Big E Steakhouse & Saloon
Clayann Cook
365 State Route 64, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
E-Mail: clayann@bigesteakhouse.com
Website: www.bigesteakhouse.com
Phone: 928-638-0333
Fax: 928-638-3279
Location: Big E is located in the South Rim gateway community of Tusayan, about a mile from the National Park
entrance. P.O. Box 3665, Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023
Owner: Elling Halvorson also known as “Big E”
Opened: April 6th, 2012
Background Story: Elling Halvorson came to the Grand Canyon in 1963 with a mammoth job of constructing the
pipeline that brings water to the South Rim from the depths of the Inner Gorge. It was a monumental task which
required a fleet of helicopters and creative engineering. Elling and his wife Barbara fell in love with the canyon.
Their family has provided community leadership with a commitment to creating the highest quality tourism
experiences in the world. That commitment is evidenced in the Best Western Squire Inn, Papillon Helicopters,
Grand Canyon Helicopters, Grand Canyon Airlines, and now the Big E Steakhouse & Saloon. Elling says “We
wanted to create a world-class dining and entertainment experience that compliments the Grand Canyon
experience and I believe that is what our team has achieved. We have world class entertainers on stage and our
menu includes the finest steaks in the west from Harris Ranch beef.”
Concept:
Two matching 15’ tall Fredric Remington bronzes of the “Bronco Buster” welcome you
at the front entrance. The main dining room walls are lined with building facades of
an old west town accented by wagon wheel chandeliers. All eyes are focused on the
western opera house stage. This has been built to create the look and feel of a 1890’s
gas light theater, complete with proscenium and red velvet draperies. Who knows,
you may seated next to the Emporium Shop, the blacksmith, the newspaper office or
the Canyon Bank
The stage has a 200 square foot video wall that is comprised of thirty 46” Samsung
high definition video monitors that is over 20’ wide and 10’ high! The video wall has
the clarity of an iPad and the sound system has over 10,000 Watts of concert quality 5.1 surround sound audio.
Stage lighting utilizes all energy efficient LED lighting (50 color-changing wash lighting instruments - totaling
1850 individual LED light sources, 5 intelligent moving spot lights).
A pre-show video is projected with two large high definition projectors and screens (one in front of the stage
and one at the rear of the room. The video provide gives a fascinating look at the life in the scenic west --- both
past and present.
Entertainment: Madame de Murska’s Wild West Revue & Medicine Show is a fast-paced, high energy multimedia entertainment adventure that is fun for all ages. The sassy Madame de Murska and her talented group of
world-class performers dazzle with show- stopping songs, fantastic tap dancing, magic tricks, and awesome
costumes. Our show includes genuine film footage from the early 1900′s showing early vaudeville and circus
performers and a video tribute to the songs and shootouts of classic westerns on a state-of-the-art 200 square
foot video wall.
Menu: The Big E is proud to feature Harris Ranch steaks…the highest quality beef available anywhere – our
steaks are. The Harris Ranch family has maintained a proud tradition of producing the finest all-natural premium
beef in the West since the 1930’s. The meals are bountiful, served family-style with a great range of entrées,
bowls, and platters of side dishes delivered to every table, or you can order meals individually. The Steakhouse
features flame-seared steaks, chops, poultry, and fish specials. Vegetarian options are also available. The
Steakhouse patrons can belly up to a monumental western bar for drinks and exchange banter with the colorful
local bartenders. The wait staff is decked out in period costume, with the waitresses donning vintage Harvey
Girl-style uniforms.
Private Functions: The theater can operate as a performance theater, a presentation hall, or a state of the art
conference center and is available for private functions. The Showroom has a seating capacity of 100.
Group and custom menus are available from the Big E Banquet Department – contact the General Manager for
information and pricing.
Entertainment packages are available including performances by the Big E actors, singing cowboys, cowboy
poets, and bands featuring an array of song styles.
Thirty (30) 42” Samsung high definition video monitors create a virtual upstage scrim (over 20’ wide and 10’
high) that brings the stage to life. This is the only theater we know of with a permanently installed high
definition video wall to replace a scrim.
Over 10,000 Watts of concert quality 5.1 surround sound audio.
All energy efficient LED lighting (50 color-changing wash lighting instruments - totaling 1850 individual LED light
sources, 5 intelligent moving spot lights).
Two large high definition projectors and screens (one in front of the stage and one at the rear of the room) allow
for Power Point or any other type of video presentations.
All audio/visual/lighting elements of the theater can be manually operated with an iPad or controlled
automatically with the touch of a single button.