When Hotel Polaris officials cut the ceremonial ribbon this month, officially declaring the 26,000-square-foot lodge open for business, it was the culmination of a massive joint venture that spanned more than a decade.

Hundreds of business, civic and military leaders gathered to witness the long-awaited grand opening, a ceremonial affair that included music, balloons, a color guard presentation by the Air Force Academy Prep School, and a performance by the Air Force Academy’s a capella group, the Aerodynamics.

It was more than an opening, officials said. It was a well-earned celebration.

A public/private partnership between the city of Colorado Springs, the Air Force Academy Association of Graduates, the Academy Foundation, and several other companies overcame supply chain and financing issues, delays and uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and various other speedbumps to open what officials called the “front door experience” to the Academy’s north entrance.

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“Like every real estate project, there are a series of ups and downs,” said Kevin Barosso, Polaris’ director of sales and marketing. “But a huge collaboration of different folks helped bring Hotel Polaris to life. It’s a great day!”

The vision for Polaris was conceived more than 20 years ago, after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks forced heightened security measures at military installations across the U.S., including the Air Force Academy. As a result of the stricter protocols, the number of visitors to the Academy reduced dramatically.

The goal was to build a visitor center and accompanying hotel just outside the Academy’s north gate that was not subject to the Academy’s security restrictions.

The Polaris opening on Nov. 14 represented the completion of the lodging arm of True North Commons, a 51-acre development that will include the new visitor center — scheduled to open in 2025 — and a pedestrian bridge to connect the two.

“As a graduate of this fine institution, this was a labor of love for me,” said Matrix Design Group board chairman Dan Schnepf, a 1983 Academy graduate. “By creating True North Commons, we were able to bring the Air Force Academy’s front door out to the community, unencumbered by security protocols.”

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Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade said the hotel will serve as a welcoming gateway to the north end of Colorado Springs.

“The name Polaris, I believe, was perfectly chosen,” Mobolade said.

“Just as the North Star has guided travelers for centuries, this hotel will serve as a guiding landmark for visitors, alumni, families and dignitaries who come to experience the excellence and tradition of the Air Force Academy.”

After officials from Polaris, Provident Resources Group, CoralTree Hospitality, and the Association of Graduates chronicled the hotel’s journey from idea to fruition, the ceremonial ribbon was cut, the attendees cheered, and Colorado Springs’ second-largest hotel was officially open.

“When you first walk in the doors, you really feel a connection to the academy,” Barosso said.

That connection is evident in nearly every square foot of the hotel, from the pervasive blue, silver and gold at the entrances, to the hallways designed to resemble cadet dorms. Hallways are decorated with images of the academy’s chapel.

Polaris’ six restaurants and bars are named after alumni donors or graduating classes. A 1950s-themed soda shop is called Doolies, the nickname for first-year academy cadets. The rooftop bar is dubbed the Aviator. About 90% of the hotel’s 375 guest rooms face the mountains, the Rampart range and the academy.

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“This hotel is more than a place to stay,” said Chris Hicks of Provident Resources Group. “It’s a symbol of our commitment to the academy, the city of Colorado Springs, and everyone who holds this region of Colorado dear.”

The 12,000-square-foot main ballroom is the second-largest meeting room in Colorado Springs, after The Broadmoor’s International Center. The hotel’s Superintendent Suite is designed to rival the presidential suite at other major hotels in the U.S. and abroad.

But Polaris has a feature that sets it apart from those hotels.

Guests and visitors can take flight in one of three flight simulators — two for F-16 fighters and one for a Boeing 737 Max — operated by Extreme Flight Simulation. The two “Fighting Falcon” simulators are networked together so two people can simulate mock dogfights, and each cockpit has a full array of controls. The 737 simulator is a full cockpit mock-up capable of duplicating real-time weather conditions.

Simulators can be rented by the hour or half-hour to both hotel guests and the general public.

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“Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast, if you’ve flown before, or if you’re just curious, you can have a great experience,” Barosso said. “It separates us from every hotel in the U.S.”

Nightly rates for rooms — featuring either a king-size bed or two queen-size beds  — range from about $250 to $300 in the off-season from November to March, to more than $400 for graduation, parent’s weekend or other special events, Barosso said.

When completed, True North Commons will include land for office complexes, retail buildings, restaurants, and the new visitor center. The visitor center is one of five “City For Champions” projects designed to boost tourism in the Colorado Springs area.

The Hotel Polaris opening brings Colorado Springs’ north side one step closer to a vision conceived more than two decades ago, officials said.

“We really look at ourselves, up here on the north side of Colorado Springs, as a gateway to the Pikes Peak region,” Barosso said.

“We’re the entrance to everything people come to visit Colorado Springs for. Whether you’re here to go for a hike in Garden of the Gods, take the Cog Railway up Pikes Peak, or visit the academy. Whatever brings you to Colorado Springs, we’re right at the front doors.”

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