The revitalization of Yampa Street has made this riverfront avenue downtown Steamboat’s coolest hot spot.
Yampa Street, the road that runs along the Yampa River in downtown Steamboat from 5th to 12th Streets, does not have a glamorous past. It was once a dirt road and later, became an alternative route for locals who wanted to avoid the traffic lights on Lincoln Avenue. “The road was wide, there were no sidewalks, and no lighting. Even though it was this oasis next to the river, it was hard to enjoy it when cars would go screaming past at 40 miles per hour,” says Lisa Popovich, Executive Director of Main Street Steamboat, a local non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and enhance downtown Steamboat. “As it grew and became more popular, it was clear that the city needed to come up with a plan to make it more inviting and safer for people to explore.”
The Yampa Street Improvement Project stemmed from plans drafted all the way back in 1986. “It was years and years in the making,” Popovich says. “It all just gelled in 2015 with a new City Council. It took a lot of talking and a lot of work.” The first phase of the project was completed in 2016 but will evolve and change as the area continues grow.
It’s easy to understand why this area is so popular, between the restaurants, shops, access to the river and guiding outfits that provide everything you need to get out on the water. We caught up with Popovich to get some more details about how Yampa Street became the new heart of downtown Steamboat.
Behind the scenes: Engineering and infrastructure.
“The Yampa Street Improvement Project in 2015 and 2016 narrowed the street, and that naturally slowed down the traffic,” Popovich says. “We created elevated crosswalks to make it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross the street. The engineering of the street lighting makes it a brighter, much safer and inviting place to walk and explore at night. Creating seamless sidewalks that connect 5th Street all the way to 12th Street also made it more pedestrian-friendly and better for businesses. In addition to that, we now have a meandering path along the river, so we have a wide sidewalk on the river side that’s intended to be more of a promenade to really increase foot traffic.”
All about Access: On the river and in the river.
“We did a lot of work opening up the river access so there are several places where there are steps leading down to the Yampa River. Now people have great access for fishing, tubing, kayaking, or just sticking your feet in the river on a warm afternoon. There are a lot of places to sit and linger and it’s just a great place to hang out now. The access to the river is huge you’re not cutting through private property or getting into the water in a dangerous way,” Popovich says.
Photo courtesy of E3
A Gathering Place: Places to eat, drink, and watch the river go by.
“It’s become a place for people to gather. It’s more casual than Lincoln Avenue because there’s more space to spread out. It’s a really nice thing to be able to sit along the river and have dinner and there are plenty of options, from fine dining at places like Aurum and E3 to casual, less expensive places to eat like Taco Cabo, and Sake2U has a great happy hour with two decks upstairs and downstairs.”
Future Plans: This is only the beginning
“This summer we are going to do a survey and find out what the people who live here want. We want to reach out to the local community and we’re going to spend the summer getting some clarity, to really determine what the potential is for Yampa Street. We want to make sure it’s good for everybody.”
Yampa Street Events
Farmers Market every Saturday from 9-2 all summer through September 21 between 6th and 8th Streets.
Balloon Festival Night Glow, July 13, 6 – 9 p.m. at Howelsen Hill with excellent viewing from Yampa Street.
Tour de Steamboat, Saturday, July 20: Watch over 1,200 cyclists fly by on Yampa Street as part of this non-competitive cycling event.
Steamboat Restaurant Week, September 27 – October 6. A special weeklong culinary celebration of the best restaurants in town, offering select menus and specials for all meals. //Visit Main Street Steamboat for additional information on upcoming events.
Photo Courtesy of Aurum Restaurant
Yampa Street Restaurants
Double Z: Steamboat’s famous local BBQ joint
Aurum: Fine dining on the river
Mountain Tap Brewery: A hot spot in the summer when they open the garage doors and serve handcrafted beer made on site
Sunpies Bistro: New Orleans style all the way, from Cajun-stye eats and Hurricanes to Bourbon Street-style partying
Taco Cabo: This newest addition to Yampa Street will be offering tacos and casual Mexican fare
E3 Chophouse: Ranch to restaurant to riverside dining
Otto Pint: A gourmet pizza joint with a great beer selection
Carl’s Tavern: Elevated bar food and lots of microbrews on tap
Sake2U: great sushi and an affordable happy hour menu.
Yampa Street Shopping, Activities and Outfitters
Backdoor Sports: Steamboat’s backcountry sports store since 1986. Equipment rentals and tubing.
Yoga Center of Steamboat: get your Zen on at this riverside yoga studio, offering a variety of classes and teachers.
Waterside Day Spa: Don’t miss the Salt Therapy Suite at this full service salon and day spa.
Check out Wheels Bike Shop next to Backdoor Sports or Orange Peel, housed in the funky hobbit house for all your bike rentals and equipment.
Hala GearSpace has everything you need for Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) equipment and rentals.
Get your flies on at Steamboat Fly Fisher, a full fledged fly shop and guiding outfitter.
