Summer has arrived at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, and along with it, a new venue and menu featuring an All-American favorite—the holy grail of summer snacking—the Hot Dog!
You could say we’re really hot doggin’ it this summer at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park! This summer, we’re rolling out new a casual dining spot, spotlighting the beloved frankfurter. Defiance Dogs is a walkup hot dog stand located near the Defiance Roller Coaster. The new venue features a meaty mix of options that range from Classic to Hot Diggity Dawg!
Meet the New Defiance Dogs
The Defiance Dogs menu is chock-full of tasty options. Which one is the top dog? That’s for you to decide. The Specialty Dog choices include a triumvirate of winning flavors. First up, the Hot Diggity Dog features a southwestern flair. It comes with habanero bacon jam, nacho cheese, hot Cheetos, and jalapenos! Next up is the Big Dawg is topped with Smokehouse’s famous brisket, simmered for hours, and garnished with nacho cheese, bacon bits, frizzled onions, and crispy jalapenos. Rounding out the threesome is the Sour Dog, a Chicago-style ballpark classic complete with a heaping mound of sauerkraut, dried onions, and dill relish. Another option is to build your own dog. Choose from 10 different toppings to create a masterpiece of hot dog culinary flavors.
Pair your dog with a cold beer, cocktail, or non-alcoholic butter beer and enjoy with sides like Bavarian pretzel bites, kettle corn, chips and cheese, or glazed nuts. To finish up, satisfy a sweet tooth with Italian Ice or a variety of ice cream options.
The Storied History of the Hot Dog
The hot dog, a symbol of American culinary ingenuity, traces its roots back to Germany. Frankfurters, named after Frankfurt, Germany, inspired the American hot dog. These sausages made their way to the United States in the 1800s with German immigrants. Some believe, the name “hot dog” was coined by a newspaper cartoonist in the early 1900s who couldn’t spell “dachshund sausage.” Since then, hot dogs have become an integral part of American culture, from street carts in bustling cities to backyard barbecues and ballparks to mountaintop theme parks in Colorado.
10 Hot Dog Fun Facts
How much do you know about this ballpark staple? Check out some fun trivia from the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.
- A Hot Dog is not a sandwich.
- During peak hot dog season, Memorial Day to Labor Day, Americans consume approximately 7 billion hot dogs.
- Hot dogs were one of the first foods eaten on the moon.
- Hot Dogs were first sold at baseball games in 1893.
- Mickey Mouse’s first on-screen words were “Hot Dog!”
- In the movie “Sudden Impact,” Dirty Harry, played by Clint Eastwood said, “Nobody, I mean nobody, puts ketchup on a hot dog.”
- President Franklin D. Roosevelt once served hot dogs to visiting dignitaries, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
- Frankfurt, Germany, claims to be the originator of the hot dog.
- “Hot dogs are meant to be enjoyed—not weaponized,” was ESPN’s quote of the year after the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council reacted to a fan throwing a hot dog at Tiger Woods during an event.
- Hot dog eating contests have been a part of our national culture since 1867 when the first one was held.
More Options for Eating at the Adventure Park
The Lookout Grille has been a long-time staple eatery at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. The venue offers a wider range of dining and drinking options, and spectacular views of Glenwood Springs and the Colorado River Valley below.
Imbued with a cowboy motif that fits right in with the western-themed Adventure Park, the Grille’s menu includes burgers, sandwiches, and salads. For youngsters, smaller portions and simpler fare are available from the “Young Buckaroos” menu.
Drinks from the bar include thirst-quenching adult beverages like the Colorado Bulldog, Paloma Spritz, Whiskey Mule, Dirty Shirley, Malibu Breeze, and Sangria Spritzer. You’ll also find a selection of beers on tap, as well as all your fountain drink favorites.
Another option for delicious dining is the Smokehouse which features delicious smoked meat—pork, chicken, and beef—sandwiches that combine well with loaded fries or hush puppies. For dessert, ever-popular funnel cakes hit the spot. For something different, give the ice cream nachos a try.
Adventure On
Fueled up and ready to go, enjoy all Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park offers from its adrenaline-pumping thrill rides to its spectacular underground cave tours. Learn more and purchase your tickets today to visit America’s only mountain-top theme park in Glenwood Springs, Colorado!
