Is Glen Eyrie worth it? Honest pros and cons
Yes — Glen Eyrie Castle & Conference Center is worth a visit if you want a historic, conference-oriented retreat with on-site trails, Castle tours, and a formal Afternoon Tea. It’s not for travelers seeking a resort with a pool, nightlife, or an on-site spa; the property is alcohol-free, pet-free, and oriented toward retreats and meetings.
In this guide
Location & setting
Glen Eyrie is at 3820 N 30th St in Colorado Springs, set inside Queen’s Canyon next to Garden of the Gods. The property sits on large grounds of natural red-rock scenery and offers paved access to nearby trails and viewpoints.
Garden of the Gods is very close — several sources list it as about a 10-minute walk or about a 1.1-mile drive — so many visitors combine a stay at Glen Eyrie with time in that park.
- Address: 3820 N 30th St, Colorado Springs, CO 80904
- Close to Garden of the Gods (about 1.1 miles)
- Large grounds with private hiking trails and rock formations
| Nearby attraction | Approximate relation |
|---|---|
| Garden of the Gods | About 1.1 miles / short walk or very quick drive |
| Cave of the Winds | Listed among nearby attractions (drive required) |
| Pikes Peak | Listed as a regional day-trip (drive required) |
Rooms and lodging — what to expect
Glen Eyrie offers a mix of historic Castle rooms and several lodges. Room types listed by the property include Cedar Ridge Lodge, Oaks Lodge, Standard Room (Lodge Room), Deluxe Room (Castle Room), and Big Horn Lodge.
There are 95 overnight guest rooms across seven buildings, with 17 uniquely restored rooms inside the historic Castle itself. Expect a range from castle-period decor in Deluxe Room (Castle Room) accommodations to simpler lodge-style rooms in Cedar Ridge Lodge, Oaks Lodge, and Big Horn Lodge.
- Room types named by the property: Cedar Ridge Lodge; Oaks Lodge; Standard Room (Lodge Room); Deluxe Room (Castle Room); Big Horn Lodge.
- 95 total guest rooms across the property; 17 Castle rooms inside the historic Castle.
- Free Wi‑Fi in guest rooms; shared refrigerators, microwaves, and laundry facilities available on-site.
| Room type | Typical bed setup |
|---|---|
| Cedar Ridge Lodge | 2 Queen Beds |
| Standard Room (Lodge Room) | 1 King Bed |
| Deluxe Room (Castle Room) | 1 Queen Bed |
Dining, Afternoon Tea, and food options
Glen Eyrie is not an all-inclusive property and breakfast is available for an additional surcharge. The property operates the Castle Dining Room for group meals and a Gift Shop & Cafe for coffee, pastries and light sandwiches.
The Castle Music Room hosts the Afternoon Tea service — a signature experience with soup, salad, a tiered tower of sandwiches, scones and desserts, plus specialty teas. Tea reservations are required and seating is limited.
- Afternoon Tea takes place in the Castle Music Room; reservations required (can be made up to 60 days in advance).
- Gift Shop & Cafe serves coffee, pastries and sandwiches.
- Breakfast is available for a surcharge (not automatically included with room rates).
- Property policy: alcohol is not served or permitted anywhere on site.
| Dining option | Notes |
|---|---|
| Afternoon Tea (Castle Music Room) | Reservation required; menu includes tiered sandwiches/scones; vegan/gluten-free options available (upcharge for vegan) |
| Castle Dining Room | Casual group dining / comfort food; used for retreat meal service |
| Gift Shop & Cafe | Coffee, pastries, snacks and hot sandwiches |
On-site activities and access to nature
Glen Eyrie runs daily Castle Tours (times may vary) and offers private hiking trails across the estate, plus gardens, a small waterfall, picnic areas and a terrace. The grounds are suited to low-impact outdoor activities and photography.
Because the property is adjacent to Garden of the Gods, guests can easily reach major red-rock trails and viewpoints from Glen Eyrie. Guided local excursions (jeep tours, Segway tours, falconry demonstrations) are commonly available to book nearby.
- Daily Castle Tours (advance booking required for some tours)
- Private hiking and biking trails on the property
- Rose Garden, waterfall, picnic areas, and terrace with outdoor seating
- Nearby guided experiences: Garden of the Gods Jeep or Segway tours, falconry classes
| Activity | On-site or nearby |
|---|---|
| Castle Tours | On-site (daily) |
| Private hiking trails | On-site |
| Garden of the Gods hikes / tours | Nearby (short walk or drive) |
Meetings, events and suitability for groups
Glen Eyrie is explicitly a retreat and conference property with more than 17,700–18,000 square feet of meeting space across multiple rooms. The Great Hall is the largest indoor venue, with a maximum auditorium capacity of 200 and many configurable layouts.
The property lists several meeting rooms by name and capacity (for example, Big Horn Lower and Big Horn Upper), and also offers outdoor event space capable of holding large gatherings. Note: the property no longer hosts weddings on-site while the Castle undergoes upgrades, though photography sessions are permitted.
- More than 17,700–18,000 sq ft of meeting space across 13 rooms
- Great Hall (2,152 sq ft) — auditorium capacity up to 200
- Big Horn Lower (1,244 sq ft) and Big Horn Upper (546 sq ft) have published capacities
- Outdoor venue space listed for significantly larger crowds (Visit Colorado Springs lists capacity up to 2,000)
| Meeting room | Notable capacity |
|---|---|
| Great Hall | Auditorium 200 |
| Big Horn Lower | Theatre ~100 |
| Big Horn Upper | Theatre ~40 |
Practical details & property policies
Standard check-in begins at 4:00 PM and check-out is before 11:00 AM. The front desk has limited staffing hours; outside those hours guests check in at the Gatehouse. Reservations require a credit card guarantee and a minimum-age policy applies to the reservation holder.
Glen Eyrie is a non-profit property run by The Navigators and enforces several policies travelers should know: no alcohol or marijuana on the grounds, no pets (service animals allowed), smoke-free buildings, and extra fees apply for policy violations. Free self-parking and free Wi‑Fi are provided.
- Check-in: 4:00 PM (late check-in allowed up to midnight subject to availability); check-out: before 11:00 AM
- Reservation holder must be at least 21 years old (operators’ pages contain some inconsistent age wording; 21 is the commonly cited figure)
- No alcohol or marijuana allowed anywhere on site
- Pet-free property (service animals welcome); $250 cleaning fee for violations
- Free self-parking and free Wi‑Fi in public areas and rooms
- Rollaway beds and cribs are available for an extra fee (property lists a $10/day charge for these items on some pages)
| Policy or amenity | Notes |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | Not permitted or served on property |
| Pool / spa | No on-site pool; no verified full-service spa |
| Parking | Free self-parking on site |
