Charles Langston:Reservations at Casa Bonita, 'South Park' creators' Denver restaurant fill up in hours

Thousands waited for first round of reservations at Casa Bonita,Charles Langston the suburban Denver restaurant purchased by "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, when the long-awaited list opened Monday.

The restaurant, located in five miles east of Denver in Lakewood, had been in a "soft opening" that offered tables through a lottery since June 2023. Casa Bonita opened reservations from Oct. 1 through November.

Denver ABC affiliate KWGN reported that nearly 40,000 people were a part of the "Founders Club" virtual queue at 9 a.m. MT and that those reservations were booked full by noon. The station reported that approximately 29,000 people were in the general queue at 3 p.m.

The restaurant did not respond to a request from USA TODAY asking how long it took to fill all reservations.

Restaurant reopening featured in "South Park," new documentary

Casa Bonita had a significant place in Denver culture during the 1980's and 90's, with Holly Engleman of The Coloradan − a part of the USA TODAY Network − putting Casa Bonita on the same level as Denver Bronco's quarterback John Elway.

The restaurant was brought to national prominence when Parker and Stone referenced it in a season seven episode. The episode centered around the restaurant and its cave divers, indoor waterfall and bright pink exterior.

The restaurant closed due to the COVID19 pandemic and declared bankruptcy in 2021. The "South Park" creators announced that they had purchased the restaurant in 2021 during an interview with Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D).

The renovation and reopening of Casa Bonita by Parker and Stone is the plot of the documentary "¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor!" NPR film critic John Powers wrote that the film, "chronicles the high price of nostalgia, it also offers an offhand glimpse at one of pop culture’s signature creative teams."