For nearly 70 years, the Pahaska Tepee next to the Buffalo Bill Museum at Lookout Mountain Park in Golden, Colorado, has been a token pitstop for Wild West knickknacks, memorabilia and goodies visitors take home from an excursion to one of the area’s top cultural destinations.
Each year the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave attracts more than 80,000 guests. They go to learn about William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody and his Pony Express pioneering lifestyle and wildly popular western show. And for the views — tremendous mountaintop vistas are picturesque. The teepee full of treasures happens to be on the National Registry of Historic Places. But the Buffalo Bill gift shop and café will close when its contract expires at the end of 2024.
Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) owns the park and its buildings. The current contract was signed by owner of the family-run business in 2017 for a five-year term and two-year extension, which ends this December.
“The building’s current mechanical systems cannot support the level of use,” says Yolanda Quesada, DPR spokesperson, explaining the reason for not renewing the contract with HW Stewart Company or re-advertising a new RFP for the continuation of existing services.
“Balancing use and preservation is vital,” says Quesada.
Temporary closure of the City of Denver-owned building will “reduce various operational impacts,” she explains. “Upon its closure, DPR will work with a historic preservation architect to conduct a thorough condition assessment of the historic building to better understand maintenance needs, opportunities and limitations.”
Owner Bill Carle reported receiving notice of the closing in a letter addressed to his grandmother, as city records had not been updated since her passing in 1979. Carle came to the shop to work with her when he was 9 years old and never left. He told Colorado CBS News: “You got such awesome views here and homemade fudge and just a cool gift shop. We’re selling memories. Reminders, mementos. Souvenirs.”
But with an old septic system, aging mechanicals and increased visitation, DPR is working to secure the destination’s legacy, which requires the shop’s closing “to provide access for historic preservation efforts,” explains Quesada.
The museum will stay open during preservation efforts.
“Denver Parks and Recreation remains committed to the public, ensuring that Lookout Mountain Park and the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave continue to be cherished destinations,” says Quesada.
This includes a future souvenir shop so visitors can take home mementos and treasures marking their experience at the park. Quesada says, “We do anticipate providing some level of retail in the future with an emphasis on items that reinforce educational and park-focused themes.”
