ve, from top to bottom: Arapahoe Café in the 1950's; Faye Bryant, A Café's original owner serves coffee; a postcard describing the flooding of the reservoir: "find that about 1961 this town will be under water"; present day A Café after a spring storm; and present day Lake Dillon. 
history
The town of Dillon, in Summit County, Colorado was originally a stage coach stop and local trading post; it was incorporated in 1883. Back in the early 1940’s, when Max and Edna Dercum were developing the Arapahoe Basin Ski Area (A Basin), Faye and Lenore Bryant were building their Arapahoe Café in the Old Town of Dillon.
Dillon was moved several times–once to be closer to the railroad, then another relocation to position it between the Blue, the Ten Mile, and the Snake rivers.
The biggest and last move however was in the early 1950’s when the Denver Water Board announced plans for the construction of a major reservoir which would flood the area. The residents were informed that they must sell their property and evacuate by 1961. The final and present location for the town of Dillon was selected on the shore of the new reservoir. Today, it’s an easy walk from the Arapahoe Café to Lake Dillon.
Both the Town of Dillon and the Arapahoe Café were doomed to disappear under the rising waters of Lake Dillon. Many of the local citizens abandoned their homes and businesses to the bulldozer, or moved them to Frisco, Breckenridge, or the valley below the dam which later became Silverthorne. There were a few hearty souls, including the Bryant’s, determined to see a new Dillon built among the pines on the shores of the lake which had forced them to move.
In 1960 the Arapahoe Café, along with the Community Church (now the Dillon Historic Museum) and a scattering of private homes, were moved up the hill to the site of the new town.
The move was not an easy one which explains why our floors are a bit uneven and the walls are somewhat out of square.
The distinctive pine paneling is just as the Bryant’s installed it many years back.
From 1972 to 1987 many people knew our present building as the Tappan House. In early 1988, under new ownership and management, it was returned to its original name and reputation as a great mountain café: the Arapahoe Café. Today A Café is one of the historic landmark site buildings in Dillon.
MORE ABOUT DILLON
Summer in the Rocky Mountains can't be beat! Dillon's beautiful location in the heart of Summit County provides spectacular views of the Gore Range and the Ten Mile Range. There's so much to do-hiking, biking (back-country roads, trails, historic byways touring abandoned mining camps and railroads routes), boating, kayaking, sailing, fishing (Lake Dillon boasts Kokanee salmon, brown and rainbow trout), shopping, and our favorite, eating some of the best BBQ in Summit County!
Summit County is a paradise for those who love to ski and board. Just a few miles up Route 6 towards Loveland Pass, you’ll find several great ski areas: Keystone Resort and Arapahoe Basin– a great winter vacation! After a day on the slopes nothing beats the warm atmosphere and great food at the Café. While you’re here in town, take out is available for smaller groups at the Arapahoe Café and catering is available for larger groups and parties at our catering branch: Bonnie B BBQ Catering Company.
