GIVE THE GIFT OF HOSPITALITY
And A HO HO HO-lden House From Our Resident Santa Joe!
Santa Joe's in the Neighborhood. It's not every bed and breakfast that can claim notoriety by living next door to Santa Claus' summer home, but Holden House can! Innkeepers Sallie and Welling Clark recently invited San ta Joe over for a quick outdoor "socially-distanced" visit. Your Christmas and holiday list will be complete with our "NICE" place to stay to ensure your letter to Santa is delivered with our holiday themed B&B as a special gift of the season. This has been a challenging year for families who want to leave their wish lists with Santa. So, this year, Santa Joe decided to set up outside at his summer residence (next door to Holden House) to allow for social distancing, following local health guidelines and inviting free photos with kids and adults alike.
 At Holden House, the holidays are especially jolly with Christmas trees throughout the inn and happy cheer to make your stay relaxing and romantic. Y ou will find three side-by-side Victorian homes, situated in a residential area just one mile west of downtown Colorado Springs, one mile east of historic Old Colorado City and four miles from quaint Manitou Springs. Within our adjacent complex of three Victorian painted lady homes, we feature the turreted Main House, the Rose Victorian and the Carriage House, each with two separate and well-appointed suites.
While the world of travel has changed with an increasing number of alternative overnight accommodations, you can be assured that Holden House is dedicated to maintaining the overall quality, hospitality and cleanliness in our traditional boutique-style inn, combined with a delicious gourmet breakfast served each morning. Our off-street parking areas makes for easy in-easy out.
Full Breakfast, Welcome Cookies, 24 Hour Coffee/Tea and Afternoon Snacks and Wine/Beverage Included! Each morning, our guests are treated to a complimentary full breakfast that's included in your room rate and served in the main house dining room. An optional breakfast served ensuite is also available for an additional fee. In addition, we will prepare an individual evening snack tray and glass of wine or beverage that you can take to your suite or enjoy in one of our many common areas, indoor or out. Onsite you'll have access to a K-Cup Coffee maker with a limited selection, so feel free to bring your own K-Cups if you have your own favorites. We also have a hot water kettle and a hot tea selection available during your stay.
It's that time of year...and for us, Christmas and the Holidays are a time for celebration! Here at Holden House, you'll find touches of the season in each suite and throughout the inn to make your stay sparkle. Each of our six lovely suites feature private baths, sitting areas and fireplaces, the perfect place to cozy up on cool evening after a day of shopping or sightseeing. Just a short distance to historic Old Colorado City, Manitou Springs and downtown Colorado Springs, you'll find Holden House a great central location for shopping, dining, art galleries and outdoor places such as Garden of the Gods. Our resident InnCat Mingtoy loves to greet our guests in the Main House. If you prefer pet-free accommodations, choose the Rose Victorian or Carriage House suites.
STAY 3 AND GET 3RD FREE OR STAY 2 MIDWEEK AND RECEIVE 2ND NIGHT 1/2 OFF! Apply the package discount at online checkout or call 719-471-3980 to reserve with a personal innkeeper. #BookDirect now. (not valid on existing reservations or with other discount offers and must be mentioned at time of booking). Only valid by booking directly through our official Holden House website or by calling the inn directly.
Christmas Holiday Cutout Sugar Cookie Recipe
 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground mace (optional)
Cream butter and sugar. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir flour together with baking powder, mace and 1/2 teaspoon salt.; blend into creamed mixture. Divide in half. Cover and chill at least 1 hour. On lightly floured surface, roll each half to 1/8 inch thickness for thin cookies or 1/4 inch thickness for thicker cookies. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place on ungreased cookie sheet in pre-heated 375 degree oven, baking for 7-8 minutes for thin cookies or 10-12 minutes for thick cookies. Makes 4-4 1/2 dozen thin or 3 dozen thick cookies. Let cool, frost and decorate as desired for a festive holiday treat.
WHAT'S A GUEST TO DO?
 Did you know that NORAD Tracks Santa right here in Colorado Springs? Don't forget to track Santa via the website with games, music and books available until Dec. 24 to get everybody in the family ready for Santa’s annual trip, as well as tools to track Santa on the day of reckoning. You can call him at 877-HI-NORAD (446-6723) or email him. According to Wikipedia, on December 24, 1948, the United States Air Force issued a communique claiming that an "early warning radar net to the north" had detected "one unidentified sleigh, powered by eight reindeer, at 14,000 feet [4,300 meters], heading 180 degrees." The Associated Press passed this "report" along to the general public. It was the first time that the United States Armed Forces issued a statement about tracking Santa Claus' sleigh on Christmas Eve, though it was a one-time event, not repeated over the next several years.The  program originated before the actual formation of NORAD, as an annual event on December 24, 1955. According to legend, a Sears department store placed an advertisement in the Colorado Springs newspaper The Gazette, which told children they could place a call to Santa and included the number ME 2-6681. A call allegedly came through to Colorado Springs' Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Center as one digit was misprinted. Today, this is a local tradition, staffed by volunteers who answer an average 40 telephone calls per hour and the team typically handles more than 12,000 e-mails and more than 100,000 telephone calls from more than two hundred countries and territories on Christmas Eve. Several years ago (photo at right), Innkeepers Sallie and Welling Clark were invited to answer calls from excited children as volunteers and say it was one of the most heart-warming and fun volunteer opportunities they've ever experienced.
 Cowboy Christmas Jubilee at the Flying W Ranch Dinner and Show on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 4:30 and 7:30. Advance Reservations are required. The Cowboy Christmas Jubilee, set in a festival of twinkling white lights at the stunning, well-lit rock formations at the newly restored Flying W Ranch, will leave you with memories that will last a lifetime. After a mouth-watering Christmas dinner with Flying W smoked meats and all the trimmings, you will be captivated with a musical show performed by the world-renowned Flying W Wranglers. One of the most talented groups in Flying W history will perform a Western Christmas Jubilee that will make your heart sing, take you back to years gone by, and take you to a Babe in a manger where the redemption of the world began. The Wranglers captivate and bring joy to all ages.
 Skating Outdoors is an "ICE" and Cool Experience! Downtown Colorado Springs has officially opened an outdoor skating experience to welcome in the holiday season. Skate rental is included in your $9 admission price and due to current health guidelines, reservations are required. Make your reservation online at the Skate-in-the-Park website.
 Lighting up the holidays at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! Electric Safari is the only place in Colorado Springs where you can see over 85 one-of-a-kind light sculptures while celebrating the season with animals at the same time! Electric Safari was voted 3rd Best Zoo Lights in the U.S. in 2019 by USA TODAY and 10 Best Readers’ Choice. This year’s event will celebrate 30 years of holiday cheer, and Santa Claus himself will be listening to wishes December 11-23. Closed Christmas Eve, December 24. Celebrate the holiday season with sparkling lights, animals and fun for the whole family! Advance Tickets Required. Learn more about hours and admission to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
Our local restaurants for lunch and dinner offer take-out, delivery and some dining-outside/heated options during the current State and local Health Department requirements. Our innkeepers will point you to the best selections for up-to-date quality restaurants. As always, Holden House provides a complimentary full breakfast to get your day started, served socially distanced in the main house or ensuite to enjoy in the privacy of your room for an additional fee each morning. For those who want to dine-in for lunch and dinner, we have in-room and common area spaces and will provide utensils and dinnerware, so you can enjoy your leisurely meal at home with us.
UNIQUE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS -
Holden House embraces the Christmas season, with a traditional silver Christmas spider, signifying the symbol of sparkling tinsel and the Christ Child's birth.
"Once upon a time, long ago, a gently mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year, the day on which the Christ Child came to bless the house. Not a speck of dust was left, even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner in the ceiling to avoid the housewife’s busy cleaning. They finally fled to the farthest corner of the attic. ‘Twas Christmas Eve at last! The tree was decorated and waiting for the children to see it. The poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the Christ Child's visit. The oldest and wisest spider suggested that perhaps they could peep through the crack in the door to see Him. Silently they crept out of their attic, down the stairs and across the floor to wait in the crack in the threshold... READ MORE...
 As a AAA Diamond “Inspected” property, we continue to receive excellent housekeeping ratings, including our award for "Housekeeping Excellence".
Here at Holden House 1902 Bed & Breakfast Inn, our innkeeping staff has over 150+ years of combined experience in the hospitality, restaurant and medical fields with an average on-the-job training knowledge of 25+ years each. Our inn first opened its doors in 1986 and is still under the same ownership today of Sallie & Welling Clark, ensuring staying power and meticulous attention to detail. Here are just some of the ways in which we are continuing our commitment to provide a clean and safe stay, especially during the current public health situation. Read more...
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Innkeepers Sallie & Welling Clark (& Mingtoy) Welcome you to the
Christmas & Holiday Season
and Winter magic!
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VIRTUALLY YOURS...
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What Guests Are Saying...
"Another wonderful stay! This is my favorite place in the Springs. Thank you so much...just so sweet & friendly. Made me feel right at home. Merry Christmas and I will be back next year."
L.K., December 2020
May the Force of the Season
Be With You!
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1102 West Pikes Peak Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904
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