High Tea Service at the Royal Gorge Mansion

Enjoy High Tea Service at the Mansion at 12 p.m. on Sundays

Served in the luxurious parlors of this grand mansion built by Lyman Robison in 1882, our Afternoon Tea is a special affair you won’t soon forget. This famous Colorado mansion is located just two short blocks away from the train depot, in Canon City, Colorado.

Your Royal Tea Service begins with a glass of champagne to enjoy as you peruse the menu. Every Royal Gorge Mansion tea experience includes your choice of hot tea served in English-style porcelain tea pots, and a three-tiered presentation of dainty and delicious finger sandwiches, petit fours, and house-baked scones served with Devonshire cream, locally sourced jams and whipped butter. A selection of sparkling, red and white wines, homemade hot chocolate, and other sweet & savory goodies are available for purchase to enhance the experience.

Wine Tastings at the Royal Gorge Mansion

Experience Wine Tastings at the Mansion
Starting Fall 2023

Served in the luxurious parlors or outside on the beautifully landscaped grounds of this grand mansion built by Lyman Robison in 1882, our Wine Tastings at the Mansion are a relaxing affair you won’t soon forget. This famous Colorado mansion is located just two short blocks away from the train depot, in Canon City, Colorado.

During your tasting, you’ll enjoy a flight of four, hand-picked and award-winning wines, featuring both old world and new. Sitting on four beautiful acres, complete with outdoor seating, a gorgeous fountain, and shade trees, the Mansion provides the ultimate venue to enjoy a romantic outing, featuring great wine, beer, full-bar, and a delicious, chef-prepared charcuterie.

Afternoon Tea with Santa

Throughout the holiday season (November and December) we invite you to join us at the festively decorated Royal Gorge Mansion for a very special afternoon with Santa Claus.

Enjoy your choice of seasonal tea or hot chocolate, delicious tea sandwiches, classic tea pastries, and house-baked scones with Devonshire cream, locally sourced jams, and whipped butter.

Before departing, Santa will make a grand appearance and present each child with a special gift.  Photographers will be on hand to facilitate a holiday photo available for purchase.

Afternoon Tea with Santa will resume in November 2023!

Royal Gorge Mansion History

Close your eyes and you can you almost see ladies in beautiful gowns, men dressed in their finest wear, and the sounds of horses being led from the carriage house to the front of the Mansion, ready to transport guests back to their homes after a regal gathering. This 19^th century house was designed to impress, with a stunning spiral staircase, banister built in Austria of Honduras Mahogany or Walnut (sources differ), gold-plated chandeliers, tall ceilings, and artwork representative of the time.

The era has vanished, but the Mansion remains, situated on four beautiful acres, now open for visitors from around the world. This majestic Victorian home is located in South Cañon City, where its builder wanted to take advantage of the quiet rural life, outside the city limits. We invite you to wander the grounds, enjoy your surroundings, and relax.

Built in 1884, this three-story brick home is one of the few surviving examples of Second Empire architecture in Colorado. The French Mansard style roof has a widow’s walk along the top adorned with fancy trim, and the windows are Italian and Gothic in style. There is a full basement with limestone walls and foundations, along with a large wine cellar that can be stocked with over 4,000 bottles. The entryway is a large room with a spiral staircase that leads up 45 steps to the second floor. On either side of the entryway are the doorways to drawing rooms (ladies sitting rooms), with 18-foot-high ceilings. A dining room, butler’s pantry and kitchen make up the rest of the rooms on the first floor. On the second floor are five bedrooms, two of which are very large, with 14-foot-high ceilings. The third floor now features a contemporary, comfortable media room. The Robisons planned to make the third floor into a ballroom, but never got around to it.

The formal dining room is the most popular room in the mansion, featuring a 20-foot-long burled walnut dining table from the Broadmoor. The ceiling is made of pressed tin, popular in the era but not original to the mansion. Most striking is the gold-plated Strauss Crystal Chandelier, weighing more than 400 lbs.

The home was built for Lyman Robison, his wife Mary, and their son, David. Lyman and Mary Robison moved to Colorado in 1879 from Toledo, Ohio. He made a large fortune in the mines in Leadville and Cripple Creek. The family began wintering in Cañon City to escape the harsh winters of Leadville. Eventually, they selected a four-acre site on the south banks of the Arkansas River. It was located in the agricultural community of South Cañon, with many fruit trees and vegetable fields. Riverside Drive ran from First Street west to the hot springs at the mouth of the Royal Gorge. First Street was called Plum Street when the Robisons built their home. Today, the property contains more than 32 different types of trees, some of which are more than 150 years old. In the back of the residence, there is a two-story brick carriage house. It housed the Robison’s carriages and horses, and it was the residence for the gardener and coachman. The roofline of the second floor gives the building its character, especially the cupola at the top of the roof. Robison had several racehorses that competed in local races.

Three generations of Robisons lived in the mansion. Lyman and Mary Robison made their home a center of social and cultural activity in the community. Robison invested in many enterprises in Fremont County, including several buildings on Main Street. The Annex, Sulphide and Apex buildings were named after some of the mines he owned. When the only child, David Robison, married, they built the smaller home across the street from the home in South Cañon. David Robison and his family moved into the mansion in 1912 after his father died, where he carried on the family’s work in the community.

The Robison fortune declined in the early 1900s, and the house was sold in 1961 to Ray and Edith Wilson, who proposed tearing the property down and building a nursing home. Due to community pressure to save the landmark, the Wilsons decided to live in the mansion, and opened it to the public for tours after filling it with antique furniture.

Starting in 1979, the property was owned by Ken Ireland, Ed Tezak Jr., and Rocky Joe Wells, and the trio spent more than $I.5 million to restore the home.

In 2018, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad acquired the property, introducing tea service, wine tastings, and are now in the process of turning the Carriage House into a restaurant, and a weddings and events center.

Enjoy your time with us and thank you for being our guest.