Feb 5, 2025
AURORA, Colo. — Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center proudly announced the completion of Phase Two of its multi-year enhancement plan with the debut of Garden + Grain, Copper Table, and the reimagined Old Hickory Steakhouse Bar in November 2024. These new dining outlets represent the final elements of a transformative investment that has redefined the culinary and guest experience for Colorado's largest combined resort and convention center.
Garden + Grain, a first-of-its-kind concept within the Gaylord Hotels brand, delivers a whole-food-forward dining experience rooted in top-quality, organic ingredients and sustainable practices. Avoiding fryers and refined foods, the restaurant emphasizes nutrient preservation and bold natural flavors.
The menu features fresh grain bowls, stone-fired pizzas with seasonal toppings, and vibrant salads—crafted without seed oils, refined sugars, or processed elements. Sustainability is central to Garden + Grain's mission, reflected in its commitment to sourcing the finest fish, lamb, produce and other ingredients from trusted suppliers who prioritize humane treatment and sustainable agriculture. The restaurant further supports sustainability through initiatives such as composting food waste, harvesting honey from on-property hives and sourcing from local farms like Superior Farms and Hazel Dell Mushrooms to minimize its carbon footprint. Guests are welcomed into a greenhouse-inspired space with a stone-clad bar, an exhibition kitchen, custom murals, and a signature stone-fired pizza oven.
Paying homage to Colorado's rich history, Copper Table delivers a contemporary twist on classic Western dishes. The menu delivers signature dishes such as bison meatloaf and burger, rotisserie duck, and Superior Farms lamb, complemented by artisanal cocktails and craft beers from local breweries including Telluride Brewing Company, Dry Dock Brewing Company, and Prost Brewing Company. The restaurant's design showcases a striking bar at the entrance, leading to a conservatory-inspired dining room illuminated by a grand skylight. At the rear, an open exposition kitchen with its cornerstone copper hood serves as a tribute to the restaurant's namesake. Throughout the space, warm wood, and copper accents, along with locally sourced art and furniture, echo the themes of Colorado's agricultural roots.
The newly reimagined Old Hickory Steakhouse, Gaylord Rockies' flagship upscale dining destination, blends opulence with regional character. The refreshed space includes a wrap-around bar, intimate seating areas, a striking fireplace, bold belt-buckle inspired lighting, and a stunning mural made from dyed bison hides.
Staying true to its roots, Old Hickory continues to serve expertly prepared premium steaks, with an expanded menu that highlights prime-grade beef from Greater Omaha and domestic Wagyu, dry-aged in-house and carved tableside for an unforgettable presentation. The menu also features elevated takes on nostalgic classics, including truffle creamed spinach and the Mile High Roller Baked Potato, topped with luxurious caviar, truffles, Nueske's bacon, mornay sauce and crème fraîche. Old Hickory Steakhouse takes pride in crafting its own salts, alongside a carefully curated selection of cocktails, premium wines, and cheese boards featuring both domestic and imported varieties.
The opening of these new dining concepts has added over 60 jobs to the local community, supporting a diverse range of culinary and hospitality talent.
"Each new concept was designed with intention—from the ingredient-driven menu at Garden + Grain to the refined Western flavors at Copper Table and the reimagined elegance of Old Hickory Steakhouse," said Suzy Hart, General Manager of Gaylord Rockies Resort. "This marks a defining moment in our resort's evolution, elevating the guest experience while setting a new standard for hospitality in the region."
Phase One investments at the resort were completed in April 2023, featuring a redesign of the outdoor lawn spaces and the addition of dining terraces for Old Hickory Steakhouse and Mountain Pass Sports Bar. Phase Two enhancements began in June 2023 and progressed through 2024, with highlights including the successful openings of Embers Lodge Bar, The Fortunate Prospector, and the event space Mountain View Pavilion in mid-2024. The phase culminated at the end of the year with the debut of Copper Table, Garden + Grain, and the redesigned Old Hickory Steakhouse.
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ABOUT GAYLORD ROCKIES RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, located minutes from both the Denver International Airport and Downtown Denver, offers a mix of entertainment both inside and out, creating a superior guest experience to the "Gateway to the Rockies." Guests are welcomed to the resort's 85-acre property which features breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains. The resort's amenities include family-friendly dining, an award-winning spa and fun in the resort's Arapahoe Springs Water Park all while ending the day with picture-perfect sunset views of the mountains.
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 entertainment experiences. The Company's holdings include 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, five of the top seven largest non-gaming convention center hotels in the United States based on total indoor meeting space. The Company also owns the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa as well as two ancillary hotels adjacent to our Gaylord Hotels properties. The Company's hotel portfolio is managed by Marriott International and includes a combined total of 11,414 rooms as well as more than 3 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, Nashville-area attractions, and Block 21, a mixed-use entertainment, lodging, office and retail complex, including the W Austin Hotel and the ACL Live at the Moody Theater, located in downtown Austin, Texas. RHP operates OEG as its Entertainment segment in a taxable REIT subsidiary, and its results are consolidated in the Company's financial results.