in the way of French Fries. Like the shrimp, they were crispy and not greasy and excellent with the accompanying dip. I might try adding curry to our fries at home because this is a great combination I would have never thought of.

The view from both The Rocks and the Grand View Dining Room is definitely grand, and faces the Gods. Pretty much all views point in this direction, so wherever you are on the property, when you look out, this is what you see, just from slightly different angles.

My favorite thing I ate while at the resort was the Lobster Ravioli at the Grand View Dining Room. Look at how they serve it with generous chunks of lobster meat on the side. That lobster was cooked perfectly. It’s been years since I’ve had lobster that was this good. It was tender and tasted like I remember lobster tasting years ago. I’d kind of given up on lobster lately because it’s usually rubbery and lacking flavor, but this was delicious. And–this is an appetizer! It was plenty big enough to eat as an entree for me.

For a quick meal or snack, there is a little cafe in the Wellness center that offers salads, muffins, sandwiches, and other grab-and-go meals. It has an adorable outdoor seating area perfect for chilling out before hitting the spa or a wellness appointment.

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The Spa

The Spa at at Garden of the Gods Club & Resort is now one of my favorite spas. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful. I am still reliving my time there, it was nourishing and relaxing, and I want to hold those mental images in my mind as long as possible.

As soon as you walk into the lobby, the mood is set to be soothed. Sea glass colors of aqua, green and turquoise contrast with the red rocks of Garden of the Gods. Look at how zen this table is with the blown glass and tiny little succulent plants which present a lovely vignette.

I saw things here I’ve never seen before. Like the Himalayan Salt Room. Have you ever seen one of these? It’s healing and therapeutic, but it’s also a work of art. Halotherapy with infrared deep heat therapy is detoxifying and de-stressing. The salt rooms at Garden of the Gods Club & Resort are the first in Colorado Springs. Benefits of Himalayan salt include respiratory support, improved sleep, increased blood flow and improved energy levels and mood.

The Relaxation Room is unique, and one of the best I’ve ever enjoyed. As soon as you open the door, you’re surprised by a bubbling water wall. It’s such an unexpected treat and I was instantly mesmerized. I’ve never seen one before and it’s incredibly captivating and super calming to be around. I really want one for my house.

There are snacks and teas to enjoy while you just chill out. The chaise lounges have a cool metallic sheen to them and they provide butter soft throws to snuggle up in.

Another thing I was excited to find at this spa is a wonderful, weightless, water filled treatment table. The only place I’ve ever encountered one of these was in Zurich and I could’t believe how awesome it was. I still wonder why they aren’t commonplace at spas because they offer a very distinct sensation that is extremely relaxing. I got to try a special treatment called Cleopatra’s Milk & Honey Float. I expected to find a bathtub, and when I realized it was this table, I was thrilled. It’s an amazing feeling to feel like you are floating, but you’re not in water. This treatment involves an exfoliation, a rich organic honey creme application, then a period of rest wrapped and cocooned while your body absorbs the moisture and nutrients from the secret recipe.

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The Wellness Center

I loved the Spa, but the Wellness Center was even more awesome for me. It completely blew my mind and the benefits are still continuing in my life now that I’m home. I’m still so amazed and grateful I got to go there.

Before your appointment, they give you some paperwork where you state what you want to achieve with your health. I get migraines, so that is what I wanted to focus on. I was very open about my struggle with both doctors, and I immediately felt 100% heard. There wasn’t a ton of discussion, which I really appreciated. It was just–here is the issue–let’s get it handled. At the same time, I felt a human connection, compassion, and intuitive understanding.

The first person I saw was Dr. Shane Wells. He is a chiropractor who specializes in Applied Kinesiology and Functional Neurology. He practices P-DTR, the advanced functional neurology techniques developed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jose Palomar. He is only one of 40 doctors in the world practicing this particular method, which is cutting edge and yields results very quickly. I felt improvement with one visit, but would love to continue treatments. And guess what? Insurance covers this. Dr. Wells specializes in hard to treat issues and past physical traumas. He works with athletes and anyone who wants to restore normal body function and live a vital life.

After my session with Dr. Wells, I had a healing session with Charlene Wang. She is a holistic registered dietitian and professor of nutrition, health and wellness. We did Energy Therapy. She asked me if I was open to it, and I told her I was a little skeptical but totally open. I felt instantly comfortable with her and receptive to her expertise. Healing Touch is a medical technique using biofield therapy to facilitate healing on a deep level. She gave me healing gemstones to hold, which resonated with me. I’ve been fascinated with gemstones since I was a kid, and I’m aware of the healing properties of various stones and crystals and believe they can be a helpful part of healing and mindset.

My session with Charlene Wang was powerful. We ended with a smudging and I left with a better sense of wellbeing and feeling incredibly inspired and motivated. She had specific, personalized recommendations for me that I will continue to follow. My experience was unexpected and profound. If I lived here, I would want to go regularly.

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Garden of the Gods Club & Resort Bottom Line

Garden of the Gods Club & Resort is a tranquil, healing place offering excellent Colorado Springs accommodations. Whether you go for the views to really embrace the destination, a potentially life changing wellness experience, or to enjoy delicious food in a beautiful atmosphere–just go. I can’t imagine anyone not falling in love with this resort. I recommend it for luxurious restoration, and also for the convenient location which is close to Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs. Find out more on the Garden of the Gods Club & Resort Website.

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