The gift shop at The Fort in Morrison is gone, replaced by a bar pouring tequila and mezcal, while a room once reserved for private parties has become a Whiskey Library featuring 100 curated whiskeys. The historic steakhouse, known for blending old-school Western cuisine with unique entertainment offerings, has debuted both new bar spaces as part of a broader refresh of how guests experience the property.
According to Westword, the new tequila and mezcal bar opened on September 18 in the space that once held The Fort's gift shop, right at the heart of the restaurant. The same report notes that the Whiskey Library took shape in a front-of-house room usually set aside for private parties, giving diners a dedicated space to browse the restaurant's spirits collection before or after a meal.
What's Pouring at the Whiskey Library
The Fort's own website describes the Whiskey Library as home to 100 curated whiskeys, with no reservation required to walk in and take a seat. Per The Fort, the room is open seven days a week and welcomes guests 30 minutes before the restaurant's dining room opens, making it an easy stop for those arriving early for dinner.
The new additions build on a pattern the restaurant has followed before. The same Westword report on The Fort's anniversary noted that last summer the restaurant began opening the St. Vrain Bar and Cantina as a more casual option for guests looking for cocktails, mocktails and lighter bites. Together, the moves suggest The Fort has been steadily carving out more casual, bar-forward spaces within a restaurant long associated with formal Western dining.
A Landmark With a Long History
The Fort opened in February 1963, serving what it billed as “New Foods of the Old West,” Westword reports. It's also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a distinction that underscores its standing as one of the region's more storied dining destinations.
The property's ownership changed hands more recently, too. On January 6, the restaurant's previous owner sold The Fort and the eight acres it sits on to Revesco Properties and City Street Investors for $4.5 million, Westword reported. The new bar spaces arrive as the latest visible change at the longtime Morrison landmark, giving longtime regulars and first-time visitors alike new reasons to linger over a glass of tequila, mezcal or whiskey before digging into the restaurant's signature Western fare.
