December 15th 2024.
As the year 2024 came to a close, Bill Carle couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. For the past 15 months, he had been dreading the inevitable end that awaited him on December 31st. It was the day that he and his family would have to say goodbye to their beloved Pahaska Teepee Gift Shop and Café, located beside Buffalo Bill's Grave atop Lookout Mountain. They had been running the shop for an impressive 48 years, but now, Denver Parks and Recreation had made the decision to shut down the 103-year-old building and leave it vacant come 2025. This would also mark the end of the Carle family's 68-year run as concessionaires at various tourist spots in Colorado.
The thought of leaving the gift shop and café behind was heartbreaking for Carle, who was now 70 years old. He had fond memories of working with various organizations throughout his life, but his heart truly belonged to Denver Mountain Parks. It was where he made lifelong friendships and where he had started his first job at Buffalo Bill's. He then went on to have a successful second career in food and beverage at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. It was a fulfilling and rewarding life for Carle, and the thought of it all coming to an end was devastating.
Not only was Carle losing his business, but he was also losing his home. He had lived in the apartment above the gift shop since 1993. With nowhere else to go, Carle had made the decision to buy an RV and park it at Grand Lake, where his company owned three other gift shops.
The Pahaska Teepee Gift Shop and Café, located at 987 Lookout Mountain Road, was a popular tourist spot filled with merchandise that celebrated the history of the area. It was a bustling hub of activity, but now, as December 31st approached, it was slowly winding down and preparing to close its doors for the last time.
This wasn't the first time that the Carle family had to face such a situation. In 2022, Denver Parks and Recreation had closed down the 98-year-old Echo Lake Lodge due to a septic system failure, and it remained vacant to this day. Then, in September of 2023, Carle received the news that the same fate would befall the Lookout Mountain operation at the end of his contract with the city.
Denver's system of mountain parks spanned over 4,000 acres, with 22 parks and 24 conservation areas located in the foothills outside the city limits. According to Happy Haynes, who was then the executive director of Denver Parks and Recreation, the decision to close down the Pahaska Teepee building was due to its age and the limitations of its structural and mechanical systems. In an official letter to Carle, she explained that the city would implement an interim operations period in 2025 to assess the condition of the building and make necessary changes to preserve its historic value. This would also include expanded programming to celebrate the diverse heritage associated with Buffalo Bill's Wild West and the city and county of Denver.
One of the main concerns for Denver Parks and Recreation was the deterioration of the building's operational uses, such as the plumbing and septic system. They needed full access to the building to thoroughly assess the situation, and unfortunately, this meant that the Carle family would have to vacate the premises. Stephanie Figueroa, a spokeswoman for Denver Parks and Recreation, explained that the septic system had not been touched since it was built, and it was now very old. The city was working with a historic preservation architect to conduct a thorough assessment and determine the maintenance needs, opportunities, and limitations for the building.
However, Carle couldn't understand why the building needed to be vacant for them to evaluate the septic system. He assured them that the system was working fine and showed no signs of failing like the one at Echo Lake. To him, it seemed like the city just wanted them out.
As the deadline drew closer, the Carle family was forced to pack up and leave their home of 48 years. It was a difficult and emotional time, especially for Carle's nephew, Dustin Day, who had started working at the gift shop when he was just 8 years old. He had grown up in the shop, and now, at the age of 30, he was a father himself. He couldn't help but feel sad that his son would not have the same experiences that he had growing up, working in these iconic places. Places like the Pahaska Teepee, where he would serve fudge to customers, or the Echo Lake Lodge, where he would sell cinnamon rolls. Day had cherished memories of exploring around Echo Lake, fishing, and being a kid. These experiences had helped shape him into the person he was today, and it was tough to know that his son wouldn't have the same opportunities.
The Pahaska Teepee was named after William "Wild Bill" Cody, a legendary figure of the Old West. He was also a controversial figure, with some people arguing that he had done more harm than good, both as a marksman responsible for killing thousands of bison, and as a showman and actor who often portrayed himself killing or scalping Native Americans in his Wild West Show. This had led to criticism of the museum on Lookout Mountain, which some felt glorified Cody's history.
To avoid any potential backlash, Carle had even removed rubber tomahawks from the gift shop, although he insisted that no one from the city had asked him to do so. He wanted to avoid any controversy and hard feelings with Denver Parks. Having grown up surrounded by cowboys and Indians, he didn't see anything wrong with the items they sold at the gift shop.
The Carle family's legacy as concessionaires dated back to 1893 when Carle's great-grandparents started printing souvenir newspapers for tourists at Mountainview on the Pikes Peak cog railway. Carle's grandmother, Helen Stewart, sold these newspapers on the trains and went on to become a Western Union telegraph operator at the summit of the mountain. Later on, she and her husband took over the operation of the Summit House, and even after his passing, she continued to manage it as a single mother during the Great Depression.
It was a five-generation legacy that would now come to an end with the closure of the Pahaska Teepee Gift Shop and Café. It was a bittersweet moment for the Carle family, who were proud of their long history as concessionaires in Colorado's beautiful mountain parks. As they said their final goodbyes to the shop and café, they knew that their memories would live on, and they were grateful for the many years they had spent there.
For the past 15 months, Bill Carle has been dreading the end of 2024. It's the day he must leave the Pahaska Teepee Gift Shop and Café, a place that has been his family's home and business for 48 years. Situated beside Buffalo Bill's Grave atop Lookout Mountain, this 103-year-old building holds many memories for Carle and his family. However, Denver Parks and Recreation has made the decision to close it and leave it vacant in 2025. This marks the end of their 68-year run as concessionaires at various tourist spots in Colorado.
Carle, who is now 70, expresses his sadness about this decision, saying "It's going to feel horrible." He has a special connection with Denver Mountain Parks, the organization he has worked with for many years. "There are friendships I've had my whole life," he shares. "My first job was right here at Buffalo Bill's, and I got my second career at Red Rocks doing food and beverage. I've had the best life."
As if losing his business wasn't enough, Carle is also losing his home. He has lived upstairs above the gift shop since 1993. When the shop closes, he plans to buy an RV and relocate to Grand Lake, where his company owns three other gift shops.
The Pahaska Teepee Gift Shop and Cafe, located at 987 Lookout Mountain Road, is a popular spot for tourists to browse through souvenirs and enjoy a bite to eat. Sadly, come Dec. 31, 2024, it will be shuttered and left empty. This is not the first time Carle and his family have gone through this experience. In 2022, Denver Parks and Recreation also closed the Echo Lake Lodge, a 98-year-old building at the base of Mount Blue Sky, due to a septic system failure. It remains vacant to this day. Then, in 2023, Carle received the news that the same fate awaited the Lookout Mountain operation at the end of their contract with the city.
The mountain parks in Denver encompass 4,000 acres, 22 parks, and 24 conservation areas, all located in the foothills outside of the city limits. In an official letter notifying Carle of the city's intentions, Happy Haynes, the then-executive director of Denver Parks and Recreation, explained the reasons behind the decision. "The Pahaska Teepee building is over 100 years old and has significant limitations on its structural and mechanical systems," she wrote. She also mentioned plans for an interim operations period starting in 2025, which includes assessing the building's condition, making operational changes, and expanding programming to celebrate the diverse heritage associated with Buffalo Bill's Wild West and the city of Denver.
One of the main concerns cited by Denver Parks and Recreation is the deterioration of the building's "operational uses," specifically the plumbing and septic system. Stephanie Figueroa, a spokesperson for the department, explains, "We need full, unobstructed access into the building to look at all of that and see how much it can hold. It's been an untouched septic system pretty much since it was built. It's very old." To address these issues, the city is working with a historic preservation architect to conduct thorough assessments and determine maintenance needs, opportunities, and limitations.
However, Carle disagrees with the city's reasoning. He believes the septic system is in good working condition and sees no reason why the building needs to be vacated for evaluation. "This is manageable with portable," he says. "It's crazy to think that you have to vacate these buildings to look into a sewer problem. They just want us out."
Bill Carle is pictured with his family and friends inside the Pahaska Teepee Gift Shop and Cafe in Golden, Colorado on Dec. 8, 2024. Carle's nephew, Dustin Day, has been a part of the family business since he was 8 years old, working at the fudge counter and later washing dishes. Now, as a father to an 8-month-old son, Day reflects on the impact this closure will have on future generations. "He's not going to get to have these experiences that I had growing up, working in these places," he says. "He's not going to get to serve fudge here or sell cinnamon rolls at Echo Lake. I grew up exploring around Echo Lake, fishing, being a kid. It was a great upbringing. He's not going to get to have these experiences that helped shape me. That's kind of tough."
The Pahaska Teepee Gift Shop and Cafe holds a special significance in the history of the Old West. The name "Pahaska" was given to William "Wild Bill" Cody, one of the most controversial figures of that era. The building and its surroundings pay tribute to Cody's legacy, but it has also been the subject of criticism for glorifying a history that has caused harm to Native Americans. In recent months, Carle has removed items such as rubber tomahawks from the gift shop to avoid any controversy. "Having grown up here and being surrounded by cowboys and Indians my whole life, it just doesn't hit me that any of our items are insensitive," he explains.
The Carle family's legacy as concessionaires dates back even further than Cody's burial. In 1893, Carle's great-grandparents printed souvenir newspapers for tourists visiting Mountainview on the Pikes Peak cog railway. Carle's grandmother, Helen Stewart, sold these newspapers on the trains and later became a Western Union telegraph operator at the summit of the mountain. In the 1920s, she and her husband took over operation of the Summit House, and after his passing, she continued to manage it as a single mother during the Great Depression. This five-generation legacy is a testament to the Carle family's deep connection with these mountains and their history.
As the closure of the Pahaska Teepee Gift Shop and Cafe draws near, Bill Carle and his family are preparing to say goodbye to a place that has been their home and livelihood for many years. It's a bittersweet ending, filled with memories of the past and uncertainty about the future. But one thing is for sure, the legacy of the Carle family and their contribution to the history of Denver's mountain parks will always be remembered.
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