Taphouse, steakhouse, culinary school and event center, the groundbreaking ceremony last week signaled the beginning of the Tava House development in downtown Woodland Park. Designed to be a destination, Tava House will eventually include a residential component on the 6.3 acres in Woodland Station.
In August 2022, Derek Waggoner, chief executive officer, bought the property from the Downtown Development Authority for $800,000 cash. Waggoner’s team of investors includes his wife, Nicole; Mark and Mary Jean Weaver; Mary and Alan Sekowski; Philip and Deborah Waggoner (Derek’s parents) and Victor and Rhianna Matthews. “Today we gather not just to break ground on this exciting project but lay the foundation for a brighter future for the citizens of Woodland Park and Teller County,” said Nicole Waggoner, greeting a crowd of city and county officials, business owners, residents, friends and construction crews.
A project of the Downtown Development Authority and the City of Woodland Park, the Tava House developers waded through two DDA boards and term changes on the city council before gaining approval. “This project symbolizes our determination to build a facility that showcases the beauty of our mountain community,” she said. Nicole was speaking in place of her husband, who was present but suffering the effects of a cold.
“We believe this innovation will create jobs, boost our economy and foster a sense of community pride,” she said. “As we dig into the earth today, let us also dig deep within ourselves to remember the values that guide us – community, collaboration and commitment.” For the Waggoners and the investors there was a collective sigh of relief, despite the additional details that aren’t quite completed yet.
Over the years, the property has been the source of a lawsuit, cancelled or denied applications, lack of movement during the coronavirus pandemic, and, finally, the patience of the Tava House investors. “This is a special day for me and a lot of you in the audience. I’ve been watching this for 23 years,” said Woodland Park Mayor Kellie Case, the city’s former finance director.
“I was on staff when we created this downtown district; there have been a lot of hopeful projects, and this one is finally taking hold.” Case expressed gratitude to the current DDA board, singling out Tony Perry, treasurer, and Jon Gemelke, chair, for their approval of the project two years prior. At the time, Perry served as DDA chair and Gemelke as vice chair.
“And thank you to the city staff for making this happen and to all of you who support this community,” Case said. As he did this month at the DDA meeting, Gemelke is looking ahead. “We are just glad to see that finally something is happening; it’s been long process and let’s just get this going,” he said.
“I’d like to see some concrete, the foundation. I think this is going to be great thing for Woodland Park.” For Victor Matthews, master chef and founder of Paragon Culinary School, dirt is not just the source of the groundbreaking but a story of the future.
“This dirt is extremely important because they had to raise the ground,” Matthews said. “It’s elevated so you can see the beautiful trees and the mountain.” After the ceremony, Matthews, who has doctorate in theology, was feeling something more than just the earth moving in Woodland Station.
“For me it’s been as much as a spiritual journey as a physical one,” he said. “You don’t just do something like this without some kind of divine intervention.” The groundbreaking marks the 20th anniversary of the culinary school, founded after Matthews became a celebrity chef as owner of the Black Bear restaurant in Green Mountain Falls which opened in 1999.
He closed the restaurant several years ago and opened the Black Bear Distillery in the same historic log cabin where he produces distilled spirits such as Irish Style Whiskey and Caribbean Cask Whiskey. For the Tava House, Matthews expanded the culinary school with a local mix. “My plan in Woodland Park is to work with the high school and Merit Academy where we have culinary programs,” he said.
“My idea is to have a community hub for culinary training for young people as well as full-time students.” Matthews, too, acknowledges the length of time from inception to the groundbreaking. “It was a long process but it’s going to be worth it.
Woodland Park is such a beautiful town, the views, the people, the homes, the businesses,” he said. “It needs a crown jewel.”.
