Hours after the Cliff House’s new owner replaced colorful xeriscaped gardens in front of the hotel with artificial turf, residents raged on social media about it.
“It’s heartbreaking. I won’t be patronizing their veranda this summer for lunch. Their gardens were unmatched,” a local resident wrote on the All About Manitou Springs Colorado Facebook page.
“It looks stark and bare and lacks appeal, a FAR cry from the beautiful historic landmark it should look like,” another wrote. “How could he do this to it? It was so magnificent!”
“He totally missed the Manitou vibe,” a third put in.
More than 100 comments, almost all negative, piled on. On the hotel’s Facebook page, similar comments were deleted and the commenting function turned off, according to people who’d posted or tried to post comments.
New owner Mark Wyant said he likes the clean look of the artificial turf, urges locals to withhold judgement until the renovations are complete, and points out that this kind of artificial turf – a product called SYNLawn – is more environmentally friendly than others.
He’s right about that. SYNLawn is known as one of the more environmentally friendly artificial turfs. It replaces much of the petroleum-based polymers with bio-based materials like soybean oil and sugarcane – up to 60%, according to its website.
But it’s still artificial turf. Those who argue that it’s environmentally sound because it saves water might be correct if it replaced water-thirsty grass. But it replaced xeriscaped gardens that used little water.
The worst thing about artificial turf is that it puts more plastics in the environment, and in this case it has replaced pollinating flowers. That last part is especially pertinent, as Manitou has been designated the first official Pollinator District by the Denver-area Butterfly Pavilion.
Then there’s the legal aspect.
In 2024, the Colorado General Assembly passed a Water Conservation Act that prohibited some uses of artificial turf starting in January 2026.
“The act prohibits local governments from allowing the installation, planting, or placement of nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species on commercial, institutional, or industrial property,” the lawmakers wrote. Ball fields and putting greens are exempt.
Manitou Springs Public Information Officer Alexander Riegelmann said Manitou Springs codes have similar restrictions, and that “We are working with owners and management to determine how their landscaping can meet the requirements of Manitou Springs’ municipal code going forward.”
