The World Famous Dark Horse is Closing After 51 Years as Major Redevelopment Planned in Boulder
BOULDER, CO – After more than five decades in operation, one of Boulder’s most recognizable bars is preparing to close its doors.
The World Famous Dark Horse, located near Baseline Road and 30th Street, will shut down after 51 years in business as plans move forward to redevelop the surrounding property.
Williams Village II Redevelopment
The site surrounding the Dark Horse is planned to be redeveloped as Williams Village II, a mixed use project designed to transform what is currently a strip shopping center and large surface parking lots into a new neighborhood center.
Located between U.S. 36 and the University of Colorado Boulder’s Williams Village housing complex, the project aims to introduce new housing, retail, and public spaces within one of Boulder’s most active student corridors.
Plans for the development include approximately 427 housing units, a mix of student housing and market rate apartments designed to help address demand near the university.
The project would also introduce roughly 52,000 square feet of ground floor retail and restaurant space, along with the potential for a neighborhood grocery store.
At the center of the development, plans show a large Village Green plaza, designed as a gathering space for events, outdoor dining, and community activity. Across the broader site, more than 100,000 square feet of open space and over 100 new trees are planned as part of the redevelopment.
The design replaces the existing auto oriented shopping center with a more walkable layout that includes smaller streets, new pedestrian paths, and improved bike infrastructure
Rendering Sourced from Williams Village II Public Resources
Potential Return of the Dark Horse
While the existing building will be demolished as part of the redevelopment, developers have previously expressed interest in creating a new home for the Dark Horse within the future project.
Early concepts have proposed a roughly 6,000 square foot space for a new version of the bar as part of the development’s retail component, though no final plans have been confirmed.
Rendering Sourced from Williams Village II Public Resources
End of an Era
For many in Boulder, the Dark Horse has been more than just a bar. Since opening in the 1970s, it has served as a rite of passage for countless University of Colorado students and alumni.
With its closing, another long standing Boulder institution will disappear from the city’s landscape.
However, if redevelopment plans move forward as proposed, the site could soon transform into a new mixed use neighborhood center bringing housing, retail, and public space to what is currently a car dominated shopping center.
The future of the Dark Horse itself remains uncertain, but its legacy within Boulder’s culture is unlikely to fade anytime soon.
Development Team
Developer: Morgan Creek Ventures
Architect: Coburn Architecture
All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.
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All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.
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