A Happening Hamlet

The eclectic community of Jimtown

By Matt Maenpaa

Tucked into Boulder County’s foothills and canyons, there’s a groovy little mountain town full of character and dense evergreens. Aspens shake and whisper in the breeze, accompanying the sound of live music from the local spot. It isn’t Nederland or Lyons, cool as they are. No, this creekside jewel is Jamestown (Jimtown to the locals). Dating back to 1863, the mining town has survived fire and flood, repeatedly rebuilding itself as a warm and welcoming arts community.

With a scant population of around 250 people, the mountain hamlet is home to a close-knit community from diverse backgrounds. There’s a town hall, a post office, a church, a two-room schoolhouse, a kombucha brewer and Jamestown Mercantile, the Merc as it’s colloquially known. One two-lane road cuts through town, chasing the creek through the canyon between US Hwy 36 and CO Hwy 72, while a few capillary roads snake out to Gold Hill and Ward nearby.

Nothing is too far away from Jamestown, with Brainard Lake Recreation Area and gorgeous hiking trails like Ceran St. Vrain close enough to catch an evening set at the Merc on your way home from a midday excursion. Boulder County’s cycling enthusiasts also eagerly take to the twisting canyon roads whenever good weather prevails, regardless of season. You can also take a meditative walk around the stone labyrinth at Elysian Park or explore the tumbling creek. With such beautiful sights, it’s a lush pocket to enjoy without leaving Boulder’s immediate environs.

“What’s great about Jamestown is that it’s a kind of esoteric, diverse group of people that all get to know each other well because we’re all in this tiny geographic area together,” says Rainbow Schultz, owner of the Merc and 25-year resident of Jimtown.

“We have professors and waitresses and mechanics and lawyers in this really cool neighborhood,” Schultz continues. “It’s an eclectic mix and makes for a fun town; everyone celebrates art and music.”

Three floods have reshaped the landscape of Jamestown since it was established in 1863, the most recent being the floods of 2013 that ravaged the Front Range. Throughout it all, the Jamestown Mercantile stood strong. Since 1896, the building has been a place for the community to gather, and Schultz has gladly continued that tradition in her 20-year tenure as owner.

The Mercantile hosts live music three nights a week, along with an open mic on Wednesdays (also burger night), and while many of those live acts are local, plenty of national touring acts stop in for a night or two and play a set. Come summertime, when the warm evening breeze runs through the trees, the music moves out into the town square for some dancing under the stars.

History is painted on the walls inside the Mercantile—stories told in the mix of town maps, silver prints of the original miners and more recent artistic contributions. The classic wide-paned windows let in the southern sun, backlighting the stage for a Sunday morning brunch. A worn binder holds a copy of the town history, written and compiled by locals in the ’70s. Dog-eared books with paper yellowed from age line the walls near the kitchen and back bar, an invitation to lounge and peruse while listening to an acoustic guitar. The community aspects are a draw, along with the variety of adventures to be found.

With something different happening each day they’re open, from burger night to the Saturday market, the kitchen alone is a great reason to keep coming back. Weekly menus get updated via social media, but don’t be afraid to let yourself be surprised.

Music isn’t the only regular happening at the Mercantile. Schultz also plans events around arts, culture and science. In partnership with Colorado playwright and CU Boulder grad Jamie Lammers, the Mercantile will host its first-ever one-act theater festival, “Mountain New Play Festival,” on May 16 and 17. With submissions from all around, the abstract anthology will consist of six 15-minute plays performed by talented local actors.

Embracing and encouraging the eclectic nature of Jamestown and its residents, the cozy tavern hosts a regular lecture series featuring professors with topics ranging from ecology to the science of consciousness and death. The highlight is “Science with Strangers,” a community dinner featuring four courses and four lectures, where you’re encouraged to discuss each subject with the folks sitting around you.

Whether you’re taking in the sun before cycling back down the canyon, getting lunch after an early morning hike or settling in for an evening lecture, the groovy mountain hamlet has something extraordinary to enjoy and explore.

For more on the Jamestown Mercantile, visit jamestownmercantile.com or @jamestown_mercantile

For the town events and calendar, visit jamestownco.org