Established in 1976, The Minturn Saloon is known as one of the Vail, Colorado area’s most popular and historic restaurants. Located in the heart of the old railroad and mining town of Minturn, the building that houses the Minturn Saloon dates back to 1901. During the last 100 years it has been, at one time or another, home to various taverns, restaurants, and back room gambling. While the last four decades has seen the development of Vail and Beaver Creek resorts just seven miles on either side of Minturn, the town has retained its Colorado roots and feeling. Minturn has the reputation as the home of numerous fine restaurants, antique shops, art galleries, and distinctive retail stores.
     The Minturn Saloon was created by Bob Cherry in 1976. Bob rented the building from the Taylor family that had operated the restaurant since the 1950’s. Jeff Taylor had been an old sparing partner of World Champion heavy weight Jack Dempsey, a Colorado native. When Vail was being constructed in the early1960’s, “Jeff’s” was the place that everyone gathered after work to grab a “cold one”. Minturn was the only place in eastern Eagle County that had a grocery store, movie theater, and pharmacy. The Saloon was serving three meals a day and had pool tables, pinball, and darts games. The old YMCA building behind the restaurant was a dorm for skiers called “The Wrong side of the Tracks”. Bob’s goal was to turn a tough bar accustomed to frequent fights into a restaurant that ski tourist would want to frequent.
     Bob had been a professional baseball player with the New York Yankees and a fighter pilot in the Korean War. It was Bob who put the original Saloon menu together featuring many of the tastes of Mexico that he had experienced in his earlier years. The first pieces of memorabilia to go up on the Saloon walls were of Bob’s baseball buddies and his good friend John Wayne. The collection has grown over the years as more and more celebrities have enjoyed a night at the Minturn Saloon.
     Andy Kaufman and Steve Campbell bought the Minturn Saloon from Bob Cherry in July of 1986. Bob had suffered some serious injuries while training for a long distance horse riding race and decided that he had had his fill of the mountains. Over the intervening years the Minturn Saloon has become one of the landmark restaurants of the Vail/Beaver Creek area. It is the après ski destination of many out of bounds Vail powder skiers and a “must” for valley visitors.
     Mike Walks joined the Minturn Saloon team in 1995 starting as a line cook. Over the years Mike went onto manage the kitchen and then become general manager of the restaurant. It is a natural progression for Mike to join in as the operating partner in the new Minturn Saloon location in Denver at 846 Broadway in Denver.
     This location has a history of its own. The building dates back to 1903 when it housed a garage. This area, now know as “The Golden Triangle”, was home to most of Denver’s auto business in the early part of the 20th century. In the 1980’s the second floor was added to the building and the Parlour restaurant started a successful run. It was sold in the 1990’s, became an Asian restaurant, and then “Basil”, owned by Peter Schlicht. Kaufman, Campbell, and Walks purchased the property in June, 2003, and began renovations. A third floor outdoor dining deck has been added while the “front” of the house received a total renovation. Welcome to the new Minturn Saloon of Denver.