Penrose House
Wednesday - Friday, 9am-4pm
Open one Saturday a month, 9am-1pm
1661 Mesa Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80906
Free meeting space for Colorado nonprofits
El Pomar renovated the Penrose’s former home in 1992 to serve as a nonprofit conference and education center as another manifestation of El Pomar’s commitment to convening people for learning and dialogue.
We welcome Colorado nonprofits and government equivalents to use the space at no charge for meetings, retreats, and trainings.
This space is free, as in like, free-free?
Use of Penrose House is provided at no cost for qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and government agencies.
Penrose House is for active 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or government equivalents only.
Meetings must be strategic and productive in nature. Social, networking, celebratory, or recognition-oriented events do not qualify.
Our reservations fill fast! To ensure we can book your meeting, please reach out to us sooner than later.
Guided tours are available to the public one Saturday a month by reservation only. Please call for more information.
While we encourage you to take smartphone photos while visiting for your meeting, El Pomar Foundation does not allow professional or amateur photography sessions on its properties, including Penrose House.
Start planning
Opening doors and elevating resources for nonprofits is the goal of Penrose House. Our staff welcomes members of our community from all corners and strives to make the process of reserving space easy and pain-free.
- Modern AV capabilities
- Cameras for video calls
- Drinks (provided)
- Food with approved caterers
Meeting space is allocated on availability, the number of participants, and activities planned. Reservations fill quickly, so we recommend reaching out 2-3 months in advance
What’s an HDMI cable again? Our staff is available to help with most technical issues and to ensure your meeting goes smoothly.
Say hello to Meg Shaver.
She knows everything.
Well, at least everything about creating the perfect meeting or event at Penrose House. Give her a call and she can help you work out all the details and make some great suggestions along the way.
We hope you enjoy coming here as much as we love hosting you
Colorado is a better place due to the amazing work of our nonprofits and government agencies. It is a privilege for us to offer Penrose House as a resource to these incredible organizations.
“We were one of six communities to be selected from around the country to be awarded an important and competitive technical assistance program, and our time at Penrose House will be part of the foundation that goes into building our plan. The Penrose House staff and accommodations were exceptional, which allowed us to focus on the work that needed to be accomplished during our stay. I imagine you will see our requests to use Penrose House Conference Center increase as we chart this plan.”
“This is the best place in Colorado Springs for a retreat or off-site event. Great venue, beautiful grounds, professional staff. Really, honestly, the best place for meeting with your team or constituents.”
“I would like to highlight that the personnel are wonderful. They take personal interest in ensuring we feel welcomed and have everything we may need. This truly feels special, and we could not be more thankful and appreciative.”
“What a beautiful venue! The deer were everywhere and didn’t seem to mind our presence at all. Lovely grounds.”
“The staff were extremely helpful for our staff who had never been there. They were greeted upon entering, guided to the correct room and we loved how someone came by to ensure we were good with the technical stuff. Meg was awesome! Start to finish.”
“Wonderful experience! Knowledgeable staff with the locations rich history. Attentive and polite staff made sure our group was taken care of–highly recommend for working meetings or other large group activities where a space with character is needed!”
Multiple generations shaped their visions within these storied-walls
Built as a stunning Mediterranean-style estate at the base of Cheyenne Mountain in 1910, the home was purchased by Spencer and Julie Penrose in 1916. Serving as their home for many years, the property became a gathering spot where important business was conducted and visions were transformed into reality.
In 1992, El Pomar Foundation — established by the Penroses — purchased, re-named, and designated Penrose House as an education and conference center for Colorado’s nonprofit sector. Penrose House was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.
What else does El Pomar do for Colorado?
For over 85 years we’ve invested in initiatives, access, and opportunities that promote the success, vitality and well-being of Colorado and its residents. The following are more areas worth taking a deeper dive into the work of El Pomar.
Empowering communities and nonprofits
Doing good work also means doing hard work. That’s why we award grants to nonprofits, the real experts, throughout Colorado. We’re here to support you throughout the entire process and make the application process as simple as possible.
Programs
El Pomar is helping empower people and communities in a variety of ways. So we’ve created opportunities to engage in leadership development and community conversations to tap into our individual and collective strengths.
Experience more of our history
Just above Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun provides an impressive panoramic view of Colorado Springs and the surrounding area. Spencer and Julie Penrose, founders of El Pomar Foundation, commissioned local architect Charles E. Thomas to design the monument.
