The Cast and Crew of Casa Bonita Voted Unanimously to Join the Actors Union and IATSE

Actors’ Equity and IATSE Local 7 applied to join the union, two months later, Casa Bonita workers voted unanimously to approve it, the guilds announced jointly on Friday.

80 workers have submitted an application to the NCRB to participate in the elections in October. Actor’s Equity will feature the cliff divers, actors, puppeteers and magicians who entertain at the restaurant. IATSE will represent the theatrical accompaniment team.

“Today we are proud to have stood up as a group and said clearly: We want to make Casa Bonita better. We love Casa Bonita and already work hard to provide our guests with an unforgettable experience. When work becomes a safer and fairer place, we can better focus on doing our jobs knowing that we are protected, respected and valued. We knew the best way to achieve this was to unionize workers, and this overwhelming vote confirms that we will do this. We are ready to take our place at the table soon,” the affected workers said in a joint statement.

“IATSE Local 7 could not be more humbled and excited about the incredible team at Casa Bonita. The days and weeks leading up to these elections were an inspiring example of solidarity. This has only been strengthened by working alongside our union brothers and sisters in the Actors Association. This result shows that the crew is prepared for a bright future through collective bargaining to ensure safety, security and long-term improvements in their workplace. We are excited to be by their side as we prepare and begin negotiations!” IATSE Local 7 Business Agent Max Peterson said.

“Today workers made it clear that they are united in the fight for a stronger and safer Casa Bonita. It was their vision and courage that brought us quickly to elections, and it is that passion that will help us negotiate. We are very grateful to be working with IATSE to unionize even more Casa Bonita workers, and this solidarity will mean better collective bargaining agreements in the future. Let’s move on to bargaining!” Actor’s Equity Association Director of Organizing and Mobilization Stephanie Frey said this.

The first Casa Bonita opened in Oklahoma City in 1968 and later expanded to Little Rock, Arkansas in 1969, Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1971, and the Denver suburb of Lakewood in 1974. The chain became known for its theme park-like interiors, and Denver featured an indoor waterfall, cliff divers and haunted caves.

But the flagship OKC restaurant closed in 1993, and the company closed locations in Tulsa and Little Rock in 2005. All that remains is the Colorado restaurant made famous by the 2003 South Park episode “Casa Bonita.”

After temporarily closing during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Casa Bonita’s owner filed for bankruptcy in 2021, cementing the cultural venue’s closure. That’s when Parker and Stone purchased the restaurant, which reopened in May 2023 to preview the public.