The Home of the Brave Brewseum operated in Honolulu, Hawaii, for more than 35 years, fostering a unique crossroads between World War II history and craft beer to honor veterans and connect generations.
Now, plans are in the works for the unique business to open in north of Durango, far from its original island home.
The Brewseum closed its doors during the pandemic and has remained shuttered since – but several years ago, plans for a big move to Durango were unveiled on the Brewseum’s website. Five years after the initial proposition, plans are moving in the direction of an eventual opening, said owner Glen Tomlinson.
The new Home of the Brave is expected to expand on its historical coverage, paying homage to regional Colorado history as well as continuing to depict the stories of World War II that were presented in the former Honolulu location, Tomlinson said.
“The museum will be cool, because it’ll preserve and share the legacy of our veterans, as well as (cover) Western culture and history, and be great for visitors to the area,” Tomlinson said. “But most importantly, (it will serve) future generations of our local Durango folk.
“What I like to stress is, it’s not just about World War II history; it’s about telling the story of Durango itself.”
The new Home of the Brave is planned to be built on Bears Ranch, situated at the entrance to Haviland Lake, off U.S. Highway 550.
Plans include a 72-foot by 54-foot cabin museum and bar, as well as eight mini cabins to support operations, according to an announcement on the Brewseum’s site.
Some hopeful new additions to the business include AI technology that will bring old photographs to life, as well as locally-based exhibits on the Tenth Mountain Division and Navajo Code Talkers, Tomlinson said.
Bears Ranch has long-operated as a horse tour business, with guests being brought on rides through the Chris Park and Haviland Lake trail system. The ranch will continue to operate in that capacity alongside the new Brewseum, Tomlinson said.
“We’re going to be continuing the equestrian operation, which has horseback trail rides, as well as the sleigh rides in the winter, and those were established over 40 years ago here on the property,” Tomlinson said.
Much like the original Honolulu location, the new Home of the Brave will include drinks – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic – as well as food options, and will continue working to connect younger generations with prominent history.
“One of the challenges that we have is that World War II history has become ancient history with a lot of these folks,” Tomlinson said.
“We want to bring in school groups, the community. ... We want young people to learn the stories and lessons of World War II. This will be a hands-on, experiential experience. We never romanticize war. No politics involved. We’re just telling the facts,” he said.
Tomlinson has his own connection to World War II history, having heard many service stories as a child direct from his uncle, Tommy, a Special Forces officer in the Pacific, and his grandfather, who worked as a merchant Marine on military ships in the Atlantic and Pacific.
Though the excitement and vision for the new location has been alive for over five years, the logistical process of getting the business up and running is going a bit slower, Tomlinson said. Initial planning approvals have been passed, but other permits, approvals and paperwork are in progress, and exact timelines for opening remain uncertain.
Making it happen
Home of the Brave owner Glen Tomlinson said he wants to work with community members to make a Durango location a reality.
Tomlinson is seeking interested individuals with skills and experience in finance, tax compliance, legal framework and the nonprofit realm “who share our passion for World War II history, honoring veterans and Durango’s storied past” to help get the new Home of the Brave Brewseum on its feet.
He encourages any interested parties to reach out to him at (808) 396-8112.
“Hopefully before I leave this earth, I want to get this thing up and running,” Tomlinson said. “Not for me – for our kids, our grandkids.”
Tomlinson collected all the historical items for the original Home of the Brave Brewseum directly from donations via veterans and their family members, and said droves of veterans and veterans’ descendants visited the original Home of the Brave Brewseum location in Honolulu.
Tomlinson has already shipped all the historical “treasures,” as he calls them, from Honolulu to Durango, inside a 40-foot shipping container.
“I made a commitment to these over-100,000 veterans and over a million family members that came through (Home of the Brave), and who would donate to (the Brewseum),” Tomlinson said. “(They’d say), ‘Hey, here's dad's uniform. We want you to have this to carry on their stories.’ Well, I lay in bed at night with tears, going, ‘Oh, God – I have to follow through with my commitment and promise to these guys.’”
Tim Walsworth, executive director of the Business Improvement District, sees new and unique business additions to the community – including the proposed Home of the Brave Brewseum – as positive for Durango.
“Anytime a new attraction is added to our community, it’s a good thing,” Walsworth said. “It’s another fun thing for people to do on top of all the stuff we already have – the train, Mesa Verde, Purgatory, the hot springs – all those things. This will be a great addition to our lineup.”
epond@durangoherald.com
