The Cliff House at Pikes Peak, at 306 Cañon Avenue in downtown Manitou Springs, is Colorado’s oldest operating hotel. It opened in the winter of 1873, before Colorado was a state, as a stagecoach stop on the route between Colorado Springs and Leadville. Couples, history lovers and travelers drawn to Pikes Peak book it for Victorian character, refined dining and the red-rock foothills just outside the windows.
The wood-frame Victorian building sits on a stone foundation. Builders added to it over three decades, which explains its rambling wings, wide verandas and turreted roofline. Inside, guest rooms pair period-style furnishings with modern comforts, and some suites have fireplaces. The hotel’s history page covers its stagecoach-era past and the notable guests of the spa-town heyday. Dinner in the formal dining room is one of Manitou’s classic splurges. The property also hosts weddings against a mountain backdrop.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
When to go: Summer and autumn weekends fill quickly, and the wedding season adds to the demand. Book rooms and dinner reservations well ahead. Weekday stays from late fall through early spring are quieter and often cheaper.
Nearby: You can walk from the hotel to the town’s mineral springs, shops and galleries. The Manitou Incline and the Pikes Peak Cog Railway depot are a short drive or shuttle ride up Ruxton Avenue. Garden of the Gods is about ten minutes away.
Parking: Downtown parking is tight, so confirm parking details with the hotel when you book.
