Blue Skies Inn Bed and Breakfast

Flowering morning glory vines climb and curl whimsically over the walls of this pretty robin's-egg blue suite. Extravagant boughs of lavender silk flowers edge a canopy floating over a cherry bed. A gas corner tiled fireplace completes the romantic setting that overlooks the waterfall in our Secret Garden. Enjoy breakfast in your attached Sun Room, then relax in the pale green jetted tub-for-two in a tile aviary bathroom illuminated by a twinkling candelabra. This luxurious suite, a romantic favorite, also features a double-headed walk-in shower. $225

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Stenciled with ferns in restful shades of green, this suite will remind you of an evening's stroll through deep woods. The queen Murphy bed disappears into a wall cabinet if you need just a living room for a special occasion. Enjoy watching flames dance in the cheery electric fireplace. Alcove sitting room with daybed. A huge Roman bathroom is tiled to the ceiling in shades of mossy green and features a giant walk-in shower-for-two. Stargazer lilies decorate the painted tiles. $155

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Since we're called Blue Skies, we also named a suite after our reason for being in Colorado. Dream under a filmy canopy in a sky blue room with handpainted clouds adrift on the walls. Bedside gas fireplace for warmth and romance on frosty nights. Bask in the large sun-filled sitting room, or unwind in the jetted tub-for-two in our bathroom tiled in many shades of blue with a dazzling rainbow border. $215

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Painted shades of glorious blue to portray the artist's vision of the Universe, this suite has stars, galaxies and comets to amaze you. A shimmering silver canopy streams over the celestial bed. Flames dance in the gas corner fireplace. View the seasons of our Secret Garden from your windows. Enjoy our bathroom fancifully tiled in salmon and cobalt blue with mirrored "time windows" while taking a bubblebath in the soaking tub-for-two, or relaxing in the double-headed walk-in shower. $205

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Feel as though you've discovered a remote sandstone canyon wall that ancient Indian tribes used for their symbolic art images. Painted in many hues of apricot and pale sandstone shades, this suite has a warm and relaxing atmosphere. Read our pictograph books in this suite to interpret meanings of painted SW Indian symbols in the mural. A chiminea electric fireplace illuminates the scene. Enormous shower featuring hand-painted tile in Southwest colors. The Indian Rock Art I suite fully meets, and in some areas, exceeds, ADA specifications. $145

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Warm colors and ancient Indian images in our first rock art suite have been a favorite, so we've created a variation upon that theme. This suite has painted pictographs and pictograph tiles chosen for their relation to the story of our B&B's historic site. A chiminea electric fireplace enhances the southwestern theme. Our spacious bathroom is tiled in sandstone colors and features a large double-headed shower for two. Ute Indians camped here in the last century and left arrowhead flakes that we have found. Did you know that the Utes were called the "Blue Sky People?" $150

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An elegant composition of leopard spots and tiger stripes, this suite is painted as golden parchment. African masks and decorative borders add bold colors. Watch flames dance in the tiled fireplace. Snuggle in to read a book in the quiet sitting room which looks out into the woods. This bedroom has a view of our Secret Garden. Splash in the giant shower for two that is tiled in dazzling black and white with a few sparkling surprises tucked in the borders. $175 Check Availability/Make A Reservation

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In earlier days, Ferdinand, the gardener of the Briarhurst estate, planted fruit orchards and many flowerbeds. In his honor, we have designed a suite in restful hues of green and lavender with sweeping hand painted floral bouquets over doorways, mirrors and bed. Enjoy the gas bedside fireplace while tucked under a brocade bed canopy. Hand painted floral tiles add to the varied hues of burgundy in the bathroom where you'll find a large soaking tub for two and a walk-in shower. A sunny sitting room completes the suite, with a breakfast area overlooking our courtyard. $195

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Sky themes are our favorite, so we've painted our most romantic suite with evening sky, shading from pink to lavender and filled with sun-streaked clouds. Enjoy the end of your day among the rosy clouds of sunset. Our bed, surrounded by Roman columns and overhung with lush flowers, creates a fanciful setting for cuddling in front of the gas corner fireplace with dancing flames. Watch the sun set over Pikes Peak from your private sitting room. Whirlpool tub for two and separate shower in bathroom featuring hand-painted floral tile murals inset in hues of rose and burgundy. $240

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Enjoy an artist's playful interpretation of ocean. This suite has a whimsical sea motif throughout the sitting room, bedroom and bathroom with waves stenciled in silver. Seashell chairs and ancestors' ocean-going trunks complete the undersea fantasy. Hand painted brightly-colored tropical fish are found in tile murals and swimming in the pedestal sink. Splash with abandon in a huge tiled, double-headed shower for two. $165

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• All of the suites at Blue Skies Inn are NO SMOKING suites. We regret that we have found it necessary to impose substantial financial penalties for violation of this policy. Smoking on the B&B property is permitted only on designated outdoor covered porches.
• Sorry, Blue Skies Inn has no facilities that can accommodate your pets, nor do we allow pets to stay in guests' vehicles. There are no resident pets at Blue Skies Inn. We have made a special effort to create an allergen-free environment so that those with allergies can stay with us.
• Please schedule your arrival between 4 - 7 PM. If you must come later in the day, we will make special arrangements for your arrival. Our check-out time is 11 AM.
• All reservations will require a credit card, even if payment is made by other means. Signing a room contract authorizes us to charge room damage to your credit card.
• A minimum charge of $500 will be assessed for smoke, incense, candles or pets in the suite.
• No separate charge or hold is put on your credit card when you check in.
• Other charges:
  • $75 lost key fee.
  • $25 per day for each extra guest booked for the suite; all suite rates are for double occupancy.
  • Unbooked extra guests only will be allowed at check-in at the innkeepers' discrection for a fee of $75/day each.
• Only registered guests may use the inn or its facilities. Visitors may make use of the facilities only with the explicit and express permission of the innkeepers. Rooms may not be sublet, nor assigned.
• Pregnant guests or those with heart conditions are cautioned not to use the hot tub. All hot tub use is at the guests' risk.
• We welcome children of all ages, since the distinctive design of the spacious, three-room suites at Blue Skies Inn affords more private space and fewer shared facilities than most B&Bs. We will ask children and parents alike to sign our "Kid Contract" so that all guests at the inn have a good time. We believe that children should be able to stay at an inn provided that they have consideration for our other guests.
• Reservations may be made by phone to our 800 number, by e-mail or on line. Before we can confirm your reservation, we will ask for a 50% deposit for your stay, or the first night's lodging if you are visiting for two days or less.
• A credit card will guarantee your reservation immediately. We also accept cash, travelers' checks and our gift certificates as security, but a credit card account number and expiration date will be required for all reservations to secure against damage to the suites or other violations of our posted policies. Sorry, we do not accept personal checks, except in payment for gift certificates.
• No reservation is finalized unless and until we send you a confirmation. We will send your confirmation by whatever method you request: mail, fax or e-mail.
• Please give us thirty days notice from the date of your reservation for return of your deposit, less $50 per day booked. In cases of multiple room bookings, this policy is applied per room booked.
• Holiday, special event or multiple room bookings require ninety days notice for cancellation. If a stay has been rescheduled and then canceled, no refund will be given.
• If it becomes necessary to cancel a reservation less than thirty days (or ninety days in the case of holiday, special-event or multiple-room bookings) from the date reserved, the guest assumes financial responsibility for the cost of the entire booking.
• It is to the guest's advantage to notify us as soon as possible of a cancellation under such circumstances so as to give us the maximum amount of time to re-rent the reserved suite(s). For each day that any reserved suite can be re-rented, the guest will only be charged the normal $50 per day processing fee.

We welcome children of all ages, since the distinctive design of the spacious, three-room suites at Blue Skies Inn affords more private space and fewer shared facilities than most B&Bs. We will ask children and parents alike to sign our "Kid Contract" so that all guests at the inn have a good time. We believe that children should be able to stay at an inn provided
that they have consideration for our other guests.

Flowers, photos, officiant, honeymoon and cake - all wrapped up in pretty Colorado wedding packages!

If you are planning a wedding and think that it's WAY too much trouble, we have designed the perfect small wedding for you. After reserving a two night stay at Blue Skies Inn Bed & Breakfast in any suite, you may book one of three full wedding packages, set in our gardens among the foothills of Pikes Peak! We also offer local residents who wish to use our garden settings for a small wedding or other ceremony two ceremony-only packages that do not require a stay at our inn.

Located just west of Colorado Springs by the base of Pikes Peak, little Manitou Springs is a charming town founded in the late 1800's. In fact, Blue Skies Inn is located on the historic streamside Briarhurst estate built by Dr. William Bell, the founder of our city.

Blue Skies Inn hosts the perfect wedding for the bride and groom who choose an intimate wedding of less than 80 people. Our romantic, secluded bed and breakfast inn will provide the perfect setting for the wedding and honeymoon of your dreams.

All Full-wedding Packages at Blue Skies Inn include:

• Wedding Site choose the Waterfall Garden or the Woodland Garden on the historic estate of the founder of Manitou Springs
• Officiant to perform your ceremony
• Flowers bouquet designed for the bride, boutonniere for the groom,
• Wedding Cake decorated with flowers to match your bouquet
• Photos color and black & white ~ prints, negatives, CD and copyright are part of your package!
• Plus many other features that other wedding sites charge extra for:
  • Rose petals for the garden setting
  • Use of wedding tent
  • Set-up, breakdown, clean up
  • Wedding trellis
  • Tables and chairs
  • White brocade linens for guest tables and napkins
  • Color linens for bridal table to match the couple's wedding colors
  • Glass cake plates, silverware & crystal champagne flutes
  • Serving set for wedding cake
  • Early afternoon check-in at our B&B
  • Room service gourmet breakfasts

Wedding Packages

A Pikes Peak Wedding: Full wedding package with lodging as a separate charge ~ maximum 80 guests

• Early afternoon check-in at our B&B
• Room service gourmet breakfasts
• Officiant for ceremony at noon or 2:30 PM
• Wedding held in Waterfall Garden or Woodland Garden
• Bridal bouquet & groom's boutonniere
• Wedding cake decorated with flowers and sparkling toast
• Sound system and wedding music
• 96 professional photos (prints, negatives, CD and copyright)
• $1695 plus tax

A Short & Sweet Wedding: Full wedding package with lodging as a separate charge ~ maximum 50 guests

• Early afternoon check-in at our B&B
• Room service gourmet breakfasts
• Officiant for noon ceremony
• Wedding held in Waterfall Garden or Woodland Garden
• Bridal bouquet & groom's boutonniere
• Wedding cake decorated with flowers and sparkling toast
• Sound system and wedding music
• 72 professional photos (prints, negatives, CD and copyright)
• $1645 plus tax

Elope 2 Colorado: A weekday elopement designed for two. Full wedding package with lodging as a separate charge ~ no guests

• 10% off any suite
• Early afternoon check-in at our B&B
• Room service gourmet breakfasts
• Officiant for noon ceremony
• Wedding held in Waterfall Garden or Woodland Garden
• Bridal bouquet & groom's boutonniere
• Wedding cake decorated with flowers and sparkling toast for the two of you
• Sound system and wedding music
• 60 professional photos (prints, negatives, CD and copyright)
• $1595 plus tax

Just the Two of Us:

Designed for a local couple who want only a pretty garden, flowers and a simple ceremony ~ no guests

• Officiant for weekday noon ceremony
• Wedding held in Waterfall Garden or Woodland Garden
• Bridal bouquet & groom's boutonniere
• Sound system and wedding music
• $595 plus tax

Dedication in the Garden:

Vow renewal, baptism, memorial or other special ceremony ~ maximum 30 guests

• Officiant for weekday ceremony
• Half hour in the Woodland Garden
• 10 guests included
• Sound system and music
• $550 plus tax

This symbol signifies that Blue Skies Inn has a suite that fully meets the specific and precise government handicapped accessibility standards set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Use of this symbol is regulated by Federal law, and misuse or casual use of this symbol by lodging properties can result in criminal prosecution by the United States Department of Justice as well as being grounds for a civil lawsuit.

We take the display of this symbol very seriously, and not just because of the liability issues involved with its misuse. We consider it a shame for the whole lodging industry when a guest who is in a chair or has another special need addressed by the ADA relies upon the display of this symbol, and arrives only to find that the B&B owner "guess-timated" that one of his rooms could accommodate a person with special needs.

We proudly present our Indian Rock Art I suite which is beautiful as well as being totally accessible. We thank our dear friend John for being its inspiration. B&Bs are not normally required to provide ADA compliant rooms. Blue Skies Inn is especially proud that our Indian Rock Art I suite fully meets, and in some areas, exceeds, ADA specifications.

Americans with Disabilities Act Specifications

There are very precise specifications for "Handicapped Accessible." They can be found at this website: www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm Further specifications cover:

Doors: minimum of 34" wide doors to building, room and bathroom (ours are 36"), flipper hardware

Bathroom:

Bathroom clear turning radius 5' between sink and toilet (ours is 6')
8" clearance under sink front to P trap (ours is 14")
27" to floor under sink
insulated P trap under sink
grab bars
side of toilet 33-36" from floor, 12" from back wall, 42" wide
behind toilet 33-36" from floor, 24" wide
in shower 33-36" from floor, 24" wide on two walls with bracing behind wall (ours are 42")
shower lip no higher than 2" (our shower has no lip, just roll-in)
18" (from centerline) clearance toilet on one side, 42" from centerline on the other side (ours is 60")
toilet paper at least 19" from floor
toilet 17-19" high (we have an adjustable seat with grab bars)
no steps
sink handles must be flipper design
shower seat

Bedroom: 36" clear on one side of bed (we have 8 feet)

Ramp: no more than 8% rise, must be 36" wide and of non-slip material (ours is 5%), no steps

Source: Timesaver Standards for Interior Design and Space Planning, Joseph De Chiara, 1991, McGraw-Hill, Inc., ISBN 0-07-016299-9