Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort
Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort is a historic lodge on the west side of Colorado Springs that has become one of the Pikes Peak region's best spots for acoustic music. It is a place to stay and ride and relax but musicians know it as the home of the Black Rose Acoustic Society open mic and showcase and a weekly bluegrass jam. With live music five nights a week and a cozy bar called the Watering Hole the lodge is a true gathering place for players and listeners alike.
A Historic Lodge Reborn
The Buffalo Lodge dates back to 1919 and was once billed as Colorado's most modern Cottage City. The four acre property sits between Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs less than a mile from Garden of the Gods. In 2016 Torie Giffin bought the lodge and turned her passion for cycling into a reality. With the help of about 50 community volunteers she reopened it as a bicycle themed resort. Today it is a family owned business run by three generations of cyclists and it welcomes riders and travelers from all over the world. Giffin received the Don Brown Entrepreneur Award from the Southern Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce in 2024.
The Vibe
Bikes are everywhere on the campus and murals by local artists decorate the grounds. Rooms and cottages are fully refurbished with bicycle themed decor and no two are alike. There is a heated outdoor pool and a lodge fireplace and even glamping tents. The Watering Hole bar is the social heart of the property with a daily happy hour from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The crowd is a friendly mix of cyclists and hotel guests and west side locals. You do not have to be staying at the lodge to enjoy the music.
Black Rose Acoustic Society Open Mic
On the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month the Black Rose Acoustic Society hosts its open mic at the lodge. Performers get a three song set. There is no advance sign-up so it is first come and first served. Arrive by 5:30 PM to register. Music runs from 6:00 PM to about 8:40 PM followed by an open jam until 9:00 PM. Depending on when you sign up you may not play until later in the evening so plan to stay a while. The sound setup is excellent for an open mic with a 10 channel mixer and stage monitors and Shure SM58 vocal mics and instrument mics and DI boxes. You can bring your own preamp or pedal board but set it up right before your turn.
Black Rose Showcase
On the first and third Wednesdays the stage hosts the Black Rose Showcase for performers who want a longer set. Each act gets a 30 minute slot which allows five or six songs. The house band Old No. 1 opens the night with a 45 minute set and registered acts follow every half hour. Showcase slots must be booked in advance through the Black Rose website and there are no same day sign-ups. The lodge schedules acts about five weeks ahead for promotion. Black Rose membership is required though first time performers get a one time exemption. The showcase usually runs from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM with an earlier start in the winter months.
About the Black Rose Acoustic Society
The Black Rose Acoustic Society was founded in 1994 when musicians gathered at the Black Forest Community Center to play together. For more than 30 years the nonprofit has championed handmade acoustic music on guitars and mandolins and fiddles and upright basses. It runs dozens of jams and open mics and classes each month and presents concerts that have featured artists such as Ricky Skaggs and Chris Thile and Tommy Emmanuel. The Buffalo Lodge is one of its most important homes.
Sunday Bluegrass Jam
Sunday afternoons at 3:00 PM the Colorado Springs Pickers Bluegrass Jam gathers at the lodge. Bring a banjo or fiddle or mandolin or guitar or bass and join the circle or just grab a drink and listen.
Live at the Lodge
The lodge hosts live music five nights a week with a focus on folk and Americana and bluegrass. The LIVE at the Lodge series brings local bands to the stage on Friday and Saturday evenings often with food trucks on site and most shows are free. Thursday evenings have featured Unplugged at the Lodge and karaoke nights. The lodge also partners with the Manitou Music Foundation on concerts.
BuffaloGrass Music Festival
Each fall the lodge hosts the BuffaloGrass Music Festival. The 2026 edition runs October 2 through 4 with 16 bands and food trucks and artisan vendors and wellness activities. Headliners include Big Hooray on Friday and Stillhouse Junkies on Saturday and The Pickpockets on Sunday. It is the lodge's only ticketed music event of the year. Tickets are available at bicycleresort.com/buffalograss.
More to Do
Beyond music the lodge offers yoga on Tuesdays and Saturdays and group bike rides on Saturday mornings along with hikes and dance lessons and a holiday market. It also produces the Pedal the Springs podcast. The annual Walk Run Roll for Daniel event raises money for Children's Hospital Colorado.
Good to Know
Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort is located at 2 El Paso Blvd in Colorado Springs CO 80904. Parking is limited on music nights so please park at the back of the property and avoid the spaces in front of guest rooms. Call (719) 634-2851 or visit bicycleresort.com for the latest calendar and visit blackroseacoustic.org for open mic and showcase details. Schedules can change so confirm with the venue or host before heading out.
