Entry No. 48 — the Grand Junction file — filed under: dive bar
Woody Creek Tavern
A 1940s log-cabin former general store and filling station six miles down-valley from Aspen, the Woody Creek Tavern opened in 1980 and never changed its posture: cash only, no reservations, and a pressed-tin ceiling that ricochets noise from a crowd of ski patrollers, ranchers, and the occasional celebrity. Polaroids and decades of memorabilia plaster every surface, the densest layer being Hunter S. Thompson ephemera — he was a regular until his death in 2005, and would call ahead to keep the bar open for himself alone. The kitchen runs a tight Mex-American card: bison burgers, chicken flautas rolled in corn tortillas, and margaritas made with blue agave that locals insist are the best in the valley.
The move: Drive the canyon road down from Aspen, grab a corner booth under the Polaroids, split the bison burger and a pitcher of blue-agave margaritas, and argue about whether the HST you just read about was real or mythology. The cash-only policy keeps the hedge-fund crowd away.
📍 Before you go Cash only — bring bills; there is an ATM on-site but it charges a fee. No reservations taken; arrive early on summer weekends or ski-season Saturdays as the small room fills fast. Open daily 11 am–9 pm, but hours can shift off-season, so check the website before making the 2-hour drive from Grand Junction via I-70 and Hwy 82. The tavern changed ownership in 2020; the format and decor are intact but menu details evolve.
- 📍 Woody Creek (Aspen area)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2858 Upper River Rd, Woody Creek, CO 81656 — six miles west of Aspen via Hwy 82, turn north at the Woody Creek Road junction
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4
last checked: 2026-06-11