I know we talk a lot of smack about Casa Bonita (and for good reason… See: the great food poisoning incident of 2011), but it truly is one of those places that you have to experience once. What you may not realize, however, is that in addition to just the mystery meat enchiladas, humidity, and intriguing ambiance, there is a lot more to know about this iconic restaurant, including:

1.) Casa Bonita (which means "pretty house" in Spanish) was opened in 1974 after nearly a year's worth of construction.
Flickr/Courtney Johnston
This should come as no surprise, seeing as though the restaurant comes in at a whopping 52,000 square feet!
2.) This Denver tradition wasn't even started in Denver, with the first location opening in Oklahoma City in 1968, followed by Little Rock in 1969.
Casa Bonita Denver Facebook
These two weren't nearly as successful as Denver's location, with both closing in 1993.
3.) Casa Bonita is aptly referred to as the ''Disneyland of Mexican restaurants."
Casa Bonita Denver Facebook
...only instead of a lovable mouse, there is a terrifying gorilla running amuck through the dining room.

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4.) The restaurant's iconic waterfall was designed to resemble the cliffs of Acapulco, and measures in at 30 feet high, 14 feet deep.
Casa Bonita Denver Facebook
Think that's impressive? What if we told you that the pool was even dug by hand?
5.) Casa Bonita was designated a historic landmark by the City of Lakewood in 2005.
Flickr/radcliffe_photos
6.) The honey served with Casa Bonita's complimentary sopapillas all comes from Boulder.
Yelp/Ashley W.
Maybe that's what makes them taste so dang delicious?
7.) The eye-catching dome atop the 85-foot-tall tower is covered in 22-karat gold.
Flickr/Frank Reese
Don't try climbing to the top to steal any though; the gorilla man lives up there and will get you!

Ready to get a taste of the REAL Casa Bonita? Watch this:

Craving even more? Check out The Colorado Restaurant That’s One Of The Most Unique In America!

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