AURORA, Colorado
In December 2018, the newest Gaylord Hotels property and latest member to Marriott’s Conference and Resort Network is set to open its doors. Just after leaving the Denver International Airport you can’t miss the massive structure standing alone in the distance that will soon debut as the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center. Less than 20 miles from downtown Denver, the resort offers easy access to and from the airport, downtown Denver and the outdoor playground that are the Rocky Mountains.
“There will be a complimentary shuttle from the light rail train that runs from the airport to Union Station in downtown Denver,” said Deanne French, director of marketing for Gaylord Rockies.
With all the food and beverage outlets—there are eight, indoor and outdoor pools, waterslides and lazy river, full-service spa and salon, outdoor basketball and tennis courts and 485,000 square feet of meeting space, the resort is a destination within itself and might be hard to argue a reason to leave.
Behind the Scenes at Gaylord Rockies
I had the opportunity to take a hard hat tour of the resort and to see how all of these amenities and offerings will come together. Tying in local flair, a restored caboose car that was once used on the Santa Fe Railroad is a centerpiece of the Grand Lodge entry way at the Gaylord Rockies Resort.
Multi-story glass windows flank the facade of the Grand Lodge allowing for a spectacular view of the Rocky Mountain Front Range, which can be enjoyed throughout the resort.
The 1,501-room Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center will offer eight restaurants and bars, from the brand’s signature steak house to the grab-and-go marketplace. According to French, local brewery Dry Dock in Aurora will brew two beers exclusive to the property.
“Our dining outlets will include Old Hickory, the signature restaurant within the Gaylord brand, Vista Montagne, an Italian restaurant, Monte Jade, serving Asian-fusion cuisine and Mountain Pass Sports Bar which will have Colorado’s largest television screen. It will be 75 feet by 14 feet,” French said.
The real highlight of the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center for groups is its nearly 500,000 square feet of meeting, exhibit and event space that can accommodate up to 10,000 people. There are 84 meeting rooms and additional spaces include the nearly 175,000-square-foot Aurora Exhibition Hall, 34,781-square-foot Colorado Ballroom and outdoor event lawn with capacity for 2,000 attendees.