The building on top of Pikes Peak, called the Summit House, has gone through four iterations over the years. The original Summit House, built in 1873, was a simple weather station for the United States Army Signal Corps. When the Cog Railroad was bought by Spencer Penrose for his Broadmoor Hotel, he built his own Summit House in 1925. However, this second building burned down in 1953. It wasn't until 1963 when the Rail company and City of Colorado Springs found an agreement for a third Summit House. However, even the third house started to show its age, and was built prior to the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This last Summit House was torn down in early 2021 before the opening of the fourth and newest Summit House.

The visitor's center at the top of Pike's Peak has been a famous attraction for tourists and locals alike. The famous high altitude donuts are baked at 14,115 feet and deflate when brought down, making them a great treat to enjoy from the top!

The most recent Summit House has taken almost three years to build, and is set to open on June 30, 2021. It features a modern architectural, ADA compliant design that brings the outside, in, with countless windows. It also has an interactive, digital display in the visitor's center, with a gift shop and of course, the donut shop!