Hayden, CO: Visit a Historic Grainery turned into an amazing Community Space!
October 2023: Early October is the perfect time for a Colorado fall color tour! This year, we decided to head to the northwest, along Hwy 40 to soak in the hot waters of Steamboat Springs and explore the small towns of Hayden (population 1,941*) and nearby Craig. Both are going through a significant economic transition as the nearby coal mines and Tri-State coal-fired power plant wind down their operations. We wanted to learn more about these towns in transition. What we found in Hayden was a local community space analogous but even more fun than the Silos of Fixer Upper TV fame!
Hayden is part of the Steamboat Springs metro area in Routte County. It sits along US Highway 40 in the beautiful Yampa River Valley. Due to its proximity to the Ski Resort Industry of nearby Steamboat Springs, Hayden includes a community airport that caters to many major airlines.
Hayden – A Brief History
The Ute people used the area for summer hunting before the town was settled. Trappers worked in the area in the early 1800s.
The area was first settled in 1875, with the town established in 1894 and incorporated in 1906. Hayden was named for F.V. Hayden, head of a survey party for the U.S. Geological & Geographic Survey in the late 1860s. Hayden explored western Colorado during the late nineteenth century.
The Denver and Salt Lake Railway reached Hayden by 1916, and the rail line continues on today as part of the Union Pacific Railroad.
The Hayden Historical Center is located on the edge of town. Its mission is to engage and educate the public by preserving the history associated with the Town of Hayden and West Routt County, Colorado.
… From Grains to Gathering …
One of the highlights of our visit to Hayden, was experiencing the venues at the Historic Hayden Granary. Located at the north edge of town, the historic grain buildings were purchased 15 years ago with the vision of becoming a gathering place in Northwest Colorado. Another benefit has been to steward and preserve the historic facility and its relevance for the community’s future. According to their website, the concept is based on the belief that by creating space for food, beverage, arts, and gathering we connect the community back to the land and one another. The upkeep is maintained by Historic Hayden Granary, Inc. is a 501(c)3. Love it!
Today the Hayden Granery is home to a variety of businesses that we enjoyed during our recent visit.
Lodging – beautifully renovated places for visitors to stay
We stayed in a 1-bedroom with kitchenette and living room area in the Salt Shed Flats building. The decor was beautiful and comfortable – and we LOVED the location!
Yampa Valley Brewery
Just a couple steps away from our room was the Yampa Valley Brewery! They have a wonderful patio with plenty of seating and an on-site locally owned Food Truck called Sage and Spirit. The inside has plenty of space and an overall fun vibe.
Wild Goose Coffee at the Granary
The next morning, we walked the short distance to the Wild Goose Coffee House. They have Great coffee and breakfast items!
Apenglow wine bar
Located adjacent to the Wildgoose coffee is a really cool mead and wine bar called Apenglow. Over morning coffee, we decided we would return in the evening to check it out. We were able purchase a light dinner from a restaurant that worked out of the same coffee bar we ate at earlier – clever and efficient co-use of space! The Apenglow space was all decked out for Halloween, which added to the already fun vibe. When the weather is warmer, they can open a big garage door at the end for an open-air experience. The food and the mead was delicious. We really enjoyed this place!
Hayden’s Historic Downtown
While staying in Hayden, we walked down to the main street through town, Hwy 40 (called Jefferson street in town). We love exploring historic downtowns, so were pleased to see a block of historic downtown buildings along Walnut street – home to several cute shops and a town part / community garden.
Looking toward downtown from the Granary on the north side of town 
Looking at Walnut Street (downtown) from the sound end of town 
Hwy 40 (Jefferson Ave in town) 
Beautiful mural on old downton building 
History of one of the older buildings 
Buildings along Hwy 40 (Jefferson Ave) 
Buildings along Walnut Str downtown
More to Explore!
I spent some time looking through the Town of Hayden website. It has a wide variety of useful information including many indications of the active efforts around transitioning its economy in the post-coal era. A Master Plan includes guiding principles to 1) Maximize Economic Development, 2) Promote and Enhance Healthy Living, and 3) Focus on Education. Here are several examples.
- Hayden Purpose and Vision statement – The town of Hayden’s purpose is to be a place that thrives for (vision statement) anyone looking for a more authentic life can find connection, acceptance and prosperity. Learn more about their mission and values at the town website.
Local organizations and projects supporting Community.
- Hayden fitness center – city sponsored exercise and activity center
- Hayden Totally Kids – a non-profit whose mission is to provide quality, affordable youth services with a variety of local partner programs
- Northwest Colorado Business District (NCBD) – a brand new address south of Hayden set up specifically for business relocation such as advanced light manufacturing, distribution, logistics and warehousing, clean tech, renewable energy, outdoor recreation companies and other start-ups.
Other Town Projects: “As Hayden continues to grow, the town leadership is working hard to ensure that we grow wisely, improve quality of life and protect the beauty that surrounds us.” Their town website provides visibility to an array of these projects and asks for feedback – love the transparency to the community!
History Preservation: As mentioned above, the Hayden Heritage Center includes a Museum and a Memorial Research library. They sponsor a variety of museum events – see the options on their Calendar of Events webpage, as well as a self-guided walking tour map of Hayden which provides the history of turn-of the century historic buildings along the way. Here is a link to the on-line pdf of the Historic walking Tour map, also available for free at the museum.
Local Events
Hayden town website has a comprehensive calendar of events for locals and visitors alike. There are also a variety of events on the Hayden Chamber of Commerce website. Be sure to check them out!
- Sip, Sample & Savor (February) – sponsored by the Hayden Chamber of Commerce
- Bacon, Bloodies & Brews (May) – sponsored by the Hayden Chamber of Commerce
- Hayden Harvest festival (September)
- Hike or Treat Halloween – event at the Yampa River State Park (October)
- Hayden Holiday Craft Fair (November)
- Hayden Outdoor European Christmas Market (December) – sponsored by the Hayden Chamber of Commerce
