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.
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 and the restaurant industry. For more than 20 years, she worked with top brands such as Toblerone, The Kimpton Group, the Colorado Tourism Board and more.
Kinney eventually left the world of public relations in 2001 to become business partners with her father, and following his passing in 2006, she became the sole owner of the legendary restaurant.
In 2009, Kinney formed a publishing company, The Fur Trade Press, LLC, and has since written and published two award-winning books, Shinin’ Times at The Fort: Stories, Recipes and Celebrations at the Colorado Landmark Restaurant and Sissy Bear at The Fort. To learn more about each book, and purchase copies of your own, visit our online store.
Kinney currently resides in Denver with her husband, cat and two dogs. She is passionate about tourism, the restaurant industry and building community cultural programs through the Tesoro Cultural Center. In her spare time, Kinney enjoys traveling friends and family.
(Photo: Denver Business Journal)
Throughout her career in public relations, advertising, non-profit work and the restaurant business, Kinney has had a significant impact on Colorado. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Restaurant Association, and received the association’s highest individual award, the Distinguished Service Award, in 2010. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Historical Society and currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Department of Agriculture Colorado Proud program.
In recognition of her contributions to the Colorado restaurant industry and tourism sector as a whole, Kinney recently received the Outstanding Women in Business award for the Mile High Leaders category by the Denver Business Journal, and was inducted in the Colorado Visit Denver Tourism Hall of Fame in March 2017.
To learn more about Kinney, read her bio here.
