Thee Pits Again BBQ Off the Million Dollar Highway in Silverton, Colorado

Come to the San Juans for the clean mountain air. Come for the breathtaking views. Come for high country living. But most of all, come for the finger-lickin-good barbecue.

Silverton
In the heart of the Rocky Mountain San Juan range lies Silverton, a once vivacious and bawdy mining town. It sourced gold, silver, copper and zinc late in the 1800s. Tourist dollars now source the livelihoods of inhabitants, which number a mere 100 or so in winter.

Via highway or rail
Summer swells the tiny town with visitors, however, when the D&SNGRR (Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad) delivers train riders twice daily. Travelers doing their own driving on the 110-mile Million Dollar Highway make Silverton a stop as well. The high-altitude highway is so named for its spectacular views, which The Speed Channel featured in a 2009 episode. The scene culminates with a dramatic view looking down from the road into Silverton sitting at 9,318 feet!

BBQ
What's new this summer in Silverton is Thee Pits Again, a Southern mesquite BBQ joint with a decidedly interesting name. It opened only two weeks ago in town. Where in town? In the only pink building on Greene Street, one of only two significant streets in Silverton.

Thee Pits Again gained fame from its famous barbecue pork. More fame came when Food Network's Guy Fieri visited the first Thee Pits Again in Phoenix (actually Glendale, Arizona). The BBQ restaurant began there, named "Again" after the original Thee Pits in 1979.

Pork
The famous and funny porcine decor reflects the award-winning pork fare. Nowhere are there more piggy banks, cuddly stuffed piglets, or pink ceramic porkers. Nowhere sports more blue ribbons, trophies, and award-winning plaques for barbecued pork. Nowhere have I had a better pulled pork sandwich. And I've had a lot of pulled pork in barbecue joints in my cross-country jaunts.

New in Colorado
The Phoenix restaurant sports their specialty as the pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw layered right in the bun. While savoring the specialty, I explained to the server that we made a special diversion on our trip for their fare. "Have you been to our Colorado store," she asked. "We came from Colorado. You have a store there?" "Yeah, in Silverton. Just opened." I'll be darned! Who knew?

Pink on Greene
Back in the Rockies, we made a special trip specifically seeking the new Thee Pits Again in Silverton. The pink building on Greene Street was unmistakable, with three big B B Q letters on the front.

A giant mound of pulled pork fell out from the bun, leaving the cole slaw to be served on the side instead of inside the sandwich. At $8.95 it was not only a big meal but a veritable bargain.

A family place
We even met the owner, Roger, the same quiet, unassuming guy in person as he was on the Food Network video. He came out from the back, in wonderment that some couple came from his Phoenix store to sample the Silverton fare.

Serving us was his daughter, Megan, one of the declared owners right along with mom, dad, and brother, Chris. A true family owned and operated serious BBQ restaurant it is!

A few natives
Serving in Silverton was another young gal from Sandia, New Mexico. "This must be a summer job for you. How did you come to work way up here," I questioned. The friendly youth said her grandparents live in Silverton.

People old enough to be grandparents couldn't possibly live in Silverton year round, I thought, while expressing that doubt to the girl. "Yeah, they do. They are two of the 100 that live here year round!"

Got snow?
God bless! They have to be hearty souls to withstand total isolation with snowfall measured in miles, no way to get in or out, thin air, and only cold to keep you company in a Silverton winter. Those, also, are the cold facts that explain why Thee Pits Again in Silverton opens in May and closes in October.

We told Roger we looked forward to more Thee Pits Again: in Phoenix next winter and "Again" in a Silverton summer.

Sources: http://www.theepittsagain.com/
http://www.silvertoncolorado.com/
http://www.roadtripusa.com/routes/loneliestroad/colorado/lon_us550.html
http://www.durangotrain.com/
http://www.hulu.com/watch/118386/dangerous-drives-million-dollar-highway