Glen Eyrie Castle
Glen Eyrie Castle is the turreted stone home that Colorado Springs founder General William Jackson Palmer built in a red-rock canyon next to Garden of the Gods. Today you can tour the castle, sit down for afternoon tea in the Music Room or spend the night on the historic estate.
Glen Eyrie Castle in Colorado Springs, CO
Palmer founded Glen Eyrie in 1871. He was a Union brigadier general in the Civil War, president of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad and the founder of Colorado Springs, and he and his wife, Mary “Queen” Mellen, raised their three daughters on the estate. After Palmer died in 1909, the property changed hands several times. Texas oilman George Strake bought it in 1938 as a summer home, but a flood in 1949 damaged the land and the family sold. In 1953 The Navigators, a Christian ministry, bought Glen Eyrie as its headquarters after raising a $110,000 down payment in just six weeks, and it still runs the castle and grounds today. Towering sandstone fins rise above the lawns, and herds of bighorn sheep, deer and wild turkeys roam the property.
The castle isn’t open for drop-in visits, so you’ll need a reservation for a tour, tea or overnight stay. Guided castle tours, which include grounds access, run Monday through Saturday at noon and 2 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. They cost $14 per person and are released on the first of each month for the following month. Tea at the Castle is served in the historic Music Room and Library, with hand-crafted teas, soup, salad, sandwiches, canapés and pastries for $40 per person. Through October it’s served Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 3:45 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Starting Nov. 1 it moves to Thursday and Friday from noon to 3:45 p.m. and weekends from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Glen Eyrie is in the middle of a multi-year castle upgrade, and on Dec. 27 it offers a two-hour Christmas Supertour that visits every room in the castle, including some newly renovated spaces.
Photo Gallery
Photo credits: The Glen Eyrie Castle in Spring by Eazypeezyphotography (CC BY-SA 4.0); Glen Eyrie Castle by GlenEyrie (CC BY-SA 4.0); Glen Eyrie castle in by David Shankbone (CC BY 3.0); The Glen Eyrie Castle in Winter by Eazypeezyphotography (CC BY-SA 4.0); Glen Eyrie Castle tea room by David Shankbone (CC BY 3.0); Glen Eyrie Castle Music Room by GlenEyrie (CC BY-SA 4.0); Glen Eyrie Castle fireplace by GlenEyrie (CC BY-SA 4.0); Glen Eyrie castle carriage house by David Shankbone (CC BY 3.0); Bighorn sheep on Glen Eyrie Castle lawn by GlenEyrie (CC BY-SA 4.0). Images via Wikimedia Commons.
News & Events
Check tour dates, the seasonal tea menu, Christmas events and overnight packages on the official Glen Eyrie website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do at Glen Eyrie Castle?
- Guided castle tour: Explore General Palmer’s castle and grounds with a guide for $14.
- Tea at the Castle: Enjoy a seasonal afternoon tea in the Music Room and Library.
- Stay the night: Book a room in the castle or one of six other lodges on the property.
- Bookstore and coffee: Browse books and gifts in the historic Carriage House.
- Wildlife watching: Look for bighorn sheep, deer and turkeys on the lawns.
What is nearby Glen Eyrie Castle?
- Garden of the Gods: Glen Eyrie’s next-door neighbor, reachable by car in a minute or on a paved trail.
- Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway: Ride to the 14,115-foot summit from Manitou Springs.
- Manitou Cliff Dwellings: Ancestral Puebloan-style dwellings in Manitou Springs.
- Cave of the Winds Mountain Park: Cave tours and cliffside thrill rides.
- Old Colorado City: Shops and restaurants in Colorado Springs’ original town.
Can you visit Glen Eyrie Castle without a reservation?
No. You can’t walk through the castle without a reservation for a tour, tea or overnight stay. Guests with a reservation may hike the property’s private trails after signing a waiver at the Front Desk. Call 719-265-7050 to book, or reserve on the Glen Eyrie website.
When are Glen Eyrie Castle tours?
Guided castle tours run Monday through Saturday at noon and 2 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. They cost $14 per person, and tickets are released on the 1st of each month for the next month. The Front Desk in the Carriage House is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Are there any tips for visiting Glen Eyrie Castle?
Book tea up to 30 days ahead, since weekends fill fast, and note that parties are limited to eight people. Pets aren’t allowed on the property or in vehicles, except service animals. Snapshots are welcome for tour and tea guests, but professional photography needs a contract. Pair your visit with a walk in Garden of the Gods next door.
Glen Eyrie Castle is located at 3820 N. 30th St., Colorado Springs, CO 80904. Call 719-265-7050 or visit gleneyrie.org to reserve a tour, tea or overnight stay.