Story Ideas & Media Kit
Get caught up on the latest news around the Pikes Peak Region.
COS Stories
It's Chill Chaser Season
- Colorado Springs is the perfect destination if you'd rather skip the slopes and enjoy some R&R instead.
- With a history deeply rooted in health and wellness, Colorado Springs has continued to thrive as a place to visit to relax, rest and recuperate.
- Spend time at one of the gorgeous spas around the region, or simply take in the healing mountain air.
- If you are coming to Colorado for ski season, consider flying in/out of the Colorado Springs Airport and spending a few days in the Pikes Peak Region.
- The Colorado Springs Airport is small, uncrowded and easy to navigate. The back ways to the ski towns from highway 24 are often quicker and more reliable than crowded I-70 from Denver.
Rapid Downtown Expansion
- Colorado Springs was very fortunate in that it faired better than most during the height of the pandemic.
- Our open spaces, outdoor attractions and fresh mountain air were appealing in a time of social distancing and reduced travel.
- Colorado Springs saw record-breaking growth in 2021, with 38 new businesses opened downtown.
- Downtown has continued to expand both East and South, and new food and beverage spots are popping up left and right.
- New downtown hot spots – The Well, Trainwreck, CO.A.T.I., ICONS, Tejon Eatery, Vine & Wheel, Stellina Pizza Café, White Pie
- Additionally, four of the five "City for Champions" projects – including the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum and Weidner Field – opened over the last 2 years. The final project, the U.S. Air Force Academy Gateway Visitor Center, broke ground earlier in 2022.
New Venues & Reopened Attractions
- With the recent addition of Bartolin Hall, the Convention Center at The Broadmoor has more than 200,000 square feet of flexible meeting and convention space.
- New downtown stadiums, Weidner Field and Robson Arena, both offer meeting and event space for sporting events, concerts, business meetings and more.
- The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway reopened in 2021, as well as a brand-new Summit Visitor Center on the top of Pikes Peak.
- The historic Flying W Ranch reopened in 2020 after nine years of closure from being destroyed in 2012 by the Waldo Canyon Fire.
Accessibility at the Forefront
- Visit Colorado Springs recently sponsored a study hosted by MMGY, which took a deep dive into the priorities and research processes of travelers with mobility concerns.
- Newly armed with these pain points, priorities and room for improvement, we've made it a priority of our organization to focus more on the accessibility of our city and attractions.
- Existing spots like the Summit Visitor Center on Pikes Peak and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum set incredible examples, and we look to continue to make Colorado Springs an inclusive and accessible destination.
- We have a new accessibility page on our website that we're improving daily to help visitors easily find the information they need while planning their trips.
Recent Accolades
Colorado Springs and area attractions consistently rank at the top of a variety of national and international lists. Below is a list of recent accolades.
2022
Tourism Sentiment Index – #82 Most 100 Loved Destinations Around the World for 2021
Explore Worldwide – #29 Cycling Friendly City in the U.S.
USA Today 10 Best – #3 Best Zoo (Cheyenne Mountain Zoo)
USA Today 10 Best – #2 Best Zoo Exhibit (Rocky Mountain Wild at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo)
USA Today 10 Best – #10 Best Train Ride (The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway)
USA Today 10 Best – #3 Best Safari Park (Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center)
Travel Awaits – #3 Most Pet-Friendly City in the U.S.
Tripadvisor – #9 Top 10 World Attractions (Garden of the Gods Park)Lawnstarter – #4 Best City for Hiking
ParkSleepPlay – #8 Most Picturesque Viewpoint in the U.S. (Pikes Peak)
WalletHub – #9 Most Pet-Friendly City in the U.S.
2021
U.S. News & World Report – #6 Best Places to Live in the U.S.
Livability.com – #9 Top 100 Best Places to Live
Facilities & Destinations Magazine – Top Destination Award
USA Today 10Best – #4 Best Destination Resort (Garden of the Gods Resort & Club)
USA Today 10Best – #6 Best Romantic Hotel (The Broadmoor)
USA Today 10Best – #10 Best Historic Hotel (The Broadmoor)USA Today 10Best – #10 Best Hotel Spa (Garden of the Gods Resort & Club)
USA Today 10Best – #5 Best Hotel Pool (The Broadmoor)
USA Today 10Best – #3 Best Hotel Pool (Garden of the Gods Resort & Club)
USA Today 10Best – #2 Best Hotel Bar (Rocks Lounge at Garden of the Gods Resort & Club)
USA Today 10Best – #3 Best Luxury Hotel (Garden of the Gods Resort & Club)
USA Today 10Best – #2 Best New Museum (U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum)
USA Today 10Best – #3 Best Wildlife Safari Park (Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center)
USA Today 10Best – #3 Best Zoo Exhibit (Rocky Mountain Wild at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo)
USA Today 10Best – #4 Best Zoo (Cheyenne Mountain Zoo)
USA Today 10Best – #6 Best Scenic Train Ride (Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway)
FishingBooker.com – #8 Best Fishing City in the U.S.
LawnStarter – #17 Best City for Hiking
TripAdvisor – #7 Emerging World Destinations
2020
MoneyPPL – #23 Best Places to Retire
New York Times – #13 on 52 Places to Go in 2020
RENTCafé – #2 Best Place to Work Remotely This Summer
TripAdvisor – #10 Top 25 Trending Destinations in the U.S. in 2020
TripAdvisor – #22 Top 25 Hotels in the U.S. (Garden of the Gods Resort and Club)
USA Today 10Best – #1 Best New Attraction (U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum)
USA Today 10Best – #2 Best Zoo Exhibit (Rocky Mountain Wild at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo)
USA Today 10Best – #4 Best Zoo (Cheyenne Mountain Zoo)
USA Today 10Best – #5 Best Motorsports Race (Pikes Peak International Hill Climb)
USA Today 10Best – #7 Best Hotel Pool (The Broadmoor)
USA Today 10Best – #9 Best Scenic Train Ride (The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway)
U.S. News & World Report – #4 Best Place to Live in the U.S.
Pikes Peak Region Fast Facts
- Colorado Springs is Colorado's second-largest city
- Founded in 1871 by General William Jackson Palmer
- Nicknames/taglines: Olympic City USA, City for Champions, The Springs
- Elevation: 6,035 ft./1,839 meters above sea level
- Population: City estimate (2019): 478,221, Metro area estimate (2019): 738,939
- Climate: Alpine Desert
- Average yearly precipitation: 18”
- Average yearly snowfall: 57"
- Average humidity: Morning: 63%, Afternoon: 40%
- Average yearly days of sunshine: 300+
- 2 state parks, Mueller and Cheyenne Mountain
- 9,000+ acres of parkland and 500 acres of trail
- El Paso County Parks has 7 regional parks, 6 regional trails, 19 open spaces and 6 community parks
- Major attractions: 55+
- Taxes: 8.2% sales tax, 2% lodging
- Annual visitors: 24 million
- Lodging rooms: 14,500(Pikes Peak Region)
- Meeting space: 450,000+sq. ft.
- 60+ sports organizations including four international sports federations and 24 Olympic National Governing Bodies are headquartered in Colorado Springs