The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway is Now Open
Story and photos by Scott Kendall (unless otherwise indicated)
The long anticipated Pike’s Peak Cog Railway has finally arrived to Colorado Springs and America’s Mountain. Pike’s Peak has long been a top draw to visitors and locals, and now the city is celebrating the completion of the fabulous Pike’s Peak Cog Railway. This multi-year, multi-million dollar project will whisk lucky guests from the foot of Pike’s Peak in Manitou Springs to over 14,000 feet at the summit of the famous peak.
Pikes Peak, America’s Mountain
The new Cog Railway officially opened at the end of May, and we were fortunate to be hosted by VisitCOS during the opening week. Tickets are available at the Cograilway website, and reservations are required to ride the new train. Although the cog railway is in operation now, work is still in progress for the fantastic Visitor’s Center at the summit, which is scheduled for completion sometime this summer.
Pikes Peak Visitors’ Center to Open in June
A cog train has been taking passengers to the top of Pike’s Peak since 1891. It is the highest cog railway in the world, and the trip is full of outstanding views and fantastic scenery. This newest iteration, The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway, utilizes the latest in technology and comfort for an unforgettable experience.
Included in this article are some of the photos we took on this fabulous journey. From start to finish, the comfort of the new trains, the outstanding views up the mountain, and the experience at the summit created a fond memory for years to come. We’ll tell you a bit about our journey and give you some tips on how to make the best of this fantastic journey up America’s Mountain.
Since you are sure to work up an appetite, we are also including some wonderful restaurants to check out before or after your trip to the summit.
Book tickets at Cograilway website. You can go to the excellent website to familiarize yourself with the rules, procedures, and layout of the cog railway and the summit. Park at the Cog railway for $15 for up to four hours. You can also park at the Hiawatha Gardens Public Parking area for $1 an hour and take the free shuttle bus to the Cog Railway. If you have the energy and time, you can also walk the mile or so from downtown to the Cog Railway.
Eating in Colorado Springs
Plan your meals before and after your cog railway experience by making reservations at one of the following great restaurants.
Lake Terrace Dining Room at The Broadmoor
The Lake Terrace Dining Room is run by the same great folks who manage the first class lodgings, restaurants, golf courses, and other amenities of The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. We decided The Lake Terrace Dining Room would be the perfect place to start our day before riding the cog railway. The fabulous staff hosted us for breakfast in this beautiful dining room located on the second floor of elegant Broadmoor Hotel.
With hearty appetites, I had the delicious Denver Omelet, made with Fresh Eggs, Diced Onions, Peppers, Honey Cured Ham, Chopped Bacon, Aged Cheddar Cheese Home Fried Potatoes & Choice of Toast. My son ordered the Egg White Frittata, with Roasted Roma Tomato, Sauteed Spinach, Roasted Asparagus, Avocado Cotija Cheese, and House Made Salsa. A My wife, a lighter and healthier eater than us, thoroughly enjoyed the Acai Bowl, with Acai, Greek Yogurt, Almond Milk, Sliced Bananas, Berries, Toasted Seeds.
The Melting Pot
For fine dining and a memorable experience, The Melting Pot in downtown Colorado Springs is a popular choice. For the best experience, we chose The Complete Experience for Two option. This includes a four-course experience for two including your choice of cheese fondue, salad, entrée and chocolate fondue.
After ordering drinks, JP, our outstanding waiter, brought us a pot of melted cheese along with a platter of bread, veggies, and chips. We let the cheese heat up a bit and gave it a good stir, and we were ready to dig in. With plenty of well-designed utensils at our disposal, the three of us were dipping, swirling, and twirling our bite sized portions in the velvety smooth cheese, savoring each bite.
Not wanting to fill up too much on cheese, we munched on our delicious Strawberry Pecan salads. The main course entrees followed. I had a platter of Land and Sea, a nice variety of Beef, Chicken, Fish and Shrimp. Spearing each piece with my elongated fork, I placed them in the Court Bouillon for cooking for about two to three minutes in the flavorful seasoned vegetable broth. And for the finale, naturally there was chocolate. A deep, dark, melted chocolate made the perfect sauce for a assortment of macarons, fruits, brownies, cakes, and other tasty tidbits made even more flavorful with the excellent chocolate finish.
The Melting Pot is a unique fine dining experience, and we thoroughly enjoyed the fun experience and delicious food. Special kudos to JP, our waiter, who was very patient and knowledgeable as he professionally explained the dining process to us first time diners.
Urban Egg
Ask locals about the best breakfast in Colorado Springs, and many people will respond with the name Urban Egg. With 8 locations throughout the Springs and the front range, Urban Egg has earned a reputation as a favorite breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant.
We were hosted by the wonderful folks at the Urban Egg located at 5262 N Nevada Avenue. From Lyla, the Hostess, to Chelsea, Allison, Rachel, and Executive Chef Justin Castor, the staff were all friendly, knowledgeable, and very professional. Owners Randy Price and his wife Liz, Marketing Director Jami Leahy, and the rest of the staff are part of a wonderful family who obviously take great pride in their jobs and taking care of Urban Egg’s customer.
And great news for Urban Egg fans in the Denver area – Urban Egg Cherry Creek just opened for business!
To start your morning, Urban Egg offers a wide variety of freshly made juices. These unique and refreshing concoctions, blended for us by Rachel, the Head Bartender, were as pretty as they were tasty. We were treated to delightful drinks that included the Cucumber Invigorator, Heavenly Dew, Ginger Splash, The Cure, and Urban Beet.
Salsa Brava
For the best Mexican food in Colorado Springs, try the fresh taste of Mexican specialtie at Salsa Brava. Run by the same great folks that manage Urban Egg, the care and pride is also evident at Salsa Brava. Mexican favorites like enchiladas, tacos, fajitas, carnitas, chile con questo, and others are among the best in the area.
We tried the beef and chicken fajitas, the slow roasted carnitas, and the unbelievably delicious chili con queso with chorizo. I could easily made a meal of this flavorful queso along with the fresh, crispy tortilla chips. With the house specialty drink, the Urban Sunrise, I was in Mexican food heaven.
In addition to the excellent food, one of the keys to success for the Salsa Brava and Urban Egg restaurants is the fabulous staff. From start to finish, Tom, Keaghan, Summer, and the other staff members made us feel welcome and special, and ensured we were taken care of throughout our meal.
The Summit of Pikes Peak is Waiting for You
With the new Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway now open, the trip to the summit of America’s Mountain is even easier and more accessible than ever. Following the traditions of over 100 years, visitors can continue to enjoy this monumental trip up the highest cog train in the world. And after reaching the top, the beautiful new Visitors’ Center and viewing areas will make the trip just a bit more special and memorable.
