The Routt County Sheriff’s Office has notified local officials of the possibility of a 100- to 700-person rally of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club in Oak Creek in mid-August.

Undersheriff Joshua Carrell summarized law enforcement’s evolving understanding of the event in an interview with the Steamboat Pilot & Today on Thursday.

Carrell said that the Colorado Information Analysis Center notified the Sheriff’s Office that there could potentially be a Pagan’s Motorcycle Club rally in Oak Creek from Aug. 14 or 15 to Aug. 17.

The Colorado Information Analysis Center’s mission “is to serve as the focal point within the state for receiving, analyzing, and sharing threat-related information among private sector, local, tribal and federal partners,” according to the agency’s website.

According to Carrell, a property purchase in Oak Creek — either personally by a club member or by a family member — came with the information that 100 to 700 people plan to attend, but that the use of the property, whether for the event itself or for other purposes, is unclear.

Despite the uncertainty around the purchase of the property, allegedly located on East Main St., and the unknown size of the potential event, the sheriff’s office is moving ahead with preparations. 

Carrell said that the Sheriff’s Department is preparing for the event, and that the club member said that the intention is for the rally to be peaceful.

The Sheriff’s Department does not currently foresee any issues with the event, said Carrell, who added that the department would release a statement within the coming week once additional intelligence is gathered.

The Pagan’s Motorcycle Club, founded in 1957, is considered one of the “Big Four” motorcycle gangs, along with the Hells Angels, the Outlaws and the Bandidos, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

An attempt to contact a local resident potentially affiliated with the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club was unsuccessful.

Oak Creek Town Administrator Louis Fineberg, who was hired to the position in April, said he had limited information.

“The first week I was here, I met with the sheriff and they kind of alerted me to the fact that they’re going to have some kind of rally here this summer,” said Fineberg.

“I would classify it as hearsay,” said Fineberg of the prospective event. “I’m not really in the loop on the whole rally thing and what’s going to be going on down here.”

When asked about whether a member of the club purchased the property, Fineberg said, “He might have closed, he might not have.”

Skyler McKinley, owner of the Oak Creek Tavern and board member of the Oak Creek Fire Protection District, said he sees opportunity with the rally, but noted that such a large influx of people into the small town warrants heightened attention around public safety.

“I’m really excited by the opportunity to show folks what makes South Routt special. I’m excited to show folks what makes my establishment special,” McKinley said, urging rally-goers to respect the small-town atmosphere. “Honor that community spirit. Be polite, be friendly, be engaged, be curious.”

“My number one concern is always my patrons’ safety, and that’s regardless of if the patron is somebody I’ve known for years or somebody who’s coming to the bar for the first time,” he continued, cautioning against drinking and riding.

“If you’re biking in, make sure you’ve got a place to stay,” he advised. “And if that doesn’t work out … then don’t drink.”

Oak Creek restaurateur Anthony Franciosi, of Franciosi Brothers Pizza & Meatballs, expressed excitement for the event.

“I just think it’s really funny and a unique opportunity for Oak Creek for good, better or otherwise, to just say that Oak Creek is the best and that we think it’s the best country in the world that we live in,” Franciosi said. “I think motorcycles and all that stuff is part of the expression of America.” 

“I don’t know how to feel about it, except that we think this is the best country on Earth, and we’re open from 12 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday,” Franciosi added.