BOND — After an arsonist torched State Bridge Lodge in June 2007, music lovers mourned the loss of one of Colorado’s most revered honky-tonks.
Now State Bridge is soaring from the ashes thanks to a faithful investor and the efforts of several State Bridge-forged fans of the riverside juke joint.
The 117-year-old lodge — perched on a bend in the Colorado River — has served as a speakeasy during Prohibition and a funky roadhouse for modern-day revelers.
“There’s something about State Bridge. It’s not about a building. It’s the energy of this valley,” says Scotty Stoughton, the former general manager who has shepherded State Bridge from a smoldering crime scene to a vibrant 500-person amphitheater hosting big-name acts. “Artists who play here never forget State Bridge. Same goes for the people who come here.
“It’s an experience that resonates.”
The State Bridge revival — now only two months old — is fueled by Doug Moog, a 52-year-old investor who honed his music-hosting chops as co-owner of Ohio’s renowned Kent Stage. Moog purchased the State Bridge site in 2009 and launched a massive renovation. But instead of reviving the old State Bridge — a listing eatery with a small, albeit storied, stage on the side patio — Moog went bigger.
The new State Bridge features a sweeping shed stage and a sound system that sends reverberations far up the Colorado River. Rock-tiered grassy knolls host concertgoers while modest tents shelter the bar and barbecue pits.
While he admits he got a good price, Moog said the just-completed renovation pushed “well beyond” what he initially considered when plotting the State Bridge resurrection.
“But once I saw all these people, like Scotty, who knew State Bridge and had a strong attachment to it, just pouring their heart and soul into this place, I knew it was worth going out on a limb,” Moog says.
As if on cue, a half moon rolls over the hills behind the stage as Moog describes his team’s work to breathe new life into State Bridge. Southern California funkster Karl Denson storms the stage and immediately taps the ready-to-gig vibe emanating from the several hundred people stirring up the sandy dance floor.
While music is the forefront of the new State Bridge plan, there is a more rounded mission that elevates State Bridge as a recreational destination.
The resort venue’s nine cabins — first built in 1903 — have been completely renovated, as have the 11 yurts and three tepees, giving the venue room for almost 50 lodgers. A new permit with the Bureau of Land Management allows for camping on nearby public land.
A blossoming adventure center offers stand-up paddling and rafting trips on the Colorado. Yoga retreats are thriving. In the fall and early spring, hunters and fishermen can base out of the resort.
The music-first approach at State Bridge is drawing national acts like Toots & The Maytals, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Donna the Buffalo in addition to perennial favorites like Leftover Salmon and Dark Star Orchestra.
“We are so glad to have this place back,” says Denson, harvesting howls of approval that lasted deep into the night.
Jason Blevins: 303-954-1374 or jblevins@denverpost.com
