Casa Bonita, Lakewood/Denver CO. (restaurant) - Beyond Tiki

H Hakalugi Special Tiki Central Agent Redondo Beach, CA Joined: Aug 10, 2004 Posts: 3465	H Hakalugi Posted posted on Sun, Aug 14, 2011 4:53 PM Name: Casa Bonita Type: restaurant Street: 6715 West Colfax Avenue City: Lakewood (near Denver) State: CO Zip: 80214 country: USA Phone: (303) 232-5115 Status: operational Website: http://www.casabonitadenver.com wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casa_Bonita Description: Mexican-themed "eatertainment" restaurant. As of 2011, only one location remains open, in the western Denver suburb of Lakewood, Colorado. Other locations included Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The Oklahoma City location, which was the first location, opened in 1968 and closed in 1993. The Tulsa location opened in 1971 and closed in 2005, reopened with a new owner in 2006 as Casa Viva, sold back to previous owner in 2008 and renamed back to Casa Bonita, finally closing forever in early 2011. The Lakewood, Denver location was built in 1973 and opened for business in 1974. It is the largest and most intricate of all the Casa Bonita restaurants built. Did I mention it is now the only Casa Bonita? From the menu the Denver location is described as such: "Unique live entertainment atmosphere featuring strolling musicians, daring cliff divers, exciting gunfights, amazing magician, hilarious puppet show, dancing monkeys in costume all amidst spledid appointments: Behold the roaring waterfall, graceful palms, volcanic mountain, caves, sparkling pool, mine, palace, jail, etc, etc, etc." ...Ohh, and it's all indoors. The Tulsa location was similar to the Denver location but had a smaller waterfall and hence no divers, however they supposedly had a "volcano room" with eruptions. Casa Bonita has been mentioned numerous times on Tiki Central but contrary to the below image from the notorious South Park episode, there is no Tiki at Casa Bonita so I am posting this in Beyond Tiki. Tiki Mugs at Casa Bonita: Image and reference from Tikipedia's post Excerpt from the "Casa Bonita" South Park episode: "Less Than a minute" The Police are on their way to arrest Cartman at Casa Bonita, and he decides to make the most of it. The full "Casa Bonita" episode can be viewed HERE. Just look up Season 7 Episode 11 Another worthwhile video clip was pointed out by Unga Bunga: Funny documentary about Casa Bonita "Casa Bonita Denver Colorado (Up Close & Personal)" If you do a search on YouTube you'll find many clips of both the Denver and the Tulsa locations. However, I'm still looking for clips or images of the Tulsa "volcano room". In anycase, if you have photos or stories regarding Casa Bonita, this is the place to post them.

Name: Casa Bonita
Type: restaurant
Street: 6715 West Colfax Avenue
City: Lakewood (near Denver)
State: CO
Zip: 80214
country: USA
Phone: (303) 232-5115
Status: operational
Website: http://www.casabonitadenver.com
wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casa_Bonita

Description:
Mexican-themed "eatertainment" restaurant. As of 2011, only one location remains open, in the western Denver suburb of Lakewood, Colorado. Other locations included Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The Oklahoma City location, which was the first location, opened in 1968 and closed in 1993. The Tulsa location opened in 1971 and closed in 2005, reopened with a new owner in 2006 as Casa Viva, sold back to previous owner in 2008 and renamed back to Casa Bonita, finally closing forever in early 2011. The Lakewood, Denver location was built in 1973 and opened for business in 1974. It is the largest and most intricate of all the Casa Bonita restaurants built. Did I mention it is now the only Casa Bonita?

From the menu the Denver location is described as such:

"Unique live entertainment atmosphere featuring strolling musicians, daring cliff divers, exciting gunfights, amazing magician, hilarious puppet show, dancing monkeys in costume all amidst spledid appointments: Behold the roaring waterfall, graceful palms, volcanic mountain, caves, sparkling pool, mine, palace, jail, etc, etc, etc."

...Ohh, and it's all indoors.

The Tulsa location was similar to the Denver location but had a smaller waterfall and hence no divers, however they supposedly had a "volcano room" with eruptions.

Casa Bonita has been mentioned numerous times on Tiki Central but contrary to the below image from the notorious South Park episode, there is no Tiki at Casa Bonita so I am posting this in Beyond Tiki.

Tiki Mugs at Casa Bonita:

Image and reference from Tikipedia's post

Excerpt from the "Casa Bonita" South Park episode:
"Less Than a minute"
The Police are on their way to arrest Cartman at Casa Bonita, and he decides to make the most of it.

The full "Casa Bonita" episode can be viewed HERE.
Just look up Season 7 Episode 11

Another worthwhile video clip was pointed out by Unga Bunga:
Funny documentary about Casa Bonita
"Casa Bonita Denver Colorado (Up Close & Personal)"

If you do a search on YouTube you'll find many clips of both the Denver and the Tulsa locations. However, I'm still looking for clips or images of the Tulsa "volcano room". In anycase, if you have photos or stories regarding Casa Bonita, this is the place to post them.

Post #602452 by Hakalugi on Sun, Aug 14, 2011 4:53 PM