The sun was nearly behind the Tenmile range, and the shuttle driver who took us few stragglers back to our Conoco parking lot was surely almost done for the day. The friends we’d met at the mountain were long gone, The 502s had finished their hour-long set and the raffle winners had claimed their prizes. We realized, by the time we left, that this was by far the latest we’d ever stayed at Copper Mountain.
As we hit the road, we anticipated our next great eat. Originally, we planned to spend our lift rides surveying locals on their favorite post-ski bites. However, after a grueling encounter with I-70 earlier that morning, we insisted on prioritizing an efficient stop on the backroads of SH-9 and I-25. This meant our sights were set on stopping in one of the two towns along those roads: Fairplay and Hartsel.
As our stomachs grumbled on the hour drive to Fairplay, we couldn’t even fathom waiting any longer to get food. Luckily, a promising option was waiting in the Ace Hardware parking lot. We knew about the long-standing rivalry between Chicago, New York and Fairplay-style pizza and drove into town ready to settle the score. Although not listed on Apple Maps, lit up by neon signs, JR’s Pizza Truck stood exactly where it was supposed to be, according to Reddit.
While Anya excitedly photographed the exterior, Olivia approached the window, ready to order. Unfortunately, we were immediately informed of a 55 to 65-minute wait for a single pizza. We did the math and concluded that we’d just as well book a hotel in Fairplay because at that rate, we would not be making it back to campus for the night’s festivities. After asking for more local recommendations, both employees answered with a decisive “no,” suggesting we stop at a gas station. They must not read our column, for they’d know we already tried that last week. Instead, we decided to continue our drive and try our luck in Hartsel, Colo.
Upon calling our next prospect, it became clear that the population (38, per the 2020 census) was congregated in one location: Zuccaro’s Pizza. After two phone call attempts to order a couple of hoagies, the five-minute hold on both calls and a slightly rude employee deterred us from trying any longer.
Setting our sights even further east, Woodland Park was our sole remaining option. While Olivia braved the dark roads, blinded by the bright lights of the car behind her, Anya called a last resort: Sam’s Gyros and Kebab. The guy who took our orders with a friendly demeanor immediately relieved our hunger-induced stress. He assured us that he wouldn’t begin cooking our food until we were closer and the promise of freshly crisped fries and warm pitas made the 45 minutes left to go feel almost infinite. Finally, almost two and a half hours from the mountain and now only thirty minutes from campus, we pulled into the dark parking lot of this Woodland Park establishment.
Whether it was purely because of the alleviation of starvation or because this place is actually a hidden gem, we loved our meal. The highlight was the homemade falafel in Anya’s Shwafel (Beef shawarma and falafel pita) — crispy on the outside, warm, pillowy and packed with flavor on the inside. Olivia’s chicken shawarma was good, but needed more sauce to our liking. The fries certainly did not disappoint. Additionally, Sam’s boasted large portioned sandwiches and fries for only $13. That is, of course, not including the very well-deserved tip for the employees who gave us extra tzatziki for our fries and were all too gracious for our arrival just seconds before they closed at 8 p.m.
Overall, despite the many hurdles it took to get there, Sam’s was great and exceeded our expectations for gyros in the Rocky Mountain West. Is it great for stopping on the way home from the mountain? Well, if you’re an avid Rastall’s advocate or a full-meal-plan enjoyer (we’re jealous), maybe it’s best to wait the extra thirty minutes back to campus. But if you’re in a pinch, can’t wait any longer and craving some falafel, Sam’s might just be the place for you.