Gift shop and café at Buffalo Bill gravesite closing by end of year

GOLDEN, Colo. (KDVR) — Bill Carle and his family have run the iconic Pahaska Tepee Gift Shop and Café off and on for 48 years, but now the building has been forced to close.

The building was built in 1921 to pay tribute to the legendary Buffalo Bill and was named Pahaska Tepee to remember his Lakota performers.

“Pahaska being a Lakota or Sioux word, depending on who you talk to, most people will say it meant long hair,” Carle said. “When they said, ‘Here comes Pahaska,’ that meant, ‘Here comes the boss.'”

In 1956, the building came up for sale, and his grandmother bought it and had part of it remodeled and redesigned. Carle said he has memories of helping clean the glass displays on some of the exhibits in the museum when he was a kid.

“The spooky plaster cast of Buffalo Bill’s hand that they made when he passed away,” Carle said with a laugh. “I had to wash the glass. And it was the same time when ‘The Addams Family’ came out. And it was the Thing.”

Then, he inherited the gift shop and café. It offers a little something for everyone who wants a taste of history, or a taste of something sweet like their root beer floats and decadent fudge.

But last October, Carle received a letter from the city notifying H.R. Stewart Inc. that its contract to sell souvenirs and snacks was expiring, with no chance for extension or negotiation.

H.R. Stewart was Carle’s grandmother, and he is the fourth generation of a family known for running spots for food and souvenirs at different Colorado tourist destinations.

“I had a grandmother that was quite the entrepreneur,” Carle said.

Why is Denver closing the Pahaska Tepee Gift Shop and Café?

He said Denver has said the reason for closing down the building is because of its current mechanical systems and the septic system, which are aging and struggling to keep up with high demand. But he said he wasn’t so sure that was the actual reason.

“It keeps coming up about these leech fields, but I’ve been through three leech fields at Echo Lake and two here. Leech fields are dirt, and they’re replaced,” Carle said. “The real reason, I believe, is something different. I think they would like to see the buildings look like they did a long time ago, and I’m not sure that’s realistic, and I don’t think that’s the best use.”

He said the city wants to close the building down without much of a plan after that.

“The other thing that the people of Denver, citizens, taxpayers should know, is the economic cost of closing these things down,” Carle said.

Denver Parks and Recreation released a statement to FOX31 on Friday:

Maintaining and preserving the historic Pahashka Teepee is the responsibility of Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR) and is a top priority for ensuring the long-lasting impact of the space. The current contract for operating the café and gift shop inside the building will expire December 31 of this year and DPR’s decision to not renew the lease, or seek a another, is driven by the need to assess the building and its capabilities. DPR is committed to providing a memorable experience to all who visit Lookout Mountain, the Buffalo Bill Museum and the Pahashka Teepee and our goal is to ensure this beloved and historic building remains enjoyable for generations to come.

Denver Parks and Recreation

While he said he is pretty sure they are set to close on Dec. 31, there is a petition circulating that had garnered 8,000 signatures as of Thursday night. He is not sure it will do much good, but he is thankful for the community who has made their voice heard.

FOX31 has reached out to the Denver Parks and Recreation Department and is waiting to hear back.

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