1-Hour Broadmoor History Segway Tour

The most unusual sight comes first: Starr Kempf’s giant wind-powered metal sculptures, turning in the Colorado air beside the Broadmoor area. Then you glide past a Donald Ross golf course and the former Penrose home, where apple trees, a fountain, and sometimes resting deer add quieter charm.

I like the small group of no more than six, which makes instruction and street awareness easier. I also like the careful Segway lesson, since guide Happy, also called Steve, has been praised for taking time with beginners and watching traffic while sharing local stories.

The main consideration is price: $89 per person for roughly one to two hours is not a bargain if you want a long historical walk or extended time at each stop. This is best for covering ground with little exertion, not for lingering inside attractions.

Key points about the Broadmoor ride

• Starr Kempf’s wind sculptures: See enormous metal works built to move with the wind, and hear about the controversy they caused.
• A real driving lesson first: You receive a helmet and Segway training before setting off.
• Small-group attention: The tour accepts a maximum of six people, useful for first-time riders.
• Donald Ross golf history: Pass the 17th green and 18th tee box of the original course.
• Penrose House and El Pomar: Glide around the entrance, apple trees, fountain, and possible deer.
• Easy cancellation window: Cancel at least 24 hours before the start for a full refund, with weather cancellations handled by a new date or refund.

Why Broadmoor works well on a Segway

Broadmoor is the sort of area where a walking tour can feel scattered. The points of interest are spread along neighborhood streets, golf-course edges, and landscaped grounds. A Segway lets you move between them without spending all your energy on the gaps.

That does not mean you are simply being carried past the sights. You still steer, balance, stop, and pay attention to the road. The reward is a larger route than you could comfortably cover on foot in the same short period.

I see this as a sightseeing sampler rather than a full historical tour. You get a handful of distinctive places, a guide’s commentary, and a pleasant ride through the Broadmoor neighborhood. The format gives you a sense of the area before you decide if you want to return to any one spot on your own.

The group limit matters here. With no more than six people, the guide can keep an eye on riders and give direct help during the practice session. That is especially useful if you have never used a Segway. The published feedback gives guide Happy, also known as Steve, credit for thorough training, traffic awareness, and taking extra time when needed.

Getting started at North Cheyenne Cañon Park

The meeting point is North Cheyenne Cañon Park at 2120 South Cheyenne Canyon Road in Colorado Springs. The tour returns to this same point, so you do not need to arrange a separate pickup at the end.

The first minutes are practical rather than scenic. You put on the provided helmet and learn how to operate the Segway before entering the route. That training is not filler. A short lesson can make the difference between spending the ride tense and spending it looking around.

You should plan to listen closely during this part. The guide needs to see that you can handle the machine before the group moves into the Broadmoor streets. The small group makes it easier to ask for another explanation or take a little more practice time.

The tour is listed as about one to two hours, while its title calls it a one-hour tour. I would keep your schedule flexible for the longer end of that range. The final length can depend on training time, traffic, and how much the guide stops to explain.

The area is near public transportation, which may help if you are building a day in Colorado Springs without driving to every stop. The available details do not specify a particular bus route or parking arrangement, so you should confirm those points separately before setting out.

Starr Kempf’s moving metal sculptures

The first scheduled stop is one of the most memorable. Starr Kempf created large metal structures designed to move with the wind. Their scale and motion give you something that a standard street tour would likely pass too quickly.

You spend about five minutes here, and admission is free. That short stop makes sense for a roadside viewing point: you can look at the forms, hear the story behind them, and understand why they became controversial without turning the tour into an art lecture.

The controversy is part of the appeal. These are not anonymous decorations placed to fill an empty patch of ground. The guide explains the dispute connected with the sculptures, giving you a bit of local character along with the visual spectacle.

I would pay attention to the way the structures move, not just their size. Their wind-powered design means the scene changes with the air. You will not get the same effect from a still photograph, which is one reason this stop earns its place on a moving tour.

There is also a practical limit. Five minutes gives you an introduction, not a detailed study of Kempf’s work. If modern sculpture is a main interest, you may want to treat this stop as a preview and allow more time later, if the site can be revisited independently.

Passing the Donald Ross golf course

The ride continues through Broadmoor, passing the 17th green and 18th tee box of the original course designed by Donald Ross. This part of the route is about setting and history rather than a formal stop with an admission ticket.

The name Donald Ross matters because he was a major golf-course designer, and the course’s original design gives the Broadmoor area a strong connection to the sport. You hear about that background as you move past the final holes.

The Segway is useful here because you can see more of the course area without interrupting the flow every few minutes. You are not entering the course to play or touring its facilities. You are viewing the 17th green and 18th tee box from the route.

That distinction is important when judging the tour. Golf fans may appreciate the chance to connect a famous designer with the actual course layout. If golf means little to you, this may be a pleasant passing scene rather than a major highlight.

Still, the sequence helps explain Broadmoor’s identity. The neighborhood is not only about grand buildings and gardens. Its streets are tied to a long-running golf tradition, and the ride gives that context without asking you to spend half a day on a dedicated golf visit.

Penrose House, apple trees, and El Pomar

The next stop brings you to the entrance of the Penrose House Conference Center, also known as El Pomar. This was the private residence of Spencer and Julie Penrose, and the tour lets you glide around the entrance rather than enter the house.

The apple trees are a particularly nice detail. They gave the house its name, and they make the stop feel more personal than a simple look at a formal property. You can also see a fountain, and deer are often found resting in the shade.

The stop lasts about three minutes, with free admission. That is enough for a quick look and a short explanation, but not enough for a full house tour or an extended garden visit. You should expect an exterior glimpse, not access to private rooms or a long architectural inspection.

I like the contrast with the Kempf sculptures. The first stop is large, mechanical, and tied to public controversy. Penrose House offers trees, water, and a quieter connection to the people who lived there. The route gets variety without needing a long transfer.

Deer are described as appearing quite often, but they are not guaranteed. If you see them, enjoy the moment and keep your expectations sensible. Wildlife is part of the setting, not a promised performance.

What the guide adds to the ride

A Segway tour can easily become a string of quick photo stops. The guide is what turns the ride into a local tour rather than simple transportation. Happy, also called Steve, is described as giving thorough instruction, watching surrounding traffic, and adding stories about Broadmoor.

Those details matter more than a long list of facts. You need someone alert to the road while the group is learning and moving. You also want commentary that connects the sculpture, golf course, and Penrose property instead of treating each as an unrelated sight.

The small group supports that approach. With six people or fewer, the guide can keep the pace together and notice if a rider needs help. It also avoids the feel of a large line of machines moving through the neighborhood.

The feedback points to an instructor willing to spend extra time when needed. That is valuable for a first-time rider, but you should still expect to take an active role. The Segway is not a passive vehicle, and you need to follow the lesson and pay attention to traffic.

Is $89 a fair price?

At $89 per person, this sits above the cost of many self-guided walks but includes equipment, helmet use, instruction, a guide, and a small-group route. The key question is not simply how many minutes you receive. It is how much you value covering Broadmoor without the effort of walking between scattered sights.

I think the price makes more sense for visitors who want a short, guided activity and have never ridden a Segway. The lesson reduces the worry of figuring out the machine alone, while the guide provides local context that you would not get from simply rolling through the streets.

The value is weaker if you mainly want interior access or long stops. Starr Kempf’s sculptures receive about five minutes, Penrose House about three, and the golf-course view is made while passing. You are paying for the route, instruction, and commentary, not museum-style time at each location.

There is also value in the group size. A six-person maximum is more personal than a large city tour, and direct help can make the experience more comfortable for beginners. The positive feedback gives particular weight to training and traffic awareness, which are important parts of what you are buying.

Since the tour is often booked 26 days ahead, planning early is sensible if your dates are fixed. That advance booking pattern does not guarantee every date will sell out, but it suggests you should not leave this activity until the last day of a short Colorado Springs visit.

Who should book this tour

I would choose this for you if you want to see several Broadmoor highlights in a compact outing. It suits first-time Segway riders, couples, small families, and anyone who prefers covering ground without a long walk.

It also fits a schedule that needs a one-to-two-hour activity rather than a full-day commitment. The return to the original meeting point keeps the outing tidy, and the small group makes the lesson less intimidating than a crowded tour.

Golf enthusiasts and people interested in local art will get extra value from the Donald Ross and Starr Kempf stops. The Penrose House section may appeal to you if you like the connection between a residence, its name, and its apple trees.

I would think twice if you dislike balancing on a moving machine, want a slow architectural tour, or need guaranteed wildlife sightings. The published information says most people can participate, but it does not give detailed equipment or mobility requirements. Ask the operator directly if you have a specific concern.

Good weather is required. Colorado weather can affect the schedule, so do not place this activity before an important timed departure unless you have room to adjust. If poor weather cancels the ride, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Booking and cancellation details that matter

You receive confirmation when you book, and the ticket is mobile. That keeps the arrival process simple, though you should still have the meeting address ready: North Cheyenne Cañon Park, 2120 South Cheyenne Canyon Road.

Free cancellation applies when you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start, giving you a full refund. Inside that 24-hour window, the payment is not refunded, and changes are not accepted.

The cut-off uses local time. If the operator cancels because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund. That policy is useful for an outdoor ride, especially if your Colorado Springs plans are tight.

Should you book the Broadmoor Segway tour?

Book it if you want a friendly, low-exertion way to connect several Broadmoor sights, and if a careful lesson matters to you. The combination of wind-driven sculpture, golf-course history, and Penrose House gives the short route more variety than a simple neighborhood cruise.

At $89, I would not call it the cheapest way to see the area. I would call it a fair choice for a small group that values instruction, a guide who watches traffic, and a chance to cover more ground than walking allows.

Give yourself flexible timing, book ahead if your dates are firm, and expect brief exterior stops rather than long visits. For the right rider, this is a compact and enjoyable introduction to Broadmoor, with enough local detail to make the ride worth more than the machine itself.

FAQ

Where does the Broadmoor Segway tour begin?

The tour begins at North Cheyenne Cañon Park, 2120 South Cheyenne Canyon Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at North Cheyenne Cañon Park.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately one to two hours. Its title describes it as a one-hour tour, but the published duration allows for up to two hours.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of six participants.

Is Segway instruction provided?

Yes. You receive a helmet and a lesson in Segway riding before the group begins the route.

What sights are included?

The route includes Starr Kempf’s wind-powered metal sculptures, the 17th green and 18th tee box of the original Donald Ross designed golf course, and the entrance to Penrose House, also called El Pomar.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $89 per person.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded or accepted. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered a different date or a full refund.