I am still trying to imagine what will take place in the future with this great America Historic Resort. The Gaylord family has generously spent hundreds of millions of dollars to restore, expand this Grand Resort to the splendor it enjoys today. Will Philip Anschutz have the same passion for the property. No one likes change, and I recognize change can be good. Since I have never met either the Gaylords or Mr. Anschutz I suppose I shouldn't start worrying just yet.

The good news so far is that they say there will be no changes in the current management and staff, but how may times have we heard that? Now, I have no idea what the Boradmoor's books look like but I have to assume they should look fairly good since many times recently I called for reservations and they were fully booked. Over the past many years I have met Steve Bartolin the current CEO and had the pleasure to spend many interesting hours discussing the Broadmoor and the Greenbrier history. If there is anyone in this country who knows half as much about running a 700 room resort, 16 restaurants and several golf courses, I sure would like to know who that person is. Bartolin's name is always brought up when I meet with resort owners and operators world wide. Bartolin's name is always held in the highest regard, almost saintly.

Anschutz calls Colorado his home and is proud to drop Colorado's name frequently as he travels the world, so hopefully he will maintain the high standards set by the Broadmoor or possibly even take it to a higher lever, if that is possible. I had always wished that the Gaylord's would have also purchased the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, but I suppose that won't happen now. Hey! Mr. Anschutz, the Brown is screaming for someone like you or the Gaylord's to be it's parent, and then send Steve Bartolin up there for the cleanup.

I have spent many memorable nights at the world famous Broadmoor Resort since the early 50's when I made my first visit with my parents. The Broadmoor was opened in 1918 by the Penroses, Colorado Springs philanthropists. And it would seem that no drastic changes are necessary. For 2011, after all, the Broadmoor retained its membership in an elite group of luxury hotels that have maintained AAA's Five Diamond status ever since the Diamond ratings were introduced for hotels 35 years ago. The Broadmoor shares the honor with two other hotels: Camelback Inn, the JW Marriott Resort and Spa, in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va.

In terms of the newly announced sale, the Broadmoor is just one of the assets included in the purchase from the Gaylord family, one of Oklahoma's wealthiest families, the Denver Post tells us. The Anschutz Co.'s purchase of the Oklahoma Publishing Co. also includes the 500-room Lost Pines Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas; the Oklahoman newspaper and website, and other assets. The sale amount was not disclosed. According to the Associated Press, Doug Price, CEO of the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau, told The Gazette of Colorado Springs that he expects Anschutz will keep the Broadmoor rather than spin it off. "I think probably the most important part is that it's going to remain independent," Price told the AP.Click here to go directly to the Broadmoor website.