Historic Buffalo Bill Museum Restaurant Space Seeks Indigenous Food Vendor to Preserve Colorado Heritage
A historic building at one of Colorado's most iconic tourist destinations is getting a cultural makeover that could transform how visitors experience the state's rich Native American heritage. The Pahaska Tepee building, which sits alongside the Buffalo Bill Museum on Lookout Mountain near Golden, has remained vacant since early 2024 as Denver officials seek to reimagine its purpose.
According to Denver Parks and Recreation, the city is actively searching for concessionaires specializing in Indigenous cuisine to operate the historic space, marking a significant shift in how Colorado presents its complex frontier history to both locals and tourists.
"This is an opportunity to bring more Indigenous perspective and voices to the site and the storytelling, and also to really have a modern interpretation of what Buffalo Bill was trying to achieve," explains Shannon Dennison, director of Denver Mountain Parks. "And that is introducing culture and history through food."
The century-old Pahaska facility, built in 1921, requires substantial updates before it can fully reopen. The building's rich history includes:
- Former staff living quarters that created unique architectural challenges
- Outdated mechanical systems requiring comprehensive assessment
- Need for code compliance upgrades
- Historical preservation considerations
While the full renovation timeline and costs remain uncertain, Denver Mountain Parks aims to have a vendor operating in a limited capacity by year's end. The selected concessionaire will be tasked with:
- Operating an Indigenous-focused restaurant
- Managing the gift shop operations
- Developing cultural programming for visitors
This initiative represents a thoughtful evolution in how Colorado presents its Western heritage. The site, which originally highlighted Buffalo Bill's Wild West shows that made celebrities of figures like Annie Oakley and Lakota leader Sitting Bull, now seeks to address historical stereotypes while celebrating authentic Indigenous cultures.
For Colorado families and educators, this transformation offers new opportunities to experience Native American culture through authentic cuisine and programming, making the Buffalo Bill Museum complex an even more valuable educational resource for understanding our state's diverse heritage.
This article contains AI-generated content and reflects opinion only. Readers are encouraged to verify all information independently before drawing conclusions or making decisions.
