First of all, thank you Trey and Matt for taking over Casa Bonita and not giving up on it when you found out how disgusting it was. If you didn't do it, no one would have.
Back in 2016 my husband and I were in Colorado to visit Casa Bonita. We were too tired to go and it closed before we had the chance to try again. We always regretted not going and loved that episode from South Park. We didn't grow up going there but did spend time living in Oaxaca and Puebla Mexico so it seemed like the perfect place to reimagine those areas.
We visited again in 2023 for our ten year anniversary but were sadly turned away as there was a Willy Wonka ticketing system where you had to get an email invitation to make a reservation. One year later we finally got the email and I told my husband "We have to go back!". Just like Cartman, I would do anything to go. We drove there from Kentucky with our parrot and if you ask me if it's worth it, my response will be "totally". I wore the perfect pink shirt to match the new paint and even the security guard appreciated it. Once inside, we felt like kids again. You almost get lost trying to figure out how to get to the food, but it's fun. There is so much to do there that I'm not sure we did everything after seeing this documentary! Having our caricature done by a cranky old Welsh guy near the puppet show was my favorite part. We got to hear Trey's voice over the loud speaker announcing the cliff divers and puppet show and it felt so good to feel his involvement. You can hear him in Blackbart's Cave as well. They really did so many improvements that it felt like a new facility, not simply a remake of an old one. The actors were fantastic as well, especially the divers and the dancing they did before the dive. The pirate by the wishing well handed us a coin and told us to make a wish and throw it in. A preteen kid went before us and yelled "I wish to be cool!". He hung around for my wish, so I promptly yelled "I wish to be cooler than that kid!". That was probably the funniest memory I'll have from that place and need Matt and Trey to know they created the space for me and that kid to have those memories (or scars in his case) for life.
If you've been there since the reopening, nothing compares. I recently shot pool with some Denver locals and they complained that the food there wasn't as good as Mexican restaurants nearby. I didn't find this to be true. Our food was pretty great and the sopapillas were fantastic. Our drinks were amazing too. The adults were having as much fun as the kids and that's how you know you've done a good thing. This place is so special and we would gladly go back. It's like a Mexican Meow Wolf. I'm so glad this documentary was made so I can relive the experience.
