The curtain will close for the Dark Horse bar on March 14, the 51st birthday of the bar that has been a cultural cornerstone in Boulder for generations.
The final act for the Dark Horse, as Boulder has come to know it, was announced in on the bar’s Facebook page. The building is slated for demolition as part of the Williams Village II development, which is envisioned as a bustling mixed-use area right off the U.S. 36 exit ramp onto Baseline Road. Project developers have said they want the Dark Horse to reopen in a larger space in Williams Village II, but it’s unclear if the bar will have a new home or close for good after March 14.
Dark Horse owners could not be reached for comment, beyond the social media post.
The Dark Horse’s fate was effectively sealed when the The plan calls for the existing brown-bicked building to be leveled. Boulder’s historic preservation staff approved the demolition of the building in December 2024.
“We want to thank the thousands of employees and countless patrons that have contributed to the spirit and success of the Dark Horse,” the post reads. “Every laugh, story and shared moment made has built the legacy that will live on long after…our doors close. As sad as we are, we plan to honor the Dark Horse by closing with as much joy, energy and fun as possible.”
The bar was in danger of being leveled in December 2025 before a deal was reached The Dark Horse has been a go-to watering hole for University of Colorado Boulder students, alumni and Boulderites for decades, and stood out with an interior eclectically decorated with antique artifacts.Developers have been working with the Dark Horse owners to safely transport the memorabilia from the bar and look forward to continue working with the owners, said Bill Rigler, a spokesperson for the Williams Village II project.
will redevelop most of the 9.86 acres on the property into a space with five buildings and 427 residential units, 122 of which will be in a building only for student housing. The Broker Inn on the property will remain, and the Sprouts Farmer Market on the plot will move to a different location. Other businesses being leveled include a Cosmo’s Pizza, Ristorante Italiano and Moe’s BBQ.
