Glen Eyrie Conference Center Review

Glen Eyrie is an English Tudor-style castle built in 1871 by General William Jackson Palmer, the founder of Colorado Springs. There are 17 guest rooms (12 Deluxe guest rooms and 5 premier guest rooms) in the castle, as well as 7 meeting rooms to include the Castle Great Hall (2200 square feet room in the castle that can hold up to 240 people) and 2 dining rooms in the castle (The Castle King James Hall has seating for 180 people and the Castle Music & Library rooms for seating for up to 58 people). This house was his and his wife's dream home and is near Colorado Springs in the northwest foothills just north of the Garden of the Gods rock formations (now a city park). After building a large carriage house, where the family lived for a time, Palmer and his wife Mary (Queen) Mellen built a 22-room frame house on the 800-acre (3.2 km2) estate. This house was remodeled in 1881 to include a tower and additional rooms, and made to resemble a stone castle in 1903, reminiscent of those native to England.
The castle is now owned by The Navigators. It is open for public tours and events, and can be rented for private programs.
Events hosted at the castle include English and Victorian teas throughout the week and Christmas Madrigal Banquets beginning after Thanksgiving. Glen Eyrie also puts on marriage getaways, men retreats, women retreats, family conferences, and much more. To check up on their upcoming programs and different retreats you will need to visit their website.
Glen Eyrie's location at the base of Queen's Canyon leaves it vulnerable to flash floods, a risk that increased after the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire. The fire did no damage to the Glen Eyrie grounds, but it stripped the vegetation from Queen's Canyon. Over a million dollars in flood mitigation has since provided two debris nets and a wider, deeper, concrete and cinder block reinforced creek bed, which allows water to flow at 2,000 cubic feet per second through the grounds at Glen Eyrie.
Source: Wikipedia

This place is outstanding in every way! Beautiful, rich is history, and presently available to visit and stay. Could not say better things about Glen Eyrie! So awesome!

We went to the Glen Eyrie tour, and first, the land and castle itself was gorgeous. The problem was the tour itself.

On normal tours, the tour guide gives some interesting information, and then allows people to roam the room/section. That is not what happened at any point here. The tour guide talked and talked and talked, some of which was interesting, but a lot was just overload. And he NEVER let us look around. The entire tour it was, "Go to a room, huddle around him, listen to him talk, go to the next room, repeat."

Once my family and I realized that he wasn't going to let us look around before moving on to the next section, we started to hope that at least at the very end of the tour we would be able to roam and finally look at the castle. Nope. The second it was over, they told everyone to leave unless you were staying for tea.

To top it off, throughout the tour staff were running in and out of the rooms and people there for the tour constantly had to move out of their way.

I was highly disappointed with the tour guide and the fact that we never got to actually look at the castle at any point.

I do not recommend spending the money for this tour.

A great quiet spot for a weekend getaway. Close enough to Colorado Springs for shopping or sightseeing, but isolated enough to be refreshing. Try to get General Palmer's Suite in the Castle.

We attended a tour and tea. The tour was just ok. A little video gave some history and then turned very preachy unexpectedly. The castle and grounds are owned by a Christian organization and definitely pushed that onto visitors. There was little history/ information that the tour guide actually provided other than pointing out rooms and shuffling us into the next room. Quite disappointed in the tour and how much religion played apart in the tour. A little background about the organization that took it over and what they do would have been great but it was a constant topic throughout the entire tour and did not involve the castle.

Tea was nice and fun. We would consider going again for tea. The food was wonderful and the tea was good! Just be aware that if you have food issues to make sure you note them on your reservation so they can be accommodated!

Beautiful grounds with big horn sheep and turkey wandering around. Very neat castle. Very conservative atmosphere though.

Glen Eyrie is hands down one of my favorite places in all of Colorado Springs. A peaceful and restful place to escape from reality, you would never know this gem is in the middle of a busy city. The staff are friendly, the landscape is well maintained and the lodging accommodations are amazingly beautiful in their historical elegance. My husband and I have stayed twice in the Castle now and love it. I have attended a tea, been on the grounds for a prayer retreat and in every single interaction fallen more in love with this beautiful place. I can't wait to go back.

Anyone visiting this place for a tour or tea, or considering it for their own wedding should know that they discriminate against LGBTQ+ couples. This is an unacceptable practice in any industry, but especially in the wedding industry where the whole point is to celebrate love and support. Spend your money and time somewhere else.

From their site:

"We do not allow alcohol on the property and consistent with its Statement of Faith, The Navigators adheres to the Biblical belief that marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman. For more information, see our Wedding Policy and The Navigators Statement of Faith below."

"The Navigators requires that individuals who wish to use The Navigators property for purposes associated with weddings and marriage must share the religious beliefs of The Navigators concerning marriage and agree that all uses of the property for purposes associated with weddings and marriage, including the wedding ceremony and re-affirmation of vows, must be in accord with the religious beliefs and principles of The Navigators, specifically including those concerning the nature of marriage."

Experienced High Tea for 2,fantastic environment..Stunning Autumn colors..Even big horn sheep up close & personal. Today's Fun..

Beautiful place with great staff and wonderful tea!

What a beautiful and spiritual place. Just stayed for a mini reunion and I couldn't have asked for a better week weekend.

Amazing experience in a secluded, beautiful and peaceful setting where God seems to touch everything around you. The castle is remarkable, the food very good, the staff is fantastic, and the accommodations were first class for a very reasonable price. I recommend this incredible place very highly.

In the first hour, the tour guide talked then a movie was shown which repeated what the guide said. The tour guide talked extensively about everything. This very slow tour is not for someone wanting it to be done in less than 2 hours or someone wanting a tour of the house and grounds without the long, unnecessary details. The website should had included this information. We wasted too much time and money and didn't enjoy it.

Wonderful place for a spiritual retreat. Beautiful. Great hiking. Outstanding service. Very God focused.

A quiet and rustic place to lodge. Very beautiful with lots of wildlife like big horn sheep that wander through. Right next to Garden of the Gods. Has some beautiful hiking. Good food. Has WiFi but no TV in the rooms.

A great place to get away. Quite and full of wild animals. The staff is great.

Spectacular views followed with a "not-so" spectacular experience. I took a tour of the Glen Eyrie Castle, which is amazingly beautiful! However, the tour itself was a huge let down. First off, the staff weren't very helpful in finding where to go once on the property for the tour...I had to ask several employees. Next, most of the tours' information was given within a conference room watching a video, which I could have done that on-line myself. Then our tour guide didn't care to show us the entire castle...the tour only covered a portion of the first and second floors. There are five levels from what I researched and the tour guide never mentioned the rest of the grounds? The Navigators made the castle into one giant office building by changing the majority of the rooms into conference rooms, which tourists weren't allowed. They just shoveled us along to some of the rooms only allowing us to peak our heads into the room and was instructed not to go into. The whole tour seemed rushed and uninformative about the actual history of the castle. However, the guided tour had more than it fair share of information about the Navigators and their personal religious beliefs. There were refreshments and snacks lay-out throughout our tour that we weren't allowed to have either...all for the Navigators' staff. After words, if you paid for tea package you were sent to another room where they served you tea and pastries...it wasn't anything special. The typical tea you could buy at any local grocery store just at an extremely inflated price. It's quite apparent the Navigators staff are top priority at Glen Eyrie and any unaffiliated tourists are just an after thought. Overall, a beautiful place with less-than enjoyable experience (as-far-as the tour is concerned).

OK room and accommodation. Great views and nice hiking trails. Well kept ground. Interesting history. Wonderful breakfast. A bit strange religious theme throughout.

Beautiful property and wonderful atmosphere. Alyson is especially helpful and knowledgeable!

Absolutely fabulous experience, for countless reasons.
Wildlife, serenity, peace... beauty.
Kindness, over abounding kindness.
#God

This was in my opinion one of the most poorly done tours I have ever been on. Kids running all over and crying etc.
You could hardly hear the guide and when asked questions, the response was "I don't know".
Alot of the area we were not allowed to see as their was a conference or the bedrooms were rented out. You were told where the kitchen was but not allowed to see it.
I seriously could have learned more from reading a book and seeing pictures. Waste of time and money and I did not go to learn about the navigators.

Very beautiful area! We helped one of our friends propose to his girlfriend there and she was blown away by the views!

They block primary access to Queens Canyon hiking trails. This is unacceptable.

I took some friends here from California and we loved it, It's a beautiful place to walk around and have tea, if you like that sort of thing.. The castle was fun too, even for a bunch of near 30-year-olds. We recommend it to locals and visitors too!

An absolutely stunning place to visit! You will find all sorts of wild life out here. Sometimes a heard of mountain sheep casually hang out around the grounds and eat the grass or whatever interests them. Great place to take in the nature and appreciate the local nature. The air feels much cleaner and fresher than what you will find in the Springs or Denver downtown. The grounds are very well kept and they do monitor who comes in and out. Definitely a safe place!

Wonderful place, everything you might need for a conference of any size, and the beauty and peace of its surroundings make it quite a unique place. Plus, the food is amazing, good work chefs and cooks!

the castle is beautiful. The decor is elegant and rare. The staff is Kind and attentive. The grounds were amazing and we are excited to return in spring to see the gardens in bloom

After I left a review the general manager contacted me and offered me a refund on Jan. 28, 2019. As of Mar. 9, 2019 I still have not received it and now they are not responding to messages. When a business offers a refund due to a negative experience they should follow through. This company is founded on religious beliefs and they are breaking one of the commandments they say they follow.

Edit: The response to my review was clearly just posted to try and give an illusion to prospective guests that they care. I emailed the below address weeks ago, as requested, and never received a response. Seems poor customer service wasn't just a fluke...

I first called to ask if children were allowed at tea. A very friendly receptionist said yes and asked how old my child was. I said three and she said yes and three and under is free so I wouldn't need to get a ticket for her. I hadn't even asked, she just offered this info. When we arrived to tea, two VERY rude hostesses said our reservation was only for four people. I explained the fifth person was a child who was 3 and they informed me that I didn't pay for another ticket and the kitchen couldn't accommodate extra food even if I paid now (the place was half empty). I said that's fine she doesn't need her own food, but they said that didn't matter we didn't pay for another person and they wouldn't give her her own place setting. Even if I wanted her to have her own tea cup we would have to pay. They put a chair out for her, but wouldn't even give us an extra tea cup for her. She's three. She was going to drink water out of it and they had about thirty extra sitting on a back table. Even if the receptionist was wrong, the rudeness, unprofessionalism and inability of these ladies to even improvise in a situation like this was astonishing. Way to ruin tea for a three year old who was so looking forward to having a special tea party with her grandparents. Shame on you Glen Eyrie!!

Amazing grounds, great to see wildlife. Fun to experience nature and the beauty. The food was good overall nice place to stay.

We had a wonderful time. Snuck around the castle for a bit before having tea. The tea was AMAZING, holy cow. That tea was good. Food was meh. Three sandwiches (that were crusty and hard) some "air" cheeseballs, cookies and a fabulous matcha mousse.

Wow - this is a beautiful place to visit by physically and spiritually / emotionally!! We were able to stay in one of the bedrooms inside the castle itself, which was outstanding. It even include a breakfast that is far superior in both quality and quantity than anything we have had in years! The castle is amazing. The grounds are amazing. It is just an amazing place to both visit as a couple or with kids or if you want to hold a conference there. Go for it!

Better suited for a murder mystery party location than a romantic getaway.

I attended a tea party in the castle and really enjoyed my time. The food was unique and delicious, the service was wonderful, the tea was delicious, and the castle was lovely. Great experience

Most beautiful castle in the CO Springs area! Their Sunday High Tea is a must!!!!! Went on a girls date with my sister and mother and it was just like we imagined but even more breathtaking!

Christian based..
.beautiful castle....serene...peaceful
Tours of the castle....can stay on grounds for 150-170 nite

Hey, wanna see my view? 150 bucks+ a night to not be in the castle (AS ADVERTISED) but in a lodge in the bottom floor underground, and as I type this, I can see people getting into their vehicles 5 feet above my window. I was lead on to believe we would be staying in the castle, and instead I got an underground literal basement room.

Hey, gotta pee? Hope you re cool with the door open, because it won t close if you re on the toilet. This is absolute trash, and I m incredibly disappointed in this experience.

Save your money, book somewhere where at least you ll be getting the site you re promised, with the very least, a view.

I love having tea at Glen Eyrie. I make a point to go for tea every time I m in CO. They change the menu with the seasons. They offer a good tea selection. The cost is also extremely reasonable at $25/person.

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A very beautiful place with friendly people! My only complaints are that the tour was overcrowded for the small spaces we were being shown and the length of the tour. We were at the back of the group so we missed out on a lot of information from our guide and only got quick glances at rooms because we had to wait until everyone else moved on to see anything. Also the video in the beginning isn t really necessary if the guide is basically going to repeat everything we saw so that used up a lot of time. Overall it was neat learning about the founder of Colorado Springs, but I would recommend this tour for people staying at the castle.

Amazing! Renewing! Refreshing! My husband and I spent four nights and five days at Glen Eyrie in October to escape the fires and being tied to the home and family during covid-19. We arrived exhausted and at our whit's end. We left refreshed with a new sense of purpose and connection. The staff at Glen Eyrie is amazing. Everyone is friendly, kind, and helpful. The grounds at Glen Eyrie are fairytale like. There is a serenity there that eminates from the Holy Spirit. The hiking trails are fabulous. Glen Eyrie has become my all time favorite destination and vacation.

Had a wonderful stay. Spent 2 nights, one of them in the castle. Very peaceful! The tour was very informative and the tea party was lovely!

I have driven through the beautiful grounds once in the past. I called to set up a reservation for a tour. I had to leave several messages before they got a hold of me. They were not welcoming and did not seem kid-friendly. It seemed that when they found out I had two young children, they were less-available to schedule me in for a tour. It was very disappointing.

Incredible experience, beautiful grounds. High tea was an amazing experience.

The hiking rule is ridiculous. You used to be able to hike anytime but know you can only hike if you are an overnight guest, part of the tea, or part of the tour. I understand closing the punch bowls due to the fire but that excuse doesn t work for the rest of the hiking trails on property. Glen Eyrie is turning into a place more concerned with taking people s money than a place concerned with people s salvation. What a waste of an opportunity to share the Gospel with non-believers. Also Glen Eyrie is a historical landmark. It should be more open to people so they can learn the history of Colorado Springs but it s the most closed off area in Colorado Springs. The irony.

Beautiful Architectural design! Grass is green and very well taken care of! A wedding or reunion location!

This location was absolutely wonderful. Would recommend to anyone visiting or living in the area. The castle is tucked back on acres of land, and you're allowed to walk the property freely. I took a tour with an retired pastor, the tour costs $9 and worth every penny. The tour guide was very insightful into the history of the castle. The castle is now owned by The navigator organization so it is their mission to spread the word of Jesus Christ through their tours, however they welcome all. You can stay in the castle rooms. I would have loved to experience the tea within the castle but it is currently closed due to COVID. Be aware that if rooms in the castle are booked you may not get to see all rooms on the tour. This castle is a hidden gem and worth coming to see if you're in Colorado.

p.s. there is wildlife on the property that they mention to be aware of when walking the property.

Beautiful castle and landscape. We went on the 1:00 castle tour on Sunday, June 2 and it was enjoyable. There was almost nobody in or around the castle except our tour group of about 20. Our guide was informative and friendly. The tour starts with a 17 min video and the rest is walking around and inside the first and second floors. Most of the castle is hotel rooms so you don t get to see much. We stayed after the tour to walk around the halls and grounds. The tour was $8/person. There are some hiking trails if you go down the little side roads. The trail that used to go to the waterfall has been damaged due to the Waldo Canyon fire so it s closed. It was a very enjoyable afternoon and I would come again but maybe not pay for the tour.

Amazing place with lots of history. The kids enjoyed it too. This is a must see when in or near Colorado Springs.

It was a perfect COVID getaway. Very concerned about safety and sanitation. Lots of space for social distancing. Hiking trails for everyone from 9 to 90, on over 700 acres. They even have a hike to Garden of the Gods. If we were younger we would taken that hike instead we enjoyed the park benches and porch swings. One of the best steak dinners I have had in a long time. So tender that I could even cut it with plastic silverware they gave us. Complimentary breakfast was also great. Stayed in the Castle like getting to stay at a museum. A great place to escape the chaos of the world.

This place is absolutely stunning. It felt unreal! We stayed at one of the other properties (not the castle) rooms were comfortable and clean.The breakfast was really good and the view, even better. Everyone was really friendly. It's impossible not to feel at peace here.

Was an overnight guest in the Castle and attended the Madrigal Banquet.

Pros:
- Castle and surrounding groups are beautiful.
- Food at the Madrigal Banquet was both abundant and very tasty - much higher quality than I would have expected.
- Entertaining singers and actors.
- Brunch in the morning was also very tasty.

Cons:
- 30 minute wait at check-in for the room with long lines. They really need to either figure a way to speed up the process or have more people helping out.
- During the Madrigal Banquet, they seemed to be over-pushing the Jesus/God/Church messages. While I understand that most traditional Christmas music references the Christ figure, it was a bit weird to have a formal prayer and a number of reminders of the "true" meaning of Christmas during the production.
- No Alcohol policy. Felt strange not having a glass or two of wine with the meal, and the sparkling cider toast was a bit cheesy. Would have paid extra $$ for actual wine with the meal.
- Castle Rooms have paper-thin walls. We could easily hear everything going on in the hallway. In addition, the curtains don't block much light, leading to an early wakeup-call. Beds were also a bit squeaky.

Overall, the Madrigal Banquet was entertaining and a lot of fun, though recognize it's definitely pushing the Christ message through the evening. Overnight lodging wasn't really worth it outside of the "interesting" factor of saying you stayed in a castle. Neither one of us exactly slept soundly due to the squeaky bed, hallway noises and early lights through the windows.

I'd toured the castle as a child and was thrilled to learn we could stay overnight as individuals (not with a large party/event). The grounds are beyond peaceful and the staff was inobtrusive, warm and helpful. We stayed in General Palmer's suite, which was a purely wonderful experience. The castle tour alone is well worth the time, but staying overnight was unforgettable. There is no pressure and a surprising level of freedom to explore castle and grounds independently. This is a truly special experience. If you have the option, I can't imagine choosing to stay anywhere else.

This place is magical. I took my mom and niece when they were in town and we had a great time. We did the tea at 2:30 pm and it was such an awesome experience. The tea itself was delicious and the food too! I was actually surprised about how good the little sandwiches, cookies, and scones were. Definitely top with the cream! So good. It was like a full lunch for us. My mom is allergic to onions and most of their sandwiches had scallions. I called the day before and left a message. I thought it was great that they were able to prepare hers without onions. She has a hard time eating out. We had fun dressing up and taking pictures. Then we explored the castle and grounds on our own after. It was a sunny day and just gorgeous. The book store has a lot of cute gifts as well. We got some great pictures and had a wonderful time.

No one ever picks up the phone.. EVER. I have tried all their phone numbers and waited 30-45 minutes but still no one every reply back.

My review is simple... this is a 5 star experience. If you want to stay at a castle with tons of history, be surrounded by a staff that is superb and stay at a location that is located next to the Garden of the gods; then this is the place for you!

Our wedding was magical! Kelsi, the wedding planner was an absolute delight to work with. The castle was simply breathtaking and our day was perfect! My husband and I would definitely recommend Glen Eyrie!

Great grounds and castle tour but it's almost impossible to get ahold of anyone to make a reservation. They desperately need an online reservation system if they refuse to hire an operator.

This place is GORGEOUS! An amazing place for a nice relaxing get away, friendly staff, and lots of wildlife. I wish the showers had some grip on the tub to be more accommodating; and I wish there were personal fridges.

My husband and I recently stayed at the Glen in the Pink House. We were there for a one-day conference. On the morning of the second day, the staff approached our conference leader to let him know that they were filling a flat tire they noticed on one of the cars in the parking lot, which turned out to be ours. How wonderful of them to take care of this before we even noticed!

This estate is amazing and was truly ahead of its time. I totally recommend taking the guided tour. Expect to do a lot of walking and standing, it's worth it. Look for the fire hose hidden behind a wall. The extremely large fireplace in the great hall is one of a kind and a must see.
After we finished our tour they gave us a buy one get one free drink voucher.
Oh yeah, be sure to book your tour in advance because you may not be able to get a spot if you wait until you arrive.

Thank you for the wonderful hospitality and helping with our daughters wedding. It was perfect!!
Thank you

Jonathan Smith took us rock climbing and it was a blast!

The property is beautiful, and agree with the previous reviews that it is quiet and peaceful. BUT....this property is not described anywhere as a predominantly used retreat area for Christian families. I don't have an issue with that, but it should be disclosed up front. The rooms were nothing as shown in the photos, and the price you pay per night is what you would expect if you stayed in a Motel 6. We stayed 1 night with our kids, had to pay the price for 4 adults because they were not between the ages of 6 and 11 ($209 plus tax), and didn't even get the included breakfast because the family reunion/Navigator Christian gathering also being held on property occupied all of the tables and one of the members made us feel uncomfortable by saying we were in the wrong area. Needless-to-say, we couldn't wait to leave. We wanted to come back and actually spend the night in the Castle, but after our experience, we have decided against it. We spent quite a bit of money on an 18-hour stay. At least the beds were comfortable.

Wonderful historical tour of the Castle and great stories about the life and times of the Palmer family.

We stood @ the castle overnight for our anniversary 3/27/19 included in the rate was a morning gourmet breakfast that was nicely prepared. We woke up to the sounds & beauty of wild turkeys, bighorn sheep & geese. The property is absolutely stunning. In absolute awe with the architect throughout the castle which is so nicely preserved and the history behind it. other on site overnight accommodations are the pink house and the cabins spread through out this beautiful 700 acre property. I ve always referred to it as a hidden gem within the foothills of the mountain in the city

This is a fantastic place! It's in a beautiful area and has really good breakfast. Not to mention, the room was nice.

Just finished my second retreat in two years there. The scenery is absolutely beautiful. I came to get away and just be still, and this is a great place for that. There are some incredible rock formations and really nice hiking trails. Or you can just sit on a bench and enjoy the serenity and beauty.

Sometimes you will get the added bonus of a visitation from the herd of bighorn sheep or perhaps some deer or turkey. If not, you can still enjoy the squirrels and birds.

It is a very beautiful place with all the necessity's

My mom and I did a tour of the castle and loved it! Our tour guide Pete was awesome, and made our historic adventure even more magical. If you are doing this tour, request Pete! We will definitely be back. Navigators is doing a special job at making this place 5-stars!

Toured the castle and grounds. stayed for tea. awesome staff, very historical. hiking was the best.

What a pleasant surprise. Gorgeous campus. Comfortable rooms. Beautiful hiking trails!

Wonder retreat center. It was a finely manicured landscape and absolutely beautiful campus. The food was good for breakfast. It was an all you can eat buffet. It was quiet campus when we were there for 3 days. We stayed in the pink house which was a large house with sub rooms with locks. Not like a hotel of sorts.

Castle Tour & High Tea. The tour: Too much time sitting in a small stuffy room with very uncomfortable chairs, listening to a guide talk about the family & the "Navigators", and chide people for not asking questions so she could talk even longer. When she finally stopped talking about things that I had zero interest in, she told us we were gong to watch a video - that repeated everything she just said. Boring waste of time! Finally get out to the grounds, heading for the "Castle" and the tour guide kept stopping on the road to talk while cars drove by the group. I saw little of the "Castle" because of his meandering & endless chatter, which I'd tuned out and my friend & I began wandering away to take pictures of the "Castle" while they all stood in the road. I put castle in quotes because it isn't really. I was very disappointed to learn the rock is just a facade built over the original farm house! Many of the interesting parts of the house aren't even original. There are no original furnishings, the carpet is old & worn. So not what I expected from reading about it on the website. The High Tea: Not many tea choices and all were nothing special. Food was a letdown - best thing out of all the "courses" was a chocolate tulip with a creamy filling. This place is more about pushing religion & talking about the "Navigators", not the "Castle", which again is NOT REALLY A CASTLE. The High Tea is not a reason to go, there are many great High Teas in the area and this isn't one of them. If I hadn't been with my best friend it would've been so boring. We had a good time making fun of the tour guides and wandering around on our own to take some great pictures of the "Castle" that isn't! LOL

TLDR: It's not really a Castle. High Tea choices & food nothing special. Not recommended unless you're interested in learning about the "Navigators". Best High Tea so far in CO? Capital Tea in Denver, endless tea choices included & fabulous food!