The Sundeck Restaurant was a seasonal restaurant located in Estes Park, CO. A family restaurant specializing in fresh Rocky Mountain Trout and serve a variety of Mexican, American, and German foods. The Hoerner Family operated the Sundeck for 68 years. Before The Sundeck the property was home to Haps Hamburgers, (which Vic told me was the original footprint of the kitchen), The Rockland Tea Room, The Whistler Inn, and Beaver Point.
In 2016 Vic Hoerner sold the hotel, Alpine Trail Ridge Inn and restaurant to Sean Keating. Sean wanting a hotel only was introduced to me in 2016 by Phil Frank, the Vice President of Bank of Colorado who recently heard my interest in finding a place to house the restaurant that filled my dreams.
After negotiations, subdividing, purchasing, and working with architectures and contractors I began a complete overhaul of the non-winterized hodgepodge of additions that together made the Sundeck. From February 2016 to October 2017 The Sundeck was transformed to Bird & Jim opening to the public October 4, 2017.
Pictures and videos from 2016/2017 and some oldies from Vic.
From The Sundeck Restaurant to Bird & Jim
Exit Wounds: Climbing Through Adversity
Coming to a Bookstore Near You ~ MARCH 2026