Roland Blanscet, a beloved figure at Denver’s Grizzly Rose since it opened, has passed away

Denver’s iconic Grizzly Rose honky-tonk opened in 1989, and since then, if you visited you were likely to see a joyful old soul dancing the night away right along side all the 20-somethings. Sadly, the famous venue’s most recognized face has passed away.

Roland Blanscet, from Arvada recently passed away just a couple of months since of his 95th birthday.

The Grizzly Rose paid tribute to Roland on social media, calling him a beloved part of their family since the very beginning. Friends and fellow dancers shared their memories of dancing with him, noting his infectious joy and appreciation for life.

Although there’s no word on exactly what happened to Roland, it seems as though as he aged he faced more frequent health challenges. Back in April of 2024, the Grizzly Rose hosted a “Dance for Roland” event to honor him during a period of challenging times. The event included free and low-cost dance classes and live music.

There is currently no word on arrangements.