‘South Park’ creators say they are buying Casa Bonita restaurant

DENVER — The creators of “South Park” said they will be buying Casa Bonita, a Colorado restaurant and entertainment center that is the setting of a popular episode of their animated television series.

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Matt Stone and Trey Parker, who grew up in Colorado, told Gov. Jared Polis during an interview that they are hoping to buy the Lakewood restaurant, which filed for bankruptcy protection because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The co-creators were meeting with the governor to celebrate the 24th season of “South Park,” The Denver Post reported.

They made the announcement but said the deal was dependent on the bankruptcy proceedings. They hope to complete the deal within a few months, the newspaper reported.

“As of about an hour ago,” Stone told Polis, “So I have to qualify this, pending bankruptcy proceedings. “we’ve come to an agreement with the owner, and we bought it.”

“We know that there have been a lot of people in Colorado that love Casa Bonita and have been working on this and we’re excited to work with everybody and make it the place we all want to make it,” Parker said.

The duo made the deal shortly after signing a six-year, $935 million pact with ViacomCBS that includes 14 streaming “South Park” movies, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The sale price has not been revealed, but Parker told The Hollywood Reporter the amount is “fair.”

Casa Bonita features Mexican cuisine, an arcade, a cave and a waterfall with cliff divers, NBC News reported. The restaurant opened in 1974.

The restaurant was a beloved childhood location for Parker and Stone. They grew up in Conifer and Littleton, respectively, and met while attending the University of Colorado Boulder, the Post reported.

Casa Bonita has received several mentions in “South Park” and was even the focus of a classic 2003 episode during the show’s seventh season, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Casa Bonita was also featured in the 2017 video game “South Park: The Fractured but Whole,” as part of the downloadable content, the website reported.

“This is a really exciting announcement not only for the community but for our entire state,” Lakewood Mayor Adam Paul told The Hollywood Reporter. “There has been a lot of behind-the-scenes movement and certainly these deals can be challenging. Not only will this help save an iconic landmark in Lakewood, but it will also provide catalytic change for an emerging arts district. I want to thank Trey and Matt for their commitment to the community.”

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