DENVER – The man you can thank for those childhood memories of indoor waterfalls, cliff divers, and unlimited sopapillas that can be procured by simply raising a flag died Tuesday.
Casa Bonita founder Bill Waugh was 79.
Waugh, who graduated from Colorado Springs High School in 1953, launched Tex-Mex fast food restaurant Taco Bueno in 1967, according to an obituary published in the Dallas Morning News. He launched Tony's Pizza Cave in 1972 – it later became one of the most popular family-focused restaurants in Texas, Colorado and Oklahoma.
He launched the first Casa Bonita in 1968 in Oklahoma City. It quickly expanded to Texas, Colorado and Arkansas.
Thanks to a South Park episode of the same name, Colorado's iconic location has gained national attention.
According to the Dallas Morning News obituary, Denver's Casa Bonita location had seating for 1,100 during Waugh's ownership– making it the largest Mexican restaurant in the world at the time.
Waugh sold Casa Bonita in 1981.
He is survived by his wife Liwei, two daughters, a son and a step daughter, as well as numerous grandchildren.
Read more about Waugh's life here: http://bit.ly/1JmyJO0
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