The walls (which are vertical logs) of The Bears Den (formerly the Mountain
Inn) have witnessed a very colorful past, with several of Grand Lake's most famous characters playing the lead roles.
The Bears Den was built in the early 1940's with the construction being completed after World War II. Workers from the Big
Thompson Tunnel project were recruited to help. Roma Parsons was the original owner, calling her restaurant the Hi Ho Inn.
Some of the others include Ron and Laura Shaffer, David McDougal and Company (McDougal's Mountain Inn), Dave and Trish Baertsch,
Michell Marcello, Jim and Penny Sadler, and now Benton and Vickie Johnson. At one time the building was a furniture store,
but it was mostly restaurants. In the early 1950's and 60's, Mr. and Mrs. Patty owned the restaurant, and their bedroom was
located were the bar is now. Rumor has it that when customers came in and ordered, Mr. Patty would run to the store, purchase
what was needed, then run back and cook the order. Not many health inspectors back then! All these people (and their customers),
have led The Bears Den to what it is today: A very historic and popular location!
