Thanksgiving Dinner Made Easy: Skip the Kitchen and Enjoy Local Favorites Serving up Traditional Meals this Year!
Whether you're visiting or call the Fraser Valley home, Thanksgiving week has so much to offer if you find yourself in Grand County for the laid-back holiday. With the both Winter Park Resort and Granby Ranch open and in full swing, tubing and sledding hills ready to welcome guests, and (hopefully!) enough snow on the ground to get out for a cross-country ski or snowmobile ride, there are a wealth of opportunities to play outside and appreciate the beauty of the mountains. And events like the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot, Cooper Creek Square's Celebration of Lights, Winter Park Resort's Holiday Tree Lighting, Granby's Parade of Lights and Christmas Tree Lighting, and Grand Lake's Annual Tree Lighting are all full of festive vibes to help kick off the holiday season.
With all the fun, adventure, and celebrations out the back door, you might want to spend your time enjoying all Grand County has to offer and leave the Thanksgiving feast prep to the professionals. I’ve rounded up a list of restaurants and caterers offering traditional Thanksgiving meals this year. Whether you're looking for full-service, dine-in options or a ready-made meal to bring home for your crew, if you’d rather skip the hours in the kitchen and spend the day enjoying all the things that make this place feel like home, take your pick from these local options for this year's Thanksgiving dinner!
DENO'S MOUNTAIN BISTRO
Deno's is a local favorite. Right on Main Street in Winter Park across from Cooper Creek Square, their team goes all out for Thanksgiving. With handcrafted options like traditional roasted turkey, signature steaks, butternut squash soup, bacon green beans, candied yams, sausage and sage stuffing, and holiday salad on their pre-fixe, dine-in menu, there's no doubt you'll enjoy your meal - and without the prep and dishes! They'll be open from 1-9pm. Check out their full Thanksgiving Day menu, make your reservation, and focus your holiday planning on how you're going to take advantage of the mountain life!
If you'd rather celebrate at home but want to skip the prep, they offer take-home Thanksgiving meals as well! Pre-order for your take-home Thanksgiving dinner for two ($110 for enough herb-crusted carved turkey with citrus cranberry sauce, garlic mashed potatoes and herb-pan gravy, roasted sweet yams with garlic green beans, Italian sausage and sage stuffing, holiday mixed green salad with dried fruit and gorgonzola, and pumpkin pie for two people). All take home orders will need to be reheated at home, but don't worry - warming instructions are included! When you pre-order, you'll be able to reserve your pick up time between 12-2:30pm on Thanksgiving Day.
THE SMOKEHOUSE
The Smokehouse in downtown Winter Park is keeping up its yearly tradition with a special Thanksgiving pick-up menu. This year’s special is $35 per person and includes a hearty ½ pound of turkey, mashed potatoes, homemade gravy, green bean casserole, stuffing, cranberry sauce, a sweet roll, and your choice of pecan or pumpkin pie. It’s a package deal (no substitutions), and orders for four or more are served family-style - perfect for sharing!
And even better: all of their usual smoked meats and sides are still available as add-ons. So if you’re in the mood to kick off the holiday season with a rack of ribs alongside your turkey, you’re in luck! Be sure to call ahead (970.722.0227) to reserve your time slot between 12 and 6pm on Thanksgiving Day.
THE LODGE AT SUNSPOT
Thanksgiving dinner at 10,700 feet? Count us in! Celebrate the holiday with a mountaintop buffet at The Lodge at Sunspot from 2–6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Ride the gondola up, take in those sweeping alpine views, and enjoy a feast prepared by the talented Winter Park Resort culinary team. The buffet features everything from crab, prawns, turkey breast, and wild salmon to prime rib, glazed ham, and vegetable cassoulet - and yes, you can try them all!
It’s easy to feel grateful when you’re dining at what feels like the top of the world! Adult meals are $99, and children 10 and under eat for $39, with gondola rides and non-alcoholic beverages included. Be sure to reserve your spot early to experience Thanksgiving, mountain-top style!
A-FRAME CLUB GRILL
The A-Frame Club Grill is nestled in Old Town Winter Park, off the beaten path but a quick walk from The Village at Winter Park Resort. We love their nostalgic, 70s ski town vibeOpen 5-8pm, they'll be serving a set, plated menu complete with rosemary roasted turkey break,, buttermilk mashed potatoes, glazed sweet potatoes, wilted greens sage chorizo stuffing, sherry gravy, cranberry orange relish, locally-sourced salad, apple streusel cake, and pecan tart. Adult meals are $59, and children's are $39. Feel free to dine in or take out, but be sure to make your reservations in advance!
WILDHORSE CATERING
Wild Horse Catering is offering a full carry-out meal for Thanksgiving dinner this year. The meal includes a smoked and roasted ten-pound turkey, toasted sourdough dressing, mashed potatoes, homemade slow-cooked gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry compote, and a pumpkin dessert. They prepare their meals family-style - $299 feeds 10 people. Call Wild Horse Catering (970-531-1162) or visit wildhorsecatering.com to reserve your meal in advance!
BISTRO 28 AT POLE CREEK GOLF CLUB
Even though the golf course is closed, Bistro 28 in the clubhouse at Pole Creek Golf Club (one of Grand County's world-class golf destinations) in Tabernash will be serving delicious food (and jaw-dropping views) all winter long, and it's an easy, low-key option for Thanksgiving dinner! From 1-5pm on Thanksgiving afternoon, you can enjoy a cozy meal with dinner rolls, mixed greens salad, herb-roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes and gravy, butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, green bean + mushroom casserole, bread pudding, cranberry sauce, and pie. Call 970.887.9797 or email brenna@polecreekgolf.com, or hop online to make your reservation.
GRANBY RANCH
Last year's Thanksgiving dinner at Granby Ranch was such a hit that they're bringing it back this year! Granby Ranch is set to open just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, with lifts starting to turn for guests on Wednesday, 11/26. And they'll again be offering a full traditional Thanksgiving dinner buffet on the second floor of the base lodge all day Thursday. What's on the menu? A little something for everyone: roasted acorn squash soup, mixed green salad, caesar salad, toasted couscous salad, artichoke heart salad, assorted fruits, house-smoked salmon, seafood salad, roasted pork loin, "Grandma's" cornbread dressing, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, mac + cheese, whipped sweet potatoes, chef-carved sage roasted turkey, giblet gravy, Virginia honey-smoked pit ham, and assorted pies and mini desserts.
If you're hoping to catch some football, head up to the 8350 Lounge to catch all the games with drinks and light snacks before or after your meal! They've added more seatings this year, with six options between noon and 6:30pm. Be sure to make a reservation in advance! Adult meals are $65, and children under 10 are $32.50.
DEVIL'S THUMB RANCH
The Ranch House Restaurant at Devil's Thumb Ranch is open to non-lodging guests and serving an à la carte menu with a special Thanksgiving feature from 5–9pm on Thanksgiving Day. Housed in the ranch’s original 1930s homestead, the space offers cozy charm and sweeping views of the Continental Divide - the kind of place that invites you to settle in and stay awhile. The menu showcases some of the best cuisine in the county, with locally sourced, natural ingredients, including Wagyu beef raised right on the property. Treat yourself to an upscale, mountain-inspired Thanksgiving at the Ranch House, and be sure to reserve your table in advance!
SAGEBRUSH BBQ
Since 2020, Sagebrush BBQ & Grill in Grand Lake has continued a generous, community-minded tradition, offering a free Thanksgiving meal to anyone in the community. The menu is full of the classics: turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Owners Dave and Brenda Freeman partner with their staff and a team of volunteers to spread the Thanksgiving love each year.
Dinners will be available for pick-up only, so swing by anytime between 11am-2pm on Thanksgiving Day to get your meal(s). There will be a “drive-thru” line in the parking lot in front of the restaurant, and doors will also be open for guests to walk-in and pick up a meal if they prefer. We are so grateful for this beyond generous way the Sagebrush cares for our community each Thanksgiving!
NOT IN THE MOOD FOR TURKEY?
If a "traditional" meal isn't on your radar but you're still looking for dining options on Thanksgiving, several other restaurants will be open and serving their regular menu. Volario's in downtown Winter Park, an affiliate of Devil's Thumb Ranch, will be open from 4-9pm and serving their typical, delicious Italian fare: think handmade pizza + pasta, slow-roasted local meats, and fresh-from-the-farm vegetables. Randi's Irish Grill + Pub will be open from 11am-6pm, serving up their innovative Irish and American fare. Vertical Bistro and Tap in the The Village at Winter Park Resort will be open from 11am-10pm - they've typically had traditional Thanksgiving meal options (in addition to their full menu), but they haven't confirmed that yet this year! Paella's in Cooper Creek Square will be open - their Spanish Fusion cuisine is a real treat. And Namaste India in Cooper Creek square will be ready for you on Thanksgiving as well, bringing the best Indian and French dishes in town!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I hope you enjoy this time of reflection and celebrating all we have to be grateful for and that your holiday is spent with people you love doing something you love! I’m thankful every day to call Grand County home. If you’ve ever dreamed of living here and enjoying all it has to offer, let’s connect! I’d love the opportunity to guide you through the local real estate market and help you find your own piece of this incredible community. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Posted by Leah Bishop on
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