AURORA, Colo. — Gaylord Rockies Resort has redesigned and reconstructed its Grand Lodge five years after its original grand opening.
The new grand atrium redesign includes a new English pub and new large bar area with seating for up to 248 people.
Gaylord Rockies said the updates are part of a multi-year investment plan by ownership group Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. The updates come a year after resort was in the news for a devastating HVAC system collapse that injured six people.
“The average hotel renovates every seven to ten years, but we are adding more spaces for group and leisure customers only five years after opening our doors in 2018,” said Suzy Hart, general manager of Gaylord Rockies Resort. “We are laser focused on continual investment in both meeting spaces and food and beverage experiences that are beyond the extraordinary. It’s an impressive feat for the team and the reason we are trailblazers in bringing people together.
The Fortunate Prospector
Gaylord Rockies' new English pub is located on the right side of the Grand Lodge.
With seating for 134, the English-inspired pub also has nods to Colorado's mining history with woodwork that balances both modern amenities and classic design elements from the Victorian era.
Gaylord Rockies said the pub's menu pulls inspiration from traditional English roots featuring fish and chips, bangers and mash, Shepherd’s pie, and sticky toffee pudding.
The beverage menu features Pimm’s Cup and the Single-Handed Sailor (Bacardi Superior, demerara syrup, lime juice, and Angostura bitters), along with a 10-draft beer tower.
Embers Lodge Bar
Located in the Grand Lodge where the water features used to be, the new Embers Lodge Bar has a 360-degree wrap-around bar with seating for up to 248.
The bar has two grand fireplaces, Colorado-inspired cocktails and panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains.
Gaylord Rockies said the bar's menu features oysters and barbacoa sliders as well as drinks such as Ziggy Stardust, featuring a choice of vodka and spice level (mild, medium, hot), topped with a flamed cinnamon pour over.
The Embers Lodge Bar has replaced the bar, Pinyons, and the Après Ski Village space in Gaylord Rockies' Grand Lodge.
Updates at Gaylord Rockies Resort
The enhancements follow updates made in 2023, including a redesign of the resort's outdoor lawn spaces and the addition of dining terraces for Old Hickory Steakhouse and Mountain Pass Sports Bar.
According to Gaylord Rockies, more updates are planned, including two current restaurants (Monte Jade and Vista Montagne) re-concepting to become Garden + Grain and Copper Table, respectively.
The resort is also planning to open a redesigned Old Hickory Steakhouse and a new 9,000-square-foot event space for weddings and other social gatherings.
Legal trouble
Gaylord Rockies was recently sued by several victims who were injured when an HVAC system fell into a pool at the resort in May 2023.
Aurora Fire Rescue said six people were injured when a large portion of steel ductwork collapsed onto the pool below that had 50 to 100 people in it on May 6 of last year.
Two of the victims, a grandfather from Florida and a 13-year from Arkansas, were taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The lawsuit says the girl's injuries were so extensive that she would have bled to death without immediate treatment.
A local union for sheet metal workers asked for an independent investigation into the HVAC collapse, saying it was worried that the investigation the resort said it would conduct would not be transparent enough.
9NEWS reached out to the Gaylord Rockies, as well as their parent company Marriott, for comment regarding the union's demand but they did not reply.
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