- Local
- Community
- Journalism
Support the independent voice of Denver and help keep the future of Westword free.
El Rancho is making another comeback — this time as a brewpub. The iconic restaurant in the foothills got its start as a log cabin eatery in 1947; new owners took it over in the '50s, and expanded it into a major restaurant and conference center. In the '60s, it even got its own exit off brand-new I-70. But since El Rancho was sold in 1988, it's gone through a number of disappointing incarnations. Will a brewpub be the ticket to success? Says Erin:
So happy someone is bringing this fantastic place back to life! I worked there seventeen years ago and have always loved the building and the history of it! I'll be a regular when the doors reopen!
Adds Thomas:
Glad it's coming back. Sadly, the quirky Observatory Café across the street has been left to slowly disintegrate.
Warns Lawrence:
The state patrol and deputy sheriffs will be lined up to issue DUI citations.
Did you ever visit El Rancho? How about the Observatory? If El Rancho can make it as a brewpub, can the Observatory be saved?
Keep Westword Free... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we would like to keep it that way. Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering Denver with no paywalls.