Grizzly Rose shut down indefinitely by health department following video of large crowds
The Grizzly Rose was ordered to shut down immediately by the Tri-County Health Department Tuesday after a video from the popular country bar and dance hall was posted online showing large crowds.
The video showed hundreds of people gathered there over the weekend, with no social distancing and the vast majority not wearing masks.
Under Adams County’s Level Orange status, restaurants and venues like the Grizzly Rose are limited to 25% capacity or 50 guests, whichever is fewer. It also requires groups be separated by six feet and everyone not seated wear a mask.
The health department said the Grizzly Rose violated multiple public health orders over the weekend and will not be allowed to reopen until the department determines it is in compliance with public health orders.
Prior to this order, the Grizzly Rose announced Monday it would temporarily and voluntarily close its doors; however, the decision has now been taken out of the business’s hands.
“We weren’t trying to subvert the Colorado COVID regulations,” owner Scott Durland said in a statement. “In fact, we have not advertised being open for the past three weekends because we could not handle a crowd with the current state mandates.”
Durland said he was out of town last weekend when the video was taken but when his staff called about how long the lines were getting he told them to let everyone in.
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Brian Hlavacek with the Tri-County Health Department told KCNC-TV that The Grizzly Rose also violated public health orders in the fall and received repeated complaints about violating capacity and mask-wearing mandates.
Hlavacek said the health department issued a warning to the Grizzly Rose back in October and Durland then decided to close for the winter, only recently reopening.
Durland could face a fine of up to $5,000 and 18 months in jail if he is found guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor for violating the public health orders.
If The Grizzly Rose fails to remain closed, the Tri-County Health Department can seek a court order.