Work is expected to begin later this year on a business and community center located on the southwest side of Colorado Springs.
The El Pomar Conference Center, at 1661 Mesa Avenue, sits within a lush historic estate that was founded by Spencer and Julie Penrose, who built the grand Broadmoor Hotel in the city in 1918.
The Penroses were well known for philanthropic work that led to the creation of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, and the Penrose Heritage Museum, among other projects.
The grand Penrose residence, designed and built between 1910 and 1916, was partially renovated in the early 1990s by a non-profit group called the El Pomar Foundation. It is used today for meetings, retreats, and trainings.
Now the group has secured a permit from the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department to build more meeting and office space.
The renovation, in a structure that is regarded as an example of the Mission Revival design style, is also expected to include additional room for archival material.
January 9, 2026
By Garry Boulard
Photo courtesy of History Colorado
