AURORA, Colo. (October 3, 2022) — A $22 million exterior enhancement project is underway at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center. Scheduled to be complete in January 2023, the project showcases an elevated arrival experience, a new games lawn, enhancements to the Grand Lodge lawn, and the addition of terraces to Old Hickory Steakhouse and Mountain Pass Sports Bar. The project also features more than 1,500 native and adaptive trees, 40,000 shrubs, groundcovers, perennials, and five acres of low water-use native grass mixes. Nashville real estate investment trust Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc. (NYSE: RHP), which owns Gaylord Rockies, envisioned this work, and is funding this project.

"The enhancements will layer in a richness to the resort and create a more genuine lodge experience for our guests," said Suzy Hart, General Manager of the 1,501-room resort. "While we are focused on the exterior enhancements and the new dining terraces in 2022, there are plans for future development of the 130 acres that surround the resort. We are currently in the design phase on what those 130 acres will look like, but it will complement the community and the resort with retail, dining, entertainment venues, and open spaces that bring people together," she added.

Guests will experience an elevated arrival experience featuring clusters of mature pine trees and drought resistant native plants and shrubs lining the entry drive. In front of the main entrance, a 9,000-square foot turf lawn will feature custom benches where guests can sit and watch the sun rise to welcome the day.

The Grand Lodge Lawn will provide an expansive space for guests to enjoy the beautiful Colorado outdoors. A large freestanding double-fireplace structure, with two 9-foot-wide hearths, will be a showcase feature on the lawn where resort-style seating spaces will allow guests to relax and enjoy the majestic sunsets over the Rocky Mountains. The event lawn will also feature a 10,000-square-foot artificial turf area, four fire pits and two natural boulder fire features. Adjacent to the Grand Lodge lawn will be a games lawn featuring artificial turf, family-friendly games such as bocce ball, corn hole, and giant chess, as well as three firepits where guests can roast s'mores.

The Old Hickory Steakhouse Terrace will add an additional 96 seats to the restaurant. An elegant fireplace with an 8-foot-wide hearth will provide added warmth to the 2,600 square foot space. The Mountain Pass Terrace will seat 108 guests and will feature a massive double-sided fireplace featuring a 10-foot-wide hearth where guests can gather and enjoy awe-inspiring views of three of Colorado's Fourteeners - Pikes Peak, Longs Peak and Mount Evans.

"Gaylord Hotels are known for their exceptional facilities including spectacularly designed environments, spacious indoor and outdoor gathering areas, and creative food and beverage concepts and we believe this is the perfect time to enhance what the hotel already has to offer," said Colin Reed, chairman and chief executive officer of Ryman Hospitality Properties. "These current enhancements, combined with future development of the resort and surrounding area, will position Gaylord Rockies as a true leader in the market for both leisure and group travel," he added.

 

About Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center

Located minutes from both Denver International Airport and Downtown Denver, Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center opened late 2018. The resort destination features 1,501 guest rooms, including 114 well-appointed suites, and more than 517,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. As a gateway to the Rocky Mountains, Gaylord Rockies offers easy access to Denver attractions and Rocky Mountain adventures, complete with eight dining options; a luxurious spa and salon; indoor and outdoor pool, lazy river; a 75' TV in Mountain Pass Sports Bar; and picture-perfect sunset views of the mountains. Learn more at GaylordRockies.com.

About Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.

Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP) is a leading lodging and hospitality real estate investment trust that specializes in upscale convention center resorts and country music entertainment experiences. RHP's core holdings, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center; Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center; Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center; Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center; and Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, are five of the top ten largest non-gaming convention center hotels in the United States based on total indoor meeting space. These convention center resorts operating under the Gaylord Hotels brand, along with two adjacent ancillary hotels, are managed by Marriott International and represent a combined total of 10,412 rooms and more than 2.8 million square feet of total indoor and outdoor meeting space in top convention and leisure destinations across the country. RHP also owns a 70% controlling ownership interest in Opry Entertainment Group (OEG), which is composed of entities owning a growing collection of iconic and emerging country music brands, including the Grand Ole Opry; Ryman Auditorium, WSM 650 AM; Ole Red and Circle, a country lifestyle media network RHP owns in a joint venture with Gray Television, Nashville-area attractions managed by Marriott, and Block 21, a mixed-use entertainment, lodging, office and retail complex, including the W Austin Hotel and the ACL Live at Moody Theater, located in downtown Austin, Texas. RHP operates OEG as part of a taxable REIT subsidiary. Visit https://www.RymanHP.com or more information.