The Paragon (Aspen Gay Bar/70's and 80's)

The Paragon (Aspen, Colorado) — 1970s–1980s

High in the Rockies, long before Aspen became a polished luxury playground, The Paragon was a rare and vital gay bar in a small mountain town better known for skiing and movie stars than queer nightlife. Operating in the 1970s and into the 1980s, it offered a refuge for locals, seasonal workers, and visitors who were looking for community and connection in a place where being openly gay still required caution and courage.