The Fort is an award-winning Denver western restaurant southwest of Denver, Colorado featuring fine beef, buffalo, game and seafood. We had a chance to talk to the proprietress, Holly Arnold Kinney, who shared with us a few tidbits about their restaurant and how she started in the culinary industry.
Holly Arnold Kinney
FriendsEAT: What makes The Fort special?
Holly Arnold Kinney: The restaurant is so special to me in so many ways. My parents, who were amateur historians, purchased the red rock property in Morrison in 1961. They intended to build our family home as an exact replica of Bent’s Old Fort, and open it up to the public as a living history museum. When the costs of construction exceeded the budget, the bank suggested my parents open a restaurant within it. A truly family-owned an operated institution, we opened for business in 1963. Eventually, I joined my father in partnership and when he passed away, I became the sole proprietress. I inherited my father’s rare historic cookbook library of more than 3,000 volumes. I still research it and introduce popular 19th century recipes to our menu at The Fort and work with our team of chefs to create modern twists on these historic dishes. The restaurant embodies the spirit of the West and the ode to history that my father and I were both so passionate about.
FE: Did you grow up cooking or did cooking come to you later in life?
Holly: I grew up cooking! I remember making Rocky Mountain Oysters for my school friends when I was in sixth grade. Even as a little girl, I worked in The Fort’s kitchen as a prep cook.
The Fort is located at 19192 Highway 8, Morrison, CO 80465
Nearby Landmarks: Willow Ridge Manor
Phone Number: (303) 697-4771
Hours of Operation:
- Mon – Fri 05:30PM to close
- Sat & Sun 05:00PM to close
Peanut Butter-Stuffed Jalapeños
Also check out Holly Arnold Kinney’s Peanut Butter-Stuffed Jalapeños Recipe
