Oak Creek, Colorado

Oak Creek is an old mining and ranching town in Northwestern Colorado.  In the 1960's, the town was invaded by those little understood people called "hippies".  It has never been the same since.

Jimmy stands next to one of the mining fixtures.  The equipment has only gotten larger
since this piece was added as an exhibit on Oak Creek's main street.

New ideas from the hippy generation mixed with conservative values creates something unique for a small town:  Open minds.  Things are changing in Route County, once one of the most conservative places on Earth.  Today, a new vision for Colorado has been created and Oak Creek, together with nearby Steamboat Springs, are helping lead that vision.  Rural living has some true blessings.

Like many mountain towns, Oak Creek is growing.  Just a few years ago, there were only about 500 people living in the town.  Today, over 850 live there.  That is nearly a doubling of the population.

 New people are coming in with new ideas.  Some of those new ideas are in the form of great restaurants, like Kate's Cafe and Lupitas Cantina.  

Kate makes everything fresh.  The breads are to die for, and don't miss the chocolate covered cookies.  Who would have thunk you could find better food in Oak Creek than you can find in a posh setting like Cherry Creek in Denver?

Lupita's Cantina is another gem.  Sunset Magazine rated it as one of the 99 best roadside eateries in the nation.  I had the Mahimahi fish tacos and I about dropped dead.  What a surprise from what looks like an expensive taco stand?

Kate's Cafe, Oak Creek, Colorado

Tim Paynter and Kate at Kate's Cafe

In the old days, the Peabody Mine Company plied the nearby hillsides with a huge trenching machine to mine coal.  Many of the miners were of Italian descent.  They were today's Mexican immigrant, essentially cheap labor, hard working, underpaid.  Some things never change as our country continues to exploit immigrants.

The bicycle journalists had a great meal at Lupita's in Oak Creek

Technically, Oak Creek is not on the GDMBR. But it is not far off the route, and the side trip from Stagecoach Reservoir which is on the route, is well worth the effort!  The nice thing about spending a billion calories a day is you can eat anything!!