New LoDo Mini Golf Attraction Pairs Scratch Kitchen and Bar With Indoor Putts

A whimsical indoor mini golf course with a made-from-scratch kitchen is set to open its doors later this week inside the historic LoDo building that housed the Old Spaghetti Factory for 45 years.

Urban Putt is billed by its owners as “a mini golf steampunk fantasy come-to-life” consisting of 18 mini golf holes that are divided into two nine-hole courses. Those courses will include six holes inspired by such individual Colorado landmarks as Red Rocks, Elitch’s, and Denver International Airport.

The design of the courses is guided by the principles of steampunk, a style of design and fashion that combines historical elements with anachronistic technological features inspired by science fiction. Urban Putt will open to the public Friday inside the historic Denver City Cable Railway Co. building located at 1201 18th St.

Roth Sheppard Architects via urbanputt.com

The Denver center will be the second for the company, which opened their first urban mini golf center in San Francisco’s Mission district in 2014.

Along with the courses, the new Urban Putt will feature a kitchen serving what the company describes as “chef-driven cuisine” that will utilize local ingredients and a bar serving local craft beers and custom tap cocktails.

Though Urban Putt has not yet released many details about the Denver food menu, an invitation to a media preview planned for Wednesday mentions hand-thrown pizza, a variety of tacos (including veggie ones), seared tuna, sliders, and corn dogs. It also mentions some less conventional items, including kibbeh made with Colorado lamb and chicken and waffles.

Fans of the Old Spaghetti Factory, meanwhile, will likely be excited to know that the original Denver street car that serviced Denver’s streets in the 1920s and provided a unique seating option in the old restaurant has been moved into the dining area of Urban Putt and will again contain tables for dining and also be a space for private parties.

The remains of an interior portion of the archway that graced the building until the 1970s before being moved inside to the Old Spaghetti Factory will be centerpiece of the wall design behind the bar at Urban Putt. That bar, meanwhile, is a historic long wooden one originally belonging to Colorado-born boxer Jack Dempsey, who became a heavyweight champion of the world in the 1920s.

The Railway Co. building, which dates back to 1883 and is on the National Register of Historic Places, has also undergone extensive renovations that are intended to return its exterior, including the arch, to their original appearance.

Beginning Friday, Urban Putt will open at 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. It will close at midnight Sunday through Thursday and at 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Those under 21 will be able to play golf and eat at the restaurant only until 8 p.m.

Urban Putt will also be available for parties and corporate events.

• Urban Putt takes over former Old Spaghetti Factory space [EDEN]
• The Old Spaghetti Factory Is Leaving Downtown After 45 Years [EDEN]
• Urban Putt [Official]