Entry No. 6 — the Fort Collins file — filed under: ritual-music
Oak Creek Tavern
“Ranchers, ski bums, and lifers — bingo nights where everybody's a regular.”
Twenty-five minutes from Steamboat's lift lines, the bar at 105 Main has poured since 1908, minus Prohibition, under a parade of names: Big Six, Elk's Tavern, Silver Buckle. This is the coal town that once ran thirteen bars and a red-light district so rowdy the 1913 mine strike drew U.S. Cavalry and a machine-gun guard tower. The glowing cactus in the window means it's open; inside it's ranchers, ski bums, and lifers, Colorado-made bar pizza, hot pretzels, and bingo nights where everybody's a regular.
The story
Twenty-five minutes south of Steamboat's ski-resort crowds, 105 East Main Street has been pouring drinks since 1908. Except for the dark years of Prohibition, the taps here haven't stopped under a succession of names—the Big Six, Elk's Tavern, and the Silver Buckle. Back when Oak Creek was a booming coal patch, this narrow gulch ran thirteen saloons and a red-light district so unruly that during the 1913 mine strike, the state brought in the U.S. Cavalry and put a machine-gun guard tower right in town.
The coal mines are gone, but the building is still doing what it was built for. Now known as the Oak Creek Tavern, it's the kind of plain-spoken Colorado watering hole where off-duty lifties, third-generation ranchers, and town regulars sit along the same bar. Look for the glowing neon cactus in the front window—that's the official signal that the deadbolt is thrown and the beer is cold.
What it's like
Drive 25 minutes south from Steamboat on CO-131 and pull right up to Main Street. If the green neon cactus is lit in the window, you're in business. Do not expect a chef's kitchen; food here tops out at Colorado-made bar pizza, hot dogs, and warm pretzels heated behind the counter. Land on a bingo night or when a live acoustic act takes the corner, grab a shot-and-a-beer combo, and don't bother looking for a cocktail menu with artisanal bitters.
The move: Skip Steamboat's apres scene, drive 25 minutes south on CO-131, and split a bar pizza and a shot-and-beer under the glowing cactus on bingo night.
📍 Before you go Oak Creek is about 25 minutes south of Steamboat Springs on CO-131, with easy street parking right on Main Street; the lit cactus in the front window is the tavern's open signal. There is no full kitchen, just bar pizza, hot pretzels, and hot dogs, so plan a real dinner elsewhere if you need one. Bingo and live-music nights are the liveliest times to land, so check the events calendar before driving over.
- 📍 Oak Creek
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 105 E Main St, Oak Creek, CO 80467
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Antlers Cafe and Bar — Drive nine miles farther south on CO-131 to Yampa to visit another early-1900s saloon that operated as a cover-up pool hall during Prohibition.
- Sunpie's Bistro — Contrast Oak Creek's local coal-town dive vibe with Steamboat's riverfront New Orleans-themed dive bar.
- Sulphur Cave at Howelsen Hill — Pair a casual drink under the cactus with a quick look at Steamboat's toxic, gas-exhaling natural cave opening.
Good to know
How do you know if the tavern is open?
Look for the lit neon cactus displayed in the front window—it serves as the tavern's open sign.
Can you get a full meal at Oak Creek Tavern?
No. There is no full kitchen. They serve bar snacks including Colorado bar pizza, hot pretzels, and hot dogs, so eat beforehand if you want a complete meal.
How far is Oak Creek Tavern from Steamboat Springs?
It is roughly 25 minutes south of Steamboat Springs along CO-131.
When is the best time to visit?
Bingo nights and live music evenings draw the best local crowd. Check their schedule before making the drive down from Steamboat.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · steamboatpilot.com · rmpbs.org · colorado.com
last checked: 2026-06-11