Tava House marks grand opening with jobs, art and expansion in Woodland Park

Tava House celebrated its grand opening in Woodland Park on Oct. 17 with a ribbon cutting, a mural unveiling and the expansion of the Woodland Art Gallery. The event highlighted the restaurant and event center’s role as a local employer and growing community hub after opening in May 2026.

Why it matters: - Tava House is positioning itself as more than a restaurant by combining dining, events, public art and local business activity in one site. - The project adds jobs, gives regional artists new display space and gives Woodland Park another destination for residents and visitors. - The development is also part of the city's broader economic and cultural growth in the Pikes Peak region.

What happened: - Tava House held its official grand opening on Oct. 17 in Woodland Park, Colo. - The celebration included a Greater Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony. - The event also included the announcement of an expansion branch of the Woodland Art Gallery. - Organizers unveiled the Tava House Community Mural Project during the celebration. - Guests met participating artists and toured the dining, entertainment and event spaces after the ribbon cutting and mural unveiling.

The details: - Tava House opened in May 2026. - Since opening, Tava House has served about 50,000 plates of food, poured 14,500 beers and prepared 8,000 steaks. - The restaurant and event center employs about 35 to 55 people. - The staff includes 10 to 20 full-time employees. - The workforce includes 12 to 15 employees from Woodland Park. - The facility includes the Tava House Taproom, Firebrand Chophouse, Bar Above the Clouds and the River Room event space. - The River Room is a multipurpose space for weddings, meetings, private celebrations, music and other community activities. - The four venues support a growing calendar of entertainment, special events and social gatherings throughout the year. - The mural project transformed a large exterior wall and an interior focal piece into a gallery for local artistic talent. - The Woodland Park Art Gallery expanded into the River Room at Tava House to showcase local and regional artists' work. - Gayle Gross helped bring the gallery expansion to life. - More information is available on the company website. - Tava House also lists its social channels on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

Between the lines: - Owner Derek Waggoner framed the project as a community-building effort, not just a hospitality business. - Former Woodland Park Mayor Hilary LaBarre said the investment reflects the kind of project that can move Woodland Park forward. - LaBarre said the project depended on perseverance, partnerships and reduced government bureaucracy. - Investor Mary Sekowski said the project is meant to create a place where people can gather, celebrate and feel a sense of belonging. - The public art push is designed to strengthen Woodland Park's identity while adding another draw for visitors.

What's next: - Tava House appears to be leaning into a year-round events model built around dining, entertainment, private functions and public art. - The expanded gallery space and mural project could create more opportunities for local and regional artists. - The venue's mix of restaurants, bar space and event rooms suggests continued efforts to grow traffic from both local residents and tourists.

The bottom line: - Tava House is emerging as a hospitality business with a larger civic role in Woodland Park, using jobs, art and events to anchor its growth.