From Republican stronghold to hippie haven: Boulder CO’s wackiest year

The 1968 Hippie Invasion That Transformed Boulder

Boulder changed forever on June 13, 1968, when hundreds of hippies flooded the town. They came to hide from an asteroid called Icarus that newspapers said would hit Earth.

Rumors spread that only Boulder and Tibet would survive. Before this, Boulder was mostly Republican.

Soon after, the town’s music scene took off with bands like Zephyr, led by guitar whiz Tommy Bolin and singer Candy Givens. They played at spots like The Sink near Pearl Street.

As a result, Boulder grew into Colorado’s music hub, drawing big names like Joe Walsh and Stephen Stills. Today, Pearl Street Mall still pulses with the street performer spirit born in those wild days.

Hippies Fled to Boulder When They Thought an Asteroid Would Destroy Earth

In June 1968, newspapers across America sparked panic by reporting that an asteroid named Icarus would hit Earth on June 15. Rumors spread that only Tibet and Boulder, Colorado would survive.

Hundreds of hippies left California for Boulder on June 13, hoping to escape doom.

Icarus passed about 4 million miles from Earth without incident, but many hippies liked Boulder so much they stayed put.

The Town Once Voted Republican and Enforced Strict Rules

Before summer 1968, Boulder looked nothing like today’s liberal hotspot. The city voted mostly Republican.

The University of Colorado banned long hair for men and made women wear skirts. Police often arrested young people for small offenses like hanging around too long.

Downtown shops catered to mainstream tastes with regular restaurants and clothing stores. The hippie movement that changed San Francisco barely touched Boulder before the big migration.

Young People Took Over the City Almost Overnight

Boulder changed incredibly fast. The population jumped from 37,718 in 1960 to 66,870 by 1970.

Most striking was how young the city became – by 1970, people under 24 made up 55 percent of all residents. Hippies who came for the asteroid stuck around and told friends about this mountain paradise.

Communes popped up in nearby canyons. College enrollment grew.

Young folks remade the city as they wanted it.

Tea, Tie-Dye, and Tofu Businesses Sprung Up Everywhere

The new hippie residents started businesses matching their values. Mo Siegel picked herbs from the hills to create Celestial Seasonings tea in his kitchen.

A shop called Phantasmagoria opened on Pearl Street selling tie-dye shirts and incense. Natural food co-ops sold organic produce years before it got popular.

Head shops, veggie cafes, and craft stores filled streets where conservative businesses once stood.

A Guitar Prodigy and Powerful Singer Created Boulder’s Signature Sound

The band Zephyr formed in Boulder in 1969, becoming local music heroes. They featured Tommy Bolin, an 18-year-old guitar wonder who amazed crowds with his playing.

Candy Givens led the band with strong, blues-style vocals that could rattle any venue’s walls. Their sound mixed hard rock, blues, and trippy elements that captured Boulder’s vibe perfectly.

Zephyr’s first album came out in 1969, putting Boulder on the map as a serious music town.

Beer Flowed While Musicians Jammed at a Campus Hangout

The Sink, a bar near the University of Colorado, became the center of Boulder’s music scene. Zephyr played shows there that packed the place with dancing crowds.

The low-ceiling spot with graffiti-covered walls hosted nightly jam sessions where musicians tried new songs. Students and hippies shared pitchers of beer while listening to live music.

The Sink helped make University Hill an area where record label scouts sometimes came looking for new talent.

Music Venues Transformed a Sleepy Downtown into a Cultural Hub

Pearl Street, once just a regular business area, buzzed with energy as music clubs opened everywhere. Tulagi became the top spot to see local bands and touring acts.

The Stage Door, Penny Lane, and other clubs offered live music every night of the week. Street musicians played guitar, flute, and bongos on corners.

Music poured from doorways and windows, creating a party vibe that drew creative people to town.

Famous Musicians Moved to Boulder for the Mountain Vibes

The lively scene attracted rock stars who bought homes around Boulder. Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh moved to the area and joined the local community.

Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young got property in the nearby mountains. Singer Dan Fogelberg settled in Boulder and often played surprise sets at local spots.

These famous musicians brought national attention to Boulder and worked with local talent.

A Pedestrian Mall Created Space for Street Performers to Thrive

The city turned Pearl Street into a walking mall in the 1970s, getting rid of cars and making wide brick walkways perfect for street performers.

Musicians, jugglers, fire-eaters, and artists found a permanent stage for their talents. The mall included small performance areas with built-in seating.

Local government gave permits allowing street shows.

Pearl Street Mall became the physical heart of Boulder’s new identity as a place where creativity happened out in the open.

Voters Elected Hippies to Run the City Government

The 1971 city election marked a complete political flip as former hippies ran for office and won. The new city council members had long hair, wore casual clothes to meetings, and pushed forward-thinking policies.

They passed some of the first environmental protection rules in the country. They limited building heights to keep mountain views.

They taxed residents to buy open space around the city. The political shift locked in Boulder’s change from conservative college town to progressive hub.

Boulder Never Went Back to Its Conservative Roots

The cultural revolution that began with the Icarus asteroid panic created permanent changes in Boulder’s identity.

The music scene birthed during the hippie invasion continues today with venues still hosting nightly performances.

Pearl Street Mall remains filled with street performers entertaining crowds just as they did in the early 1970s.

The businesses started by hippies evolved into major companies or inspired new generations of entrepreneurs. The progressive political shift never reversed, with Boulder now known as one of America’s most liberal cities.

What started as a cosmic false alarm resulted in a complete transformation that continues to define Boulder more than fifty years later.

Visiting Pearl Street Mall, Colorado

Pearl Street Mall runs four blocks from 11th to 15th Street in downtown Boulder, where you can experience the legacy of the 1968 hippie invasion that transformed this conservative town into Colorado’s counterculture music hub.

You’ll find buskers and live performances continuing traditions started by legendary bands like Zephyr at nearby venues.

The Museum of Boulder has exhibits on this counterculture history, with a special hippie-focused exhibit planned for 2027-2028. Summer brings free “Bands on the Bricks” concerts.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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