Grateful Head Pizza Oven & Tap Room
The Story
One summer evening, deep in the woods of Beaver’s Bend State Park, a pair of Deadheads (followers of the psychedelic sixties band the Grateful Dead) were sitting around a campfire with some friends dreaming of starting a pizza joint and wondering if such a place could even exist in their beloved “sticks” of southeast Oklahoma. Maybe even enable the two Deadheads to “get on the bus”, or in layman’s terms – fulfill the dream of following the Grateful Dead on tour around the country.
The Deadheads, who also happened to be brothers, had lots of friends around that campfire and all concluded they could do it! A few rounds later the cleverer of the two brothers hit upon the name Grateful Head Pizza. Maybe they could create a place that embodied the sense of freedom, love and community that the legendary band symbolized.
Days later, after that most wonderful idea ever had faded outta memory, that same clever brother lucked out and spied BERTHA! Sitting by the roadside, looking to hitch a ride. She was beautiful, flashing multiple gorgeous gables and great bones! She professed to be a historic schoolhouse from DeKalb, Texas who had just moved to Hochatown. Bertha had educated decades of children including Dan Blocker who played the endearing, loveable Cartwright brother and son Hoss on the sixties television show Bonanza. Soon she began her journey making the best pizzas and tapping up the coldest beers in southeast Oklahoma as the Grateful Head Pizza Oven & Tap Room.
End of story? Nope not yet! In 2018, an old, beautiful, mountain side doctors office from the turn of the 20th century (1898) beaconed to them. DOC DEUPREE hailed from beautiful Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. He had long shed his doctors coat and had been many iterations of cool. Sushi restaurant, underground rock club, crash pad, you name it he’d been it. The bothers spit polished Dupree and with new decks and patios return him to his place as one of the coolest places in downtown Hot Springs. Vying with so many glorious structures but holding his own as Grateful Head Pizza & Beer Garden.
Eventually, Bertha and Dupree did help the two Deadhead brothers GET ON THE BUS and from all their ventures to Dead shows they were able to decorate the two with Grateful Dead swag from amazing shows all over the country. The sixties spirit of Love and Inclusion thrived within in the walls of Bertha and Dupree and put smiles to just about everyone that came in! Thanks for visiting and checking out our two old friends and benefactors and enjoying the best pizza and beer found anywhere! We love you B&D! Thanks for all the good times and Dead shows you afforded us!
Billy Bob & Kevin …... two Deadhead brothers!
Bertha and Dupree encourage you to follow some links that they are interested in to further the spirit of the Grateful Dead and the sixties. We Deadheads always want to share the love and positivity that the Dead community embodies. So please take a moment or two to check out some links that we hope, in a small way, can effect positive changes.
One or two moments
a piece of your time
is all I am asking
and I'll give you mine'
"Believe It Or Not"
by Robert Hunter
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