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Woody Creek is an unincorporated community in Pitkin County, Colorado.
It is located in the valley of the Roaring Fork River eight miles northwest of Aspen, along Colorado State Highway 82, where Woody Creek exits a canyon and joins the Roaring Fork. It is situated at the northwest end of a small valley that stretches southeast along the Roaring Fork to Aspen.
The community is centered around the Woody Creek Tavern, a well-known landmark located at 0002 Woody Creek Plaza, which is actually part of Upper River Road. It is somewhat concealed from State Highway 82. Adjacent to the Tavern is a trailer park. Residents of Woody Creek are known as Woody Creatures.
Woody Creek was the residence of noted author Hunter S. Thompson at the time of his death. It also is/has been the home of several other notable popular musicians and celebrities, including the late Ed Bradley (60 Minutes), Don Henley of the Eagles, John Oates (Hall and Oates) voted as Aspen's Best Musician for 2006, actor Don Johnson and his actor/musician son, Jesse.
There is no mail delivery in Woody Creek. Residents must have a post office box if they want to get mail. Renters are provided a free box with their proof of residency and rental agreement. Those who do not rent from home owners must pay an annual fee. The post office is located at 7909 Upper River Road, or a few tenth's of a mile from the Woody Creek Tavern.
Also located within the Woody Creek Plaza, connected to the same building at the Tavern, is the Woody Creek Art Studio, owned and operated by Larry Lefner. This small studio space was the previous location for the post office for several years.
At the west end of the combined
structure that houses the art studio and tavern, is what is formerly known as the Woody Creek Store. In
May 2006, it closed as a small community grocery store for
an indefinite period when it was 'flagged' by the Pitkin County building
department.
In March 2006, when store manager Ann Owsley applied for a building permit to
expand the store's food preparation capabilities, the building department
unexpectedly discovered the building had never been formally authorized for
commercial use. It was still listed as a residence in county records, dating
back to the time when it was home to the managers of the Woody Creek Trailer
Park, located behind and on both sides of the structure.
The building is currently under remodeling and expected to reopen in the near future with a new identity as the Woody Creek
Community Center Inc.
On June 1, 2007, Shep and Mary Harris, owners of the Woody Creek Tavern, handed over the keys to the establishment to new owners, Kevin Willson and Laura Wren. As is the case with all sales of well-established businesses, the famous last words were spoken by the new owners, assuring regular customers that "nothing will change." However, during the first month of new ownership, the Woody Creek Tavern immediately underwent a change of managers. Regular patrons have noticed that the flying pigs that hung from the ceiling are missing. Mary Harris took them with her. Also missing are the many hummingbird feeders that surrounded the outdoor patio; hence, there are no hummingbirds to watch while enjoying your brief stay at the Tavern. We question what will change next, at the watering hole where "nothing will change."