Skip to main content

EXCITING NEW DEVELOPMENTS TAKE SHAPE THIS SUMMER IN COLORADO

EXCITING NEW DEVELOPMENTS TAKE SHAPE THIS SUMMER IN COLORADO

New lodging, attractions, restaurants, events and more
highlight summer 2014

DENVER (April 24, 2014) – New activities, festivals, culinary offerings and more are the buzz this summer in Colorado. Throughout the state, visitors and locals are invited to see and experience what’s new, from taprooms and distilleries, to museum exhibits and a variety of events, along with the opening of the much-anticipated Union Station in Denver, Colorado is the place to be this summer for all things innovative and fun.

Following is a sampling of what’s new in Colorado this summer. For more information on Colorado or for a free copy of the 2014 Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.com.

Attractions and Activities

  • Officially opening on July 12, Denver’s Union Station is set to become the “Grand Central Terminal” of Colorado. The Station will include six new restaurants, 22,000-square-feet of retail space with 10 boutiques and the new high-end, 112-room Crawford Hotel, sister hotel to the existing 80-room Oxford Hotel. The Crawford Hotel will have a unique vibe with three different styles of rooms, including “Pullman” rooms modeled after the luxury private railroad sleeping cars, the “classic” rooms with tall ceilings and large windows, as well as “loft” rooms with exposed wood timbers and contemporary designs. Union Station will also serve as a hub for rail, light rail and bus transportation. Retailers and restaurants include S&G Fish, a seafood restaurant from Chef Jennifer Jasinski; The Kitchen [Next Door], an extension of the Boulder restaurant; European-style Mercantile Dining & Provision from Alex Seidel of Fruition; Snooze, A.M. Eatery serving breakfast and lunch; Tattered Cover Book Store, the Milkbox Ice Creamery, Eatmore Burgers & Brats, Pigtrain Coffee, The Cooper Lounge, The Terminal Bar, Bloom and Fresh Exchange.

  • Aspen Alpine Guides
    • Whole Journeys, Whole Food Market’s new travel company, has created the Aspen Hiking and Tasting Tour. The three-day tour for the active foodie includes daily hiking options from active to challenging guided by Aspen Alpine Guides, trail lunches with local and Whole Foods Market’s products, tasting tours at local producers like Woody Creek Distillers and Avalanche Cheese Creamery, as well as a backcountry barbeque dinner at T-Lazy 7, featuring responsibly-raised meats. The tours will be offered June 17-19, June 24-26 and September 12-14, 2014.
    • Another new adventure from Aspen Alpine Guides is Leave the Boys Behind, an all-female excursion to the pristine backcountry. The outing includes locally sourced meals and group dinners, as well as options for single-day hikes, hut-to-hut hiking and challenging summits on Colorado’s 14,000 foot peaks.

  • Boulder Bike to Farm Tours offer guided bicycle rides with Awe-Struck Outdoors where cyclists get to visit local farms, meet the farmers and have a three-course lunch on the farm in the countryside. The tour takes participants to several secret spots around the many family farms in the Boulder area so riders can learn from the farmers about their passion for the land and the food. The tours are led on Thursday evenings, as well as the special Tour des Farms Festival on June 16, July 14, August 11, September 15 and October 13, 2014.

  • The brand new Cheyenne Mountain State Park Archery Range features target ranges from 10 to 80 yards, as well as a youth range with targets up to 20 yards. The Range also offers 28 NFAA targets along with 3D animal targets.

  • First offered in April, the Colorado Springs Happy Hour Tour is an hour-long guided tour to introduce the art and history of downtown Colorado Springs. The tours are held monthly at 5:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month and start at Phantom Canyon Brewing Company.

  • The Covered Wagon Historical Tour of Fort Collins allows visitors to climb aboard and take a trip with local guides to hear stories about the homes, mansions, business and streets of Old Town and the surrounding area. Tour goers will learn about cowboys, scoundrels and founding fathers and mothers. The tours are offered on Sunday afternoons and will run through the summer.

  • The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission recently announced a 102-Mile-Long Addition of Gold Medal Trout Waters. The addition stretches from the Lake Fork of the Arkansas River near Leadville down to Parkdale near the Royal Gorge, thereby increasing Colorado’s Gold Medal Waters by 50 percent.

  • Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Trail Tours have introduced Guided Mesa Verde Discovery Tours. The tours consist of small groups and interpretive guides that help explore the Pueblo culture and history of Mesa Verde National Park, including the 5,000 known archeological sites and 600 ancient cliff dwellings.

  • One of the newest bike parks in Colorado, Steamboat Mountain Bike Park contains 2,000 vertical feet and over 50 miles of single track, cross country and flow trails for bikers of all levels. The Bike Park is also working on completing Tenderfoot, a new beginner trail, and Flying Diamond, a new jump trail, by summer 2014.

  • Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park in Denver is opening a new thrill ride this May called Brain Drain. The seven-story ride sends riders forward, backward and upside-down in a 360-degree revolution that provides great views of Denver and the Rocky Mountains.

  • Featuring two new event facilities at the Fairgrounds at Stanley Park, the Estes Park Events Complex is scheduled to open in May 2014. Located at the foot of Rocky Mountain National Park, the Events Complex can host a wide variety of events, including rodeos, car shows, conventions and retreats.

  • Starting in May, Kent Mountain Adventure Center will offer cliff camping, allowing guests to camp on the side of cliffs and enjoy the views over Rocky Mountain National Park. Cliff campers can begin by learning the basics of climbing, and then have the assistance of a guide from the Adventure Center for setting up a wall camp.

  • Solaris Vail is offering a new hiking package for summer 2014. The Bag a Fourteener package provides guests with the preparation and goods to help climb nearby Mount Elbert, which is the highest peak in Colorado at 14,440 feet.. The weeklong package, available May 4 through September 28, 2014, includes a personal oxygen canister upon check-in to acclimate to the high altitude, a hydration pack for the climb, two Mountain Outdoor Fitness classes with an endurance coach and more.

  • Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is introducing a new thrill ride this summer called the Glenwood Canyon Flyer. The ride will sit at 7,100 feet on the edge of Glenwood Canyon and swing riders up 1,400 feet above the Colorado River. Scheduled to open in mid-May, riders soaring high can even view portions of the Maroon Bells Range.

  • Sundance Trail Guest Ranch plans to introduce two challenge courses this summer, designed by the ranch’s Tough Mudder Head Wrangler. The courses are designed for those training for singles events and for groups seeking team building.

  • This summer, Cave of the Winds will introduce TERROR-dactyl the Aerial Dive Ride, which sits on the edge of a 200-foot cliff in the Williams Canyon in Manitou Springs. TERROR-dactyl launches riders 200 feet into the canyon at nearly 100 miles per hour.

  • Geo Tours in Morrison has put together a new Boats & Beers brewery tour-rafting trip, teaming up with Mountain Toad Brewery and Golden City Brewery. Beginning in June, the half-day rafting trip on Clear Creek will be followed by a brewery excursion.

  • Beginning in mid-July, Snow Mountain Ranch will offer a tubing hill throughout the summer, fall and spring. This will be the third tubing hill of its kind in the country and will allow eight riders to tube at one time.

  • CampVRB, from Breckenridge’s Vertical Runner, is a new trail-focused camp involving training runs with nationally recognized athletes and speakers on the topic of training, nutrition and more. The three-day, four-night camps, for ages 10 and older, are for runners of all levels to improve their running performance. The sessions will be held July 21-25  and August 11-15, 2014 and cost $599 per camper with early registration.

  • Aspen Art Museum’s new 30,000-square-foot building, designed by Shigeru Ban Architects, will hold its 24-hour grand opening on August 8, 2014. The new space will hold even more art with a 12,500-square-foot gallery.

  • The Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is undergoing construction to rebuild the park after damage from last summer’s Royal Gorge Fire. Royal Gorge Bridge & Park recently started offering guided tours on park vehicles through construction zones and over one of the world’s highest suspension bridges during the weekends. Weather and construction permitting, park hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The park expects a grand re-opening in August 2014 with Phase 1 of the rebuild completed.

Hotel and Accommodations

  • The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs will complete a $100 million, multi-year renovation and expansion this May, which will include the new Ristorante Del Lago, updated guest rooms, the opening of health-inspired restaurant Natural Epicurean, as well as 31 new guest rooms and suites.

  • This May, The Curtis in Denver will complete a $5 million renovation project with upgrades to all 336 guest rooms and an expansion of the lobby. The Hotel will also introduce two new one-bedroom suites, the KISS Suite and the Spice Girls Suite.

  • Opening May 2014, the Marriott Renaissance in Denver is a new four-star, 230-room hotel within the historic Colorado National Bank building, which was built in 1915. The hotel will offer a ground-floor restaurant, retail space, as well as banquet and meeting rooms, including one inside the former bank’s vault.

  • Set to open in May, Woolley’s Classic Suites in Aurora will be a four-star, all-suite hotel with 191 guest rooms. The hotel will also provide one of the only upscale, gourmet dining options in the area with its restaurant, Jardin.

  • The Lodge & Spa at Breckenridge will complete full room remodels this August with new furnishings, as well as the opening of a new full-service restaurant.

  • Aspen’s The Little Nell will introduce four newly renovated suites for the summer 2014 season by designer Holly Hunt. The updates will include an eclectic, yet Western design with stone fireplaces and bronze chandeliers.

  • The Art Hotel, a new 165-room boutique hotel in Denver, is expected to open in 2014, showcasing a lobby with modern art and guest rooms with vibrant art and wall coverings. The Hotel will be across from the new History Colorado Center and next to the Denver Art Museum.

New Events, Festivals and Exhibits

  • The inaugural Ouray ForkFest will take place April 25-26, 2014, supported by Weehawken Creative Arts and 12 local restaurants. The event will include a Restaurant Crawl showcasing a variety of the town’s eateries, a Champagne Breakfast, demonstrations and presentations by local chefs, as well as wine and cheese tastings.

  • The inaugural Cañon City Balloon Classic will be held this Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-26, 2014 at the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey. Visitors can watch the balloons launch each morning, as well as enjoy a balloon glow on the evening of May 24.

  • Denver Flea will be held in City Park for the first time on May 24, showcasing more than 70 Colorado-based vendors selling clothing, arts, crafts, beer and food. Other vendors will include vintage and repurposed furniture along with other unique items with participants like Winter Session, Vaux Vintage, Humble Pie, Mountain Versus Plains and more.

  • On Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-26, FEAST! in Vail will start the summer season with a culinary celebration featuring renowned Vail chefs collaborating and competing with prominent guest chefs. The event will also welcome wine masters, cocktail artisans and craft beer pros.

  • Celebrate Cedaredge, May 30-31, 2014, will launch a brand new look of Cedaredge’s Main Street with a dedication, along with plein air painting, a wine festival, farmer’s market and more.

  • The brand new Oh Heck Yeah event will transform Champa Street in Denver into an arcade every Thursday andSaturday, June 7 through July 26, 2014. LED screens and projections will be used throughout the Theater District for vintage, interactive games to play.

  • Toulouse-Lautrec and La Vie Moderne: Paris 1880-1910 will be showing at Foothills Art Center in Golden from June 7-August 17, 2014. The exhibition celebrates avant-garde artists in Paris as well as the artistic and cultural scene at the turn of the last century. Henri Toulouse-Lautrec’s art will be a central focus, along with pieces by Edouard Vuillard, Pierre Bonnard and others.

  • Chihuly at the Denver Botanic Gardens will be the region’s first outdoor exhibition of artwork by American artist Dale Chihuly. The glass sculpture artwork will show from June 14 through November 30, 2014.

  • The inaugural Women’s Golf and Wellness Weekend will be held in Vail June 19-22, 2014. The event will bring women together for a weekend of golf, yoga, hiking, nutrition and more. The weekend will also offer opportunities for connecting, learning and networking with presentations, discussions and special guests. All skill levels are invited to participate and the event is limited to 30 participants.

  • The first event of its kind, the Pikes Peak Airstrip Attack is a half-mile side-by-side roll race and trap speed competition with more than 200 of the fastest streetcars in the country. Thousands of car enthusiasts are expected to gather to support and participate in the event. The Airstrip Attack will be at the Colorado Springs Airport on June 27-28, 2014.

  • The World Lacrosse Championships will be held in Denver on July 10-19, 2014, marking the first time the United States has hosted since 1998. Thirty-eight nations are expected to compete at this year’s Championship with several of the games taking place at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
     
  • Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century, a worldwide-exclusive exhibition at the Denver Art Museum, will showcase jewelry, timepieces and more from the Cartier collection from November 16, 2014 through March 15, 2015. Several of the pieces were those of celebrities and royalty like Elizabeth Taylor and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Food and Beverage

  • The largest outdoor deck and bar in baseball history, The Rooftop was added to Coors Field and opened in April 2014. The stadium was redeveloped to include a 38,000-square-foot upper concourse area that is two stories and holds up to 4,500 fans. The Rooftop offers great views of the stadium and downtown Denver, and features the 5280 Craft Bar with 52 beer taps. The Bar is exactly 5,280 feet above sea level and 52 feet and 80 inches long.
     
  • One of Breckenridge’s newest bars, Après Handcrafted Libations serves up 30 rotating craft taps, as well as craft and small batch whiskey in the historic Whitehead House Hotel & Boardinghouse that was built around 1892.
     
  • David Burke Kitchen is scheduled to open in Aspen in June 2014. The renowned celebrity chef David Burke uses local and seasonal farm-to-table ingredients like meats, cheeses and more for a complete fresh menu.
     
  • Green Man Taproom is a brand new taproom in Colorado Springs with over 50 craft brewed beers on tap along with a food menu including their handcrafted hoagie. Opening later in 2014, the Taproom will offer the first-ever outdoor beer garden in Colorado Springs.
     
  • Leopold Bros. is expanding in the same neighborhood as its current northeast Denver location, but the new distillery will be triple the size. The new location will include a 1,900-square-foot tasting room, a traditional dunnage-style barrelhouse and will be the only distillery in Colorado to have a floor malting facility and traditional malting kiln.
     
  • Rif Raff Brewing Company in Pagosa Springs recently installed a geothermal heat exchanger. This exchanger will utilize the town’s hot springs’ geothermal water to heat the brew house.
     
  • Named for the way melted cheese covers the beef, the Colorado Springs grass-fed burger restaurant, Skirted Heifer, goes the homemade route, making their own fries and chips, as well as getting their buns from the nearby bakery, The Sourdough Boulangerie. The restaurant also features turkey and quinoa burgers, the only frozen custard downtown and the first Boylan Natural Soda fountain in the city.  
     
  • Winery at Pikes Peak, which recently opened in Cascade, is the first winery in the Pikes Peak region. Located in a newly renovated 8,000-square-foot historic building, the Winery gives off a Western charm and serves up six varieties of wine.

Looking Ahead to 2015

  • Rocky Mountain National Park will celebrate its 100th Anniversary from September 4, 2014 through September 4, 2015. Speakers, special activities and community events are being coordinated to commemorate the Centennial. The Park offers more than 300 miles of hiking trails, fishing, backcountry camping, scenic drives and more, along with a variety of ranger-led programs and instructional classes.

  • The 2015 Alpine World Ski Championships will take place in Vail and Beaver Creek February 2-15, 2015, bringing the world’s best ski racers from 70 different nations to Colorado to compete. The Championships will consist of five men’s and five women’s individual races, as well as the Nation’s Team event. Admission to the racing events is free, and tickets can be purchased for the concerts, opening ceremonies and other festival events.

 

ABOUT COLORADO
Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine, and 25 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state's breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 11 national parks and monuments and 58 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. 

For more information or a copy of the 2014 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.com or call 1-800-COLORADO. Follow Colorado on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, Foursquare,  Flickr, Tumblr and YouTube.

Media are invited to visit the Colorado Media Room for story ideas, news releases, image gallery, and other resources. 

# # #

Contacts: Carly Holbrook / 720-289-9366, [email protected]
               Elysia Myers / 970-623-7729, [email protected]