Historic Buffalo Bill Museum Shop to Showcase Indigenous Culture Through New Colorado Food Venture
A historic Colorado landmark is getting a cultural refresh as Denver Mountain Parks seeks to transform the vacant Pahaska Tepee building near the Buffalo Bill Museum into a unique dining destination celebrating Indigenous cuisine and heritage.
The iconic wooden structure on Lookout Mountain, which has served Colorado visitors since 1921, has remained empty since early 2024. Now, Denver Parks and Recreation is actively seeking proposals from vendors specializing in Indigenous food and beverages to revitalize this historic Colorado space.
Bridging Past and Present
"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," explained Shannon Dennison, director of Denver Mountain Parks. "And that is introducing culture and history through food."
"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," explained Shannon Dennison, director of Denver Mountain Parks. "And that is introducing culture and history through food."
The initiative aims to address a complex Colorado legacy. While Buffalo Bill's Wild West shows of the late 1800s and early 1900s brought performers like Annie Oakley and Lakota leader Sitting Bull into the spotlight, they also perpetuated stereotypes about Indigenous peoples that Colorado's cultural institutions now seek to address thoughtfully.
Renovation Challenges Ahead
The building's restoration faces several hurdles:
- Original 1921 construction includes outdated staff living quarters
- Comprehensive architectural assessment needed for code compliance
- Initial operations limited to partial building use
- Full renovation timeline and costs still undetermined
The selected vendor will be tasked with operating both the food service and gift shop components while developing cultural programming that resonates with Colorado residents and tourists alike. Denver Mountain Parks aims to have the new contractor in place by the end of 2024.
Looking to the Future
"We'll bring in preservation architects and engineers to do a full architectural assessment of the building," Dennison noted, emphasizing the importance of maintaining this piece of Colorado history while adapting it for modern use.
This transformation represents a significant step in Colorado's ongoing efforts to preserve its historic landmarks while creating more inclusive spaces that accurately reflect and honor the state's rich cultural heritage.
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