Thompson wasn't a skier, and largely came to Aspen due to the concentration of "intellectual drop-outs," its wild reputation, and its natural beauty. He did, however, ski once on Aspen Mountain ("none of this 'go to Buttermilk [the beginners' resort] and learn' nonsense"), and took three consecutive 40 mph crashes before hanging it up for good.

The J Bar served as Thompson's de facto office for his time in Aspen, and he would often eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner there after picking up his mail and sorting it into three piles for bills, fan mails, and periodicals. The former bartender, Tim Mooney, would offer serve as a buffer between Thompson and visiting fans, even if their name was Jack Nicholson. Thompson also nearly killed Bill Murray in the hotel pool after duct-taping him to a lounge chair and throwing him in.

Thompson's most famous escapade in Aspen was his 1970 campaign for Aspen Sheriff on the "Freak Power" ticket. Thompson's platform consisted of legalizing drugs of all kinds (but for personal consumption only), the installation of a set of stocks on the lawn of the Sheriff's office to punish dishonest dope dealers, and changing the name of Aspen to Fat City. His idea there was that that "would prevent greed heads, land rapers, and other human jackals from capitalizing on the name 'Aspen'. These swine should be f**ked, broken, and driven across the land." He'd no doubt appreciate the irony of being written about on a real estate site today. Despite a great anti-Nixon campaign video and a great moment of theatrics in which he shaved his head so he could call the Republican incumbent "my long-haired opponent," Thompson narrowly lost thanks to a coalition of opposing voters and his own Rolling Stones article that discussed his strategy and galvanized his opposition.

The now-defunct West End eatery in a purple Victorian was a favorite of Hunter and his wife Anita, as well as Ed Bradley. The caesar salad, shrimp appetizer, and lamb were all renowned. Owner Michael Hull was one of the few restauranteurs able to keep a join in Aspen open for longer than 30 years, and its unique vibe and separation from downtown gave it a real connection to old Aspen.

The decidedly un-Aspen Woody Creek Tavern sits next to a trailer park, far removed from the glitz and glamour of downtown. The landmark restaurant and bar has eccentric waitstaff, gobs of pictures and paraphernalia on the walls, and jaded locals sipping beer on the porch that give it a wild air. Its margaritas are deadly, and Hunter would bartend from time to time in a wig for fun. Cash only.

The Grand Ballroom of the Jerome held the first of Thompson's two funeral services.

The Gonzo Gallery & Museum, curated by Daniel Joseph Watkins, features "political posters by activist Thomas W. Benton, shotgun artwork by journalist Hunter S. Thompson, and signed prints by the illustrator Ralph Steadman." It also features a series of posters from Thompson's 1970 campaign for Sheriff. It's next door to Little Annie's, a relatively cheap local eatery that would be one of the few Thompson might approve of in downtown Aspen.

Dozens of shrines exist on all four mountains to counter-culture heroes like Bob Marley and Jimmy Hendrix, and Hunter got his own on Snowmass in 2006 after his death. Hidden in the woods off the Gunner's View trail and accessed by the Elk Camp quad, the shrine contains a US and Tibetan flags, a selection of his writings in a basket, a bunch of Rolling Stones issues with Hunter on the cover, and a bottle of the author's favorite whiskey - Chivas Regal.