The year was 2009; brothers William and Kevin Carper decided to give up their public service jobs and follow their passion for delicious pizza, great music, and the coldest beer known to man. And they decided to wrap this all around their love for the Grateful Dead.
And the seeds for The Grateful Head were planted.
While the idea originally began as a beer-hall gathering place for those from near and far, friends encouraged them to combine their other loves as well. Outside of their once-regular jobs, William was known for his pizza-making skills by his friends and family who readily devoured his creations whenever he was willing to provide them, and Kevin was known as a talented musician. Why not combine all three into a Broken Bow hangout trifecta?
And the sprouts of excellence sprang forth.
The brothers settled on a restaurant/taproom/music venue with pizza as the main food offering, a variety of on-tap beers with local brewery highlights behind the bar, and an outdoor music stage for all to enjoy during Broken Bow’s mild season.
Enter an old schoolhouse-turned gathering place located just east of Broken Bow Lake on Highway 259, and the setting for a fantastic creation was found. With a few tweaks, some outdoor construction, and a lot of elbow grease and love, this location became the perfect gathering spot for food, beer and music.
And The Grateful Head Pizza Oven & Taproom was born, named in honor of the brothers’ favorite band of all times.
True to the name, the area, and the brothers’ love for the Grateful Dead, the restaurant is appropriately quirky, completely laid-back, and wonderfully artistic. The interior is an eclectic collection of music references, beer memorabilia and, yes, even some taxidermy thrown into the mix. While a variety of music is welcome, you’ll find that “classic rock” is more often than not what you’ll hear when you visit.
“Pure pizza magic” is what one reviewer raved about William’s delicious creations. Think thick, chewy outside crust, loaded with steaming fresh toppings. While you won’t find a bad pie at The Grateful Head, the most popular menu items continue to be the “Funky Chicken” pizza, the “Tree Hugger” vegetarian pizza, and the “Cheese Bread Styx”. But by all means, try any and all of their signature pizzas, or create one of your own!
A good variey of national beer favorites are offered, but you’ll also find two local breweries featured here: Beaver’s Bend Brewery’s seasonal offering and Choc Brewing Company’s farmhouse ale. Regional favorites can also be found on the revolving taps. Soft drinks and tea are also available for those who want to skip the alcohol.
Next door, the Grateful Head Gift Shop offers T-shirts, fine foods, Dirty Girl Soaps, toys, jewelry, and a wide variety of restaurant memorabilia.
The Grateful Head Pizza Oven & Taproom has become an are favorite, and is the perfect place to kick back and enjoy the local flavors sounds during your Broken Bow getaway at Beavers Bend Creative Escapes; come join us for a pie, a drink, and some great local flair!