Colorado is known for its breathtaking mountain peaks, stunning seasonal colors, winter sports, and culture of fitness and healthy eating, but for countless Coloradan children, a shared experience from their childhoods that stands out is a visit to Casa Bonita. This sprawling underground restaurant, located in the Denver suburb of Lakewood and covering 52,000 square feet, served up steamed refried beans, tacos, and enchiladas buffet-style to thousands of diners every day. The restaurant’s dinner entertainment had all the hallmarks of a surreal childhood dream: waterfalls, cliff divers, Black Bart’s Cave, puppet shows, fake mines, and a person donning a gorilla costume being chased by a sheriff who sometimes joined in on the cliff diving. This peculiar restaurant with its curious grip on childhood memories of thousands of Coloradans was even featured in an episode of the hit TV show “South Park.”
Following the episode, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of the show, were frequently asked whether Casa Bonita truly existed. “Oh, that’s a place,” said Parker when he was asked about it recently. “It’s crazy. It’s weird.” Like many other Coloradan children, Parker even celebrated his own birthday parties at Casa Bonita.
However, in 2020, Casa Bonita went bankrupt due to the pandemic’s impact on its operations. It had long been neglected, with deferred maintenance, electrical hazards, and ventilation systems thoroughly coated in grease, and its carpet covered in concrete-like encrustations. Its food, which had earned it the nickname Casa NoEata, had also been the butt of many jokes. Despite this, its closure was mourned by many.
