The Incline has become a potent metaphor for Manitou Springs – the town is rapidly on its way up.
I say this not only as a longtime Manitou resident, but as someone who has seen this town at its best and worst.
In fact, a year ago, I had my doubts about our future.
It seemed like half the businesses in town were for sale with no buyers in sight. The arcade was set to close, with the owner retiring. Even the biker bar next to the arcade, the Royal Tavern, closed its doors.
But something happened over the past year to ignite a Renaissance in this little valley town that the New York Times once called a “Hippy Mayberry.”
Investment.
We’ve seen both major outside investments and local investments that promise a huge, sustained impact.
The largest of those investments is in the Cliff House, already Manitou’s prime four-star lodging spot. The hotel was built in 1874, two years after the founding of Manitou. A major, tragic fire in 1982 left it abandoned, but for several families of raccoons. I remember when, after a $10.5 million restoration in 1997, a new crop of monied tourists was suddenly roaming our streets.
I don’t think they were finding much to buy in our T-shirt and rubber tomahawk shops. But eventually the town grew a bit more bougie, with a spa, gourmet olive shop and three wine bars.
But the battle for visitors in the world of Airbnb grew tougher in recent years, and the Cliff House had trouble keeping up. Then, in February, Mark Wyant, a Dallas developer with an impressive track record of resorting historic hotels, scooped it up for a song (and $4 million). He has already repainted the facade and torn up the entire front lawn and drive on the way to a multi-million-dollar renovation.
If the images of the renovation goals – like a gorgeously elegant bar in the lobby – are any indication, a restored Cliff House could put even more monied tourists on our streets.
Other purchases have come from insider investors, notably John Weiss, a longtime local resident known for his work as former publisher of the Independent and The Pikes Peak Bulletin. Weiss purchased (and saved!) the arcade last year, recently purchased Tubby’s Turnaround with the intent of upgrading the offerings, and is eyeing other nearby properties.
But even the smaller investments have the potential to transform Manitou. Look at the stylish new coffee shop and music venue Inclination, a couple of blocks up from The Loop. If this place establishes a foothold, it could spread Manitou’s retail strip up Ruxton Avenue. If that happens, it might actually convince the thousands of hikers who take on that grueling Incline trail each week to walk a few more blocks to spend a buck or two in our town.
It could happen.
Other key developments include:
- The anticipated opening of a Manitou storefront for Hunt + Gather, a gourmet food and artisan market with a location in downtown Colorado Springs.
- Tealeaf Books and Music, a tea and vinyl shop that promises to be a cool hangout spot for the GenZ’s (and me!). It’s set to open June 1.
- The impressive renovations of several eastside-of-Manitou motels, notably El Colorado Lodge and the Outrider.
- The planned reopening of the bottling plant on the west side (which I think should also become a music venue).
In all, there have been more than a dozen new businesses open here in the past year.
Two questions about all this
I’m excited about these developments, and they leave me with two questions.
The first question is, “Why now? What is spurring this rediscovery of Manitou among investors?”
Natalie Johnson, our new mayor, says she and other civic leaders have been asking the same question.
She thinks it might be related to some long-term investments that are starting to pay off.
Things like the new library, and the explosion of outdoor art aided by Manitou Arts Culture and Heritage (MACH) and the state certification of Manitou as a Creative District, among others.
Johnson thinks Manitou has many of the attributes of a Blue Zone, places throughout the world where people live longer.
“These are places with a better quality of life, that are walkable, have good food, and a vibrant community,” Johnson said.
Almost every one of the new businesses has joined the chamber, Visit Manitou Springs, which speaks to a community spirit that drives investment.
Jenna Wells, the director of Visit Manitou Springs, feels the new buzz in Manitou goes beyond financial investments.
“There’s a new spirit of working together,” Wells said. “It’s like, ‘Can I help you with recipes? Where are you sourcing that? How can I help you?’ It’s one owner helping another.”
My second question may be more significant than the first.
This question is for all the investors who have discovered the wonders, beauty and potential profits of Manitou. We’re grateful that you’re buying things that could attract more tourists and increase our quality of life. But will you also be investing in people?
Will you pay your people living wages? Will you support a workforce that’s not transient but is composed of people with real buy-in to the community?
I think about the businesses that have lasted decades in Manitou and Colorado Springs. They invested in a lot of brick and mortar.
But they also invested in people.
All opinion columns are the opinions of the writer and not the Pikes Peak Bulletin. The Epstein Files usually includes a mention of Donald Trump. This one doesn’t. Or didn’t, until now.
May 11, 2026: This article was updated to correct a misattributed quote, and to remove a reference that Manitou Springs is a Blue Zone and clarify it has the attributes but is not on the official list.
