Long live Casa Bonita

It’s official: South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are set to purchase Colorado’s infamous Casa Bonita Mexican restaurant in Lakewood.

Casa Bonita, known more for its cliff jumping and kitschy décor rather than its cuisine, has been in business since 1974, but was made famous when it was featured on a “South Park” episode in 2003. In April, however, the owners of Casa Bonita filed for bankruptcy, casting its future into doubt.

So who else better to step in to save the iconic establishment than the “South Park” creators?
Parker and Stone, both Colorado natives, said they have reached an agreement to purchase the historic restaurant. While the duo is excited to make necessary improvements (ahem, the food), Parker didn’t hide the ulterior motive.
“Of course everyone wants to jump off the cliff into the pool,” Parker said. “We actually had a private party at Casa Bonita when we opened ‘Book of Mormon.’ I (asked) can you (dive off the cliff) and the answer was, ‘No, you’d have to own the place.’”

Well, now they do.

As for the food, which has become notorious for how bad it is, the “South Park” creators are well aware there’s room for improvement. One recent reviewer on TripAdvisor, for instance, wrote, “I came away emotionally drained… feeling physically lousy from the bad food and deflated by the whole, sad experience.” Yikes.

Well it seems one Boulder restaurant is up to the task to change Casa Bonita’s one-star fare. McDevitt Taco Supply, vying for the chance to provide food service, wrote in an open letter to Parker and Stone that “Since 1974, the Colorado landmark has left an imprint on our hearts, and, most likely, our intestines. Casa Bonita has sucked for a very long time… but couldn’t it possibly suck just a little less?”