El Pomar Estate, Historic estate in Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, United States.
El Pomar Estate is a Spanish-style house in Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, begun as a single-story residence by Grace Depew around 1909–1910 and raised to two and three floors by Spencer and Julie Penrose after 1916. Its outbuildings include a gate lodge, carriage house, gardener's cottage, chauffeur's cottage and teahouse, and the interiors keep Vermont Corona and Belgian black marble.
Spencer and Julie Penrose acquired the property in 1916 and extensively expanded the original Spanish-style house into a grand residence. Their investment transformed the site into a cultural destination that hosted events and collections for generations.
The name El Pomar is Spanish for "the apple orchard", recalling the fruit trees of William F. Dixon's ranch. The estate later served as the Julie Penrose Center, the first Catholic retreat center for women west of the Mississippi, run by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati from 1944 for almost 50 years.
El Pomar now operates as the Penrose House Nonprofit Conference and Education Center, so access is tied to its use by nonprofit organizations rather than to public museum hours. The grounds sit near The Broadmoor in the Broadmoor area of Colorado Springs. Visitors with business there should arrange entry through the foundation in advance.
During Prohibition, the estate contained hidden doors leading to a secret wine cellar, showcasing the architectural cleverness of that era. These concealed spaces reveal how residents found ways to navigate the strict laws of the time.
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