1-Hour Broadmoor History Segway Tour

See Broadmoor without wearing out your shoes. This small-group Segway ride gives you an easy way to cover the neighborhood’s grand sights, from Starr Kempf’s wind-powered metal sculptures to the old Donald Ross golf course. I like the thorough beginner training and the fact that the group is limited to six people. You get a personal ride, not a slow-moving parade.

I also like the tour’s mix of art, architecture, gardens, and local history. The guide keeps an eye on traffic while sharing stories, which matters when you are moving through public streets. The main drawback is the short format: at about one to two hours, you see selected highlights rather than getting a full tour of Broadmoor.

Key points to know before you book

• Small groups of six or fewer: The limited size should make instruction and conversation easier.
• Training comes first: You receive a helmet and a lesson before riding into the neighborhood.
• Starr Kempf’s sculptures: See the huge wind-powered metal structures and hear about the dispute they caused.
• Donald Ross golf history: The route passes the 17th green and 18th tee of Broadmoor’s original course.
• Penrose House and its apple trees: El Pomar’s entrance includes a fountain, old apple trees, and, quite often, deer in the shade.
• $89 buys convenience: The price pays for equipment, instruction, a guide, and a low-effort way to cover more ground than walking.

Why a Segway works well in Broadmoor

Broadmoor is the kind of area that rewards a slow look but covers more ground than you may expect. A walking tour can leave you choosing between seeing more streets and saving your energy. On a Segway, you move between the main points without spending the whole outing on foot.

That makes this a useful choice if you want an overview early in your Colorado Springs visit. You get a feel for the neighborhood, its public art, its golf tradition, and the Penrose family connection in one compact outing. You can then decide where to return later, if a sculpture, building, or garden catches your eye.

The route uses public streets, so the tour is not simply a ride around a private attraction. You are moving through a working neighborhood and need to pay attention to the guide, traffic, and other road users. That is part of the experience, though it also means this is not a completely carefree amusement-park ride.

The small group helps here. With a maximum of six people, the guide can keep the pace together and watch how everyone handles the Segway. The personal instruction is especially useful for first-time riders.

Getting comfortable before the first turn

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

Before heading into Broadmoor, you put on a provided helmet and receive a riding lesson. This is one of the tour’s strongest features. A Segway may look simple, but learning how to start, stop, turn, and control your speed makes the rest of the trip much more enjoyable.

The training is not treated as a quick formality. Happy, also identified as Steve, has been praised for taking time with instruction and helping first-time riders feel at ease. That matters because nervous riders tend to focus on the machine instead of the scenery. Good preparation lets you look up, listen, and enjoy the ride.

You should still be comfortable following directions and operating a Segway in an outdoor setting. The tour is described as suitable for most people, but the supplied information does not give a detailed list of weight, age, or mobility requirements. If those details affect your decision, ask the operator before booking.

Starr Kempf’s giant wind-powered sculptures

One of the most unusual stops is Starr Kempf’s collection of metal sculptures. These are not small garden decorations. They are giant structures designed to move with the wind, giving the stop an industrial and almost otherworldly feel.

You have about five minutes here, with admission included. That is enough time to see the sculptures, hear how they work, and learn about the controversy they caused. The story adds useful context: public art is not always universally welcomed, especially when it changes the look of a residential area.

This stop gives the tour a welcome change of pace. Broadmoor is known for polished homes, manicured grounds, and grand institutions, but Kempf’s work brings something stranger and more personal to the route. The sculptures encourage you to look beyond the usual postcard version of Colorado Springs.

The limitation is time. Five minutes is a quick visit, so you should not expect a long art talk or time to study every detail. Still, the stop earns its place because it is distinctive and easy to miss if you are only driving through the area.

Riding past the Donald Ross golf course

The route continues through Broadmoor, passing the 17th green and the 18th tee box of the original Donald Ross designed course. You do not play a hole or enter the course as a participant. Instead, you see an important part of Broadmoor’s identity while riding past it.

Donald Ross is associated with classic golf-course design, and the guide explains the course’s history as you go. This is a good example of how the tour uses the ride itself. You are not stopping for a long lecture. You are moving through the area while learning why a particular stretch matters.

For golfers, this may be one of the most meaningful parts of the trip. For everyone else, it still helps explain the grand scale and carefully planned character of Broadmoor. The course is not presented as an isolated attraction. It fits into the neighborhood’s broader story of leisure, wealth, and the Penrose legacy.

Because you are riding along streets, your view may be brief and dependent on the route and traffic conditions. Think of this as a guided glimpse rather than a full golf-course visit.

Penrose House, El Pomar, and the apple trees

The tour glides around the entrance to Penrose House Conference Center, also known as El Pomar. This was the private residence of Spencer and Julie Penrose, and the setting gives you a direct connection to the people who shaped much of Broadmoor’s character.

The name El Pomar relates to the apple trees on the property. You can see those trees near the entrance, along with a beautiful fountain. Deer are often seen resting in the shade, although wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

This is a short stop of about three minutes, but it adds a softer note after the metal sculptures and golf-course history. The apple trees make the name memorable, while the fountain and grounds show the more formal side of the estate.

I would keep expectations in check. You are gliding around the entrance, not taking a full indoor tour of Penrose House. If you want detailed information about the building’s rooms, private life, or wider history, this ride will only provide an introduction.

Even so, the stop works well in the sequence. You move from public art to golf history, then to a former private home and its gardens. The variety keeps the short tour from feeling repetitive.

What the guide adds to the ride

The guide is central to the experience. A Segway can help you move efficiently, but it cannot explain why a sculpture caused controversy or why the golf course matters. The guide supplies the stories that turn a pleasant ride into a history tour.

Happy, also referred to as Steve, has been singled out for careful teaching, attention to traffic, and extra time with the group. Those details tell you what to value here. You are not simply handed a machine and sent off behind a guide. You receive help getting comfortable, then practical oversight as you ride.

Traffic awareness is particularly important. The route passes through streets rather than a closed course. A guide who watches nearby vehicles while keeping the group informed gives you more confidence and lets you focus on the surroundings.

The guide also appears willing to spend extra time when needed. That is valuable for a group with mixed skill levels. A first-time rider may need more practice, while a confident rider may want more local history. The small group makes those adjustments more realistic than they would be on a large tour.

Is $89 a fair price?

The cost is $89 per person. That is not a bargain-priced sightseeing outing, but the value depends on what you want from your time in Colorado Springs.

You are paying for more than transportation. The price includes a Segway, helmet, instruction, a guide, and a small group capped at six people. You also avoid the effort of walking between scattered points in Broadmoor. If riding a Segway is part of the appeal, the tour combines the activity with local history rather than charging you separately for a rental and an unguided ride.

The price is easier to justify if you are new to the area, short on time, or unsure about riding a Segway alone. The guide’s instruction and traffic awareness add practical value. The experience also gives you a broad introduction to several parts of Broadmoor in one outing.

The value is weaker if you prefer long museum visits, detailed architectural tours, or a slow walk with plenty of time at each stop. The visit to Starr Kempf’s sculptures lasts about five minutes, and the Penrose House stop lasts about three minutes. The golf-course portion is viewed while riding. This is a highlights tour, not an in-depth study of each place.

Timing, weather, and practical planning

The advertised duration is about one to two hours, while the experience is described as a one-hour Broadmoor history tour. Allow some flexibility, since instruction and group pace can affect the total time.

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel it, you are offered another date or a full refund. That policy is useful in Colorado Springs, where weather can change your plans, but you should avoid placing this ride immediately before a fixed-time flight or major appointment.

Confirmation is provided when you book, and the mobile ticket makes the experience easy to carry on your phone. The meeting point is near public transportation. The activity ends where it begins, at North Cheyenne Cañon Park.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Inside that window, the amount paid is not refunded, and changes are not accepted. The cut-off uses local time, so check the clock carefully if you are booking from another time zone.

The tour has a 4.9 rating from 15 reviews, with 100 percent recommending it. That is a strong result, though the sample is small. The most consistent praise centers on instruction, fun, local information, and the guide’s attention to safety.

Who will enjoy this ride most?

I would recommend this tour to first-time Segway riders who want patient instruction. It is also a good fit if you want to see Broadmoor without committing to a long walk.

Couples, families with suitable participants, and small groups may appreciate the six-person limit. The compact group should make it easier to ask questions and hear the guide. People who enjoy unusual public art will especially like the Starr Kempf stop.

Golf fans get an added reason to book because of the Donald Ross connection and the view of the 17th green and 18th tee. Anyone interested in the Penrose family will also enjoy seeing El Pomar and learning how the apple trees connect to its name.

I would hesitate to recommend it to someone who dislikes balancing, operating small vehicles, or following a guide through public streets. It may also disappoint you if you want to enter Penrose House, spend a long time at the sculptures, or explore Broadmoor entirely on foot.

Should you book the Broadmoor Segway Tour?

Book it if you want a fun, low-effort introduction to Broadmoor, especially if you are new to Segways. The careful lesson, small group, and guide attention make the $89 price more reasonable than a basic equipment rental.

Skip it if your priority is an in-depth visit to each sight or a full walking tour. The stops are brief, and much of the experience happens while you ride.

For the best fit, plan it as an early orientation to the neighborhood. You will cover several different highlights, hear the stories that connect them, and learn which places deserve a slower return visit.

FAQ

How long is the Broadmoor History Segway Tour?

The experience lasts approximately one to two hours. It is also described as a one-hour tour, so you should allow some flexibility for training and group pace.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins at North Cheyenne Cañon Park, 2120 South Cheyenne Canyon Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is six people.

Is Segway instruction included?

Yes. You receive a helmet and a lesson in Segway riding before setting out.

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.

What does the tour cost?

The price is $89 per person.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience begins.