Briargate's Empty Storefronts Are Filling Up This Month, and Blodgett's Trails Are Next

On September 28, a new company called Cloud Quest bought the assets of the closed Urban Air Adventure Park on North Academy Boulevard at auction. Eleven days later, at 4 p.m. on Friday, October 9, it opened the doors of the 46,000-square-foot building under its own name. The trampoline park that used to be there had shut abruptly in September, so the building sat dark for only a few weeks.

That timeline fits the rest of the north side this fall. Nearly every opening around Briargate Parkway and North Academy between now and the holidays moves into a space another business left or already had. How long each space stayed empty ranges from about a week and a half to half a year. A few miles west, across I-25, Blodgett Open Space is building the one truly new piece of ground in the area, and its timeline is the least certain of all.

Eleven days on North Academy

Cloud Quest is at the Market at Chapel Hills-West, between Kelly Johnson Boulevard and Goddard Street. General Manager Ashley Miller told The Gazette it is the company's first location anywhere. According to state records, Cloud Quest COS LLC registered in Colorado in August, with principal offices in Florida and a registered agent in Loveland.

Here is Miller explaining the rush:

"We wanted to maintain fluidity, to be a staple in this community and to quickly be back in service for our guests."

The building is opening in stages. Cloud Quest launched "in preview mode," so some attractions are running while others are still being built. The full lineup includes adventure slides, a flight deck, obstacle courses, dodgeball, rock climbing, go-karts, laser tag and an arcade. There's also a new toddler play area. The space has a bar, and the opening menu covers pizza, chicken tenders, wings, fries and pretzel bites. Miller said burritos, calzones, salads and sandwiches will be added later.

If your kids had birthday parties or snow-day afternoons at Urban Air, the building is open again. Over the next few weeks it will still be filling in. What you can do there in mid-October may be a shorter list than what you can do by Thanksgiving.

Six months on Briargate Parkway

Over at The Promenade Shops at Briargate, the timeline is much slower. The Container Store at 1925 Briargate Parkway closed in April. L.L.Bean is remodeling the 13,000-square-foot space and expects to open in late October, according to The Gazette. That's about six months empty, with a full remodel instead of a fresh coat of paint. No specific opening day has been announced.

The other changes at the Promenade grow the center from inside its current footprint. Apple has already reopened in a larger space next to Ulta. Lululemon is expanding its store in the fourth quarter. American Eagle is expected before the end of the year, and Kendra Scott is listed as opening this year, according to a SpringsMag roundup from early September. None of those three has a confirmed date yet.

The center's owner is Asana Partners, a retail real estate firm. Lara Silversmith, its director of leasing strategy, described the plan as "introducing highly desired brands and fresh experiences to Colorado Springs."

The one new table on the list

The best-known food addition is Mendocino Farms. It opens October 27 at 1765 Briargate Parkway, Suite 807. Watch out for the date if you saw an earlier one. The Gazette added an editor's note correcting the anticipated opening it first reported, and the company's website had briefly listed an earlier opening before a spokesperson said it would be the following month.

Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen-Del Pero founded the Los Angeles County-based sandwich chain in 2005. This is its first location in Colorado Springs and fourth in the state. Until now, all of its Colorado locations were in Denver: Cherry Creek in May 2025, then Highlands and the 16th Street location this year. Its most popular items include the "Not So Fried" chicken and Peruvian steak sandwiches. There's a kids' menu, along with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.

In practice, north-side residents who have been driving to Denver for this chain will soon have one off Briargate Parkway.

How the next ten weeks stack up

Put the confirmed dates and announced windows in order, and the north side's fall comes in waves rather than a single grand opening:

1. Now: Cloud Quest is open in preview mode at 7730 N. Academy Blvd., with more attractions coming.
2. Through November 13: The Promenade Shops' winter coat drive runs on its events calendar.
3. Late October: L.L.Bean is expected to open at 1925 Briargate Parkway. No exact day has been announced.
4. October 27: Mendocino Farms opens at 1765 Briargate Parkway, Suite 807.
5. November 1: Blodgett Open Space moves to winter hours. More on that below.
6. November 20 to December 24: Santa Photos at Chapel Hills Mall, 1710 Briargate Blvd.
7. Before year-end: American Eagle, Kendra Scott and the Lululemon expansion, all without firm dates.

As of this writing, the Promenade's own events page doesn't list a tree lighting or a Santa visit for November or December. Seasonal listings often get added later, so check the center's site again in November.

West of I-25, the trail timeline is the open question

All the retail changes above happen inside existing buildings. Blodgett Open Space, off Woodmen Road, is different. Its southern trail system opened July 17 after more than a year of construction, adding seven miles of trail and a new 50-space trailhead, KRDO reported.

The new Quarry Trailhead serves that southern system. To reach the south lot, the City says to turn from Woodmen Road onto Blodgett Ranch Trail, then make an immediate left onto the earthen access drive. The north lot is another half-mile along Woodmen on the left. The system includes 2.5 miles of directional downhill bike-only trail, four miles of multi-use trail and a half-mile regional trail. The Gazette names the downhill routes Neurotoxin, Coil Cañon and Fang Drop, with Culebras as the up-and-back trail to the bike-hill hub. Chamberlain and Oak Valley serve people on foot and horseback.

A few rules to know before you go:

• Dogs: Leashes can be no longer than six feet, and owners must pick up waste. Dogs aren't allowed around the bike hill at all because of bighorn sheep.
• Hours: The City's property page lists 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. from May 1 through October 31 and 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. from November 1 through April 30. The City's July opening release gave a 9 p.m. close, so confirm at the trailhead.
• Gates: All three trailhead gates close every night.
• Trails: People and dogs must stay on designated trails. Motorized vehicles, overnight parking and new unofficial trails are prohibited.

Wildlife also affects the schedule. The City delayed the bike hill's opening on guidance from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Any future seasonal closures will depend on yearly wildlife monitoring with CPW, so check the City's page for closures before heading out.

Then there's the second seven miles. The City planned to open another seven miles in the central and northern parts of the open space by the end of the year. In a September 8 SpringsMag update, the Parks department said that construction was still planned for the rest of 2026, weather permitting. No newer report confirms an opening or a new date. The City also warns that construction equipment may move through the open space and that short, isolated closures may be needed for safety.

Cloud Quest refilled its building in 11 days, and L.L.Bean's space took about six months. Blodgett's next seven miles depend on construction weather and wildlife monitoring, and the latest public word is "by the end of the year, weather permitting."

Agents working north Colorado Springs can use these changes in their listing conversations, but only with dates that hold up. First Alliance Title builds neighborhood snapshot reports for the brokers we work with, and we update them as openings like these go from "expected" to open. When your next north-side listing is ready, place your order with our team and ask for the snapshot to go with it.