SLADE, Ky. — Miguel’s Pizza has become a staple in the Red River Gorge. Climbers and visitors have been visiting the family-owned pizzeria for nearly 40 years.

Dario Ventura has known the restaurant for his entire life.

“It started in 1983, I guess when I was born, it was an abandoned store like an old Johnstown story gift shop,” Ventura said.

Ventura’s parents then reinvented the abandoned store.

“It was still kind of a rundown building but they got an ice cream shop run in here in the mid 80s I guess. And it was very successful for five or six years. You know we had lines out the door,” Ventura said.

A few years later, the Ventura family traded in their ice cream for pizza—better known as Miguel’s.

“Keep it simple, no preservatives, none of that fun stuff just like fresh, simple food,” Ventura said.

A family-owned restaurant, Ventura says everything has been made by hand since day one.

“It was a lot easier when we didn’t have a lot of customers because it was usually just my dad kind of cooking up whatever and making a sauce and it all was from scratch. Actually originally made in here,” Ventura said.

Miguel’s Pizza has become known to many in the climbing community. Matt Durham, a climber in the area, said it's a home away from home. 

“It’s known in the climbing community, it’s really known worldwide. People from all over the country travel to Miguel’s, but I mean within the community it’s definitely a staple,” Durham said.

From a recipe that has stayed the same for 37 years, Ventura says it’s community members like Durham that have made Miguel’s successful.

“On a Saturday night, I’d say 75% of the cars in this parking lot are from different states or even Canada or Mexico. So it’s like one of those things you get to draw really broad people worldwide here,” Ventura said.

Miguel’s Pizza is more than just a restaurant. They also have a campsite behind the restaurant with showers and hope to continue expanding throughout the community.