The legendary ghost of the Naked Moose has returned to Dolores, and its new owners intend to feed the community great homemade food.

Closed since 2006, the Naked Moose Restaurant was reopened yesterday by a family of previous employees.

"I was a cook here before and always wanted to open my own restaurant, so it seemed like a good idea," said owner and cook Robert Pixler.

Pixler's sister Kim and mother Tami Holsey have re-joined the operation as well, managing the dining area and books. He brings on board Don Davis, "the best cook I've ever met," to work his magic in the kitchen.

The menu will be similar to that of the Moose's previous incarnation, with affordable breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals served up in a laid-back atmosphere.

"Dinner will be higher end, with choice USDA steaks, great pasta dishes and seafood," Pixler said.

Breakfast will be all of the fixin's plus specialties like fruit and cream pancakes and waffles.

Handmade burgers and fries will be made to order and "the salad bar is amazing."

The Moose has no liquor license at this point, but that is the plan for the future. The outdoor patio will reopen soon.

Why the Naked Moose?

It's an old tale, explained Holsey, from when moose roamed the area. After being subjected to weird experiments by the DOW, the moose ended up losing all of their fur, and then disappeared altogether.

"But when the moon is just right, you can look up on the mesa and see the ghost of the Naked Moose, so the legend lives on.

"That is our story and we are sticking to it."

The Naked Moose is located on the corner of Second Street and Highway 145 and will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day except Tuesdays.