In case you haven’t heard, famed author Hunter S. Thompson has quite a bit of history in Colorado. Known for being a pioneer of ‘gonzo’ journalism, in which the journalist becomes a ‘main character’ as a participant in the subject matter they’re covering, Thompson put his skills on display in well-known works like Hell’s Angels (1967) and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1972).

Thompson’s Colorado ties are long-lived, with the author calling Woody Creek – a town near Aspen – home from the mid-1960s until his 2005 death. He even ran for sheriff of Pitkin County in 1970 with underlying goals of the campaign focused on the decriminalization of drugs, disarming law enforcement, and discouraging additional development in the Aspen area. 

Known for his ‘larger-than-life’ persona, it’s no secret that Thompson partied quite a bit throughout his days, which was put on display in E. Jean Carroll’s book HUNTER: The Strange and Savage Life of Hunter S. Thompson. This book contains the widely publicized ‘daily routine‘ of Thompson, which include copious amounts of booze, hard drugs, and cigarettes throughout the given day – capped with a 6 a.m. (yes, you read that right) dinner of Dove Bars and fettuccine Alfredo.

What many might not know about this book is that many of the chapters of this biography were fictionalized, meant to be satirical and play into the persona that Thompson had created – perhaps paying a sort of homage to Thompson, who also wrote in a similar fashion.

Regardless, there’s a portion of that supposed ‘routine’ that’s said to take place at the Woody Creek Tavern, which is still open for business.

Here’s a look at what Thompson’s experience at the restaurant was said to be like:

“Heineken, two margaritas, coleslaw, a taco salad, a double order of fried onion rings, carrot cake, ice cream, a bean fritter, Dunhills, another Heineken, cocaine, and for the ride home, a snow cone (a glass of shredded ice over which is poured three or four jig­gers of Chivas).”

Alleged illicit activities aside (obviously this piece is in no way meant to encourage anyone to partake in that), three items on the Woody Creek Tavern menu from Thompson’s order are still around for patrons to enjoy – the margaritas, the fried onion rings, and the ice cream.

Today, the Woody Creek Tavern margarita will set you back $13, while a single-order of onion rings (opposed to Thompson’s double order) costs $17. Meanwhile, the only ice cream on the menu is the ‘hand-dipped ice cream sandwich,’ which costs $12. Assuming a double-order of onion rings costs twice as much and that one is still opting for Thompson’s order of two margs, this portion of Thompson’s meal alone will set a person back $72 plus tax and tip.

With a meal order that seems to match Thompson’s ‘larger-than-life’ personality, perhaps the best way to enjoy a bit of the history related to this famous writer today is by simply swinging by the Woody Creek Tavern during your next road trip and ordering the dishes you want. Woody Creek Tavern remains highly rated with a 4.4-star rating on Google Reviews. It’s home to some Hunter S. Thompson memorabilia along with the rest of its quirky decor and is perhaps best known for burgers and sandwiches.

It’s also worth noting that despite being a beloved haunt of a writer with a huge worldwide cult following, it’s maintained the small town divey charm that’s kept it popular among locals, like Thompson, since it opened 1980.

Learn more about visiting the Woody Creek Tavern here.

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