Ranked: Every fun thing to do and see at Casa Bonita, from cliff divers to mariachi and more

This story is one in a series featuring trips down memory lane with longtime Casa Bonita fans and former employees who shared their fondest tales with The Denver Post. The restaurant and entertainment venue in Lakewood is expected to reopen in May.

“South Park” character Kyle Broflovski once described Casa Bonita as “the Disneyland of Mexican restaurants.” And after spending months talking to longtime fans and former employees, it’s clear that the pink palace truly is the most magical place in Colorado.

That ethos is due in no small part to the live entertainment and experiential amenities onsite, which also resemble Disneyland on a small scale, shrunk down to fit perfectly in a strip mall near Denver’s urban core. The restaurant now also has celebrity owners, “South Park” creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, g...