COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- As the freeway goes, it's a little more than an hour away from Denver. But the Broadmoor Resort and Hotel in Colorado Springs is a gateway to another world and a throwback to another era.

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See Bill's Trip To Colorado Springs

On special assignment with a one tank trip, Bill Clarke gets us to the Broadmoor and beyond.

We got our first taste of the history of the region at a scenic overlook near the Air Force Academy. Pike's Peak can be seen in the background.

Be prepared for some slowdowns driving through Colorado Springs. For more than 80 years, the front drive at the Broadmoor has welcomed visitors from all over the world.

Now, the drive and the main building are closed for remodeling. Still, the west and south buildings have that five-star elegance that's made the Broadmoor more than just your average foothill resort.

But these days, you don't have to spend big to live big. Right now, very nice rooms are going for as little as $105 a night, and some of the amenities are part of the deal.

For all the luxuries, all the elegant touches, the Broadmoor is more than just a destination, it's a gateway.

Our next stop is up the road a few miles, it's a jungle way up here. There's an awful lot to see at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, but you've got to remember there's an awful lot of walking and about half of it is uphill. It's always nice to see wild animals in their natural habitat.

Upward past the zoo -- to the Will Rogers' Shrine of the Sun. The Cheyenne Mountain highway is a paved, two lane toll road that, well, once you look past the flimsy fence you get a hint of what lies below.

The Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun was opened in 1937 but the view here is ageless. It was built by Spencer Penrose, who built the Broadmoor to honor his friend,humorist Will Rogers. It's 2,000 feet above the flatlands, with a view of the Broadmoor down below and Colorado Springs in the background.

It may not be as high as Pike's Peak but from 8,000 feet above sea level you get some idea of what Katherine Lee Bates was writing about when she wrote the words to "America the Beautiful."

She probably never envisioned anything as plush as the Broadmoor on the land below, maybe never fully realized how great the country she loved would become.

But she knew a good thing when she saw it and this was the place. The Air Force Academy is another great one tank trip. But for now, because of security restrictions, it's off limits.

Trip Notes: The Broadmoor Resort and Hotel was built by mining magnate Spencer Penrose back in 1918. At one time the property included the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, a rodeo grounds, and in addition to the Ice Arena which hosted countless Olympic medalists there was Ski Broadmoor. Yes, this five-star, five-diamond resort at one time had its own ski area on the property.

Like any major hotel, the Broadmoor has been affected by the fall-off in travel following the WTC attacks in September. For that reason, and because the main building is undergoing a six month, $35 million renovation, management has chosen to offer some deep discounts on rooms in the west and south buildings: as low as $105 a night from now through early next spring, single or double occupancy.

These rooms are on a par with the best hotel rooms in the state. But even more significantly, a weekend getaway to the Broadmoor gets you headed toward the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun and a view of the Colorado Springs area to rival Pikes Peak.

More Information:

• The Broadmoor
• Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
• Will Rogers' Shrine of the Sun