I Tried this Colorado Hotel’s Crystal Concierge—And Walked Away With a Gem

A row of finger-sized crystal obelisks glints before me, each totem promising something powerful, and something I can use—wealth, peace, intuition, love, clarity. My task seems simple: pick the one that calls to me. Except I want them all. This is the “crystal concierge,” a complimentary experience at The Mining Exchange Hotel in Colorado Springs, where modern metaphysical meets old-school mining history.

It’s especially apt that a Colorado Springs hotel would lean into the power of crystals—this place practically hums with natural energy. Set at the base of Pikes Peak, a towering fourteener you can summit by car or slow-climbing cog railway, another main attraction is the Garden of the Gods, an otherworldly national landmark where jagged sandstone spires rise like a red rock forest, some towering up to 300 feet high.

Rockhounds come to the Colorado mineral belt to try their luck hacking away for aquamarine, smoky quartz, topaz, and more. The Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society sponsors the Pikes Peak Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show in June, while in mid-July is the two day Crystal Festival in the local events center, complete with a kids corner where you can make your own pet rock. 

But the real driving force behind the region's growth was mining. Gold was discovered in 1859, the same year the first settlement in the Pikes Peak area—now Colorado Springs—was founded. For a short time it served as the territorial capital and a key supply camp for miners. Just two decades later, a silver boom hit in 1879, so intense that Colorado proudly dubbed itself the “Silver State,” a title now officially claimed by Nevada.

As the name suggests, The Mining Exchange Hotel has deep roots in the region’s mining history.  Built in 1902 by Winfield Scott Stratton, a prospector who struck it rich in the nearby foothills, the building originally served as a bustling gold and silver stock exchange.  Eventually, the building was converted to a hotel and, more recently in 2024, completed a renovation. Historic touches remain throughout, from original architecture and vintage-style furnishings to curated antique library of artifacts like old mining stock certificates, and old bank vaults tucked away where you’d least expect them. 

But no detail nods to its mining past while fully acknowledging our present than the crystal concierge. The amenity was created in partnership with Aurathentic, a wellness boutique in nearby Manitou Springs, a resort town known for its healing mineral springs. Aurathentic brings its own kind of wellness, rooted in earth energy. Think aura readings, chakra balancing, and full-on energetic tune-ups. As Barb Horst, founder of Aurathentic has said, “Our partnership with the Mining Exchange still reflects a rich mineral connection to the past, with its value no longer necessarily in commodity but in energy and healing.” 

Our partnership with the Mining Exchange still reflects a rich mineral connection to the past, with its value no longer necessarily in commodity but in energy and healing.

Metaphysical hotel amenities like this are booming. From sound baths to tarot readings, I’ve sampled them all—once even receiving a reading based on a crystal-shaped cookie (the real question: keep it or eat it?). In the liminal world of travel, the vibe is: why not? Travel invites us to step outside the routine, to disconnect from the familiar. Full moon ceremonies, crystal-infused spa treatments, in-house astrologers, they all invite travelers to step outside their daily routine and play with the mystical.

So there I am, holding crystal after crystal, told to pick the one that calls to me, whose meaning speaks to a current struggle, or sparks a physical sensation. Prosperous Aventurine, green like the color of money? I feel nothing. Intuitive speckled Moonstone? Nada. Creative Citrine, glowing yellow or grounding Black Obsidian? Nope and zilch. Then Rose Quartz. Suddenly, a wave of calm washes from my gut to my chest. I’m stunned. I’m not exactly a skeptic, but I didn’t expect to feel anything, let alone this.

Crystals have vibrational qualities, explains our instructor, a knowledgeable hotel staffer who carries crystals around with her like prescription medication. Rose Quartz is tied to the heart chakra, perfect for stress, heartbreak, or emotional upheaval. The card calls it “the stone of unconditional love and infinite peace,” clearing negativity and opening you to healing and self-compassion. Turns out, a few others in our group felt the same pull. We all clutch our pink charms close. 

To use a crystal is simple: hold it, set an intention aloud or in your mind, and carry the energy with you. Manifestation with accessories. You can stash it in your pocket, pillowcase, wallet, even your bra, or bring it into meditation or yoga. I’m just going to keep mine where I’ll see it every day, a quiet reminder of what I’m calling in. 

The crystals are for sale at the hotel’s front desk, just steps from the “Blk Magic” coffee shop and “Oro” restaurant. Guests get a velvet pouch to store their new talisman—a little piece of Colorado magic to take home.