Colorado has no shortage of opportunities to travel back in time with an overnight stay in a turn-of-the-century building. From the frontier-style Western Hotel in Ouray to the stately Hotel Maxwell Anderson in Glenwood Springs, it seems you can find a hotel, lodge, or inn in nearly every Colorado mountain town and city that honors the Centennial State’s past.

One historical hotel to add to your staycation list? The Mining Exchange Hotel in downtown Colorado Springs. Originally built in 1902, the property at the corner of Nevada and Pikes Peak avenues housed the gold and silver stock exchange for more than 30 years before being converted into office buildings and, eventually, a hotel. In 2022, Kemmons Wilson Companies—best known for founding the Holiday Inn chain in the 1950s—purchased the building and orchestrated extensive renovations before reopening the 128-room hotel to the public this summer.

If you go, here are five ways to make your stay extra special.

1. Visit on a First Friday.

If your schedule allows, plan your visit to overlap with the first weekend of the month and head to the hotel’s second- and third-floor art gallery, the Vault. As a stop on downtown Colorado Springs’ year-round First Friday art walks, the Vault showcases a rotating lineup of works created by Colorado artists and curated by the local Auric Gallery. But don’t try to access the Vault any other time of the month—its doors only open on first Fridays.

The Mining Exchange Hotel building has been a downtown Colorado Springs fixture since 1902. Photo courtesy of Mining Exchange Hotel
The expansive hotel lobby includes several cozy seating areas. Photo courtesy of Mining Exchange Hotel
Each guest suite features nature-inspired wallpaper. Photo courtesy of Mining Exchange Hotel

 

2. While you’re at it, tack Thursday onto your stay.

On Thursday evenings, unwind with live jazz tunes alongside a Ryes Mary’s Baby (Old Overholt rye with peach liqueur, house-made rosemary syrup, and a splash of sparkling wine) and elevated bites at the hotel’s on-site bar, Golden Hour. Local jazz performance curator Dizzy Charlie’s hosts a weekly three-hour show (5–8 p.m.) for free in the lobby (or, when the weather is nice, in the outdoor courtyard).

3. Sip your morning coffee in the lobby.

Let’s face it, the in-room coffee options at hotels are often, well, weak. Mining Exchange avoids that issue by supplying guests with complimentary pours of locally roasted, high-quality coffee from onsite coffee shop BLK MGK. The one catch? You have to head to the lobby to enjoy it. But the expansive room’s inviting seating areas, coffee table books, and flood of morning light make the trek worth it. While we were there, we also ordered an avocado toast with a perfectly poached egg and a mango strawberry smoothie. And yes, we wore our pajamas.

The Vault gallery opens at the hotel every first Friday. Photo courtesy of Mining Exchange Hotel
Through the hotel’s Crystal Concierge service, guests can hold onto a crystal of their choosing during their stay. Photo courtesy of Mining Exchange Hotel
Treats from onsite coffee shop BLK MGK. Photo courtesy of Mining Exchange Hotel

 

4. Don’t miss the design nods to Colorado’s history and adventurous spirit.

The hotel’s recent renovation—led by St. Croix-based Chris Pardo Design—was designed to celebrate our state’s past and present. In each guest suite (starting at $135 per night), bold wallpapers include motifs inspired by Colorado’s flora and fauna, while plein air paintings by Colorado Springs native Emma Kelly are on display alongside framed, 19th-century stereographs and exposed-brick walls. In the hotel corridors, look for the original stock exchange vault doors; and in the lobby, spot mining stock certificates from bygone eras.

5. Try out the Crystal Concierge, because why not?

Colorado Springs has long been known for its healing attractions, from drinking from one of the eight Manitou mineral springs to a leisurely stroll through Garden of the Gods. But if you don’t want to leave your hotel room to reach a state of Zen, Mining Exchange Hotel offers a complimentary Crystal Concierge service to its guests.

Browse the hotel’s list of handheld crystal obelisks—selected by local wellness boutique Aurathentic—and let the front desk know which one you’d like to test out. They’ll deliver it to your room along with intention-setting prompts for each type of rock. Need a fresh start? Try out moonstone for new beginnings and intuition. Lacking an artistic spark? Go for citrine for a creativity and energy boost. Whichever crystal you choose, it’s yours for the duration of your stay (and $30 if you’d like to take it home).