Navajo Hogan Roadhouse

History of the Navajo Hogan

Nicholas Fontecchio built The Navajo Hogan as a roadhouse in 1935.  At the time, the only source for live entertainment was the Broadmoor Hotel.  Nicholas was convinced that the potential for a dance club/nightclub in Colorado Springs was enormous.  Nicholas moved west as a labor organizer for the United Mine Workers to help organize the Mine Workers of Colorado.  Nicholas spent considerable time with the Navajo Indians, many of whom were miners.  Hence, the Navajo Hogan Roadhouse was modeled and constructed after a Navajo Indian dwelling.  The two large domes were constructed "without a single nail", truly an engineering marvel.  Nicholas had a vision to provide a place for everyone to gather from the region along with the miners to interact together without affiliations, to meet as individuals and bond as friends and neighbors.

The "Hogan" is a sacred home for the Dine (Navajo) people who practice traditional religion.  Every Navajo family must have a traditional Hogan for ceremonies to keep themselves in balance even if they live most of the time in a more conventional home.  The Navajo Hogan has operated as a dance club, night club, strip club, high-class restaurant, live music venue, and landmark restaurant in southern Colorado for more than 70 years.  The "dining room" was built in 1937 and the bathrooms upstairs were moved and replaced with the kitchen in 1980.  There has been a fire in the dining room in the 1980's where the only causality was a 6' stuffed grizzly bear.  Damage to the floor forced replacement of it and smoke damage discolored the ceiling.  The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior in September of 1990.

Our vision now is to offer excellent food, great service and outstanding live entertainment.  We wish to carry on the dream of Nicholas by attracting patrons from all walks of life and all areas of the region, to enjoy a friendly environment without affiliations, as individuals.

Do you have a story you would like to share about the Navajo Hogan? 

Contact us at NavajoHogan@gmail.com. 

   Copyright © 2007 Navajo Hogan Roadhouse