5 Reasons You’ll Want to Visit The Mishawaka Year-Round
Nestled in between the gorgeous Roosevelt National Park in the Poudre Canyon and right next to the Cache La Poudre River is The Mishawaka, boasting two unique music venues as well as a restaurant and bar.
“ ‘The Mish’ can be found 13.7 miles up the Poudre Canyon Highway (CO 14). The Highway begins approximately 10 miles northwest of Fort Collins, and is part of the Northern Colorado Loop Tour”.
1. Indoor & Outdoor Venues
Mishawaka has two incredible music venues. The indoor venue is SpokesBUZZ Lounge, able to hold 200 people and entertain crowds even during Colorado’s snowiest months.
“ Our vision is to help the growth of our amazing arts and cultural economy in Northern Colorado by supporting the emerging artists and the arts community in general. Check out the listings on our ticketing page that refer to The SpokesBUZZ lounge to find out who is playing. We will also open up the lounge during some National shows to provide set change entertainment or late night shows”.
The outdoor venue is The Mishawaka Amphitheatre, and the pride and joy of the community. It is able to entertain 1000 people during warmer months and has a pristine location. The vision for this amphitheatre began in 1916 when Walter S. Thompson pursued the land for recreational use.
“The majestic mountain vistas and idyllic riverbank setting sang the notes of a sacred place and Thompson decided then and there to fulfill his dance hall dreams. Thompson homesteaded the property and spent the next several years building the Mishawaka Dance Hall by hand”.
Read more about the live music HERE.
2. Restaurant
Mishawaka’s restaurant allows visitors to enjoy their meal while overlooking the Cache la Poudre River. They serve beer from a local Fort Collins brewery, the Odell Brewery. Their massive bay windows boast sights of Colorado’s wildlife grazing in the canyon. Indoor and outdoor seating allows the option of fresh Colorado air and sunshine in the warmer months, and cozy indoor seating while watching snow flurries land on the riverside during the colder months.
“ Enjoy a meal on our beautiful deck and watch the big horn sheep grazing on the canyon hill side or enjoy our indoor seating with large bay windows that offers the same river and wildlife view”.
The closing time for the restaurant extends to 11:00pm in the warmer months so that visitors are able to enjoy their food while concerts play into the night. Another key feature is the Grab & Go Grill, where food can be taken on the go as well as a full service bar available.
To view the menu and restaurant hours click HERE
3. Location
The location of The Mishawaka is truly unbeatable. When Walter S. Thompson first saw the area in 1916, he knew it was something truly special.
“The majestic mountain vistas and idyllic riverbank setting sang the notes of a sacred place and Thompson decided then and there to fulfill his dance hall dreams”.
Even to passerbyers, the ‘Mish’ is hard to miss. For travelers headed deeper into the Poudre Canyon, the Mishawaka is the place to stop for food, to catch a breath of crisp mountain air, and to glance at the iconic Smokey the Bear which warns them of current fire dangers.
Check out this stunning image from The ‘Mish’ Instagram page:
4. Nearby Camping and Lodging
Due to the pristine location and ultimate Colorado canyon/river experience, the Mishawaka attracts many individuals that are camping in the Poudre Canyon or lodging nearby the venue. People that choose to camp or lodge near the Mish are able to take a short drive to the venue and enjoy all of it’s perks from concerts to quality restaurant style food.
“Though camping is not permitted at the Mishawaka at this time, there are many great camping options in the Poudre canyon. Please use this page as a resource to help book your overnight stay”.
5. Maintaining Traditional Values
The Mishawaka has been attracting visitors for about 100 years now, and the values of the community remain intact and strong. On the Mishawaka website, they showcase a bunch of the values they live by still to this day.
The Coloradoan described the Mish as “community centered” in their article. Some of the main values the Mish stands by are community, music, sustainability, growth, and service. As a community, Mishawaka has stayed strong through some very difficult times including the High Park Fire which came only a few feet from engulfing the venue.
Music has been the main centerpiece for the area for a very long time, as they have musicians locally and non-locally come to play at the venue.
The Mish has been taking on sustainability in their community in order to preserve this area.
“Mishawaka treasures the natural beauty of the Canyon and works diligently to be a sustainable member of the community. Sustainability initiatives include a comprehensive recycling plan and transportation program that includes a discounted shuttle service with park n’ ride stops in Fort Collins”.
