El Colorado Lodge 1926

The El Colorado Lodge was a benchmark in motor-travel camps of the West. The El Colorado Tourist Camp, built in 1926, originally included 24 cabins and the main lodge. The camp typifies early lodging facilities catering to the auto-tourist. 

The El Colorado Lodge Subdistrict is located on Manitou Avenue at the easternmost City limits and is comprised of the El Colorado Lodge motel property and the City’s Eastern Gateway Arch over Manitou Avenue. A Historic Survey and Inventory of this area was completed in 1991 and contains more detailed and specific information regarding the history and features of this subdistrict.

The Pueblo Revival cabins and main lodge building are the prevalent structures in this area, giving it its distinct identity. The defining characteristics of this area are: • Single story cabins and the two-story main lodge building. • Stucco with peeled log vigas, exclusively • Flat roofs • Siting and landscaping which blends with the setting • Dominant Greenstone retaining wall along the Manitou Avenue frontage.

The El Colorado Tourist Camp, built in 1926, originally included 24 cabins and the main lodge. The camp typifies early lodging facilities catering to the auto-tourist. A 1929 article in American City magazine spoke of the El Colorado as an example of the new beautiful and comfortable motor-travel camps that were beginning “to replace the unsightly and unsanitary camps which dotted cities of the West.” El Colorado “was the pattern for others which are now to be found in San Antonio, Galveston, El Paso, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Denver.” In 1952 and 1954 four cabins, the swimming pool, patio and barbeque were added.

The street layout and siting relationships also contribute to the character of the El Colorado property. Native vegetation, including yucca, scrub oak, and cedar, were originally the typical plant materials. These have given way to areas of grass and large, pine trees. The El Colorado is the primary resource within this subdistrict, and important to the context of the Historic District and history of the City overall. The Historic Gateway Arch is one of two arches located over Manitou Avenue adjacent to Manitou Springs’ boundaries at either end of the City. The eastern archway has been in this location since approximately 1915 and was relocated from closer to Downtown (where it advertised the Cave of the Winds). The archway itself is over 100 years old and is constructed of steel, with open fretwork and exposed rivets that are both structural and decorative. Manitou Springs’ may be one of only two locations in the State with existing, historic arches over public streets. Definitive research is not complete, however efforts have been made to locate other, similar structures. Golden, CO, has the only other historic archway of which we are aware; Manitou Springs’ arches pre-date Golden’s. Both the Eastern Gateway Arch, and the Western Gateway Arch located in the West Manitou Subdistrict are unique and rare structures. The Archway and National Register-eligible El Colorado Lodge are located in close proximity and the association of these two landmarks is important to the interpretation of this part of Manitou Avenue. The Arch, together with the El Colorado Lodge, exemplifies the advent of Auto Tourism - a nationwide shift in tourism that began as private vehicles became more available. Auto Tourism has had an important, historic role particularly in this area of Manitou Springs since cars started replacing trains and trolleys after the turn of the 20th century.

Historic Manitou Springs, Inc., is an educational non-profit based in Manitou Springs, Colorado, at the foot of Pikes Peak which operates the Manitou Springs Heritage Center and was formed in 1997 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Our mission is to collect, preserve, research, and interpret the history and culture of Manitou Springs and the Pikes Peak Region.

The intent of the organization is to educate citizens and visitors in order to increase appreciation and understanding of this unique community. Before opening the Center Historic Manitou was operated by a board of three persons–Jean Garrity, Deborah Harrison, and Michelle Anthony. During the initial 10 years, we developed a track record of participating in and supporting community projects and events, such as restoration of the Eastern Gateway Arch, rehabilitation of Mansions Park, installation of over 30 Historic Interpretive Plaques throughout town, and placement of the memorial in Crystal Valley Cemetery for Emma Crawford. We have presented the “Ghost Stories of Old Manitou” haunted walking tours as part of the Annual Emma Crawford Festival (i.e., the events surrounding the Coffin Races) since its inception.

The El Colorado Lodge Cabin Rentals & Motel in Manitou Springs, CO. Accessed December 12th 2021. https://www.elcoloradolodge.com/.

City of Manitou Springs, CO Historic District Design Guidelines. Accessed December 12th 2021. https://www.manitouspringsgov.com/DocumentCenter/View/809/Historic-District--Design-Guidelines-PDF.