Category: People of The Fort

Celebrating 60 Years of Shinin’ Times

Posted on by The Fort Storyteller Posted in Bent's Old Fort History, Colorado History, Fine Dining, History of The Fort, People of The Fort

(Includes excerpts from Proprietress Holly Arnold Kinney’s “The Fort Cookbook”) 

In 1961, Sam’l and Bay Arnold had a dream to build an adobe home outside of Denver so their family could grow up surrounded by fresh air, horseback riding and fishing. While Bay was reading a book about Bent’s Old Fort, she was inspired to create a similar adobe castle in Morrison, Colorado. 

The Arnolds hired William Lumpkins, a top architect in adobe construction, as well as a contractor from … Read the entire post >

Tour The Fort with Tesoro Cultural Center

Posted on by The Fort Storyteller Posted in Bent's Old Fort History, Colorado History, History of The Fort, People of The Fort, Tesoro Cultural Center

Behind-the-scenes tours of The Fort are the perfect socially-distanced activity for spring! With a guided tour from Tesoro Cultural Center, you can learn about the history of the original Bent’s Old Fort, which operated from 1833-1849 in present-day La Junta, Colo., and was known as the Mud Castle of the Plains.

How did this historic building influence the construction of its replica in Morrison, Colo., and how did The Fort come to be listed on the National Register of … Read the entire post >

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Tesoro’s Annual 1840s Rendezvous and Spanish Colonial Art Market

Posted on by The Fort Storyteller Posted in Colorado History, History of The Fort, People of The Fort, Tesoro Cultural Center

Step back in time with Tesoro Cultural Center’s 1840s Rendezvous and Spanish Colonial Art Market. Each year, Tesoro Cultural Center commemorates Far Western Mountaineers and the Fur Trade, including trappers, traders, American Indians, Hispanics, teamsters and military of the Bent’s Old Fort era (1833-1849). Bent’s Fort, of which The Fort Restaurant is an exact replica, was an important fur trading fort that operated along the Santa Fe Trail in the early 19th century.

This annual celebration will take place … Read the entire post >

Fifty-Five Years and Counting

Posted on by The Fort Storyteller Posted in Colorado History, History of The Fort, People of The Fort

In 1961, Sam’l and Bay Arnold had a dream to build an adobe home outside of Denver so their family could grow up surrounded by fresh air, horseback riding and fishing. While Bay was reading a book about Bent’s Old Fort, she was inspired to create a similar adobe castle in Morrison, Colo.

The Arnolds hired William Lumpkins, a top architect in adobe construction, as well as a contractor from New Mexico. The Fort was first authentic replica of Bent’s … Read the entire post >

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Faces of The Fort: Holly Arnold Kinney

Posted on by The Fort Storyteller Posted in People of The Fort
Holly Arnold Kinney

The Fort Proprietress Holly Arnold Kinney was raised at the iconic Colorado landmark with her brother, Keith, and pet Canadian Black Bear, Sissy. As a young girl, Kinney learned the restaurant business by taking on various roles at The Fort Restaurant and traveling to several cultures around the world with her parents.

She Who Naps With Bears

Kinney later chose to pursue a career in advertising and public relations. After working for various radio stations, Kinney founded Arnold Media Services, specializing in food products … Read the entire post >

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Tesoro Cultural Center’s Living History Experience

Posted on by The Fort Storyteller Posted in Colorado History, History of The Fort, People of The Fort, Tesoro Cultural Center

This summer, The Fort will open its gates to the public as the Tesoro Cultural Center expands its educational programming and cultural events with their new Living History Experience. Using our historic adobe structure as its primary teaching tool, Tesoro will introduce 20 weekends of historic immersion and fun for the whole family. Join us for shopping, art, music, historic demonstrations and more.

Visitors will learn about Bent’s Old Fort and the cultural diversity that inspired the Arnold family to … Read the entire post >

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2016: A Year to Remember

Posted on by The Fort Storyteller Posted in People of The Fort

As we enter 2017, we’re taking time to look back on what a great year we had at The Fort in 2016. From eating like frontiersman Hugh Glass in “The Revenant,” to notable awards and more, it was a year to remember. Here are some of our favorite memories!

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For a limited time, in honor of the 2016 Oscars and actor Leonardo DiCaprio’s first win, guests were able to eat like his character, Hugh Glass, and delight in raw … Read the entire post >

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Warm Up This Winter with The Fort’s Historic Cocktails

Posted on by The Fort Storyteller Posted in Featured Historic Cocktail at the Fort, Featured Menu Items at The Fort, History of The Fort, People of The Fort, Recipes

Winter has arrived in Colorado and is here to stay for a while. With forecasts below freezing and snow storms in the near future, keep cozy by enjoying some of our favorite warm cocktails.

Trader’s Whiskey

By the time quality whiskey made its way west in the 1860s, the American Indians resisted it and instead preferred the flavor of the liquor they had become accustomed to. When whiskey was brought to be traded at the camps, the chief would sample … Read the entire post >

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Tesoro’s 1830s Rendezvous and Spanish Art Market

Posted on by The Fort Storyteller Posted in Bent's Old Fort History, Colorado History, History of The Fort, People of The Fort, Tesoro Cultural Center

We had another great year hosting Tesoro’s 1830s Rendezvous and Spanish Art Market on the grounds of The Fort. Our guests were accompanied by family, friends, mountain men, artists, dancers and beautiful weather. It was an unforgettable and “waughsome” celebration!

The event was a fun day full of activities for the whole family. Guests were able to experience demonstrations from mountain men and women, trappers and traders. Our mountain men and women paired up with guests to teach them a … Read the entire post >

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Cheers to National Rum Punch Day

Posted on by The Fort Storyteller Posted in Featured Historic Cocktail at the Fort, Featured Menu Items at The Fort, Fine Dining, History of The Fort, People of The Fort, Recipes, Uncategorized

Sept. 20 is National Rum Punch Day, and we’re celebrating with one of Sam’l Arnold’s favorite drinks, our 1732 Philadelphia Fish House Punch!

 

Philadelphia Fish House Punch is thought to be one of the oldest punch recipes served in America. Scholars believe the recipe originated in the 1600s, in London, as a farmers’ club punch, and was later served in America at the Fish House Tavern in Schuylkill, Pa.

 

What you’ll need:

  • 1 ½ pints sweet-and-sour syrup
  • ¾
… Read the entire post >
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