Colorado Foodie Flashback: Remember The Hungry Farmer Restaurant?

The restaurant industry has evolved immensely in Colorado over the years, as it has throughout the country. Nowadays, there are dozens of different categories of cuisines, served by brick-and-mortar restaurants, mobile food trucks, rolling carts, kiosks, and beyond.

Some iconic Colorado establishments, like the Buckhorn Exchange, have successfully stayed in business for decades. Unfortunately, many other Centennial State restaurants couldn't stand the test of time, despite their popularity and adoration by locals. Now, these former eateries are just memories, their stories kept alive by former patrons who used to fill the tables.

The Hungry Farmer is one of those places.

Many Coloradans can fondly recall eating at The Hungry Farmer from the late 1960s up until the early 2000s. The iconic restaurant opened in June of 1969 and remained in business for 34 successful years, closing permanently on November 2, 2003.

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The Hungry Farmer was located on Garden of the Gods Road in Colorado Springs, making it the perfect stop for hungry visitors sightseeing in the area. It was also the place where many Colorado residents took their out-of-town guests.

The establishment was recognized for its 11,700-square-foot barn-style building and 30-foot red and white sign topped by a small windmill.

One of the most commonly told stories from the Colorado restaurant was watching the wait staff use the "high pour" to serve coffee. To do the famous high pour, servers balanced a cup on their foot while pouring from a pot held high in the air.  Female waitresses wore long, farm-style dresses, and the male waiters donned traditional suspenders. Besides the Hungry Farmer's delicious food, it was this type of friendly, unique service that kept people coming back for years and years.

Speaking of food, take a look back at some of the menu items once offered at The Hungry Farmer.

The affordable eatery dished out mouth-watering meals, centered around home-style cooking and traditional favorites. Steak, seafood, chicken, and pie were just some of the menu items. Plus, every entree came with a soup, salad, muffins, and rolls with honey butter, and a baked potato or fries - what a good deal!

Cinnamon rolls were also a massive favorite at The Hungry Farmer. At times, the restaurant dished out approximately 2,000 cinnamon rolls a day.

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Creative adult beverages, such as the Watermelon Whoopee, were also available. Check out the prices for drinks and food back then, boy how it's changed!

In 2001, the Hungry Farmer gained national notoriety, when a restaurant employee reported a suspicious vehicle that was parked by the neighboring Holiday Inn. As it turned out, the van belonged to some of the “Texas 7” escapees. They were apprehended at the hotel and the Hungry Farmer employee shared in the reward.

The building where The Hungry Farmer once stood was demolished in 2009 to make way for newer fast-food establishments.

Did you ever dine at this long-gone Colorado restaurant?