Summit Visitor Center

The state-of-the-art Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center (altitude: 14,115 feet) opened in June 2021, providing people of all ages and abilities an exciting new experience on the summit of Pikes Peak. The facility provides improved accessibility throughout the entire summit, engaging interpretive exhibits that share the history of the mountain, a revamped gift shop, and indoor and outdoor dining areas where visitors can enjoy a world-famous Pikes Peak donut and other delicious treats while taking in the expansive views. The building and outdoor walkways were designed to create a seamless, immersive experience. From arrival at the summit and through all steps, visitors are enveloped in the natural forms of America’s Mountain.

See how the Summit Complex Project came to life

Visitor Center Menu

There are many snack and meal options available for purchase in the Summit Visitor Center. Menu items are subject to change based on availability.

Breakfast items: breakfast egg burrito; sausage, egg and cheese biscuit
Soups: tomato basil; chili con carne; pork green chili with tortilla strips; mac & cheese
Sandwiches: all-beef hotdog; beyond brat; angus cheeseburger; grilled cheese; BBQ pulled pork; pizza (cheese or pepperoni)
Donuts: fudge; cinnamon sugar; powdered sugar

Our Road to Sustainability

Awards

2022 Columbine Award for Renovated Facility Design for the Pikes Peak Summit Visitors Center
2022 Colorado Professional Award presented by ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects) for the Pikes Peak Summit Complex
2022 Meeting the Challenge of a Difficult Job (Subcontractor) – Silver - ICI, LLC
2022 Meeting the Challenge of a Difficult Job (General Contractor) – ACE – GE Johnson
2022 Best In Business Pikes Peak Summit from the Colorado Springs Business Journal
2022 PCI Design Award: Special Award: All-Precast Concrete Solution Award
2022 PCI Design Award: Special Award: Sustainable Design Award
2022 ACEC Colorado Engineering Excellence Award - Submitted by contractor
2022 Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) Design Award: Special Award: All-Precast Concrete Solution Award
CSI Environmental Stewardship Award
2021 Aramark Sustainability Award
2021 Aramark Partner of the Year
2021 Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Environmental Stewardship Award
2022 USFS Chief's Award - Apply Knowledge Globally
2022 Project of the Year, Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center, Presented by Engineering-News Record (ENR) Mountain States
2022 Best Projects Winner: Cultural/Worship and Specialty Construction, presented by Engineering-News Record (ENR) Mountain States
2022 Build America Award, New Construction $10M - $75M, presented by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America
2023 AIA Maryland Excellence in Design Award (GWWO)
2023 AIA Baltimore Design Award (GWWO)

Our Road to Sustainability

Every aspect of the visitor center was carefully and thoroughly reviewed with sustainability at the forefront of the entire project. It is the most sustainable high-altitude structure in the country, if not the world. Designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification, a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement, it also strives to achieve the Living Building Challenge (LBC), which is a two-year certification process for highly sustainable, zero-energy buildings. Currently, no other buildings in the state of Colorado are fully LBC certified.

There are seven performance areas, or petals, of LBC; elements of which are integrated into the design and operation of the visitor center. The petals, which represent the efficiency of a flower – the symbol of an ideal built environment – stand for place, water, energy, health and happiness, materials, equity and beauty. LBC is operated by the International Living Future Institute, a global nonprofit organization. To meet the challenge, the visitor center must be regenerative in nature. This means it must be self-sufficient and remain within the resource limits of its site; connect occupants to light, air, nature, community and food; and create a positive impact on the human and natural systems that interact with it.