Boulder's World Famous Dark Horse, the mismatched, memorabilia-studded bar that has been part of campus life for more than five decades, will close on March 14, the 51st anniversary of its opening. Owners say they are planning a month-long farewell and are asking patrons to celebrate while still respecting staff and the bar's sprawling collection.
In a Feb. 12 social media announcement, the Dark Horse told fans, "Let’s end this era with a bang!" and urged visitors to "treat the property and staff with respect," according to Westword. Westword reports that the post encouraged regulars to use the last month to make final memories and closed on a hopeful note about a possible return in "another time and another place."
The closure is tied to the Williams Village II redevelopment, a mixed-use plan that would replace the strip mall and parking lot near U.S. 36 with hundreds of housing units and commercial space at 2952 Baseline Road, according to Boulder Reporting Lab. Developers previously said they would work with Dark Horse’s owners to identify a temporary location and ultimately provide a new commercial home as part of the project, but the timeline has left the tavern’s future unclear.
Developers negotiated an extension that pushed demolition into March so the bar could remain open into spring, but owners never publicly committed to continuing past redevelopment, Axios reported. Axios also noted that Williams Village officials were informed about the March 14 closing date as the project moves forward.
For generations of CU Boulder students and Boulder residents, the Dark Horse has been a neighborhood anchor, known for burgers, late-night hours, and walls covered in vintage signs and movie props, a stalwart since 1975, the university's alumni magazine reports. Coloradan captures how the bar’s atmosphere and affordable menu have kept generations coming back.
What To Expect Before March 14
The Dark Horse will keep regular hours through its final day: Sunday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to midnight, and Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., according to the restaurant's website. Dark Horse lists the address as 2922 Baseline Road in Boulder.
What's Next For The Dark Horse
Project documents and developer statements envisioned moving the Dark Horse into a transitional location and ultimately into a permanent space within Williams Village II, Boulder Reporting Lab reported. The owners’ announcement hinted at a return but did not offer a schedule; for now, March 14 is set as the bar's final night at the Baseline Road site.
Owners told fans they intend to "honor the Dark Horse by closing with as much joy, energy and fun as possible," Axios reports. Regulars and employees say they will pack the booths and jukebox through March as one chapter of Boulder nightlife comes to a close.
