Torie Giffin fell in love with Colorado Springs’ mountain views while exploring the area on her bike. That love eventually reshaped her life and career when she became the owner of Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort.

Located at 2 El Paso Blvd., the century-old property, located just south of Garden of the Gods and blocks from Red Rock Canyon Open Space, is now a hub for cyclists and locals. With 80,000 cyclists visiting annually, the bike-themed lodge fills a long-overdue niche in Colorado Springs’ growing adventure scene. 

With everyone hydrated and helmeted, cyclists prepare for a scenic ride.

Before acquiring the lodge, Giffin worked in marketing, married and raised three kids. After moving to Colorado Springs in 2001, she began dreaming of a place that combined her passions for cycling and community. 

“I would take my kids to ride around Garden of the Gods, and then we’d come ride through the Buffalo, kind of manifesting the idea that we were going to own this,” said Giffin, now 55. 

Built in 1919, the property spans a little more than four acres on the east side of the line dividing Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs. With help from a few investors, she purchased the historic motor lodge in 2016, saving it from demolition. The buildings and grounds needed serious work, so instead Giffin rolled up her sleeves.

“I had no idea about the scope of the undertaking of rehabbing an [almost] 100-year-old hotel when I bought it,” she said. “All I knew was that I had a dream, and I believed I could make it happen.”

SPOKES & SWEAT

Then came the bumps. Divorce and personal trials altered Giffin’s plans.

One of the most defining moments came when her youngest son, Daniel, was diagnosed with brain cancer at age 11. Now 17, Daniel has limited physical function, but continues to inspire those around him.

“He’s wise beyond his years, and our staff just loves him,” said Giffin.

When she became Daniel’s caretaker after her divorce, Giffin feared she’d lose everything. But her mentors rallied around her and recruited 50 people to help clean up the property so it could open that same year.

She and her team renovated all 47 rooms and added custom décor, much of it sourced from the juried Roll Bike Art Festival—just one of many events now hosted at the lodge.

Especially close to Giffin’s heart is the annual Walk, Run, Roll for Daniel. Now in its seventh year, the event benefits the Brave Daniel Irrevocable Trust and Children’s Hospital Colorado. Participants can cycle 15 miles or complete a 5K through Garden of the Gods. The most recent event drew 280 participants and raised $18,000.

From left: Torie Giffin, grandma Betty Giffin and mother Nancy Fisk sport their Buffalo Lodge jerseys at the RockShox Pikes Peak APEX.

Four generations of Giffin’s family have been involved in the lodge. Her mother, Nancy Fisk, 73, was one of the original investors. She’s a snowbird who summers at the lodge and leads community rides throughout the summer. 

This summer, Giffin, Fisk and their “multigenerational bike tribe” will complete their fifth Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), the oldest, largest and longest recreational bicycle touring event in the world. Even Giffin’s grandmother, Betty, who was legally blind, rode on the back of Fisk’s tandem recumbent bike until she died at 93.

ROLLING INTO A NEW ERA

Giffin and Daniel live in a cottage on the property, allowing her to care for him while her team handles day-to-day operations. Giffin’s long-term vision for the lodge is a fully revitalized resort where families can gather, grandkids can swim and bonds flourish. 

“I love creating this haven for relaxation, connection and fun,” Giffin said.

Giffin raises her bike in celebration of all she’s achieved at the lodge through others’ kindness and her own can-do spirit. Photo by Rhonda Van Pelt.

Guests can borrow 3-speed bicycles or get referrals to nearby e-bike rentals. In addition to cycling, the lodge hosts Monday hikes, yoga sessions, dance lessons and live music. A stage is taking shape just south of the main building, and partnerships with the Manitou Music Foundation and Black Rose Acoustic Society bring regular concerts to the property.

“The concerts out here have just been magical,” Giffin said. “When I bought this place, I said it wasn’t going to be just for tourists—we’d be for the whole neighborhood.”

By day, guests explore scenic trails; by night, they gather around the firepit or Watering Hole bar to swap stories. There’s a bike rack in every room, and décor ranges from cycling posters to chandeliers made of wheels—even “bicycle taxidermy,” where bike seats and handlebars replace antlers in a nod to the lodge’s hunting-lodge history.

ROUNDING THE BEND

In 2024, Giffin was honored with the Don Brown Entrepreneur Award by the Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on several local cycling and hospitality boards.

Michael Rosell, who moved from New Jersey without knowing anyone, met Giffin on a bike ride. Within 90 minutes, she had recommended him to lead group rides from the lodge.

“That really encompasses what Torie is about—helping people and connecting bridges and closing circles,” Rosell said. 

Cycling, she says, is her meditation—a break from her busy life as a mother, caretaker and business owner.

“A bicycle is freedom,” she said.

SUMMER ADVENTURES AT BUFFALO LODGE

Plan a staycation or join the fun at one of Buffalo Lodge’s signature events! Visit BicycleResort.com or call 719-634-2851 for details.

August 23 – Rampart Rager & Regional Gravel Hillclimb Championship
Take on multiple course options, including challenging timed hill climbs, then kick back and celebrate your ride with fellow cyclists.

September 20–22 – Buffalo Grass Bluegrass Picking & Jam Festival

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