For thousands of years these (almost) too-pretty-to-eat holiday decorations have decorated homes and made cookie architects a real occupation (well, sort of). Across the United States the gingerbread tradition continues with seasonal displays popping up across the country, transforming lobbies and enchanting visitors. Here are some of the top gingerbread displays to check out this year.
The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colorado
The Broadmoor, which also owns and operates the Pikes Peak Cog Railway (the tracks end at 14,115 feet above sea level at the top of the mountain), baked and assembled a 12-foot-long and 8-foot-high Cog Railway Train for 2016. It took 10 master pastry chefs and two carpenters an estimated 288 hours to make. Led by The Broadmoor’s Executive Pastry Chef Adam Thomas, the team unveiled the nearly life-size gingerbread engine to celebrate the 125th anniversary of The Broadmoor’s Pikes Peak Cog Railway. For 2017 holidays, guests and visitors to the resort will be treated to a gingerbread replica of the resort’s Pauline Memorial Chapel, a Spanish -Mission style church that is on the National Register of Historic Places. The chapel is a popular spot for Broadmoor weddings. Perhaps a couple or two will get engaged in front of the sure-to-be-enchanting gingerbread chapel, complete with personalized gingerbread messages? The Broadmoor can arrange extra special moments like these.
Kingsmill Resort, Williamsburg, Virginia
Executive Pastry Chef Uwe Schluzas begins in September building an intricate gingerbread display for Kingsmill Resort’s lobby for the holidays. Last year he built a stunning grandfather clock complete with mice and their miniature home within the clock.
The Roosevelt Hotel, New Orleans
The Gingerbread Christmas Tree inside Teddy’s Café stands 7-feet tall and is decorated with “New Orleans 12 Days of Christmas” ornaments along with silvery oyster shells, crawfish boils, a Drew Brees gingerbread Saints player, little shotgun houses and more.
Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza, New York City
After checking out iconic holiday sights nearby (like the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree), the Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza is bringing festive fun to NYC holiday getaways with newly launched Gingerbread House Cart amenities. Available through the month of December, the carts are rolled right into guests’ rooms with all the makings for a DIY gingerbread, including a variety of candies, vanilla icing, and gingerbread molds so guests can get their hands dirty (and enjoy sweet treat nibbling on the side) while making their own holiday-inspired creations.
Hilton Chicago
Travelers can celebrate the holidays in Chicago with downtown festivities including the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival with a parade, fireworks show and more than one million lights adorning 250 trees, ZooLights at the Lincoln Park Zoo, caroling at Cloud Gate, Christkindlmarket – Chicago’s largest open-air market, and Winter Wonderfest featuring rides, ice skating and live music. At the Hilton Chicago, enjoy the lobby’s crackling fireplace, festive cocktails, a 24-foot Christmas tree and a life-size gingerbread
The Resort at Paws Up, Greenough, Montana
Through New Years, Paws Up has all of your holiday needs handled. Whether it’s Meadow tubing with your own snowmobile chauffeur, or cozying up for a Gingerbread house decorating contest, the resort has the dreamiest lineup for a festive winter vacation. Besides gingerbread, the resort will feature cookie-making classes and a HotChocolate Bar, as well as fireside S’mores with the resort’s resident S’moreologist.
Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C.
Every year the historic Willard InterContinental’s Pastry Department creates an intricate gingerbread display in the lobby that pays tribute to an iconic memorial, monument or museum in Washington, D.C. Last year they recreated the new African American Museum to RAVE reviews. Constructed over 60 hours, this display contained 26 lbs. of granulated sugar, 10lbs. of vegetable shortening, 100 eggs, 27 pounds of flour, 20 pounds of powdered sugar, and weighed 150 pounds! This year, the pastry team is creating an edible, intricate Mount Vernon, the home of George and Martha Washington in Virginia.
Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine, Texas
Families can enjoy the annual Snowland celebration at Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine through January 1. The resort, which features an indooer water park, is transformed into a winter wonderland with indoor snow showers, spectacular decorations, visits from Santa, festive activities at North Pole University, fully-decorated Snowland Suites, and a life-size dine-in gingerbread house.