You can’t miss it now alongside I-25. The new Hotel Polaris and U.S. Air Force Academy Hosmer Visitor Center have taken shape at the Northgate entrance to the academy with striking architecture and state-of-the-art amenities for guests. Together the landmark properties are forming a unique new front door experience to the Air Force Academy and Colorado Springs. The visitor center is scheduled to open next year, but the one-of-a-kind Hotel Polaris will open soon in November.
The resort-style Hotel Polaris is an exceptional destination featuring 375-rooms hotel and a modern experience meant to capture the grandeur and magnitude of the Air Force Academy, Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains. And it is deeply tied to the traditions and experience of the academy.
“Hotel Polaris takes its name from the North Star and what it represents in terms of finding your true north, and we feel like we’re going to be able to provide that immersive experience to help guests be able to find their own true north while they’re visiting the Pikes Peak region,” says General Manager Curtis Bova. “We’re very proud of the opportunity to serve the United States Air Force Academy by hosting their programs, alumni, current cadet families and veterans who frequent this area. And, of course, we’re very much open to the public in every way.”
Hotel Polaris is the first property to open as part of the TrueNorth Commons, which will eventually include commercial offices and retail space. The development is the fourth and final catalytic City for Champions projects, all of them big ideas for Colorado Springs designed to add economic vitality and boost tourism in the Pikes Peak region.
“While the Visitor Center was imagined as part of the City for Champions project, there has always been a vision to have a hotel built near it right outside of the Air Force Academy,” said Doug Price, president of Visit Colorado Springs, at a summer preview for media and local stakeholders. “The Air Force has three core values: ‘integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do.’ We were in need of a hotel that could strive for excellence alongside the academy and the state-of-the-art City for Champions venues. Hotel Polaris is delivering on that promise.”
“Hotel Polaris is poised to become our signature property in Colorado,” said Tom Luersen, founder and president of CoralTree Hospitality, at the preview.
That’s a noteworthy statement, considering the Denver-based managing company owns two Front Range hotels (the Magnolia Denver and The Eddy Taproom & Hotel in Golden), the boutique Hotel Columbia in Telluride and an extensive collection of residential resort properties in Vail and Snowmass.
But no hotel in the world is as connected to the traditions and community of a military service academy like Hotel Polaris.
Honoring Academy Traditions
Touring the hotel even in its early stages, I’m struck by the level of detail woven into the design of Hotel Polaris. Each of the entrances are colored like the academy’s rotating four colors assigned to each year’s class of cadets. Those colors, along with the triangular motif of the famous Cadet Chapel, are represented in the event space carpeting, and you’ll spot those distinctive triangular patterns throughout hotel decor. Mosaic tiling mirrors designs used in the entrances of other academy buildings. Guest room entrances are configured with four nearby doorways just like cadet dorms. Restaurant and bar names honor past academy classes and cadet squadrons. Black and white photography decorates guest rooms with images of the academy past and present. Rich blue and silver hues give nod to the academy while warm wood tones create an organic backdrop and walls of glass connect to the academy’s natural outdoor beauty.
“We really want to pay homage to the Midcentury Modern design aesthetic that the Air Force Academy has become world-renowned for,” Bova says. “We see this as an opportunity to expose the public to what cadet life is like, what that commitment is like.”
One of the most unique and exciting amenities at the hotel are its three flight simulators, where guests and locals can experience a real flight deck experience. Hotel Polaris will be the only hotel in the U.S. to offer a flight simulator experience. With two F-16 fighter jets and one 737 commercial airliner, the simulators will reproduce the flight deck experience with original seats, throttles, switches, pedals and yoke from real planes. A 220-degree wraparound screen will supply HD imagery. The simulators will be available by reservation
“You could have a dogfight with a friend and have the two jets compete against each other. The 737 commercial airline cockpit will allow for a pilot and a copilot with some seats behind it for observation,” Bova says. “It’s going to be one-of-a-kind. I think it will make an incredible complement to the immersive experiences the visitor center is going to present as well.”
The Bars and Restaurants of Hotel Polaris
Foodies can celebrate the fact that Hotel Polaris will add six restaurants and bars to the Northgate area. Each will be original, bringing welcome variety to the area where chains far outnumber independent eateries.
On the lobby level, Pamela’s will be an upscale full-service restaurant, serving all-day brunch and dinner service. Expect an approachable menu showcasing distinct American regional cuisines, from the chowders of the Northeast and cioppino from the Bay Area to grilled steaks.
The Aviator Rooftop Bar will offer expansive views of the academy and the Front Range, both through its floor-to-ceiling windows and its large patio. This will be the prime spot to be when the Thunderbirds practice for graduation or football game day flyovers. And the Aviator will enhance the experience with craft cocktails and sharable appetizers.
The Aviator name memorializes the class of 1964, which is among the most decorated and distinguished classes to graduate from the Air Force Academy with graduates who went on to become Rhodes scholars, four-star generals, astronauts and more.
Located on the hotel’s lobby level, Thunderbird Bar pays tribute to the Cadet Squadron-27 Thunderbirds and the academy class of 1987. At the academy, each cadet is assigned to one of 40 designated squadrons, fostering teamwork and camaraderie. Thunderbird Bar will feature cocktail flights and handcrafted drinks named in honor of the Squadron 27 Thunderbirds.
Doolies will be a lively spot on the lobby level named in honor of the freshman cadets who are known as “doolies.” The fun and casual family-friendly eatery will serve a menu focused on vintage diner classics, such as pizza, hot dogs, nachos and milkshakes. Doolies will also offer an outdoor patio overlooking the academy’s new Hosmer Visitor Center, where guests can play seasonal outdoor games. The flight simulators will be located on Doolies’ lower level.
Backyard Bites will offer seasonal snacks and drinks. The casual dining option will include a walkup window where guests can grab refreshments to enjoy by the plaza and pool. The Flat Iron Plaza, named in honor of the academy graduating class of 1994, will include outdoor fireplaces, inviting outdoor seating and sweeping views of the academy and mountains. The large swimming pool will be open seasonally.
A grab-and-go cafe in the hotel lobby rounds out the dining collection. It will offer a selection of coffees, teas and handheld snacks to keep guests energized throughout the day .
Spa, Events and Other Amenities
Hotel Polaris also will offer a full-service, six-room spa and wellness center. The spa includes a balcony where guests can relax and rejuvenate with Front Range views. A full array of wellness programs will be available, such as group hikes, sunrise yoga classes, and other classes and special events to connect guests with the academy and mountains.
Hotel Polaris also has 26,000 square feet of indoor event space for meetings, conferences, weddings and social functions. A dedicated floor for these functions features floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular views, as well as the second largest ballroom in Colorado Springs.
Hotel Polaris is expected to announce its November opening day within the coming weeks. Online reservations currently begin for Dec. 1. Winter rates start in the high $200s and low $300s. During the peak summer season, nightly rates begin in the $400s and $500s. Locals are welcome to enjoy the hotel’s restaurants, bars and amenities anytime.
“We’re very much looking forward to being part of the fabric of the north end of the Colorado Springs community,” Bova says.
You can read more about the U.S. Force Academy’s renowned architecture in Perfect Alignment: US Air Force Academy Polaris Hall from our archives.
