Durango Magazine - Summer/Fall 2021 Issue

STAY THE TRAIL

RESPECTING COLORADO PUBLIC TRAILS

WHAT’S NEW IN THE FOUR CORNERS WHAT'S NEW IN AND AROUND DURANGO?

TRUE WESTERN ROUNDUP HISTORY STAYS ALIVE

SUMMER/FALL 2021 EST. 1986

RIDE THE ROCKIES

A LEGENDARY RIDE RETURNS TO DURANGO

DURANGO ONWARD COMMUNITY BANDING TOGETHER

KEEP OUR BEARS WILD

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ADVENTURE AWAITS ›› PURGATORY.SKI 1

C ON TR I BU TO R S

Lisa Branner

Graham Coffey

Ryan Dull

Billy Grimes

Margaret Hedderman

Zach Hively

A New York City native who escaped to the mountains of Colorado, Lisa is cofounder of Silverton-based craft manufacturer Venture Snowboards and is a talented wordsmith, designer, and digital marketer. Her passions include hiking, camping, mountain biking, and snowboarding, as well as exploring the connections between outdoor recreation and economic development.

A native of North Carolina, Graham studied journalism at the University of Georgia. A lifelong lover of the outdoors, he was drawn to Durango by the siren call of the San Juans.

You can find him hiking with his fiancée, Brooke, and their two dogs, Luna and Belle.

Ryan is the stewardship and outreach specialist for Stay the Trail and is considered the go-to guy for anything OHV related in Colorado. He grew up in the state and has over 15 years’ experience as an OHV ranger with both the U.S. Forest Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

After a 44-year career as a graphic designer working for magazine, corporate, and advertising clients in Texas, Tennessee, and California, Billy moved to Durango to work at Fort Lewis College. Always interested in 3D design, he is now a builder and sculptor. His other interests are music, art, and writing.

Margaret Hedderman writes about rural places, the outdoors, and environmental science.

Sometimes she digs into historical stories, like the real King Macbeth or the first woman to raft the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Her work usually takes the form of creative nonfiction, journalism, and the occasional screenplay. She also manages communications and produces a podcast for Startup Colorado, a program through the University of Colorado that supports rural entrepreneurship.

Zach writes nonfiction, poetry, and the award-winning Fool’s Gold column. He also dances Argentine tango and is a member of the alt-folk duo Oxygen on Embers. His latest poetry collection, Wild Expectations, is available from Casa Urraca Press. He teaches online writing workshops and lives happily with his dog.

2 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

Grady James

Joy Martin

Brandon Mathis

Kathleen O’Connor

John Peel

Bryan Peterson

Chloe Ragsdale

Long days full of sunshine, water, and wildflowers will occupy most of Joy’s time this summer, but she’s also looking forward to live music and bumping into old friends as events reemerge in Durango. When she isn’t absorbed in sharing the stories of the Four Corners, Joy’s toddling around with her daughter, Jolene, and scheming ways to bike more with her mustachioed huckleberry, Nick.

A longtime area resident, Brandon is passionate about southwest Colorado. He’s been exploring the region’s culture, ecology, and alpine and desert environments for nearly 30 years.

“I’m constantly astonished by all there is to discover,” Mathis says, “and what you can do with two days off.” An avid adventurer, he and his wife Bee live close to trails on the edge of town.

Kathleen moved to Durango in 2011, after working as a wildlife biologist specializing in endangered birds and cave invertebrates found around central Texas. When she’s not busy embarrassing her tween-age son by dancing to ’80s tunes around the house, she can be found mountain biking, journaling about “life, the Universe, and everything,” or working her dream job at Maria’s Bookshop.

After a 22-year career with The Durango Herald, in 2015 John established his own business, John Peel’s Life Preserver, to help people write their family and personal histories. When not sitting at a computer, he heads outdoors; in 2020, John authored the fifth edition of Hiking Trails of Southwestern Colorado.

Bryan is a human–bear conflict specialist with more than 20 years’ experience and has been the director of Bear Smart Durango since its inception.

He’s twice assisted the National Park Service on grizzly and black bear studies and on outreach in remote northwest Alaska. He was honored as the Animal Advocate of the Year in 2020 by the La Plata County Humane Society.

A former freelance illustrator in his previous life, Bryan is an avid participant in all things outdoors, whether on foot or on the back of his horse.

A student intern and aspiring writer from Durango High School, Chloe hopes to pursue her passion for writing and working with others during the rest of her time in high school and into college. Chloe is an avid participant in El Diablo, the Durango Aerospace Design team, and the DHS cross-country and varsity soccer teams.

3

SUMMER / FALL 2021 • EST. 1986

Volume 36, No. 1 Yvonne Lashmett

FEATURES 14 Durango Onward

Community Banding Together.

18 Ride the Rockies

A legendary ride returns to Durango.

26 The Great SCAPE

Turning the Four Corners into an entrepreneurial hot spot.

82 Keep Our Bears Wild … and Safe

Whether visiting or living here, please do your part to keep our bears wild, safe, and alive.

14

CONTENTS 6 8 10 22 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 46 48 50 52 54 56 60 62 72 102

From the Publisher Excursions Top Picks True Western Roundup What’s New in the Four Corners Featured Durango Art Galleries Artist Profile: Karyn Gabaldon History: Durango in the Movies Why Do I Run Ultramarathons?

Meet the Guides Silverton Stay the Trail Featured Silverton Art Galleries Silverton Singletrack Society Next Stage of Grand Imperial’s Makeover Photo Essay Teacher Feature The Destiny of the Trail Dining Showcase: Seasons Nightlife & Dining Guide Dining Showcase: The Union Social House Advertiser Index

LIVING IN STYLE 78 80 86 93 94 98 103

Ryan Muncy

18

Featured Spas Durango Kids Dream Home Tequila Cocktail Recipe Featured Realtors Home Sweet Home Local Giving

ON THE COVER

With Grayrock Peak in the background, Kennan Harvey took this self-portrait following an afternoon rain squall. He hiked down the south flanks of Potato Hill to Spud Lake and up the open scree slopes to the cliffs below the summit.

DISCLAIMER: Every effort was made to confirm event dates/times/ locations at time of publication. Because of potential unforeseen changes due to COVID-19, please confirm prior to attendance.

4 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

82

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5

LE T TER FRO M T H E P U B LI S H E R S

Happy 35 years to Durango Magazine

Durango Magazine will celebrate 35 years in print this summer by supporting our fellow local small businesses, dining at the many delicious restaurants, hiking up mountains to appreciate the fresh air and vistas, and enjoying the hustle and bustle of Main Avenue.

Thank you, Julie Schultz, for selling us your labor of love.

Our winter was spent healing from a hip-replacement surgery, transporting our son to Purgatory Ski Team training/races, dogsledding with Durango Dog Ranch, and waiting our turn for vaccines. We’re eager to experience the True Western Roundup again, listen to the Silverton Summer Sounds concert series, see Ride the Rockies’ start and finish in Durango, and volunteer for our son’s Boy Scout troop (yay—no more Zoom scout meetings!). And dare we say, get on an airplane to visit family back East for those long-awaited hugs! The Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO) is the primary regional airport for southwest Colorado, northwest New Mexico, and the entire Four Corners region. It will likely be crowded with the comings and goings of visitors this summer.

We know what some of you did last summer and fall: We received a record number of photo submissions this spring for our Summer/ Fall edition—more than 2,000 photos! It has made our creative decisions very difficult, but it’s great problem to have. A huge thankyou goes out to all our local photographers for sharing your passion and talent. When you’re out and about in the backcountry of Durango and Silverton, or the “frontcountry” of Main Avenue, please be sure to tag us on our social media platforms (#durangomagazine and @durango_magazine).

If you’re visiting the area this summer and fall, we welcome you to take the time to explore our treasured locations. Then you, too, will understand why we love Durango.

Sincerely,

Publisher/Editor Marianne & Corbet Hoover Marianne Hoover

Corbet Hoover

Design/Production Eric Emerson Account Executives Marianne & Corbet Hoover Photo Editor Lisa Mackey Copy Editor Barbara Scott, Final Eyes Staff Intern Chloe Ragsdale Durango Magazine is published twice a year by Durango Magazine LLC. The Winter/Spring edition publishes in November.

P.O. Box 3907 Durango, CO 81302 Phone: (970) 259-2599

#durangomagazine

DurangoMagazine.com No portion of this publication’s content may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from the publisher.

Copyright © 2021 by Durango Magazine. All rights reserved.

@durangomagazine

@durango_magazine

6 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

7

E XC U R SIO N S

Photos by Jerry Day

D&S NARROW GAUGE

RAILROAD MUSEUM a diverse treasure trove

by John Peel

A 1913 Curtiss airplane. Maps. An intricate model railroad. A 1919 Hupmobile.

Tools, minerals, military uniforms, and toy soldiers. A baggage car used in filming Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Even mounted animals, real fish, a boat, and a dollhouse.

If you can’t find something up your alley at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum, you’re not looking very hard.

The 23-year-old museum has something for everyone—from train buffs and historians to tourists passing through and longtime locals who’ve somehow missed it.

“Our mission,” explains museum curator Jeff Ellingson, “is to tell the story of the interaction between the railroad and the town of Durango. You can’t talk about one without talking about the other.”

There’s a story behind every artifact.

Many items include signage with condensed histories, but the best way to learn is to take a tour from the knowledgeable staff. There are several yard/museum tours per day during the summer, and large groups (schools, for instance) can arrange for a a tour of the museum alone.

Big-idea man Allen Harper was just taking over as owner of D&SNGRR when he envisioned the museum. The plan took shape in January 1998, and Ellingson, already a 14-year train employee, volunteered to put the museum pieces together. They cleared out space in the new roundhouse, which was built in 1989 after a devastating fire left the 1881 roundhouse in cinders. The 8 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

museum officially opened on Mother’s Day 1998.

For several years the museum shared the roundhouse with the railroad’s events staff, which hosted Christmas parties and other gatherings. Ellingson would have to push museum artifacts to the side to make room for events. But the man had a plan.

“Secretly I started scheming,” he says.

“If I collected enough stuff it would be impossible to move it.”

Now, the 12,000-square-foot roundhouse is all museum. The high ceiling makes it possible to hang the Curtiss, meticulously constructed for the museum by local artist Dave Claussen in 2013. It’s a virtual lookalike (strap on an engine and it’ll fly, Ellingson says) of the Curtiss brought by the railroad in a crate to the Colorado-New Mexico state fair in September 1913. The plane was assembled, then flown from the fairgrounds despite wet and muddy conditions. It was the first-ever Durango-based flight.

The 100-yard walk from the depot to the museum is more than worth the effort, and an average 70,000 visitors make that stroll each year.

For more information on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum, visit durangotrain.com. Admission is free.

Yard tours: A one-hour-long yard and round-house tour, which includes a guided look at the museum, machine and car shops, and more, is $12 ($6 if you have a train ticket).

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TOP PI C K S

27th ANNUAL

DURANGO AUTUMN ARTS FESTIVAL Celebrating 27 years of presenting fine art and fine craft by makers from around the country, this festival takes place amid the fall colors on picturesque Second Avenue in historic downtown Durango. The wide avenue, lined with restaurants and a variety of shops, is one block east of Main Avenue and serves as a gathering place for local shoppers, along with the thousands of visitors who fill the town each autumn.

Organized as a benefit event by and for the Durango Arts Center, the festival is a well-loved and -attended community event attracting a large audience throughout the weekend. In 2019, the festival welcomed an estimated 7,000 visitors and nearly as many in 2020 during the pandemic. This year, the festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday, September 18 and 19.

DURANGO FARMERS MARKET Created on July 27, 1996, the Durango Farmers Market began as a small group of local farmers looking to connect agriculture to community. Originally at Chapman Ski Hill, it now occupies about 45,000 square feet in the TBK Bank parking lot on Ninth Street. The open-air market runs May 8 through Oct. 30 this year. Last year, due to the pandemic, the footprint grew to accommodate social distancing and wash stations. Masks were mandated. This year will be much the same. Live music—a popular mainstay—will return with a special classical presentation from Music in the Mountains on July 24. Popular local musicians will perform as well.

Find fresh produce throughout the six months of the market: apricots, beets, cauliflower, edamame, greens, herbs, mushrooms, rhubarb, squash blossoms, and heirloom tomatoes. Also find honey, eggs, cheese, and grass-fed beef, lamb, poultry, and pork.

A great part of the experience is the chefs who make their tasty creations with market-procured ingredients—baked goods, smoked meats, coffee and cider, burritos, pizza, stir-fry, mac ’n’ cheese, energy bars, tempeh, breakfast bowls, and smoothies.

Get your knives sharpened, and shop for jewelry and pottery, too. Durango Farmers Market has something for everyone.

Courtesy of Durango Farmers Market

DURANGO HOT SPRINGS RESORT + SPA Durango Hot Springs Resort + Spa is in the final stages of a redesign and expansion of the historic Trimble Hot Springs, located eight miles north of downtown Durango and 15 miles south of Purgatory Ski Resort in the scenic Animas Valley. The hot springs is the perfect place to soak and listen to live music in the natural-amphitheater setting. Music schedules vary by month and time of day.

Surrounded by mountain views, these natural mineral hot springs are like no other on Earth, with a perfect blend of minerals and the absence of any sulfur odor. The 28 unique thermal mineral water features includes 17 natural mineral hot springs soaking pools, eight private Japanese-inspired cedar soaking tubs, a reflexology walking path, and a mineral water rain tower. Other amenities include a resort-style swimming pool, Finnish dry saunas, and a cold-plunge pool.

Courtesy of Durango Hot Springs Resort + Spa 10 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

The newly renovated Durango Hot Springs Spa combines the benefits of natural mineral hot springs soaking with therapeutic and relaxation massage and a full complement of spa treatments.

Food and beverages are available at the hot springs. Open daily from 9 a.m. till 10 p.m. Reservations are required. Reserve online at www.dhsresort.com or call 970-247-0111.

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TOP PI C K S Artwork by Tim Kapustka

MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS Music in the Mountains, at 35 years, is well known as one of the longest-running classicalmusic festivals in the Southwest. This year’s season presents more than 30 events in three weeks, July 11 through August 1, 2021. With its world-class musicians from all over the country, wearing their famous white tuxedo jackets onstage, the festival is a midsummer delight for music lovers and fans. The season includes several benefit events, classical performances, and pops concerts, as well as intimate chamber performances, in gorgeous venues throughout the region.

Some of this year’s highlights include “Bach and Burritos” at River Bend Ranch, “Chocolate Indulgence” at Reising Stage, “Sunday Picnic at the Pond” at LePlatt’s Pond, and a fun kidfriendly hot-dog dinner and concert called “Tyrannosaurus Sue,” at the Community Concert Hall. Savvy festivalgoers take advantage of complimentary pre-concert lectures and a free community concert series presented in parks throughout the region.

Your safety continues to be a number-one priority, and the staff at Music in the Mountains is taking all necessary precautions. Please visit www.musicinthemountains.com to learn about the festival schedule, the year-round Music in the Mountains Goes to School program (which reaches thousands of elementary- and secondary-school students in the Four Corners region), and other information.

SILVERTON SUMMER SOUNDS 2021 MUSIC SERIES Gather the family, load up the car, and head north to Silverton for a magical, high-altitude evening of music under the stars. Now in its fourth season, Silverton Summer Sounds is a free open-air music series hosted by the Town of Silverton. This family-friendly event features libations, food, and live music on the Mike Geryak Sound Stage in Columbine Park. Located at 1239 Blair Street, Columbine Park is ideally situated in the heart of Silverton’s charming downtown district, within an easy stroll of numerous hotels, shops, and restaurants.

Concerts take place at 6 p.m. on the third Friday of the month from June through September, with two musical acts at each show. Among the highcaliber entertainers this summer are Policulture, Whitewater Ramble, Alan Booradley & The Nia, and Arkansauce. A rotating roster of food vendors and breweries makes each evening unique. For the summer 2021 season, all necessary COVID-19 precautions will be taken to ensure a safe, familyfriendly, community event. Mark your calendar now for these four must-see concerts, and visit www.silvertonsummersounds.com for more information.

Courtesy of Silverton Summer Sounds

SOARING TREETOP ADVENTURES Want a truly “cool” activity to beat the summer heat? Spend your day high up in the alpine forest, amid lush aspen trees and ponderosa pines, in a way that both inspires and takes your breath away. Soaring Tree Top Adventures boasts 27 unique zip-line spans enjoyed by ages 4 to 94.

Zip line above the majestic Animas River and through lush mountain forest scenery, then stop to take in the cool expanse with a four-course gourmet lunch served in the trees. Your adventure continues into the afternoon with more zip-line thrills crossing the Animas River.

Courtesy of Soaring Treetop Adventures 12 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

Set on 180 private acres north of Durango, this alpine retreat is only accessible via the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, providing guests with two unique adventures in one package. Beat the heat and hop on Soaring’s private first-class train cars for an adventure like no other. Your train ride is included in the rate. This unique tour operates mid-May through October.

Reservations required: 970-769-2357 or online at www.soaringcolorado.com.

13

Durango Onward!

Community Banding Together

by Joy Martin

Yvonne Lashmett

When Durango’s new city manager, José Madrigal, moved to the Animas Valley in September 2020, the search for a house big enough to accommodate his family of seven proved quite the challenge—especially during a time when everyone else was also looking for a house in Durango. While they hunted, the Madrigal family kept busy getting to know Durango’s bountiful offerings.

“There’s not much small talk on Zoom, like there would be if we were at the office, so we’re having fun just finding places for ourselves,” says Madrigal.

Besides discovering their favorite pizza joints, beers (for the parents, obviously), and other local delicacies, the Madrigals have spent their days relishing Durango’s abundance of fresh air and open spaces.

Skiing, fly-fishing, more skiing, and hiking the Sky Steps are just a few winter favorites for the Texas natives.

When he’s not exploring his new home with the family, Madrigal is working hard to push out this year’s strategic plan, which has a strong focus on Courtesy of José Madrigal the hottest topics, 14 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

like diversity, equity, and inclusion across the spectrum of city programs and services; environmental and social sustainability; financial transparency; and enhancement of the elements that make living in Durango so fabulous, just to name a few.

Some of those enhancements include paying special attention to nurturing Durango’s vibrant arts and culture scene, which is experiencing a revival, thanks to our renewed appreciation for those treasures we largely missed out on last year. For one, the summer and fall events calendar is already bulging with the return of some beloved oldies—like the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, Animas River Days, and, fingers crossed, Fourth of July fireworks.

In the North Main District, the Animas City Night Bazaar returns with its Passeggiata, a neighborhood promenade held on the last Wednesday of each month from June till October. This wellness-minded street party features bizarre phenomena— busking musicians, circus performers, popup art, flash-mob dances, a petting zoo, and more. Everyone is encouraged to attend, especially after enjoying happy hour at one of North Main Avenue’s bustling restaurants, bars, or ice cream trucks.

Also taking the stage once again this season is the iAM MUSIC Fest, which fea-

tures eight shows from May through October in Durango, with three shows in Pagosa Springs and one in Silverton.

Venues include the Nugget Mountain Bar, and in downtown Durango at Buckley Park and the Durango Craft Spirits lot. Each concert is a full-on stage production showcasing local and regional musicians and performing artists.

“After all we’ve been through, we’ve seen that there’s an even greater need for music,” says Jesse Ogle, professional musician and founder of iAM MUSIC. “We want to expand on that. Hopefully we can do something that will make people not take the arts for granted but rather see the value in this important part of our community.”

The creative juices aren’t just flowing for the artists and musicians in town; restaurant and business owners have also dug deep and uncovered innovative ways to not only survive these challenging times but to thrive. Many of last year’s outdoor gatherings that pivoted to accommodate social-distancing guidelines will resume with the warmer weather, including al fresco dining experiences, Main Avenue’s wildly successful bump-outs, and a Movie in the Park series, which will take place at Buckley Park on the first and third Fridays in June, July, and August.

Yvonne Lashmett

“We know we can host these cool experiences outside that can be flexible in terms of seating arrangements and capacity,” says Ogle. “We live in this beautiful outdoor place, so we’re all just taking advantage of that.”

After spending so much time at home, it’s easy to see why people, and lots of them, want to live here. Economics teaches us that with this kind of high demand comes a low supply, an interesting puzzle to consider as we look to the future of Durango.

“People are latching onto the idea that they care more about quality of life than material objects,” says Dan Korman, broker and owner of Alpenglow Properties. “We are a community of community-minded citizens, which means people are thinking creatively about housing and mixed-use spaces. I can’t tell the future—that’s the caveat—but what we do know is that no matter what happens next, you cannot change our backyard, and that will continue to drive demand.”

Speaking of backyards, the Madrigals finally found a comfortable abode in February 2021. Madrigal knew that with a bit of patience, the right one would appear at just the right time—and so it did.

“There’s a lot of promise going into this year,” says Madrigal. “We’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, but everyone has been affected differently. This year will be great for listening and seeing how everyone in our community is doing. We won’t just snap back to normal, but Durango clearly knows how to band together. We’re not strangers; we’re neighbors. This community steps up to help one another, and we’ll see that boost a faster recovery. It’ll be a blessing to get back together and build on this momentum.”

Shaun Stanley

Yvonne Lashmett

15

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16 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

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17

Ride the

ROCKIES

JUNE 13 - 18, 2021 RIDETHEROCKIES.COM

A LEGENDARY RIDE RETURNS TO DURANGO

by Margaret Hedderman

Photos courtesy of Ryan Muncy

When Don Richards first pedaled across the state with Ride the Rockies, he rode a “stump jumper” and wore gym shorts with tennis shoes. To register for the crossstate bicycle tour, he waited in a line that spilled out of the Denver Sports Castle and wrapped around the block. That was in 1987—before high-tech, moisture-wicking materials and online registration—and since then, the annual ride has become a Colorado tradition for cyclists.

“That’s one of the things we do with Ride the Rockies is show people our state,” says Tour Director Deirdre Moynihan.

The annual Ride the Rockies bicycle tour returns to Durango, where nearly 2,000 cyclists will embark on a six-day, 418-mile ride through the San Juan Mountains. Organized by The Denver Post, the fully supported tour attracts riders from across the country.

“Durango has been one of the most welcoming communities,” says Moynihan. “It’s such a big cycling community, and that’s a big draw.”

Last year’s event, which was slated to begin in Durango, was canceled due to COVID-19. Moynihan says this summer’s ride will follow the same route, but new safety protocols will be in place for riders.

The route will take riders on a circuit from Durango through Cortez, Ridgway, and Ouray before dropping back into town via the Million Dollar Highway. For anyone familiar with the San Juan Mountains, it’s clear the route is no joke. Over six days, riders will climb up and down several major mountain passes, equating to 28,484 feet in elevation gain.

Tour directors strive never to repeat the same route twice—quite the accomplishment

18 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

in a 35-year history; however, it does inevitably visit many of the same hot spots. To keep it fresh, Moynihan looks for creative solutions to introduce riders to new byways and rural communities off the beaten path.

“I looked at [where] we can get some crusher days,” she says, “but also really get those more quiet days, where they get to explore.”

In addition to a new loop through Ignacio and Vallecito, Ride the Rockies will incorporate a selection of dirt roads near Telluride.

“The beauty of dirt roads is that they take you places that are further from traffic and closer to nature,” says Nick Legan of Rambleur, a gravel-bike coaching and consulting firm.

“If you haven’t experienced a well-maintained dirt road in Colorado,” Legan says, “ it can be as smooth as pavement.”

“You go up Norwood Hill and all of a sudden there’s this amazing mesa,” Moynihan says. “Nobody knows it’s there. They all focus on Telluride.”

While Colorado’s bucket-list destinations are on full display during the event,

Ride the Rockies intentionally spreads the wealth to less trafficked rural communities.

This year, the tour passes through the small town of Norwood for the first time.

Exploring new towns is one of the many draws for riders like Richards. He says that if it weren’t for Ride the Rockies, many cyclists wouldn’t even know about these communities.

“People get exposed to the culture, the history, the beauty,” Richards explains.

“I guarantee, I’m going to come back as a better ambassador for some of these small towns.”

Moynihan says 68 percent of riders “learn about these communities and then go back as tourists.”

When 2,000 cyclists roll through town, the economic impact is tangible. Moynihan estimates that Ride the Rockies contributes $250,000 to each local economy per night.

In addition to food and lodging, the tour also collaborates with local vendors, encouraging riders to shop locally.

“I think everybody is anxious to support the communities more right now,” Moynihan says, “because we know so many of these communities have suffered.”

While Moynihan hopes that Ride the Rockies will help bring a sense of normalcy to the cycling community, she is serious about health and safety protocols.

Early on, Moynihan teamed up with other cycling event organizers to develop a COVID-19 mitigation task force.

“The amount of little logistics that we have to change is phenomenal,” she says.

“Every single thing we do, we have to go through and ask, ‘How do we keep it so it’s safe?’”

That said, she’s looking forward to bringing cyclists together again.

“It feels great. It’s really one of the most refreshing things, talking to cyclists about their training, logistics, and non-COVID things.”

For cyclists, Ride the Rockies is more than a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity.

The friendships—and more than a few relationships—built during this multiday tour attract riders year after year.

Richards has completed 34 out of 35 tours.

For him, the big days over high mountain passes and unexpected adventures due to inclement weather fuel him with memories until the following year.

“Things like Ride the Rockies are an aspect of richness upon which you cannot place a value,” Richards says. “It draws me back every year.”

19

BIOFEEDBACK

LOCAL DURANGO DUO TEAM UP TO DOMINATE THE WORLD OF PRO CYCLING.

Complementary & Alternative Health Care Practitioner

“Many professional athletes and teams are now looking to gain that competitive edge by decreasing injuries, shortening recovery times, and increasing stamina, but with a sustainable method that is all natural and effective.

This method is now possible with Dr. John’s expertise, in conjunction with the stateof-the-art I-FIT (individual-frequency interface technology) quantum biofeedback technology. Athletes can now achieve peak performance with a healthier quality of life—mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Get ready for the next step in complementary and alternative health care to develop your individual athlete’s customized plan for optimal well-being, performance, and longevity…”

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CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: • 2019 Junior world champion • 7x USA national champion • Placed 2nd in the Leadville 100 20 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

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21

Legit Outdoors

History stays alive in the True Western Roundup If you want to feel inspired about the future of humanity—to believe in its capacity for passion and compassion alike— all you need to do is listen to Jaida and Rylee Woody talk about their rodeo horses.

“It’s a lot of bonding,” Jaida says. “It’s a lot of connecting with your horse. It’s all about how much time we spend with them and work with them.”

“Mainly,” Rylee adds, “it’s about not failing my horses, because I love them so much.”

These two young women, 12-year-old twin sisters, travel around the Southwest from Las Vegas to New Mexico and everywhere in between to participate and compete in rodeo events. But their favorite event of all is right in their backyard: the True Western Roundup, which consists of 17 events in the 2021 Summer Rodeo Series in Durango and Cortez.

“We do many other events, but we love the True Western,” Jaida says. “It’s one of my favorite rodeos just because of how fun it is, and I love how they do juniors.”

Jaida is referencing one of two new special events in True Western

Roundup’s rodeo lineup, both of which debuted in 2020. The Junior Rodeo was created to promote the sport to future generations of athletes, and the Cowgirls Kickin’ Cancer Women’s Rodeo was created to raise breast-cancer awareness. Both events have since been added to True Western’s annual series. The Junior Rodeo took place on May 15, 2021, and the Women’s Rodeo is scheduled for October 9, 2021—both at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez.

Contestants for all the True Western Roundup events come from working ranches all around the Four Corners, says producer Pam Petrie. “It’s a way of life for them,” she says. “It’s what they love.”

It certainly is a way of life for the Woody twins, who are sponsored by Durango Magazine. They have been riding horses since they were two, and they first competed in lead line at three. Now,

by Zach Hively

they both compete in barrel racing and pole bending, and Rylee also competes in goat tying.

“We grew up in the rodeo,” Rylee says.

“My grandma got us into it all.”

Their grandma has gotten much of the family into rodeoing over the years—the twins’ uncles and mom have also partic-

Legit Outdoors 22 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

Pam Petrie, True Western Roundup Producer Legit Outdoors

ipated. The whole family encourages the young women, and they credit all their success and passion to their family’s support.

“Even if we make a bad run,” Rylee says, “they’re always there for us, to say it’s OK, at least you tried your hardest.”

That kind of support, Jaida says, “is a really big deal to me. My grandma does anything to help us do the best we can, and so do my mom and my dad.”

The Woody family is not alone in its camaraderie. The community around the True Western Roundup—what Petrie calls the “rodeo family”—offers locals and visitors alike a place to gather, socialize, and experience the traditions of the American West.

“I love watching people who love our heritage and ag,” Petrie says. “I love watching their faces light up when they’re competing and when they’re successful. I love the spectators who come and the smiles on their faces.”

The True Western Roundup rodeo series strives to balance professionalism and fun. For many locals, these competitions are rooted in traditional ranch work, and the events tell part of their history.

For many visitors, the rodeos are a chance to experience that history in a genuine setting.

“People come to our historical community, and they want to see a Western event,” Petrie says. “They come to Colorado to see the American cowboy. I hear that a lot.”

There is no doubt that the True Western Roundup is an economic boon for southwestern Colorado. At eight seasons and counting, it intends to remain a mainstay for years to come. For Petrie, the rodeo series is as much about the lessons it

Legit Outdoors

Jaida and Rylee Woody with Marianne Hoover, Durango Magazine sponsor

teaches as it is about the economic benefits of entertainment.

“There are a lot of lessons to be learned in the ag world,” she says. “Caring for an animal is a gift you can give to your kids.

When you care for an animal unconditionally, it really teaches you a lot about love and responsibility.”

Those are lessons that the Woody sisters have taken to heart, and it’s the reason they can speak with such clarity and pride about their experiences and growth in the rodeo. After all, the rodeo isn’t all about winning; like Petrie says, it’s about

learning responsibility, honoring the rodeo heritage, and supporting other members of the rodeo family.

And, at the end of the day, it all comes down to this: a girl, her horse, and the arena.

“I love having a good run,” Rylee says.

“It’s a really rewarding thing to know you put together a nice run.”

Jaida agrees. “I love how much work you put into it, and when you get a nice run or a win, it all pays off. I just love it so much. Even if we have a bad run, it’s fine.

The horse tried their hardest. You tried your hardest.”

23

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SCAPE

The Great SCAPE:

by Zach Hively

Turning the Four Corners into an entrepreneurial hot spot Endless hiking trails. A rockin’ live music scene. Sick mountain biking, and sweet skiing. And… a world-class entrepreneurial development program?

That’s right. To the list of Four Corners attractions, we must add SCAPE—the Southwest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs, which helps budding businesses get off the ground, pairs them with investors and mentors, and works to improve the quality of life in our region. It has powered rocket engines, created more than 150 well-paying jobs, and drawn millions of dollars to our corner of the world.

“I get several phone calls a week from people wanting to learn about the entrepreneurial community and the startup scene,” says Elizabeth Marsh, the executive director at SCAPE. “It’s become another thing that people look for when they’re deciding where to vacation, where to relocate, where to become involved and give back.”

It’s no secret that the communities SCAPE serves are full of scrappy, hardworking people. We are all here because we want to be here, even when work is seasonal or hard to come by. In the last seven years, SCAPE has turned this innate creative spirit into an economic engine. The program works for about six months with fledgling businesses to develop business

plans, financial projections, marketing strategies, and fundraising opportunities to prepare them for launch and growth.

Once viable business ideas get going, SCAPE maintains long-term relationships with these companies, assisting them with different investment rounds, expanded hiring, and other challenges they encounter, all with the help of mentors—many of whom have relocated to the Four Corners in large part because their expertise was welcomed.

All told, this program has raised $25 million for 36 local businesses in Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, and San Juan counties in Colorado, and San Juan

County in New Mexico. That’s a lot of success stories. And many of the businesses are not what you might expect to blossom in these places.

One such company is Agile Space Industries, which designs, tests, and manufactures integrated aerospace propulsion systems—literally, they are rocket scientists with NASA contracts. Impact Fenders reconceptualized the boat fender and dock bumper, which had remained largely unchanged for half a century. Then there are the companies that choose the Four Corners over Silicon Valley: software-as-aservice companies, like MUNIRevs and its platform LODGINGRevs (which automate

SCAPE 26 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

sales tax and vacation-rental compliance, respectively).

“We work with a lot of businesses [like these] that are likely to stay headquartered in the area and provide meaningful employment,” Marsh says. “We get over 50 applications a year from local businesses that are looking to start and grow. It’s exciting to see all the different ideas and things that people want to do.”

The whole SCAPE model is about more than just supporting new businesses: It’s about creating resiliency for workers (most SCAPE businesses offer wages at least average for the region) and for our economy.

Every community from Silverton to Farmington and Cortez to Pagosa Springs relies on its own brand of economic support: tourism, outdoor recreation, and oil and gas. Those are all subject to ebbs and flows, and each is particularly vulnerable to shutdowns and other disasters.

“It’s important to diversify the local economy,” Marsh says. “We need additional businesses that are not retail- and service-focused, so people can continue to be employed and operate during a pandemic or a shutdown. If you can provide employment opportunities to people, you can really impact their access to affordable housing, childcare, and healthcare. We see it as very effective and direct.”

It’s easy just to focus on the businesses that SCAPE helps to achieve lift-off; but cultivating relationships with investors makes that flight possible in the first place. Marsh explains that SCAPE works with a network of about 50 angel investors who meet accredited criteria, and the mere opportunity to participate in the program as mentors is a draw for many people with invaluable experience not always readily available in smaller communities like ours. Plus, SCAPE works with other community organizations, such as the Hawk Tank Business Plan Competition at Fort Lewis College, to develop the entrepreneurial spirit at all levels.

On both sides of the equation, with investors and mentors as well as entrepreneurs just starting out, Marsh gets to work with some of the most passionate people around. “Seeing the creativity of the entrepreneurs and watching them get their dreams off the ground—combined with the generosity of the investor community that wants to pay it forward and the extensive volunteer-mentor network of people who are willing to dedicate their time and experience to helping others—makes our role a lot of fun,” she says. “It’s a great way to put the best of the community behind new businesses to see what can happen.”

Agile Space Industries

SCAPE

SCAPE

Impact Fenders

SCAPE 27

What’s New in the Four Corners

by Zach Hively

Fred Holmstock

Quarter million dollars for outdoor spaces goes to San Juan County

Beginning June 11, Frontier Airlines adds year-round nonstop service to Las Vegas and Denver.

Evidently Coloradans spent the pandemic hiking to real streams (and other natural features) instead of watching streaming services. For example, Ice Lakes Basin, already increasingly popular, saw record traffic—and record levels of litter and damage.

These daily services add two more yearround options from Durango-La Plata County Airport, joining United Airlines’ service to Denver and American Airlines’ service to Dallas and Phoenix. (American also runs seasonal flights to Los Angeles, June through August.)

A $260,200 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado to the San Juan Stewardship Project may offer some assistance. In addition to maintaining trails, the Stewardship Project will direct grant money to a variety of other outdoor needs: • Alpine Ranger Program’s public safety and education efforts.

• San Juan Mountains Association’s education base camp at the trailhead to Ice Lakes.

• A water-quality monitoring program and a wildfire safety program.

These connections provide direct access to all of Frontier’s and Delta’s extended networks for outbound locals, as well as more options for visitors traveling to Durango and the Four Corners.

Durango Demons win 2020 Class 3A football state championship

Three more year-round service options arriving at DRO

Beginning May 26, Delta Airlines adds year-round nonstop twice-daily service to Salt Lake City.

28 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

Dr. Karen Cheser comes to Durango School District 9-R from Fort Thomas, Kentucky, where she was superintendent of the state’s top-ranked Fort Thomas Independent Schools. The school district board voted unanimously to select Cheser from three finalists and 28 applicants.

Cheser succeeds Dan Snowberger, who has served as Courtesy of Dr. Cheser superintendent since 2012.

Brandon Mathis

Shaun Stanley

Courtesy of La Plata County Airport

Durango school district announces new superintendent

The Durango High School football team defeated top-ranked Roosevelt 21-14 in Pueblo to claim a top spot they were denied all season long. Senior Gage Mestas earned Most Outstanding Player of the Game, with four receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown. He cemented the victory with a fourth-quarter interception near the goal line. The title is Durango High School’s first in football since 1954—and that was a shared crown.

Oxbow Park receives improved access and amenities Oxbow Park and Preserve on the north end of Durango has long been in existence, but for just as long it has lacked reasonable (and legal) access for boaters, boarders, and beachgoers. The newly completed extension of the Animas River Trail connects Animas City Park to Oxbow, which now also boasts improved river access with a paved boat ramp, a loading/ unloading loop, designated parking, and bathrooms and changing areas. The city intends to continue improving the amenities, including adding more bicycle racks and shade-offering plants, as funding and politics permit.

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G A LLER I E S

DURANGO

Art acts as the foundation of any community, providing unity, creativity, and imagination for those who create it and for the many who appreciate it. The art community in Durango is no exception. Durango’s galleries display powerful artwork that defines our community and can be both admired and purchased. These local treasures include a range of creations in pottery, handcrafted quilts, photography, and jewelry—all of which capture the beauty and individuality of our local artists. Durango’s galleries highlight the culture of our region and the world beyond, and they’re open to explore.

ART

The gallery emphasizes Navajo weavings, Zuni fetishes, Pueblo storytellers and pottery, Alaskan sculptures, drums, flutes, baskets, and jewelry. All the original art comes directly from the artist. An exceedingly knowledgeable staff can guide you through the various artists, tribes, artifacts, and ceremonies to help you collect the finest pieces. Staff members know each artist personally, and they guarantee authenticity.

Create Art and Tea 802 East Second Avenue Inside the Durango Arts Center createartandtea.com 703-431-9649

GALLERIES

Create Art and Tea is the place to find unique, locally created art for every occasion. Create features wall art, ceramics, jewelry, photography, eco-dyed wearable art, and more. Lori Preusch, Ann Smith, Deborah Sussex, Marge Meyer-Nugent, and Chayse Romero are among the talented artists featured. Create offers a selection of aromatic and delightful loose-leaf teas.

Special-order tea blends are also available. Purchase to go or enjoy a cup while browsing.

Center of Southwest Studies 1000 Rim Drive swcenter.fortlewis.edu 970-247-7456

A Shared Blanket 104 East Fifth Street asharedblanket.com 970-247-9210 A Shared Blanket is a museum-quality Native American gallery in Durango featuring authentic artwork from tribal members throughout the United States.

30 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

The Center of Southwest Studies houses a research museum, library, and archive dedicated to collecting the knowledge, history, and development of the greater Four Corners region. Additionally, the Center supports Fort Lewis College’s commitment to experiential learning through internships, academic collaborations, and student research opportunities. Please visit the website to find current information on scheduling visits and on their free public programs.

Karyn Gabaldon Fine Arts 680 Main Avenue karyngabaldon.com 970-946-8292 Artist Karyn Gabaldon features her acrylic paintings inspired by the beauty of our region. Her work is contemporary and nature oriented, with an intuitive Zen grace.

Gabaldon’s work is colorful and dramatic, stirring the imagination with a calming touch. Her gallery has been a Durango mainstay for 40 years, carrying unique jewelry, bronze and stone sculpture, wood, glass, metal prints, clocks, mirrors, and Ikebana vases. Across from the Historic Stater Hotel.

Earthen Vessel Gallery 115 West Ninth Street earthenvessel.com 970-247-1281

artists. Discover the gallery’s impressive range of contemporary and traditional Western and Native American fine art and jewelry, sculpture, and more. Owner Shanan Campbell and her team are passionate about art and how it enriches our lives.

Visit their beautiful location downtown and discover something new and unique at Sorrel Sky Gallery.

This locally owned gallery offers art for everyday living: ceramics, jewelry, paintings, glass, and unique gifts created by extraordinary artisans. Browse the curated range of work, from contemporary to traditional, decorative to functional.

Earthen Vessel Gallery consistently discovers the most remarkable artists to add to its collection. Learn the artists’ stories by visiting the gallery located in downtown Durango or discover them online at earthenvessel.com.

Toh-Atin Gallery 145 West Ninth Street toh-atin.com 970-247-8277

Scenic Aperture 708 Main Avenue durangogallery.photography 970-385-5853 A highlight of Durango’s historic Main Avenue, Scenic Aperture features fine-art nature photography from the Four Corners area of the American Southwest. The gallery showcases the works of Frank Comisar, Durango’s own internationally collected photographer. Images are available in many sizes and media. Stop by and say hello. They love the Four Corners region and would be happy to discuss their favorite places for dinner, sunsets, and adventure.

Since 1957, Toh-Atin Gallery has been known for its outstanding selection of Navajo weaving, Native American jewelry, Pueblo pottery, Hopi Kachina dolls, Southwestern paintings, and sculpture. Considered by many to be more of a museum than a gallery, this family-owned establishment appreciates the opportunity to share the stories behind the artists and their art forms. Group tours and lectures may be set up in advance with the gallery.

Sorrel Sky Gallery 828 Main Avenue sorrelsky.com 970-247-3555 Sorrel Sky Gallery has been part of the Durango community since 2002, representing more than 50 local and regional

31

AR TI S T PRO FI LE

Karyn Gabaldon

Elegance through art and nature On the sunny southeast corner of Seventh Street and Main Avenue, across the way from the historic Strater Hotel, Karyn Gabaldon Arts has welcomed visitors for over 40 years. Gabaldon, a New Mexico native and Fort Lewis College art department alumnus, opened her first gallery in Durango in 1980.

The current space, airy and well-lit, is full of Karyn’s paintings, as well as sculpture, ceramics, and jewelry by other local and nationally known artists.

A potter for 20 years, Karyn began painting in 1991. “Clay taught me how to feel, and painting taught me how to see,” she says. She was drawn to the mountains and moved to Durango in 1973. She has seen a lot of changes and is continually renewed and encouraged by the personal interactions she has with the people who visit her gallery.

Working primarily in acrylics, Karyn’s paintings are ethereal, contemporary, and influenced by the simplicity of Japanese art. She has the ability to capture the fleeting magical moments in nature: moonrise over the La Plata Mountains, reflections on the Animas River, the majesty of Vallecito looking north. An overall feeling of spaciousness and calm settles over me as I view her work.

Karyn’s paintings grace the homes of many collectors internationally and any of her pieces can also be made into transfer prints on metal panels at almost any size.

Karyn loves the Durango community and has given back in many ways, including

Lisa Mackey

32 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

by Billy Grimes

offering internships to senior Fort Lewis College art majors and opening her gallery for student visits. Through one of her other passions, teaching Zumba fitness classes, she raises money for Durango Friends of the Arts.

After 40 years in business, you can’t help but become part of the local story of Durango. Karyn Gabaldon continues to thrive, thanks to the support of locals and visitors who are drawn to her art and friendly demeanor—not to mention the peaceful Zen-like ambience.

Karyn Gabaldon’s work can be found online at karyngabaldon.com or in her gallery at 680 Main Avenue, Durango.

Lisa Mackey Artwork photos courtesy of Karyn Gabaldon

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Durango in the Movies At one time, so many movies were filmed in the San Juan Basin that it became known as the “Hollywood of the Rockies.” However, Durango was not just in the movies, but residents went to the movies. Durango’s film debut was the locally produced 1921 feature Small Town Vamp. The Durango Evening Herald noted, “This comedy is the first attempt of Durango in the movie life, and the patrons of the theatre are awaiting the production with a great deal of anticipation.” The film was produced by J.W. Jarvis, proprietor of the Jarvis Garage. It starred local talent plus the finest horses in the area, featuring “good roping, good riding and peculiar situations.” The film was shown at the Gem Theatre, located at 1001 Main Ave. Other theater choices in the 1920s were the Rialto, at 1053 Main Ave., and the Isis Theatre, at 857 Main Ave., where admission was 25 cents for the 7:30 show and 10 cents for the 9 p.m. show.

34 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

By Carolyn Bowra

When Hollywood discovered the stunning Western scenery of the San Juan Basin and the historic charm of the narrowgauge railroad, it filmed dozens of movies in the area. The railroad took a starring role in Paramount Pictures’ Denver & Rio Grande, filmed during the summer of 1951. The most thrilling shot was the collision of two locomotives, under steam and with the aid of “a generous amount of dynamite.” D&RG engines 319 and 345 raced toward each other for a spectacular crash scene. Due to a miscalculation of the point of impact, the collision was not centered in the frame but it was still an impressive end for two locomotives destined for the scrap heap. The next summer, Basin Drive-In Theatre, at 22nd and Main Avenue, proudly showed the film, co-starring Edmond O’Brien and Sterling Hayden, with ads, noting that it was “Filmed in the Basin.” The drive-in had opened around 1950 and in 1956 was renamed the Knox Drive-In. Later, in 1958, it became the

Bell Drive-In. The Rocket Drive-In’s arrival on the scene south of town, in 1957, gave residents even more places to view the latest movies from the comfort of their cars.

The Naked Spur, starring Jimmy Stewart and Janet Leigh, was filmed just north of Durango in 1952. In addition to Hollywood stars, the shoot drew political celebrities to Durango as well. Colorado Governor Daniel Thornton attended an event in June designating the San Juan Basin “Hollywood of the Rockies.” A model of a proposed obelisk monument was unveiled at Fassbinder Park. Durango’s awardwinning American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps added to the festive air. It was hoped the event, which was filmed by newsreel crews, and the “Hollywood” designation would encourage more filming in the area.

Unfortunately, the permanent monument was never constructed. The governor also visited the movie-set location, where he was not the only civic leader in atten-

dance. Lead actor Jimmy Stewart had been named honorary mayor of Durango.

“His Honor” Jimmy Stewart was back in Durango in the fall of 1957, filming Night Passage, with costar Audie Murphy and hundreds of local extras. The movie had its world premiere in Denver. A delegation of Durango residents was in attendance, and a Durango display decorated the lobby. The Kiva Theatre, at 813 Main Ave., a downtown movie destination since the 1930s, hosted screenings of the rushes (dailies) of each day’s action during the filming.

The Kiva held the location premiere of Night Passage, with still photographs from the film arrayed throughout the lobby.

The 1960s found Durango in the spotlight again, when Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, co-starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Katharine Ross, was filmed in the area. Locals spent the summer of 1968 working as extras or trying to catch a glimpse of the stars. Of course they packed the Kiva to see Butch and Sundance’s iconic leap into the Animas River from high atop the cliff at Baker’s Bridge north of Durango.

The Kiva was damaged in the devastating Main Avenue fire in August 1974.

The Gaslight Theater arrived on the south end of Main Avenue in the late ’70s. In the ’80s the Kiva closed as a movie theater. Yet Hollywood cameras continued to roll in the Basin. Avalanche was filmed at the Lodge at Tamarron, today’s Glacier Club, in February and March of 1978. Locals responded to a call for extras in the movie starring Rock Hudson and Mia Farrow. The movie was initially not a commercial success but found fans when it was featured in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return, streaming on Netflix. Once again, Durango residents could see local scenery on-screen in the latest movie venue—their own homes.

Photos courtesy of La Plata County Historical Society/Animas Museum Photo Archives

Photos from top to bottom: The concession area of the Gem Theatre in 1921. While the Coca-Cola advertising and candy selections are familiar to modern movie fans, the cigar case and brass spittoon are not.

On June 7, 1942, ten enlistees posed with five naval officers in front of the Kiva theater on the west side of the 800 block of Main Avenue. It appears the whole audience proudly posed with them before watching To the Shores of Tripoli.

The Gem Theatre, at the northwest corner of 10th and Main Avenue, around 1920.

35

WhY do i run?

by Jason Schlarb

Jan Nyka

Crazy, unfathomably miserable—and “why”? I believe most “regular people” question why someone would ever choose to run ultramarathon distances (greater than 26.2 miles), especially distances of 100 miles or more. Furthermore, people have a lot of questions for ultra runners about how the hell they do it and what it’s like. The truth is, running ultras makes me a lot more human than I would be otherwise.

Here are my answers to five questions I frequently get about running ultramarathons. My answers to these questions are just that—my answers.

While many ultra runners may resonate with my answers, they are unique to me.

WHY?!

Two hundred years ago, 500 years ago, or a thousand years ago, life was a lot more… raw. It was a battle, more about survival and endurance, and we relied a lot more on the performance of our bodies than on our intelligence. Humans have always been

36 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

driven to explore and to venture out and test ourselves, both mentally and physically. I believe that as we have more and more lost touch with our “primal selves,” we have created new ways to experience that primal thrill of pushing our bodies and minds to the limit. Whether it’s running through mud, flames, and ridiculous obstructions at an obstacle race, climbing to the top of 20,000-foot peak, flying down mountain cliffs in a wingsuit, or running 100 miles, we are crazy. Deep down, a lot of humans have a hard time being happy and content unless they’re getting “raw.” I love getting raw. I love stripping away all the distractions of life until nothing is left but me and moving my body across wildlands. Running ultras in the mountains is my favorite way to get raw.

DO YOU STOP OR SLEEP WHEN YOU RACE 100 MILES?

I have never, successfully, slept while running an ultra. I only stop to get more water and fuel. Most of the time, I don’t even sit

down. Our bodies are incredible endurance machines and humans are better at overland ultra endurance travel than most any animal.

DO YOU EAT “REGULAR FOOD”?

No and yes. I used to eat sugary gels and drink mixes, but now I eat high-calorie and carbohydrate-rich “real food” in gel form.

Spring Energy gels—made from rice, coconut, and fruit—are pretty much all I eat during my races. I don’t consume hamburgers, pasta, steak, French fries, etc.

DO YOU CHANGE YOUR SHOES?

I don’t know why I get asked this so much, but I almost never change my shoes. I run in Altras, which are foot-shaped and have balanced cushioning. I almost never have blisters or problems with my feet. Our bodies are resilient and so adaptable. When we train them to run properly, they are incredibly good at it. We were meant to run. We were not meant to sit in an office.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU RUN? I think about everything and nothing. I cry, smile, and laugh over the course of pretty much every 100-mile race. Running ultra distances has a way of stripping away all distractions, and I’m often faced with having to “sit” with the big questions in life. I used to avoid facing important life questions and emotions in general, and thankfully ultra running has forced me to show up, face the music, and find some

answers. I have come to hold myself more accountable for what I’m doing in my life through these “religious thought experiments” at ultras. When I’m not answering life’s questions in a 100-mile race, I’m usually focused on when to eat, drink, see my crew, and get to the next aid station. But none of that is as much fun as pondering the mysteries of life while flying through it on foot.

Courtesy of Jason Schlarb

Jan Nyka

Jan Nyka

37

MEET THE GUIDES The guides of southwest Colorado make adventuring in and around Durango exciting and accessible for

everyone, regardless of experience. Whitewater rafting companies along the banks of the Animas River—including Flexible Flyers, Mild to Wild, and the Durango Rafting Company—are all staffed with expert guides to ensure your safety and excitement on some of Colorado’s best-known rapids. Fishing guides, including Duranglers, also work (and fish) along the Animas and San Juan Rivers; customized guide trips are designed to fit your skill level. Guides at San Juan Expeditions lead groups into the San Juan Mountains, providing everything from avalanche training to rock-climbing clinics. The Colorado Trail is yet another outdoor adventure area, where Hermosa Tours provides self-guided mountain-bike tours.

SAN JUAN EXPEDITIONS JACK KLIM

SOUTHWEST RAFT AND JEEP CHRIS CHIBOUCAS

HERMOSA TOURS MATT McFEE

640 E. Second Avenue, Durango, CO 81301 877-ROLL-MTB (765-5682) • hermosatours.net

What is your favorite trail in La Plata County?

That’s easy—the Colorado Trail!

What is your favorite trail to guide on outside of La Plata County?

The Arizona Trail, specifically the section from Oracle, Arizona, to Superior, Arizona.

What is your favorite thing you own and why?

I want to own enough fly-fishing gear to start a second business. Work is what I do in between fly-fishing trips.

Where do you want to travel the most?

I would like to go to Kamchatka, Russia, to fly-fish.

What is your favorite book?

It is a two-way tie: The Monkey Wrench Gang and The Fountainhead.

If you were going to get some ink, what would you choose and why?

The bridge over Cascade Creek on the Colorado Trail looking upstream. It is my favorite place on Earth.

What is your favorite meal to cook while on an overnight trip?

Linguini puttanesca.

38 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

305 S. Camino del Rio, Suite V, Durango, CO 81301 970-259-8313 • southwestraftandjeep.com

What is your favorite part of the Animas River?

Rockwood Box is my favorite section. It’s just an all-around fun, adventurous trip through an area of wilderness that you can pretty much only see from the water.

What is your favorite river to guide on besides the Animas?

This is a really tough question for someone who’s been guiding for 15 years, because there are so many great rivers. I think the Cataract Canyon section of the Colorado is probably my favorite, when the water is right. The whole trip is an experience every single time you go. You are out on the water for almost two weeks, going through areas you can only access by raft or helicopter. It has everything from big rapids days to epic hikes every single day of the trip.

Where do you want to travel the most?

I would say to go back to the Futaleufú River in northern Patagonia. It’s a river I have only had a chance to do once, and I would love nothing more than a chance to go run that section again. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world.

What is your favorite meal to cook while on an overnight trip?

Good old Jambalaya is my favorite. It’s easy to make, tastes amazing, and fills the belly after a long, hard push on the water.

1303 Greene Street, Silverton, CO 81433 970-460-6065 • sanjuanexpeditions.com

What is your favorite mountain in the San Juans?

It is Jagged Peak, the most remote thirteener in Colorado. Fourteeners are old news.

What is your favorite place to guide outside the area?

Alaska! Fly onto an Alaskan glacier from a plane that has skis that drop over its wheels to land on snow.

Then step off the plane to guide expeditions to the summit of Denali, or ski untouched snow for a week from a glacier base camp.

What is your favorite thing you own and why?

My dogs Sandwich and Beans! Sandwich is an Australian shepherd-Anatolian shepherd mix, and Beans is a Pomeranian-American Eskimo mix.

They are my favorite beings, simply because they remind me not to sweat the small stuff. Life is about dreaming and doing... and eating tasty treats.

Where do you want to travel the most?

I want more surf vacations in my life. I’ve spent much of my off-time exploring high peaks, exotic volcanos, and arctic environments. I would love to go surf in places like Namibia or explore the jungles of Borneo.

If you were going to get some ink, what would you choose and why?

Hahaha, I love this question! If it’s late-night ink?

I would have to say a stick and poke of a penguin paragliding. If it’s a project tattoo? I would get a half sleeve with a raven on my shoulder symbolizing my soaring friends overhead. I would incorporate the San Juan mountain scape—that’s where I cut my teeth as a mountain guide—along with a snowflake in the raven’s eye symbolizing my eagerness for snow… always looking forward to winter.

ELENA DONHARL

50 Animas View Drive, Durango, CO 81301 • 800-567-6745 • mild2wildrafting.com

What is your favorite part of the Animas River?

It is the lake, also known as the “Paradise Beach” area. I really enjoy this area, because you are able to float and get great views of the mountains. This is also a great area to practice swimming, flipping a boat, and trying to nail your roll while hard-shell kayaking.

What is your favorite river to guide on besides the Animas?

It is the San Miguel River in Telluride. Not many people are aware of this gem due to its remote location and how infrequently it is run. It is a narrow, fast river that has exciting rapids at every turn. I also enjoy the scenery of the red rocks, large groves of trees, and abandoned mines that scatter the hillsides.

Where do you want to travel the most?

My goal in the next couple of years is to travel to Zambia to raft the Zambezi River.

MILD TO WILD RAFTING AND JEEP TOURS

What is your favorite meal to cook while on an overnight trip?

My favorite meal to cook on an overnight trip is salmon covered in lemon with asparagus, and brownies for desert. Anna Folks, Mild to Wild’s multiday manager, makes sure to include awesome instructions so we make the perfect salmon. It is always a knockout!

TOM KNOPICK

923 Main Avenue, Durango, CO 81301 • 970-385-4081 • duranglers.com

What is your favorite part of the Animas River?

I don’t really have a favorite part of the Animas. The river is 126 miles long, and each section is different—from the brookies upstream of Silverton, through the canyon section below Silverton, then flowing through Durango and below where bigger rainbows and browns swim.

What is your favorite river to guide on besides the Animas?

We are lucky to have many great rivers and streams in the Durango area, so it is not an easy question to answer. All things considered, I would have to say it’s the Piedra River.

Where do you want to travel the most?

I would love to go to Mongolia and tour the famous dinosaur localities of the Gobi Desert. While there, it would be awesome to fish for taimen, which are the largest members of the salmonid family.

What is your favorite book?

The River Why by David James Duncan. Check it out.

DURANGLERS FLIES AND SUPPLIES

What is your favorite meal to cook while on an overnight trip?

When guiding multiday trips through the Gunnison Gorge, we do most of our cooking in a Dutch oven. A favorite of mine has always been lasagna, followed by upside-down pineapple cake.

ERIK JORGENSEN

890 Roosa Avenue, Durango, CO 81301 • 970-247-4628 • flexibleflyersrafting.com

FLEXIBLE FLYERS RAFTING

What is your favorite part of the Animas River?

It is the lower Animas going under the train bridge when a train is passing over.

What is your favorite river to guide on besides the Animas?

It would be the San Juan River out of Pagosa Springs.

What is your favorite thing you own and why?

It would have to be pictures and memories of family adventures growing up.

What is your favorite book?

The Magus by John Fowles.

If you were going to get some ink, what would you choose and why?

I just recently got some ink of a crane on my arm. It is good luck and prosperity.

What is your favorite meal to cook while on an overnight trip?

My favorite meal to cook is pork green chili enchiladas on a multi-day river trip.

39

Silverton, Colorado Silverton, Colorado, is nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountain range and sits at 9,318 feet in elevation. As base camp for the most adventurous summer activities, Silverton has miles and miles of hiking and jeep trails that start right in town. San Juan County’s endless backcountry terrain is ideal for camping, fishing, biking, hiking, and exploring.

Finish your day of mountain adventures by staying in one of the many and varied types of lodging. Silverton has everything from boutique, historical inns to luxury hotels, bed and breakfasts, motels, hostels, and vacation rental homes. Dine, drink, and have fun in the local cafés, breweries, fine-dining establishments, and coffee shops open year round. Reserve some time in your day to shop the local boutiques and galleries. Silverton is fast becoming an arts destination.

STAY

THE TRAIL

Silverton’s summer events are a blast, such as the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, Hardrock 100, the Fourth of July celebration, Summer Concert Series, Hardrockers Holidays, and so many more. Check out www.silvertoncolorado.com for the complete schedule.

SHARE

THE TRAIL

@VisitSilverton Instagram will show you a day in the life of the town and surroundings, so check it out; tag them and/ or #visitsilverton. Also, log on to SilvertonColorado.com to find out what’s going on, what to do, and where to stay and dine.

YIELD

Silverton invites you to come stay and play!

Fred Holmstock

Multi-use trails are necessary to help minimize the overall impact on the land, so sharing the trail with other users is not only common but essential.

Be courteous to others, use common sense and always stay on the trail, especially in areas above the tree line with fragile alpine tundra.

Visit StayTheTrail.org for more info, helpful guidelines, OHV area locations, updated MVUMs, news and more.

STAYTHETRAIL.ORG 40 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

SILVERTON S I LV ERTON, C OLOR A DO

YOUR BASECAMP FOR adventure #lifeat9318 | silvertoncolorado.com

COLORADO

SKIING • SNOWBOARDING • NORDIC TRAILS • ICE CLIMBING • FAT BIKING SNOWMOBILING • HIKING • 4 WHEELING • MOUNTAIN BIKING • CAMPING • FISHING

41

by Ryan Dull

Corbet Hoover

One of the best things about living in Colorado is access to our public lands. This is the place to be if you are an outdoor nature lover or if you use motorized recreational vehicles. There are endless opportunities to get out and explore.

However, Colorado has recorded a 400 percent increase in motorized recreation last year, which correlates to more users

in a shrinking space, ultimately leading to a downward spiral of increased land-abuse prompting additional land closures.

Motorized trails have become places of recklessness and overcrowding, littered with trash, and unwelcoming for those looking for a peaceful mountain adventure.

COVID-19 has increased motorized recreation as well, leading new first-time and out-of-state off-highway vehicle users to indulge in the outdoor lifestyle with little education or knowledge of their impact to the land, environment, and fellow users.

Stay The Trail is a nonprofit 501(c)3 whose mission is to reinforce and highlight responsible OHV use, and to modify and mitigate irresponsible use in an effort to minimize damage to public lands, with the ultimate goal of keeping trails open and welcoming for all.

Stay The Trail accomplishes this through its “on the ground” campaign, with improved signage (route/ trail numbers), trail and volunteer projects (fencing, rehabilitation of wildfire and Jim Bommarito

42 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

off-trail damage, and trash cleanups), and on-the-trail face-to-face user interaction in the form of informational handouts. They also focus their efforts on keeping OHV users informed by distributing printed materials, including their new area-specific maps complete with ethics messaging Many small mountain towns appreciate the influx of summer tourists who keep stores and local businesses open. They try to accommodate the OHV crowd by opening certain county roads to unlicensed off-highway vehicles. However, drivers must comply with local, state, and county regulations regarding speed, noise, and common courtesy. All OHVs owned and operated in Colorado (including motor vehicles and motorcycles that are not licensed for public-road access) must display current Colorado OHV registration stickers when in a person’s possession in an OHV staging area or operated on any designated OHV trails or routes in Colorado.

Even with these regulations in place, many riders fail to comply, and they create a negative impression of the motorized recreational vehicle community. These effects can cause the loss of current designated routes and even jeopardize permitted offroad events in the future, overall harming the region’s economy and limiting legal enjoyment of the sport.

Anthony D’Amato

The appropriate speed for any OHV should not exceed 25mph, whether in town or out on the trail. Excessive speed and reckless driving are among the top complaints and can also lead to accidents.

Although many OHVs are designed to run at high speeds in Baja, we are in Colorado to enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Colorado’s rugged terrain consists of trails, not tracks!

Besides speed and recklessness, sound is also an issue. In July of 2010, a state law took effect requiring all OHVs operated on public lands in Colorado to meet a sound limit of 96dB(A), measured using the SAE J1287 20-inch stationary sound test. Loud exhaust systems and blaring stereos not only disturb the peace and quiet of the backcountry, but they’re illegal, too.

Common courtesy has also declined in recent years, as more riders forget to leave their bad attitude on the pavement.

Reports of tailgating, passing on blind corners, failing to yield, peeling out, and driving carelessly are often the norm while out on the trail. We are all out there to let off steam, not to create it. We can all be reminded of basic rules of the trail: Slow it down, wave to other users, and use hand signals to indicate the number of vehicles in your group. Treat others the way you would like to be treated and have patience, as everyone has a different skill level.

Aside from the variety of OHVs one is likely to encounter — including Jeeps, 4x4 vehicles, side-by-sides, ATVs, and motorcycles—non-motorized users also share these trails. There are no “motorized only” trails in Colorado, so expect hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and families while traversing routes.

Try to leave a positive impression on any of the trail users who cross your path.

Off-trail or off-route travel is never acceptable or legal. Colorado’s ecosystem is fragile, with an extremely short growing season; alpine tundra is especially sensitive. Damage created to land above tree line can take decades to recover. Never drive around an obstacle, body of water, or snow drift.

This can create trail widening, leading to erosion and ultimately a closure. Safely drive over or through them. Avoid spinning tires, as it loosens the roadbed and compromises the surface for the next rider.

Many OHV riders transport their vehicles long distances to ride, and they camp both inside and outside official campgrounds. Trash and abandoned campfires have increased with the usage. Used toilet paper and cigarette butts are a common eyesore, taking away from the serenity and cleanliness of the mountains. Always catbury human waste at least 6 inches below the surface and 200 feet from any water, trail, or camp. Smoking outside a vehicle is prohibited during fire bans. Never leave a campfire unattended, and always extinguish it until cold to the touch.

Remember to be prepared for any situation you might encounter while out on the trail, including the weather. A winch, shovel, trash bag, gloves, jacket, and food and water should be always with you whenever exploring the Colorado backcountry!

Have fun and Stay The Trail!

Courtesy of Stay the Trail

Courtesy of Stay the Trail

43

S I LV E RTON, C OLOR A DO

Luxury Lodging D&SNG Railroad Gift Shop & Ticket Office Restaurant & Live Entertainment Family Friendly, Full Bar 1219 Greene Street, Silverton, CO | 800.341.3340 | GrandImperialHotel.com

M E E T M E AT

THE BLOCK

DURANGO & SILVERTON

Avy Education Rock Climbing Backpacking Ski Guiding

(970)-460-6065

Silverton, Colorado’s foremost brewery on the historic GOLDEN BLOCK Serving wholesome wood-fired pizzas, paninis & salads

970.387.5962 | goldenblockbrewery.com 1227 Greene St. - Silverton, CO 81433

44 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

www.sanjuanexpeditions.com 1303 Greene St. | Silverton, CO

S I LV ERTON, C OLOR A DO

Silverton, Colorado Cracked Compass Photography

JOIN YOUR HEARTS IN THE HEART OF THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS

UNIQUE VENUES FOR THE PERFECT MOUNTAIN WEDDING Kendall Mountain ~ Historic Town Hall ~ Molas Lake ~ Memorial Park Gazebo

www.silvertonweddings.com | 970-387-5522

20 21

FREE LIVE MUSIC IN COLUMBINE PARK - 1239 BLAIR STREET, SILVERTON COLORADO 3RD FRIDAYS, JUNE - SEPTEMBER @ 6 PM SILVERTONSUMMERSOUNDS.COM 6.18 7.16 8.20 9.17

POLICULTURE WHITEWATER RAMBLE ALAN BOORADLEY & NIA ARKANSAUCE

[ORIGINAL MOUNTAIN REGGAE] [HIGH OCTANE DANCEGRASS] [PARTY MUSIC FOR PARTY PEOPLE] [NEWGRASS-FOLK-AMERICANA]

AVALANCHE BREWING COMPANY * SILVERTON HARLEY DAVIDSON * THE TRAIN STORE

45

G A LLER I E S

SILVERTON ART GALLERIES Jim Bommarito

Silverton’s rich history is ever-present in the Old West charm of Notorious Blair Street and the colorful Victorian-era architecture of Greene Street. Silverton’s artists, living and working at 9,318 feet in elevation, have long used the dramatic backdrop of this Western mountain town to inspire paintings, photography, weavings, words, and more. Learn about these artisan crafts directly from the makers. Their doors open each day, offering a unique behind-the-scenes peek and an opportunity to chat with them about their craft.

Art Hawk Studio 1121 Greene Street 970-519-1837 Art Hawk Studio is a gallery and studio space unlike any other. Local artist and owner Marya Lehman combines falconry education with her award-winning precision paintings to offer a unique experience to see live raptors on display and the chance to take home beautiful local art found no-

46 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

where else in the world. Also discover her one-of-a-kind feather art, as well as locally made jewelry, porcelain paintings, and stunning wildlife photography. Look for Marya on Instagram and Facebook @arthawkstudio and @maryalehmanart.

He has been selected for numerous commissions, from small tabletop and wall artwork to larger outdoor sculptures. Many of his originals are included in private collections throughout the world. Ken is available by appointment during the winter.

Carol Wilkins Designs 1130 Greene Street carolwilkinsdesigns.com 970-946-9460

Route 550 Gifts route550.com 970-799-3406

Carol Wilkins Designs understands your need to express yourself — to have the confidence that allows you to be you, from that place deep down inside. You like to show that little “wild side” of yourself. Wilkins’ jewelry is designed to celebrate the strength in you, as well as your own unique artistic statement. Come by and find the piece that makes you feel special and empowered.

Quiet Bear Art 1130 Greene Street quietbearart.com 520-488-6831 Quiet Bear Art is a unique, artist-owned gallery and blacksm i th sh o p. Ke n We b b h a s b e c o m e we l l -kn own throughout the Southwest for his exceptional sculptures and fine metal art. He incorporates oldworld blacksmithing techniques into his creations.

Gina Maria Rosato, the owner of Route 550 Gifts, specializes in many commercial-art applications. Her most popular pursuit is creating unique souvenir designs inspired

by Silverton. Her customers are not only taking home a simple souvenir, but a moment or memory that brought them great joy while visiting. Her artistic souvenirs are available at The 9318 Collective at 1212 Greene Street, the Silverton Train Store at 1257 Greene Street, and San Juan Services at 315 Greene Street.

Building Systems magazine. Bob’s working studio and furniture gallery are housed in an award-winning timber-frame building he designed and built in the year 2000 on 12th Street, the terminus of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

Sand & Snow Studio 1070 Greene Street sandandsnowstudio.com 970-749-8880

White Eyes Gallery 1250 Greene Street whiteeyesgallery.com Located in the historic Teller House in downtown Silverton, White Eyes Gallery specializes in unique Southwestern fine-art pieces, including Mata Ortiz pottery, photography, sand paintings, sculpture, jewelry, folk art, and Kachina dolls. The gallery shows many regional Navajo and Hopi oneof-a-kind artistic creations that emphasize their culture and fine craftsmanship.

Sand & Snow Studio is an artist-owned studio/gallery showing the works of Eileen Fjerstad, who has been painting in the San Juan Mountains and the Four Corners region for over 35 years. With an intimate knowledge of the ever-changing light throughout the day and seasons, Fjerstad endeavors to capture the amazing scenes of her dramatic surroundings. Her paintings depict both desert and mountain environments, as well as works from her various travels.

Wesley Berg Photography wesleybergphotography.com Wesley Berg specializes in wildlife photography of the San Juan Mountains. His new book on San Juan wildlife contains more than 130 beautiful color photos and descriptions of many of the mammals and birds that live in the San Juan Mountains. The book, cards, and select matted and framed wildlife prints are available at the 9318 Collective at 1212 Greene Street and at the Art Hawk Studio at 1121 Greene Street. Wesley’s work can also be found online at facebook.com/ arthawkstudio.co. Wesley can be reached at wesleybergphotography@gmail.com.

Signature Furniture Studio/Gallery 312 East 12th Street signaturefurnitureinc.com 772-828-0640

Wize Owl Handprints wizeowlhandprints.com 970-799-2469 In the tradition of woodblock printing, Amy Grogan designs, carves, and prints from a small studio in southwest Colorado.

She is inspired by Western landscapes and native wildlife, which are reflected in her nature-based woodblock prints and textiles for the home. Her work is available at the 9318 Collective, at 1212 Greene Street, and can also be found online at www.etsy. com/shop/wizeowlhandprints. Amy can be reached at amyagrogan@gmail.com.

Since 1977, Bob Schmidt has been handcrafting furniture, cabinets, and doors in the Craftsman style using varieties of hardwoods, from sapele mahogany to spalted maple. Recent designs and works are featured in Fine Woodworking magazine and 47

Silverton Singletrack Society An All-Volunteer, Nonprofit Trails-Advocacy Group

by Lisa Branner

Courtesy of Silverton Singletrack Society

If you’ve ever ridden the Colorado Trail or any of the many other great trails between Molas Pass and Cascade Creek, then you’ve experienced some of the sweet single-track that southern San Juan County has to offer, with its stunning vistas, manageable climbs, and thrilling descents. But closer to Silverton, the only incorporated town in the county, the riding becomes more rugged. Many of the trails are abandoned railroad grades and pack-mule trails, vestiges of Silverton’s mining heyday. They are steep, poorly maintained, and highly technical. They often require hike-a-bike and appeal to expert riders only. Silverton Singletrack Society aims to change this.

Formed by a group of local bike enthusiasts, Silverton Singletrack Society is an all-volunteer, nonprofit trails-advocacy group dedicated to promoting mountain biking in Silverton and San Juan County. The group envisions Silverton as a world-class mountain-biking destination and seeks to cultivate bike culture, foster healthy lifestyles, and contribute to the community’s economic vitality by building, improving, and maintaining sustainable mountain-bike trails.

48 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

The society first organized in 2014 as a chapter of the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA), then set to work building connections in the local cycling community by operating the beer garden at the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic finish line and organizing volunteer trail-work days with the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, including popular spots like the Rainbow Trail, Boulder Gulch Trail, and Bear Creek Trail. But the group’s primary focus is the creation of the Baker’s Park Trail System. “We currently have fewer than 10 miles of trails that are officially open to mountain biking around Silverton, and most of them are pretty gnarly,” says Cliff Pinto, a society board member and owner of Pedal the Peaks Silverton.

“Baker’s Park will create purpose-built single-track trails for all skill levels in super close proximity to town.”

Dubbed Baker’s Park in a nod to Charles Baker, a prospector who discovered gold in the area in 1860, the concept plan developed by IMBA and funded by San Juan County in 2018 maps out approximately 30 miles of new single-track trails on BLM lands directly adjacent to Silverton. About

24 miles will be shared use, and nearly 6 miles will be one-way trails specifically designed for mountain bikes. The final design will include options for all users, from hikers to trail runners and beginner to advanced mountain bikers, as well as e-bikes.

“It was important to us that we include a mix of trails for all ability levels,” Pinto says. “We want to appeal to beginners, experts, kids, adults, and pretty much anyone who would like to come to Silverton to ride their mountain bikes.”

A somewhat unique feature of the Baker’s Park plan is that class 1 e-bikes will be allowed. This will help people coming from lower elevations who struggle with the thin mountain air as well as people who may not have the climbing legs they did when they were younger.

The society is hopeful that construction of Phase 1 of Baker’s Park, which includes roughly 10 miles of trails and a trailhead parking lot, will start this spring, after the BLM approves final trail alignments. The total cost for Baker’s Park is estimated at $1.5 million, with the price tag for Phase 1 estimated at $500,000. “We had to hold off on fundraising while we waited for the BLM

Travel Management Plan to be finalized, but now we are jumping in with both feet to raise the funding needed for Phase 1,” says Klemens Branner, society board president.

To date, the Town of Silverton has committed $25,000 toward the effort, and the society plans to pursue grants and launch a GoFundMe campaign to raise the rest.

For more information or to get involved, visit silvertonsingletracksociety.org.

Chad Guin

Courtesy of Silverton Singletrack Society

Chad Guin STORM MTN RIDGE Low Trail Density Alpine Setting Hiking/Biking

ZONE 4

Chad Guin

Prepared for:

ZONE 3

7a HUB B

7b

BOULDER MOUNTAIN Low Trail Density Minimal Forest Cover Hiking/Biking

TRAIL SOLUTIONS

HUB A

6a

ZONE 1

ZONE 3

Prepared by:

9

ZONE 2

BOULDER MTN CHASMS Moderate Trail Density Thick Forest Cover HANCOCK Hiking/Biking HighTrail Density Moderate Forest Cover MTB Optimized

11

8a HUB C

6b

4a

8b

13

ZONE 2

4b

HUB D

P

ZONE 4

LEGEND

6c 12 5 10 3a 2

P 1 en

Silverton, Colorado

April 2019

ek

Baker’s Park Trails Concept Plan

R

“Hancock Climb” - Upper Hike Dual Direction, Preferred Climb for Bike

2

7a

“Hancock Intermediate Flow” - Upper Bike Specific Descent

7b

“Hancock Intermediate Flow” - Lower Bike Specific Descent

Dual Direction, 3a Hike/Bike, Preferred Descent for Bikes

8a

“Hancock Beginner Flow” - Upper Bike Specific Descent

Dual Direction, 3b Hike/Bike, Preferred Descent for Bikes

8b

“Hancock Beginner Flow” - Lower Bike Specific Descent

4

“Chasms Descent” Hike/Bike, Dual Direction

9

“Hancock Expert Flow” Bike Specific Descent

5

“Valley Climb” Hike Dual Direction, Preferred Climb for Bike

HUB A

12

P 100 Foot Contours 0

500

North 1,000

750

1,000 Feet

ZONE 3 6a

Link” 11 “Chasms/Gravity Hike Dual Direction, Preferred Descent for Bike

d

Existing Roads

Hike/Bike, Dual Direction, Preferred Climb for Bikes

Climb” - Lower 6 c “Hancock Hike Dual Direction, Preferred Climb for Bike

oa

Planned Expert Trails

Hike/Bike, Dual Direction, Preferred Climb for Bikes

Climb” - Middle 6 b “Hancock Hike Dual Direction, Preferred Climb for Bike

tC re

Planned Advanced Trails

1

ZONE 2

3b

em

Planned Intermediate Trails

ZONE 1 ZONE 1

4c

C

Planned Beginner Trails

“Little Chasm Drop” Hike Dual Direction, Preferred Descent for Bike

Creek Road Alt” 10 “Cement Bike Specific Descent

P

Parking Area

HUB B HUB C HUB D

Hubs are dispersion and collection points that allow riders to “chose their own route” based on their experience level and comfort with the trail style. This also provides a great experience for groups that are made up of riders of different ability levels, where they can meet up at multiple points during a descent.

ZONE 4 13

“Storm Peak Ridge” Hike/Bike, Dual Direction

Note: These maps are for planning purposes only.

Property boundaries are approximate.

Do not use for design development or construction.

49

Photos courtesy of Grand Imperial Hotel

A SILVERTON TREASURE: Theater and bar the next stage of Grand Imperial’s makeover by John Peel For discovering lost secrets of your historic hotel, rolling a keg down the basement stairway is not the preferred method. But when an employee at the Grand Imperial Hotel in Silverton accidentally did just that, he and owner/proprietor Jim Harper were stunned to see the keg lodge in the basement wall. What?! They pried the keg off the wall and discovered to their amazement a previously hidden double doorway.

From surprises like this to, of course, the ghosts, Harper is never quite sure what the three-story jewel will reveal next.

The Harper family, which operates the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and other enterprises under its American Heritage Railways umbrella, is already proud of the work done since 2015, when it became the 14th owner of the 138-year-old building on Greene Street, the mountain town’s main drag. With Jim, president of American Heritage Railway Hotels, in charge, the Harpers are now focused on finishing reconstruction of the basement bar and theater.

When the Harpers purchased the hotel, Jim, who holds a history degree from Fort Lewis College, dug up the legend of how this place came to be. ************ Connecticut native William Sparks Thomson (1823-1907) established The Crown Perfumery Company in the 1870s, and the London-based business quickly grew worldwide. In the fashion of the times, the Eastern gentleman tycoon invested in the boom-or-bust mining industry, purchasing mines and a mill around Silverton.

In 1882, as the legend goes, W.S. Thomson stepped off the train in Silverton with his cane and top hat. Discovering that he’d landed in an uncivilized mining camp, he immediately commissioned a hotel. Thomson sent a telegram: “Spare no expense.

When I return next year I want to stay in my own hotel.”

Built with “Second Empire” architectural style, the massive structure opened as The Grand Hotel in 1883. It was renamed the Imperial and then changed to the Grand Imperial in the 1940s.

50 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

The first major renovation occurred after Winfield Morten, a Dallas oil tycoon and developer, purchased the hotel in 1951. Central air conditioning and telephones were added for every room. The first floor, once home to a post office and other businesses, including the Silverton Standard newspaper, now housed the hotel lobby. A 70-seat theater, with velvet ropes and curtains, was added in the basement, once home to The Hub bar and saloon and Miners Hostel.

A paradox of historical preservation is the great amount of work and money it takes to keep things looking old.

Jim Harper set a renovation budget of $1 million for the hotel in 2015. After hidden defects were discovered and other improvements made, several times that amount has been spent since. Jim’s mother, Carol, and sister Melanie helped return the first-floor lobby to its upper-scale mining-town heyday. The rooms were modernized with flatscreen TVs while keeping Old West touch-

es. Rod Barker, former owner of Durango’s historic Strater Hotel, shared his vast experience with the Harpers.

“It’s a wonderful property,” says Barker, whose family was once part-owner. He appreciates how the authentic look of such old hotels captures visitors’ imaginations, and he lauds the Harpers for their efforts.

The Grand Imperial reopened with a big bash in May 2016. For its work, American Heritage Railways Hotels was honored in 2018 by the Colorado Historical Society.

With the major part of the historic preservation and reconstruction successfully concluded, work dropped belowground to the noticeably cooler basement. But the onset of COVID-19 brought progress on the theater and bar to a sudden halt on March 15, 2020. The hotel opened in June 2020 for a remarkably successful summer season, but the theater was ignored for more than a year.

Harper explained during a spring tour that their hope is to open the refurbished

space to the public this summer. A small bar will serve “adult beverages,” and the theater space will offer a relaxing hangout, particularly on hot summer days. A big screen is wired for TV, or, for those in the mood, perhaps one of the 20 or so movies that have featured the Grand Imperial since the 1940s.

Bands and theater productions are other possibilities.

Harper pushes aside a curtain behind the stage, and his elbow bumps something unseen, spilling coffee on the floor. Was the culprit an unseen ghost? Harper calls himself a skeptic who was convinced after hearing stories of employees having nails and drywall mysteriously thrown at them, and his own observations as a part-time resident. A team of paranormal investigators visited in 2018.

“We don’t do anything that will disrupt our long-term residents,” he says of the hotel spirits.

The original tag line for the Grand was “The social center of the San Juans,” Harper says. He sees the theater as a valuable space, another way to contribute to the community, which he already does as a town trustee in this politically tricky community, and as a member of the Silverton Film Office, created to attract moviemakers to the area.

The double doors, sans keg, have been restored, the window frames rebuilt, the three-foot-thick stone wall lacquered to a shine. The theater’s finish line is in sight.

“It’s been fun,” Harper says. “This is going to be one of the last puzzle pieces of bringing the Grand back to its former glory.”

51

GET OUT & EXPLORE

A

P H O T O

E S S A Y

52 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

Cole Davis

Vic Schendel

Bret Edge

Anthony D’Amato

Brad Weinmeister

53 Jaffe David

TE AC H ER FE AT U R E Photos courtesy of Julia and Andy Duffy

TEACHING THE

FUTURE

By Chloe Ragsdale

Just 20 miles east of Durango lies the town of Bayfield, a remarkable combination of historic landmarks, majestic natural life, and a bustling community. In such a diverse and developing community, teachers Julia and Andy Duffy contribute to the innovative future of Bayfield with their prominent presence in education.

Now entering their 11th year in education, Julia and Andy spent the majority of their teaching careers in Simla, a small town in eastern Colorado, where their school graduated around 20 students a year.

Following the graduation of their youngest child, the couple moved to Bayfield with the hopes of continuing their passion for education while remaining in a tight-knit rural community. After moving to Bayfield, their dreams were achieved, as the friendly and encouraging nature of the town allowed them to succeed not only in their teaching careers, but through the nurturing of Bayfield’s youth as well.

“Bayfield is a fantastic rural community that values education, and my fellow colleagues are amazing,” says Andy, who has taught a range of English language arts to social studies and is currently the dean of 54 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

students at Bayfield High School.

Bayfield’s environment fosters a healthy and dynamic community for all but especially for the education system, as its smaller scale provides more structure and enjoyment to its students and staff.

“The best part of teaching in Bayfield is that it really is a supportive and friendly community,” says Julia.

As teachers in a rural town, Andy and Julia have learned to value the importance of connection, especially in a year where screen-to-screen interaction has largely replaced face-to-face connection.

Julia, who currently teaches eighthgrade science, comments on the remarkable capabilities of connection in the world of education. Even in the face of hardship, this fact remains true, as her extensive experience in education allows her to build connections that transcend the screen.

“It is amazing to be a part of that triumph and to witness the self-satisfaction the student experiences… That is so meaningful to me and honestly brings me to tears,” says Julia.

Despite the move from Simla to Bayfield, and regardless of the extreme difficulties posed over this past year, both Julia's and Andy’s priorities remain the same: to provide excellent education and excitement to future generations.

“Children are our future, and they will make the world a better place,” says Andy.

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55

The Destiny

of the trail pulls Michael Simone What does a first-time backpacker look like in your mind?

I never asked myself that question before the summer of 2018, but the images I conjured were plentiful.

by Graham Coffey

Michael Simone

Maybe an adolescent getting introduced to overnight backpacking by a parent or through scouting. I also imagined this scenario in reverse, an adult taking up backpacking so they could join a child who was passionate about the activity. Or perhaps a college-age person who was learning to backpack from more experienced friends. The list went on and on...

I had never explicitly asked myself the question before meeting Michael Simone, but the day I met him I realized that, indeed, I had an image of what a new backpacker looks like. The idea in my head was, well, nothing like Michael. I was the manager at Backcountry Experience at the time, and in my role, I’d fit a lot of backpacks.

Oftentimes those pack fittings happened with a new user, and Michael didn’t fit any of my preconceived ideas.

I didn’t know his age at the time but later learned that he was 68. When he stood

56 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

across from me and casually mentioned that he was buying his first overnight backpack so he could hike the 567-milelong Colorado Trail, my first instinct was to talk him out of it. I now know how wrong I would have been. Michael has experienced much more in his years as an outdoorsman than I have in my 32 years. But let’s be honest, not too many folks of any age look at a 35-day trek across the Rockies and say, “Yup, that looks like a nice first overnight backpacking trip.” Even fewer would do their first one at almost 70.

In reality, Michael Simone has been hiking for more than 40 years. He started in 1978, while living in the Salt Lake City area, and he hasn’t stopped.

Remarkably, he has kept a log of all his hikes over the years. He tracks his route, mileage, elevation, and anything else about the day that he deems memorable. Even before

he became an overnight backpacker, he averaged about 500 miles of high-elevation hiking a year. He does a standard 13to 14-mile in-town route to stay in shape during the winter, but he doesn’t include that in his log.

When Michael goes to the high country, he makes it a point never to repeat the same trails. In addition to his log, he takes USGS 7.5-minute quad maps and marks them whenever he completes a trail. He also writes the date on the trail map so he can go back to his log when he wants to remember a hike. After 19 years as a Durango resident, he can’t fit any more marks on the La Plata and Silverton USGS maps.

In an era when so many of us document our outdoor adventures with cellphone photos posted to social media, it’s hard not to admire Michael’s method of documentation.

There’s a beauty in the discipline,

and the quad maps provide a unique visual representation of a life lived in the mountains. He doesn’t mind crossing over a trail he’s done before, but every hike he takes is a new one, and perhaps that’s why he wasn’t afraid of taking on the Colorado Trail.

In a way, it was just a natural progression for him. His objectives had grown so large that he started to experiment with bivouacking overnight on certain routes.

Before taking the leap into backpacking, Michael undertook some routes that any experienced San Juan hiker would describe as nothing less than straight-up gnarly.

He has summited Eolus from Missionary Ridge, gone up Silver Mountain from the Junction Creek trailhead, climbed Pigeon and Turret, and many more. All of these were undertaken as day hikes, with a few hours spent in his bivvy on his hike out.

He’ll be 71 in May, but Michael isn’t done pushing himself into new challenges.

In fact, he decided he was going to undertake the Continental Divide Trail while he was still on the Colorado Trail. The CDT is 3,028 miles along the spine of the Rockies, starting at the U.S.-Mexico border and ending at the U.S.-Canada border. It is commonly considered the toughest thru-hike in the country, and only about 150 people try to complete the entire trail every year.

Michael did some large sections of the trail in New Mexico last year, but the pandemic foiled some of his plans. His current goal is to finish the Colorado section by hiking from Georgia Pass, in Colorado’s Front Range, to Rawlins, Wyoming. After that he plans to do one state a year, which would allow him to finish the trail at 74 years old.

Michael sees his age as an asset, and he credits his life experiences for allowing him to stay calm when things go wrong or he accidentally gets off trail, which is something he says he’s prone to do at times. Eventually, he learned that he could keep up with younger hikers on the Colorado Trail. “Hikers who were much younger would blow right by me, but at the end of the day I was at the same place they were. I was getting into camp an hour or two after they were, but we actually ended up finishing the trail at Junction Creek in Durango on the same day at the same time. Meeting the objective is what’s important, not when I meet it.”

When Michael meets that objective, he always takes a moment to give thanks and appreciate where he is. “I’m always grateful for the great outdoors and how lucky I am to be there and enjoy it. When I get to a summit or objective, I always give thanks and humbly kiss the ground and say a prayer, no matter the weather.”

The next time you breeze past an older hiker on a trail, tip your hat. You may be looking at an accomplished backpacker in their hiking prime.

Brandon Mathis

Michael Simone

Michael Simone 57

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58 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

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59

D I N I N G G U I DE SH O WC A S E

Seasons

ROTISSERIE + GRILL

By Joy Martin

As the adage goes, all that glitters is not gold; sometimes it’s edible sparkles in a handcrafted cocktail delivered on a tray by a handsome server donning a quail-feathered tie. Sometimes you have to look really hard to find the gold—the good in the midst of challenging times. And sometimes it’s right under your nose, waiting to be popped open and poured out for others to enjoy—a fountain of champagne bubbles that lift the spirits and the corners of your mouth.

Leave it to a fine-dining restaurant named Seasons to know how to roll with the punches, find ways to keep the champagne flowing, and shine through it all. This Main Avenue landmark restaurant in downtown Durango has been delivering golden service and delicious fare to patrons for 26 years, an astounding feat for an industry where upwards of 80 percent of restaurants close within seven years of opening.

“We knew early on that we had to continue to develop with the times and be on top of the trends,” says Karen Barger, owner of Seasons Rotisserie + Grill. “From the beginning, we committed to changing our menu with each season, which set us up to be ready to change whenever we needed.”

Little did she know how much this skill would play into the restaurant’s future. In the wake of a building fire that ignited on February 22, 2008, the restaurant closed for a year while it was being gutted and rebuilt.

At the entrance of the restaurant, three keys from the original space are embedded in the concrete in homage to Seasons’ beginnings, while above the bar, leaves from the original sign commemorate bygone days.

A decade after rising from the ashes of their internal fire, a 50,000-acre blaze called the 416 Fire presented a new set of challenges—not only for Seasons but for the entire community. Two months before the 416, Barger and her husband and co-owner, Wayne, had listed the restaurant and buildings for sale. With little promise of buyers after that smoldering summer, they pulled the restaurant off the market and refocused their mission, excited to once again find a way to thrive.

Not even two years later, a worldwide pandemic would prove the ultimate test in adaptation. For Seasons, it’s all in the name.

Led by their fearless owner, the team got to work doing what they do best: learning a new menu—this time with the added dance of juggling health-and-safety protocols. For Barger and crew, these challenges brought out the best in Seasons.

“We’re used to change,” says Barger.

That may be an understatement. For a business to keep landing on its feet after

60 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

Photos courtesy of Brandon Mathis

such intense challenges also bespeaks resilience and a commitment to excellence.

No matter the time of year, Seasons’ menu is driven by fresh ingredients and whatever the local farmers are pulling out of the ground. For this winter’s menu, Barger gave her team some time off and took over researching what products would be available. This owner-inspired menu featured hearty delicacies, like fall-off-the-bone hoisin-glazed barbecue ribs, warm bacon vinaigrette drizzled over tasty salads, their signature rotisserie chicken, and a ribeye dip amplified by just the right amount of Hatch green chiles.

Barger also pays close attention to her returning customers’ favorite flavors and feedback on what works best—or doesn’t. For instance, she’s learned to not touch Seasons’ token tiramisu, which celebrates a perfect balance of vanilla and espresso that the 11-year-old at our table struggled to share.

The adults were more accommodating to his persistent fork than usual, thanks to the creative concoctions whipped up by Barger’s enthusiastic bartenders.

Like the kitchen, the bar team utilizes what’s in season, playing with blueberry sours or edible glitter, which thankfully is never out of vogue. Barger says she loves hearing her staff brainstorm these clever libations and then glow with pride as they recommend their favorite pairings. Service par excellence: It’s their patient attention to details, like adding glitter to happy hour, which makes Seasons a place to return to again and again.

“I feel like all the change has brought out the best in our team,” says Barger. “They’ve

truly risen to the occasion, finding ways to be productive, helpful, and cooperative with each other.”

As her favorite season begins, Barger is hopeful about the future of the restaurant and downtown Durango. She’s excited to see the spring menu come together, to open up the “front porch” (her term for Seasons’

bump-outs on Main Avenue), and of course, to keep the bubbles flowing.

“I’m so proud of this community and the herculean efforts that have gone into keeping everyone safe,” says Barger. “In some ways, the challenges have rejuvenated everyone’s passion. We’re excited to focus on what we can do. That’s what’s kept us going.”

61

N I G H TLI FE & DI N I NG G U I D E

Kennan Harvey

NIGHTLIFE

8th AVENUE TAVERN

Neighborhood favorite just south of College Drive in College Plaza. Top notch karaoke three nights a week, Thursday through Saturday. Choose from over 46,000 songs to sing before a nonjudgmental crowd. Bar snacks available.

Off-Main beverage prices! 509 E. Eighth Ave., 970-259-8801.

BALCONY BAR & GRILL

The Balcony and The Balcony Backstage is the Four Corners’ destination for live music, tasty beverages, great food & good times. “Gotta come up to get down!” Full lunch and dinner menu, weekend brunch. Salads, sandwiches, tacos, burgers and more. 600 Main Ave. #210, 970-422-8008.

BOOKCASE & BARBER

Showcasing Durango’s local talent while transporting guests to another time with an intimate atmosphere, expertly crafted cocktails and superior service.

Do you know the password? 601 E. Second Ave. Suite B, 970-764-4123, www.bookcaseandbarber.com

DURANGO CRAFT SPIRIT'S

Distillery and tasting room. Durango’s first grain-to-glass distillery since prohibition. 1120 Main Ave. #2, 970-247-1919, www.durangospirits.com

EL RANCHO TAVERN

Founded in 1942, El Rancho is a local pub in downtown Durango. Breakfast and lunch service from Durango Diner. 975 Main Ave., 970-259-8111, www.elranchotavern.com

FOUR LEAVES WINERY

Charming downtown winery and tasting gallery. Over 20 wines made on site: varietals, ports and specialty crafted wine. Tastings, by the glass, or take home a bottle. Local chocolates for pairing. Appetizers include artisan cheeses, hummus and artichoke dips. 528 Main Ave., 970-403-8182, www.fourleaveswinery.com

THE GARAGE

Previously known as Pongas, The Garage is a modern and energizing option for entertainment in downtown Durango. Featuring live performers, an array of billiard tables and a fantastic variety of food and drink.

121 W. Eighth St., 970-382-8554.

JOEL’S BAR

A classic long bar with lots of seats, a few tables, and mirrored shelving stacked with bottles. With a restaurant serving all-American food like burgers and fries, Joel’s is fun, friendly and moderately priced.

119 W. Eighth St., 970-903-0266.

MOE’S STARLIGHT LOUNGE

This fun lounge is a local favorite for food and live music, plus one of the area’s best patios. Largest selection of vodkas in Colorado; world-famous Bacontini. Great appetizers; over 90 martinis. Happy hour Monday–Friday, 4:30–7pm: half-price well drinks and appetizers, discounted drinks.

937 Main Ave., 970-259-9018.

OFFICE SPIRITORIUM

Locals’ favorite happy hour. Perfect after-work and late-night Victorian bar at the historic Strater Hotel. A wide selection of creative libations, local beers and fabulous wines. Amazing interior setting. Daily happy hour, dinner and live music. 699 Main Ave. inside the Strater Hotel, 970-247-4431, www.strater.com/dining/the-office-spiritorium/

ORIO’S ROADHOUSE

One of Durango’s “last REAL bars,” Orio’s is a sports bar and much more, with pool tables. 652 Main Ave., 970-259-6120.

WILD HORSE SALOON

Durango’s favorite for live country-western music and southern rock.

National artists and talented locals. Giant dance floor, dance lessons, special concerts, karaoke, DJ Crazy Charlie. “A fun-loving redneck’s dream.” 601 E. Second Ave., Suite C, 970-375-2568, www.durangowildhorsesaloon.com Editors’ Pick

62 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

DINING

BOATHOUSE AT ELECTRA LAKE

A culinary collective with a progressive vision that honors the history of the location. From tacos to pizza, sushi to Indonesian cuisine, their independent food trucks cure any craving. Outdoor deck is perfect for relaxing with a cold drink or quick lunch. 1101 Main Ave., 970-422-8482, www.11thstreetstation.com

BREAD

11TH STREET STATION

2ND DELI & SPIRITS

Fast, convenient and delicious takeout combined with a laid-back and enjoyable bar atmosphere. Offering hot and cold sandwiches along with a full bar. 601 E. Second Ave., 970-259-1000, www.2nddelidurango.com

425 DEGREES TAKE & BAKE PIZZA

“Who bakes the best pizza? You do!” Offering traditional, thin and gluten-free pizzas to take home, as well as wings, cookies, and salads. Order by phone for pickup. 50 County Road 234 inside Elmore’s Corner Store, 970-799-0425.

81301 COFFEE HOUSE AND ROASTERS

Coffee house and roasting company using the pour-over coffee-making process. Offering hot coffee, iced drinks, mochas, lattes, chai and homemade baked goods in a laid-back atmosphere. 3101 Main Ave. #1, 970-385-1941, www.81301coffee.com

AKAMI POKE AND RAMEN

A haven for Japanese ramen, Hawaiian poke bowls, and an extensive menu of Izakaya and other fusion delicacies. Dine and enjoy a sake in their casually hip dining room or charming patio. 309 College Dr., 970-764-7653, www.akamipokeramen.com

ALCÉ RESTAURANT

Located at Dalton Ranch Golf Club, just eight minutes north of downtown Durango. Offering Italian-American cuisine and a wonderful patio dining experience. Executive Chef Jonathan Fletcher spent many winters in Italy and has brought back traditional Italian recipes. 589 County Road 252, 970-247-4980, www.alcerestaurant.com

ANIMAS BREWING COMPANY

Just off the Animas River trail near Rotary Park. A relaxed, family-friendly brewpub serving house-made beers and Colorado wine and spirits, along with a spin on comfort food and plenty of kid favorites. Comfortable outdoor seating. 1560 E. Second Ave., 970-403-8850, www.animasbrewing.com

ANIMAS CHOCOLATE & COFFEE COMPANY

Casual and comfortable atmosphere, where chocolate lovers can relax while tasting amazing chocolates. From decadent truffles to divine darks, chocolate confections made on the premises using the highest-quality chocolate, simple ingredients, no preservatives. 920 Main Ave., 970-317-5761, www.animaschocolatecompany.com

APPLEBEE’S NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL & BAR

Serving delicious family favorites, from their famous boneless wings to mouthwatering salads and chicken dishes. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nine televisions, full bar, casual, comfortable, friendly atmosphere.

800 Camino del Rio, inside Durango Downtown Inn, 970-259-5850, www.applebees.com

BAR D CHUCKWAGON SUPPERS

Overlooking Electra Lake, the Boathouse opens for the summer in June.

Former Seasons chefs Dave and Jenn Stewart prepare James Ranch beef, fresh fish, and locally sourced produce. Everything is made from scratch.

141 Electra Lake Rd. W., 970-247-5180, www.electralake.org/the-boathouseat-electra

CJ’S DINER

Open for breakfast and lunch, CJ’s Diner is a popular south-side eatery whose goal is for you to leave with a smile. Specialty breakfasts, Mexican food, specialty sandwiches, burgers, and salads. Catering, delivery, and takeout.

Prices from $4 to $10. 810 E. College Dr., 970-375-0117, www.cjsdiner.net

COLD STONE CREAMERY

Fresh homemade breads, pastries, cookies, and deli sandwiches served daily. From whole wheat to rye, ginger snaps to scones, Bread is fast, friendly, and fantastic. 42 County Road 250 and downtown at 135 E. Eighth St., 970247-5100, www.breaddurango.com

The secret recipe for smooth, creamy ice cream is to make it fresh daily in the store and then customize it with your choice of mix-ins on a frozen granite stone, and Cold Stone does this perfectly. Custom, signature ice-cream cakes, pies, and cupcakes. 598 Main Ave., 970-259-5052, www.coldstonecreamery.com

BREWED AWAKENINGS

COLLEGE DRIVE CAFÉ

Located on the Fort Lewis mesa, this new coffee shop offers a wide variety of coffee drinks, as well as crepes, Paninis, salads, granola, pastries, and baked goods. 100 Jenkins Ranch Rd., A2, 970-946-8979.

BURGER KING

Redrock Foods, a Burger King Corp. franchisee, owns and operates the Durango location and 19 New Mexico and Colorado stores. Come to Burger King for the famous Whopper and chicken sandwiches. Order online, via phone, or in person. 1415 Main Ave., 970-247-9095, www.bk.com

BURGER THEORY

Lunch and dinner menu features burgers and Colorado craft beers, with a breakfast menu focused on the morning classics. Thirteen high-definition TVs promise no bad seat in the house, and the daily happy hour will keep your glass full. 21636 U.S. Hwy. 160 W., inside the Holiday Inn & Suites, 970-385-6387, www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/durango/drodc/ hoteldetail/dining

BURRITO DURANGO

Opening soon. 600 Main Ave., 970-247-7700.

CARVER BREWING COMPANY

One of the Southwest’s original brewpubs—and located in historic downtown Durango—Carver’s offers tours of its solar/wind-powered brewery and has 12 award-winning handcrafted brews on tap. Hearty and fresh creations for every meal. Kid-friendly. Organic produce grown at Carver Farms and other local sources. 1022 Main Ave., 970-259-2545, www.carverbrewing.com

CHIMAYO STONE-FIRED KITCHEN

Contemporary American bistro with a Southwestern flair. Creative small plates, salads, artisanal pizzas, plus fire-roasted steaks, chicken and seafood. Stone-hearth ovens in an open exhibition kitchen. Specialty cocktails, fine wines and local tap beer. Unique, casual fine dining.

862 Main Ave., 970-259-2749, www.chimayodurango.com

CHINA CAFÉ

Favorite longtime Durango restaurant, offering delicious and traditional Mandarin and Szechuan cuisine. Full bar and beautiful riverside patio.

Parking. Dine in or take out. 1525 Main Ave., 970-259-0868, www.durangochinacafe.com

Creative and large menu, fresh-roasted organic coffee, friendly folks and atmosphere. Daily, delicious specials and tried-and-true entrées. Everyone is treated like a regular at College Drive Café. Free Wi-Fi and cozy dining room.

666 E. College Dr., 970-247-5322, www.cafedurango.com

COMMON GROUNDS CAFÉ

Staffed by high-school students who want experience. Sandwiches, yogurt, chips, fruit, and cold drinks. Featuring baked goods from Bread and coffee from Desert Sun Coffee Roasters. It’s the perfect snack spot for kids, library patrons, and river-trail users. 1900 E. Third Ave. inside the Durango Public Library, 970-375-3380.

CUCKOO’S CHICKEN HOUSE & WATERIN’ HOLE

Family sports eatery. Broasted chicken, 20-plus kinds of wings, most menu items under $12. HDTVs, satellite sports. Full menu and bar. Dine in or take out. 128 E. College Dr., 970-259-6322, www.cuckooschicken.com

DANDELION CAFÉ

Where the Mediterranean meets the mountains! Championing farm-to-table cuisine, Dandelion Café proudly serves fresh produce grown in their own gardens as well as vegetables, meats and cheeses from local farmers.

Experience dining under the stars while listening to live jazz music on the patio. Full service catering or simply platters-to-go for private parties. 725 E. Second Ave., 970-385-6884, www.dandelioncafedurango.com

DENNY’S

Family-friendly menu selections to satisfy everyone of all ages. Serving delicious and classic breakfasts, like pancake or egg platters; seafood, salad, and steak lunches and dinners, Denny’s provides affordable and delicious meals. 666 Camino del Rio, 970-247-1512, www.dennys.com

DERAILED POUR HOUSE

An 1890s bar with a stage for local and touring musicians. Offering martinis, wines, 14 beers on tap, and fresh cocktails. Menu items made from scratch and eight sports screens. Everyone feels like a local. 725 Main Ave., 970-247-5440, www.derailedpourhouse.com

DIAMOND BELLE SALOON

Legendary Old West saloon in the heart of historic downtown. Famous ragtime piano, costumed Belle girls, cowboys and bartenders. Daily live music, lunch, happy hour, and dinner. Sunday brunch. Gunfights Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 5:30 p.m., June through October. 699 Main Ave., inside the Strater Hotel, 970-247-4431, www.strater.com/dining/diamondbelle-saloon/

Old West music and comedy stage show with traditional barbecue supper.

Fun for the whole family. Nightly, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Reservations required. 8080 County Road 250, 970-247-5753, www.bardchuckwagon.com

BART’S DELI

Delicious breakfast sandwiches and breakfast burritos. Tasty burgers, hot dogs, fries, hot pastrami, salads, specials and much more. Boasting “the best Reuben in town.” 1220 Carbon Junction Rd., inside the Exxon gas station across from Walmart, 970-247-1144, www.bartsdeli.com

BASKIN-ROBBINS

Serving 42 delicious ice-cream flavors, as well as a variety of ice-cream cakes, smoothies, sundaes, shakes, and blasts. 32 Town Plaza, 970-247-1231, www.baskinrobbins.com

BIRD’S

Enjoy Bird’s signature rotisserie chicken, along with fresh and tasty housemade salads and sandwiches. Something for everyone. 2957 N. Main Ave., 970-426-4596, www.birdsdurango.com 63

N I G H TLI FE & DI N I NG G U I D E DOMINO’S PIZZA

DURANGO DOUGHWORKS

EDGEWATER GRILLE & LOUNGE

DURANGO BAGEL

DURANGO JOE’S COFFEE

EL MORO SPIRITS & TAVERN

Fast, friendly delivery or carryout. A variety of delicious pizzas, chicken wings, breadsticks, pasta, sandwiches, salads, sodas, and more. Enjoy a classic meal anytime you crave it. Open for lunch, dinner, and late night.

1485 Florida Rd., 970-259-3660, www.dominos.com Voted the “best bagel in the Four Corners.” Freshly baked bagels, muffins, cinnamon rolls and pastries. Great breakfast selections and lunch bagel sandwiches. Takeout bag lunches. 106 E. Fifth St., next to the train depot, 970-385-7297.

DURANGO BEER AND ICE COMPANY

First founded in 1887, and continuing the tradition with a restart in 2020, the new railroad-inspired tasting room offers local brews from High Trestle Brewing Company, along with great “pub grub,” including a variety of burgers and homemade red and green chile. 3000 Main Ave., 970-746-4466.

Fresh donuts and bagels, breakfast burritos, lunch favorites—something for everyone. Grab a breakfast burrito or bagel sandwich, or relax in the comfy dining room for a full breakfast or lunch. 2653 Main Ave., 970-247-1610, www.durangodoughworks.com Nine convenient locations in Durango, Farmington, and Aztec, serving the best espresso/coffee drinks, blended drinks, and smoothies paired with tasty pastries, breakfast burritos, salads, and sandwiches. Enjoy “legendary customer service.” Loyalty programs; fair-trade and certified-organic coffees and teas. 40 Town Plaza, 970-375-7891; 732 E. College Dr., 970-375-2121; 3455 Main Ave., 970-375-6384; 331 S. Camino del Rio, 970-764-4848; 1211 Escalante Dr., 970-382-5911; www.durangojoes.com

DURANGO NATURAL FOODS CO-OP

Coffee shop and café. Comfortable meeting place. Locally roasted coffees.

730 Main Ave., 970-259-1011, www.durangocoffee.com

Durango’s first and only community-owned food market and deli. The best local, organic produce; non-GMO groceries and bulk foods; locally raised meat and eggs; cruelty-free body-care products; and more. 575 E. Eighth Ave., at the corner of College and Eighth, 970-247-8129, www.durangonaturalfoods.coop

DURANGO DELI

EAST BY SOUTHWEST

DURANGO COFFEE COMPANY

For a warming soup, a satisfying sandwich or mouthwatering burger, the airport deli is just the ticket. For a quick bite or just a place to relax while waiting for a plane, the Durango Deli is the perfect traveler’s haven. 1000 Airport Rd., inside the Durango-La Plata County Airport, 970-259-6964.

DURANGO DINER

On historic Main Avenue, “The Diner” is one of the town’s landmark eateries, known for its nostalgic no-frills meals and local camaraderie. Brand-name green chile and Southwest salsa are sold nationwide. Breakfast and lunch all day. 957 Main Ave., 970-247-9889, www.durangodiner.com

Voted Durango’s best happy hour, hottest date night, best dessert, best cocktail, and best bartender. Full sushi bar, vegetarian options, sake, Asian beers, libations. Comfortable, upscale urban setting. Kids’ menu. 160 E. College Dr., 970-247-5533, www.eastbysouthwest.com

EAT ZAWADI

Durango’s premier destination for the flavors, spices, and excitement of genuine African food. Lunch is served at their sister restaurant, the Smiley Café, at 1309 E. Third Ave., 970-844-0771. Dinner is served at the Eat Zawadi location, at 509 E. Eighth Ave., 970-422-8462, www.eatzawadi.com

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for casual or celebratory events. Enjoy stunning river views. Daily specials; kids’ menu. For the healthy-minded, the Edgewater Grille has its “eat right menu.” Easy-order takeout by phone.

501 Camino del Rio, inside the DoubleTree Hotel, 970-382-3950.

Lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. El Moro is named after the early-1900s saloon that occupied the historic site. Comfortable, with exposed red-brick walls and hardwood floors. A “farm-to-table” restaurant featuring local fresh foods. 945 Main Ave., 970-259-5555, www.elmorotavern.com

EOLUS BAR & DINING

Locally owned and operated since 2013, Eolus is named for the famous peak near Chicago Basin. Featuring farm-to-table and vine-to-wine. Contemporary American cuisine. A fine array of local products. Elegant dining room, comfortable bar, rooftop patio with views. Reservations recommended.

919 Main Ave., 970-259-2898, www.eolusdurango.com

FAMBURGER

Burgers, Coney dogs, hand-battered onion rings, soft-serve ice cream, milkshakes, floats, and fries. Everything you and your kids could want in a walk-up diner. Just 500 feet from the Animas River Trail. 1400 E. Second Ave., 970-422-8082, www.theoriginalfamburger.com

FATHER’S DAUGHTERS PIZZA

Family owned and operated and with a full bar, featuring the East Coast flavor of Sicilian- or New York-style pizza. Dough made fresh daily. Great salads, wings, and soups. Private parties welcome. 640 Main Ave., 970-385-0420, www.fathersdaughterspizza.com

FIRED UP PIZZERIA

Devoted to quality local and imported ingredients and the traditional method of artisan wood-fired baking. Always fresh, handmade, wood-fired pizza, plus sandwiches and salads. Gluten-free options, daily specials, full bar, family friendly, seasonal rooftop patio. 735 Main Ave., 970-247-0264, www. fireduppizzeria.com

Voted Burger Best 2020

Where unforgettable food & memories are made

Experience our Table-on-the-Farm organic restaurant and farm market. Eat outdoors on our expansive terraces, shop our market with daily fresh local produce, enjoy indoor seating, with large picture windows, a fireplace and a private room for parties!

COME SEE US YEAR ROUND !

Call for the most updated days & times of business Visit us: www. Jamesranch.net Follow us:

33846 Hwy 550→Located 10 miles N of Durango, just past Honeyville 64 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

Grill (970) 764-4222 Market (970) 385-6858

FUR TRAPPERS STEAK HOUSE

Travel back in time to feel the nostalgia of Rocky Mountain living during the mid-19th century. Fur Trappers Steak House embodies both the feeling and flavorful food of this era, creating the ultimate destination dining experience.

701 E. Second Ave. in Durango, 970-259-0940 and 17460 CR 501 at Vallecito Lake, 970-884-0596, www.furtrapperssteakhouseandbar.com

GAZPACHO

Voted Durango’s favorite for Mexican food and margaritas. Traditional northern New Mexican fare. Hatch red and green chiles. Carne adovada, tamales, blue-corn enchiladas, stuffed sopaipillas, and vegetarian menu. Full bar. Parking. 431 E. Second Ave., 970-259-9494, www.gazpachodurango.com

GRASSBURGER

Award-winning restaurant serving burgers from 100% grass-fed, USA-raised beef; turkey and vegan burgers; sweet and regular fries; salads. Indoor/ outdoor seating, kiddie corral. Vegan, allergy, gluten-free friendly. The American burger made healthy, ethical, and delicious. Dine in or carry out.

726½ Main Ave., 970-247-1081, www.eatgrassburger.com

GRIEGO’S RESTAURANT

HERMOSA CREEK GRILL

Locally owned café in the Animas valley north of town, the perfect stop on the way to the mountains. Delicious and unique egg dishes, pancakes, cinnamon rolls. Daily specials. Sandwiches, burgers, authentic gyros, and salads. Full espresso bar. 32223 U.S. Hwy. 550 N., 970-247-0014, www.hermosacreekgrill.com

HIGHWAY 3 ROADHOUSE & OYSTER BAR

Locals’ hangout. Unique appetizers and full bar. Happy-hour oysters, $9/ half-dozen. Slider night is Wednesday, $3.95/slider. Thursday Ladies’ Night, $5 drinks. Friday catfish night, $12.95. Great for private parties. 955 CO Hwy. 3, 970-385-7444, www.highway3roadhouse.com

HIMALAYAN KITCHEN

Tastes from such top-of-the-world regions as Nepal, India, and Tibet. Daily gourmet lunch buffet. Dinner temptations include yak, lamb, chicken, seafood, and vegetarian. Fresh bread from the Tandoor oven. 992 Main Ave., 970-259-0956, www.himkitchen.com

HOME SLICE PIZZA

This very reasonably priced, popular Southwestern and American diner serves fajitas, carnitas, enchiladas, smothered burrito plates, and burgers.

Vegetarian and kids’ meals and takeout. Great food and friendly service.

Considered a classic, local favorite. 2603 Main Ave., 970-259-3558.

Gourmet pizza, salads, and sandwiches, plus a full bar. Dine in, take out, or order online for in-town delivery. If you love fresh homemade pizza and friendly service, this is the place for you; just ask the locals. 441 E. College Dr., 970-259-5551; 2915 Main Ave., 970-422-8337; and 125 Mercado St., #105, 970-764-4208; www.homeslicedelivers.com

HAPPY PAPPY’S PIZZA & WINGS

HOT TOMATOES CAFÉ & CATERING

New to the Durango area, Happy Pappy’s has a wide variety of build-yourown pizzas, flavorful wings, and beer. Using longtime family dough and wing recipes along with the best ingredients possible. Order online, over the phone, or in person. 2411 Main Ave., 970-764-4213.

HERMOSA CAFÉ

Dedicated to providing the highest-quality specialty coffee along with unparalleled customer service. Serving a wide variety of coffee from around the world, connecting the Durango community in the process. 738 Main Ave. 970-259-2059, www.hermosacafedurango.com

Cozy, charming spot for breakfast, lunch, and takeout box lunches. Delicious fresh sandwiches, tasty soups and salads. Baked goods include pumpkin bread, apple Danish, muffins, and chocolate croissants. Event catering.

939 CO Hwy. 3, 970-385-5577.

J. BO’S PIZZA & RIB COMPANY

Known locally as Bo’s, this fast, casual, family eatery serves pizza, ribs, grinders, burgers, salads, local microbrews, and more. Pool tables, jukebox, video games, live music. Eat in, take out, or delivery. 1301 Florida Rd., 970-259-0010, www.jbosdurango.com

JAMES RANCH MARKET & GRILL

Where unforgettable food and memories are made. Experience a table-onthe-farm organic restaurant, farm market, and ranch tours. 33846 U.S. Hwy. 550, 970-676-1023, www.jamesranch.net/harvestgrill

JEAN PIERRE BAKERY, CAFÉ & WINE BAR

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Wine room for small business meetings or private dinner parties. Live classical and/or jazz music on the weekends.

Traditional yet innovative dinner menu. Full bar. Reservations recommended.

Top-rated sweets on Trip Advisor. 601 Main Ave., 970-247-7700.

JIMMY JOHN’S

The popular franchise has featured gourmet sandwiches since 1983. Jimmy John’s is known for its irreverent attitude, low prices, great and healthy food, and speedy delivery, with more than 2,000 stores nationwide. 1316 Main Ave., 970-259-0577, www.jimmyjohns.com

JITTERS’ JAVA

Locally owned drive-through at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Camino del Rio. Shade-grown organic, fair-trade coffees. Energizing and satisfying espresso drinks, teas, smoothies, and more. Grab-n-go breakfast and lunch.

Fast and friendly. Get your Jitters organically. 802 Camino del Rio, 970-799-5282, www.jitters-java.ueniweb.com

KACHINA KITCHEN

Delicious and traditional Southwestern foods along with Mexican and Native American dishes prepared fresh daily. Fast and efficient service; great prices and free parking. 325 S. Camino del Rio in the Centennial Center, 970-247-3536.

KEN & SUE’S

Locals Ken and Sue Fusco invite you to be their guest. Creative and tasty food and great service at reasonable prices. Upscale, comfortable eatery.

Year-round patio. Reservations are encouraged. 636 Main Ave., 970-385-1810, www.kenandsues.com

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Where Mediterranean Meets the Mountains

KENNEBEC CAFÉ

Taste Tuscany in the La Plata Mountains, just 10 miles west of Durango on Hwy. 160. Mediterranean- and American-inspired cuisine, bistro setting.

Extensive wines, full bar, takeout, ever-changing seasonal menu. Events and banquets welcome. Reservations accepted. 4 County Road 124, Hesperus, 970-247-5674, www.kennebeccafe.com

LA HACIENDA

Recently changed to La Hacienda, this colorful family restaurant on the north side of town offers great margaritas and delicious, authentic Mexican food.

2850 Main Ave., 970-375-2492.

LIVING TREE

A live-foods salad bar. Fresh, healthy, organic, cultured foods. Friendly, fun setting. Locally sourced food when possible, kombucha on draft. Grass-fed beef; cage-free, hormone-free chicken; salads. Compostable cutlery and dishes. 680 Main Ave., 970-286-0227, www.thelivingtreesaladbar.com

LONE SPUR CAFÉ

Classic Old West with Western-themed wall décor. The café serves hearty breakfasts such as steak and eggs. Lunch features burgers, classic sandwiches, soups, and salads. Weekend-only dining menu features prime rib and rib-eye steaks. 619 Main Ave., 970-764-4280, www.lonespurcafe.com

LOS AMIGOS DEL SUR

Fresh, local, sustainable, delicious!

Join us for live music and award winning patio dining.

Seasonal Hours mid-May – October Formerly Cyprus Cafe

725 East Second Ave. Durango, CO 81301

970.385.6884

Visit the Tasting Room to enj oy our Hand-Crafted cocktails!

In the Main Mall downtown, this unassuming restaurant is small but features a great Mexican menu and handcrafted margaritas. Friendly, comfortable atmosphere serving everyone’s favorite dishes, including “street” tacos and vegetarian platters. 835 Main Ave., #106, 970-764-4042, www.durangoamigos.com

MACHO’S FAST MEXICAN FOOD & DRINKS

Fresh and bursting with flavor, great dishes prepared with the highestquality ingredients. Beto’s Burrito Bowl is a favorite! Authentic Mexican meals. Great atmosphere, friendly service, affordable prices. Take your taste buds on an unforgettable journey. 1485 Florida Rd., 970-422-8540 and 275 E. Eighth Ave., 970-259-4108.

MAGPIE’S NEWSSTAND AND CAFÉ

Sunny sidewalk patio in the heart of downtown. Most affordable sandwiches in town. Traditional or grilled panini. Breakfast burritos, salads, smoothies, espressos, house-brewed chai and fresh-made gelato. Selection of magazines, cards, games, puzzles, candy, and sodas. 707 Main Ave., 970-259-1159, www.magpiesnewsstand.com

MAHOGANY GRILLE

Featuring something for everyone. Menu items crafted by their master with meats, produce, and ingredients from local family-owned farms and ranches.

699 Main Ave., inside the Strater Hotel, 970-247-4431, www.strater.com/dining/the-mahogany-grille/

MAMMA SILVIA’S ITALIAN KITCHEN

Traditional Italian cuisine crafted by East by Southwest owners Hydi and Sergio Verduzco, featuring delicious and unique antipasti, farinacei, and insalate. Once inside, there’s a modern and comfortable design. Fun for the whole family. 150 E. College Dr., 970-247-5533, www.mammasilvias.com

MAY PALACE RESTAURANT

Some of the town’s best and most delicious Chinese food. Traditional specialties: Szechuan, Hunan, Mandarin, and 38 lunch specials. No MSG. Full menu for takeout. Full bar. Great location downtown. 909 Main Ave., 970-259-4836.

MCDONALD’S

Fast and friendly service. Order from the dollar menu or the regular value meals. Enjoy favorites like the Big Mac and classic French fries.

201 W. College Dr., 970-247-2446, www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us.html

MI RANCHITO

Family restaurant offering real street tacos. Daily specials, dine in, curbside pickup, delivery. 117 W. College Dr., 970-422-8514.

MICHEL’S CORNER CRÊPES

Longtime Durango chef Michel Poumay brings authentic sweet and savory French crêpes to the heart of downtown. Each made fresh to order. Perfect for grabbing unique fare to go, or dine on the patio. 598 Main Ave., 970-769-0256, www.michelscorner.com

66 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

MONGOLIAN GRILL

Located in the Walmart shopping center and featuring tasty Peking and Mongolian barbecue, plus Hunan, Chinese, Mandarin and Szechuan cuisine.

A variety of beer and wine, free parking, and all-you-can-eat dishes. Dine in or take out. 1135 S. Camino del Rio, #230, 970-259-7228, www.mongoliangrill.uorder.io

NATURE’S OASIS

Durango’s great natural market is the largest provider of natural and organic products in the Four Corners. Fresh sandwiches, salads, soups, and hot foods daily in the deli. Largest selection of supplements and beauty-care products in the region. Also home to Jack’s Meat & Seafood, River Liquors, and Serious Delights Bakehouse. Locally owned since 1993. 300 S. Camino del Rio, 970-247-1988, www.naturesoasismarket.com

NAYARIT RESTAURANT

Named after the Mexican state of Nayarit, offering authentic Mexican food that cannot be found anywhere else in Durango. Best known for their selection of tequilas and margaritas, fresh seafood, and delicious tacos. 2525 Main Ave., 970-385-1595 and 1135 S. Camino del Rio, #290, 970-259-4114, www.nayaritmexicandurango.com

NINI’S TAQUERIA

Food so good, you won’t trust the water! Funky, casual Mexican restaurant with a unique take on traditional Mexican food. Giant burritos, grilled quesadillas, and tasty tacos. A wide selection of world-famous margaritas and local beers. 552 Main Ave., 970-259-4221, www.ninistaqueria.com

OLDE SCHOOLHOUSE CAFÉ & SALOON

Lively place for great pizza, calzones, beer, and spirits. Just three miles south of Purgatory Resort, across from Needles Country Store. Stop in after a great day of skiing! 46778 U.S. Hwy. 550 N., 970-259-2257, www.oldeschoolhousesaloon.com

OLD TYMER’S CAFE

Locals’ favorite for over 25 years! One of the Four Corners’ best patios. Superb salads, marvelous margaritas, and huge burgers (voted Durango’s best).

Full bar, plus 15 beers on tap. Handful of TVs. 1000 Main Ave., 970-259-2990, www.otcdgo.com

ORE HOUSE

Established in 1972, the Ore House is one of Durango’s oldest and finest restaurants. Hand-cut, USDA-certified prime and choice steaks; sustainable wild seafood; seasonal produce; a selection of award-winning wines, and handcrafted seasonal cocktails. Reservations encouraged. 147 E. College Dr., 970-247-5707, www.orehouserestaurant.com

We Proudly Serve Only the Best

OSCAR’S CAFÉ

Voted “Durango’s best breakfast,” a ’50s-style diner with a train. Homemade hash browns, chili verde, pancakes, omelets, biscuits and gravy, French toast, cinnamon rolls, soups, salads, homemade pies, and shakes. Burgers, Reubens, and club sandwiches. Kids’ menu. Takeout. 18 Town Plaza, 970-247-0526.

PAPA MURPHY’S TAKE ’N’ BAKE PIZZA

Freshly prepared, ready to pop into the oven, pizzas from gourmet to “deLITE.” Including Papa’s All-Meat, Cowboy, Papa’s Favorite, Vegetarian. Gourmet, stuffed to thin, crispy crust, there’s a Papa Murphy’s pizza for everyone. 12 Town Plaza, 970-382-0961, www.papamurphys.com

PIZZA HUT

Find all your favorites at this national chain pizzeria. Pan-style, stuffed crust, thin and crispy, or hand-tossed styles. Ask about the Pizza Supreme. Buffalo wings, bread sticks, salads, sodas, and much more. Delivery and takeout.

1316 Main Ave., 970-259-2112, www.pizzahut.com

Located Inside Nature’s Oasis Jack's...Your cleanest, friendliest, full-service meat market in Southwest Colorado

PJ’S GOURMET MARKET

Just north of Durango on U.S. Hwy. 160. Rare treats or necessities, fresh produce, meat, poultry, seafood. Deli with the best salads, meats, cheeses.

Freshly baked breads, sweets, pastries. Everyday groceries. Fresh local and regional products: coffee, snack chips, sodas, salsa, honey.

67 Trimble Crossing, 970-247-0100, www.pjsgourmetmarket.com

POP SUSHI

Restaurateur Jimmy Nguyen, owner of Rice Monkeys, unrolled Pop Sushi. As executive chef, Ray Srisamer oversees a Japanese tapas restaurant with a full bar. Urban atmosphere, seating for 70. 42 County Road 250, #400, 970-422-8182, www.popsushidurango.com

Locally and Family Owned

970.247.1988 • 300 S. Camino del Rio • Durango, CO 67

N I G H TLI FE & DI N I NG G U I D E

PRIMI PASTA & WINE BAR

Primi, meaning first course in Italian, serves a unique and tasty variety of authentic and handmade pasta dishes, sauces, paninis, salads, gelato, and wine. Offering a casual atmosphere to relax in and enjoy. 1201 Main Ave., #102, 970-764-4138, www.primidurango.com

PRIMUS

Chef John Daly III provides a beautiful array of fresh seafood, wild game and locally produced grains and produce in this tasteful setting. With both upstairs and downstairs dining areas, Primus offers a unique and exciting menu to those seeking to enliven their taste buds. 1017 Main Ave., 970-259-1945, www.primusrestaurant.com

PURGATORY RESORT RESTAURANTS

The resort offers fun, convenient bars and restaurants, including indoor and al fresco options. From pastries, salads, gourmet burgers, pizza, steak, pasta, and fish entrées, choose a variety of delicious dining options.

One Skier Place, 970-247-9000, www.purgatoryresort.com

W I N E ~ A LWA Y S O N S A L E

% 10 OFF

% 20OFF

&

5+ BOTTLES, 750ML

1 0 + B O T T L ES , 7 5 0 M L

9 70.3 75.0 3 5 1

Located Next to Nature’s Oasis 300 South Camino del Rio | Durango, Colorado 81301

RAIDER RIDGE CAFÉ

Locals’ choice for healthy meals. Tasty wraps, deli sandwiches, breakfast burritos, vegetarian green chile, local organic coffee, and the very best fresh-fruit smoothies in town. Takeout orders welcome.

509 E. Eighth Ave., 970-375-9727, www.raiderridgecafe.com

RGP’S FLAME-GRILLED WRAPS

Homemade dough grilled over an open fire and filled with the freshest ingredients. Local favorite: Southwest turkey club. Also, pulled-pork barbecue and chicken pesto panini. In the heart of downtown, inside the Main Mall. 835 Main Ave., #107-B, 970-382-9868, www.rgpswraps.com

RICE MONKEYS

Healthy, creative, delicious Asian food in a fast, friendly environment. Sushi, sashimi, teriyaki, traditional Vietnamese. Specialty rolls, rice bowls, egg rolls, and platters with such favorites as ceviche, seared black-pepper tuna, Saigon noodles, beef pho, ginger chicken. To-go party platters, delivery.

1050 Main Ave., 970-403-3852, www.ricemonkeysdurango.com

THE ROOST

Brought to you by the owners of Cuckoo’s Chicken House & Waterin’ Hole and The Animas City Theatre. Serving traditional American food—burgers, French fries, and prime rib. Wide selection of beer and wine. Dine in or take out.

128 E. College Dr., 970-764-4661, www.theroostdurango.com

SAGE: FARM FRESH EATS

Durango’s favorite family entertainment since 1969

Old West Music and Comedy Show and Chuckwagon

Supper

From soil to soup and sprout to salad, Sage marries local food with fast, casual convenience. 3101 Main Ave., #5, 970-764-4270, www.sagefarmfresheats.com

SEASONS ROTISSERIE & GRILL

Changing dinner menu to showcase the area’s bounty. Wood-fired grill, great service, award-winning chef. Critically acclaimed, internationally awarded wine list. Main Avenue views, private-cellar dining, patio. Reservations encouraged. Dinner nightly beginning at 5:30 p.m. 764 Main Ave., 970-382-9790, www.seasonsofdurango.com

SERIOUS DELIGHTS BAKEHOUSE

Local family bakery provides a wide variety of fresh breads, pastries, and desserts, and proudly offers delicious gluten-free options. Treats are always handcrafted from scratch using local, organic ingredients when possible.

Inside Nature’s Oasis market. 300 S. Camino del Rio, 970-403-1517, www.seriousdelights.com

SERIOUS TEXAS BAR-B-Q

Selected by Sunset Magazine as one of the best barbecue restaurants in the West. Smoked meats, huge sandwiches, and legendary ribs. Outdoor deck.

18-hole mini golf at south location. 650 Camino del Rio, 970-259-9507, and 3535 N. Main Ave., 970-247-2240, www.serioustexasbbq.com

SEVEN RIVERS STEAKHOUSE The Bar D Wranglers perform songs of cowboys and the old west, comedy, and lively instruments after supper to please the whole family.

Ticketing, art gallery, activities, and shops open nightly by 5:00 pm.

Supper is at 6:30 Memorial Day weekend thru Labor Day

www.bardchuckwagon.com 68 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

Reservations Required

970-247-5753

For an authentic steakhouse experience, this restaurant wows with selections of mussels, giant prawns, lump crab, scallops, and shrimp.

Prime cuts of beef, such as petite filet and New York strip. Beautiful décor.

Reservations available. 14324 County Road 172, Ignacio, inside Sky Ute Casino Resort, 970-563-6235, www.skyutecasino.com/dining/seven-rivers/

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70 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

SINGLETRACK CAFÉ

T’S SMOKEHOUSE & GRILL

SIZZLING SIAM

TACO BELL

Known for great coffee and espressos, and for amazing and healthy breakfast burritos, quality baked goods, great soup and sandwich lunches in a fun, friendly café. 555 Rivergate Ln., #B1-103, 970-422-8558, www.singletrackcafe.com A locals’ favorite with the wonderfully different, delicious, and healthy foods of Thailand made with the freshest ingredients by native Thais. Call in, carry out, or dine in. Very affordable, healthy, and delicious. 519½ Main Ave., 970-385-9470.

SKA BREWING & THE CONTAINER RESTAURANT

Eat local while enjoying fresh craft beer right from the source. Built from repurposed shipping containers. Chef Jeremy Storm serves brick-oven pizzas, sandwiches, soups, salads, kids’ options. Live music on Thursday nights.

225 Girard St., 970-247-5792, www.skabrewing.com

SKY UTE CASINO RESORT

Fast becoming a local favorite, with hickory-smoked barbecue, po’ boys, fresh-ground burgers, and Creole fare. Newly renovated interior. Largest patio in downtown, with a horseshoe pit and great views. Eat in, take out, delivery, catering. #3 Depot Pl., 970-259-6000, www.tssmokehouse.com Known for “thinking outside the bun” with original tacos, burritos, gorditas, Mexican pizza, chalupas, nachos, cheese roll-ups, quesadillas, taquitos, and taco salads. Salsa, guacamole, sour cream, extra cheese, rice, beans.

2902 Main Ave., 970-259-5588, www.tacobell.com

TACO BOY

SMILEY CAFÉ

Hola! For an authentic Mexican food experience, Tequila’s is highly inventive, always surprising customers with their daily specials. Known for the town’s best margaritas. Wonderful food, drinks, and great service that you won’t soon forget! 948 Main Ave., 970-259-7655, www.tequilasmexicandurango.com

Breakfast and main menu items all day—American classics like cheeseburgers and fries. Happy hour (half-price fountain drinks and slushes) every day, 2-5 p.m. Monthly specials. 240 E. Eighth Ave., 970-247-8160, www.sonicdrivein.com

SOUP PALETTÉ

Preparing healthy and delicious food is their passion. Vegan, meaty, glutenfree, and fresh. 1333 Camino del Rio, outside the Durango Powerhouse.

970-759-9921, www.souppalette.com

Wrestle down some tacos at Durango’s newest taqueria. Serving lunch and dinner for dine in, take out, and delivery. Enjoy signature drinks at the full bar. 1150 Main Ave., 970-764-4186, www.tacolibredurango.com

TEQUILA’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

THAI KITCHEN

UNION SOCIAL HOUSE

Featuring live music, vintage decor, full bar, delicious food from a food truck, and fun for the whole family. A great gathering place to relax and enjoy.

3062 Main Ave., www.unionsocialhouse.com In the Grandview area. Gourmet coffee/espresso drinks, teas, smoothies, bagels, healthy breakfast sandwiches, delicious burritos and fresh in-house baked goods. Hot, toasted lunch sandwiches, soups, and salads. Free Wi-Fi. 28902 U.S. Hwy. 160 E., 970-385-5747, www.uppereastsidecoffeedeli.business.site

TACO LIBRE TAQUERIA AND COCKTAILS

SONIC DRIVE-IN

Locally grown, wild-harvested, living-foods lunch. Soup, salad, entrée, dessert for suggested $15 donation. Raw, organic, vegetarian and vegan ingredients. Sharing the Victorian brick building with Rocky Mountain Retreat. Patio in summer; warm (greenhouse) second floor in winter.

Open Tuesday and Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 848 E. Third Ave., 970-247-8395, www.turtlelakerefuge.org

UPPER EAST SIDE COFFEE DELI

Tacos, enchiladas, tamales, burritos, guacamole and chile rellenos.

Everyone’s favorite Mexican dishes in the Three Springs neighborhood.

Beer and wine. Fresh, authentic Mexican food. New “fast-casual” eatery seats nearly 100. Family-operated by Silvia, Juan, and Miguel Aguayo.

150 Confluence Ave., #101-C, 970-422-8399, www.tacoboycolorado.com

For dining options: Seven Rivers Steakhouse for upscale steaks and seafood; Willows Café Bistro for breakfast, lunch, dinner; Rolling Thunder Grill for pub fare; 49 Lounge with TVs for sports fans, a full bar, and appetizers; Shining Mountain Café for Native American fare. 14324 County Road 172, Ignacio, 970-563-7777, www.skyutecasino.com/dining A cozy and inviting coffee shop in the popular Smiley Building. Serving fresh, local coffee from 81301 Coffee Roasters, breakfast burritos, salads, sandwiches, and a delicious variety of home-baked, gluten-free goodies.

1309 E. Third Ave., 970-844-0771, www.thesmileycafe.com

TURTLE LAKE REFUGE CAFÉ

Tucked inside the Alpine Bank at 11th and Main, authentic Thai cuisine such as spring rolls, egg rolls, chicken satay, crab Rangoon, wonton soup, chicken peanut salad, pad Thai noodles, curry dishes, and stir-fry. Eat in or carry out.

101 W. 11th St., 970-385-3903, www.durangomenus.com/thai_kitchen.html

WENDY’S OLD FASHIONED HAMBURGERS

Hot, juicy 100 percent pure beef burgers, savory chicken sandwiches, garden sensation salads, delicious French fries and frosty shakes. Try the Baconator!

Take out or eat in. Drive-through until midnight. 1840 Main Ave., 970-247-4505, www.wendys.com

YELLOW CARROT RESTAURANT AND BAKERY

Modern dining from Sari Brown. Creative vegetarian choices, including roasted cauliflower with kale rice; mango and coconut curry; tomato bombs with cabbage, raisins and caramel vinaigrette. Also featuring bisque, chowders, steaks, chicken, ribs, grits, and burgers. Catering available. 3206 Main Ave., Suite #1, 970-259-3773, www.theyellowcarrot.com

ZIA TAQUERIA

Fresh-Mex: burritos, quesadillas, tacos, enchiladas, tamales, soups, fish tacos, salads, rice bowls. Beer and margaritas. Daily specials, kids’ menu. Eat in, take out, catering. Online ordering at ChowNow. 2977 Main Ave., 970-2473355, and 400 S. Camino del Rio, 970-247-1002, www.ziataqueria.com

SOW’S EAR

Durango mountain dining, with great mountain views of Engineer Peak.

Steaks, wild game, fresh fish, poultry, soups, salads, homemade desserts since 1986. Kids’ menu, full bar, wines. One mile south of Purgatory Resort.

Birthdays, reunions, weddings, or a night out. 48475 U.S. Hwy. 550, inside Silverpick Lodge, 970-247-3527, www.sowseardurango.com

STARBUCKS COFFEE

Fresh-brewed coffee, mochas, Frappuccinos, lattes, pastries, bagels, and more. Outdoor seating. 6 Town Plaza, inside South City Market, 970-247-4475; 311 W. College Dr., inside Albertsons, 970-382-2224; 3130 Main Ave., inside North City Market, 970-385-4340; 2817 Main Ave., 970-382-1783, www.starbucks.com

STEAMWORKS BREWING CO.

Great spot for a casual lunch or dinner. Award-winning selection of beers, cocktails, and wines. Nightly food and drink specials. World-famous Cajun Boil. Games on several TVs. 801 E. Second Ave., 970-259-9200, www.steamworksbrewing.com

C chocolate & coffeeo. est. 2011

Chocolate Cafe Handcrafted Chocolate

Espresso | Iced Drinks | Coffee | beer | wine | Cocktails

SUBWAYS IN DURANGO

Fast, inexpensive and ready to go when you are. Perfect for backpacks or picnics. Delicious salads and sandwiches. Fresh meats, crisp veggies, breads baked daily. 2101 Main Ave., 970-259-0887; 1537 Florida Rd., #101, 970-2472335; 1145 S. Camino del Rio, 970-382-9511; www.subway.com/en-us

SUNNYSIDE FARMS MARKET

A full-service retail butcher shop with a complete line of fresh meats, poultry, and seafood. Sunnyside Farms Market provides grocery and butcher shop needs, and also deli to-go orders. 1305 Escalante Dr., #101, 970-375-6400, www.sunnysidefarmsmarket.com

SWITCHBACK TACO BAR

Featuring unique Mexican-inspired street food like Sonora dogs, elote, and tacos; fresh cocktails; affordable prices; fun, laid-back environment.

741 Main Ave., 970-422-8074, www.switchbacktaco.com

WWW.ANIMASCHOCOLATECOMPANY.COM 920 MAIN AVE. | Durango, colorado | 970.317.5761

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D I N I N G G U I DE SH O WC A S E

The Union Social House FRIENDLY, RELAXED NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

By Graham Coffey

There are all sorts of familial units. We have our family of origin, sometimes we make a work family, and oftentimes friends are made that become known as one’s “family of choice.” Those are all wonderful, but you’d be hard pressed to find a family capable of rivaling the one at the Union Social House when it comes to size and eccentricity. You see, the fellowship of the barstool is a powerful thing, and it has turned the Union Social House into a community within a community.

The sun at the center of the Union Social House solar system is the establishment’s owner and founder, Carol Clark. She doesn’t so much walk through the place as she floats.

She has the unique ability to sit across from a stranger and immediately make them feel comfortable. On this night, she walks in and no fewer than four people come up to greet her before she can cover the 30 feet between the door and our table. She sits down, flute of champagne in hand, and it becomes immediately apparent that the bar has taken on her personality.

I’d arrived half an hour earlier and walked through the bar. The pub opened in November 2019, just a few months prior to the pandemic, so it was my first time inside the place. I was struck by how familiar it immediately felt. The tables are big and inviting, the comfortable murmur of conversation provided just the right amount of white noise, strangers at tables glanced over in a warm and nonjudgmental way, and then there was the aroma. I didn’t know what it was initially, but my brain and stomach came together in an instant and told me to go figure it out.

I followed the scent outside and found the source on a permanent foundation out back.

When Clark opened the Union Social House, she partnered with local food-truck aficionados Beau and Dylan Lindborg, owners of Backcountry Gourmet. The brothers had two other successful trucks in the Durango area previously, and the one on the pub’s back patio is their third in three years.

I watched as they churned out house-cut truffle fries and slider after slider. The sliders are works of art, and one can only see so many $6 BBQ bacon cheeseburger and pork belly sliders come out before having to order a couple for oneself. Once you have your food you’re welcome to take it back inside, and you’re also welcome to hang out on the mas-

72 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

Photos courtesy of Brandon Mathis

sive back patio.

You’ll find a world full of inviting spaces on the patio. In one area there are a few tables; in another there’s a fire pit. And the most unique feature of all are the greenhouses, an invention born of necessity during COVID-19. The capacity restrictions that came with the pandemic made it hard for Carol to justify paying the costs to stay open, but the greenhouses were a clever way to put parties together in isolated spaces and keep the Union Social House up and running.

Each greenhouse has its own vibe. One is furnished with a high-top table surrounded by barstools for eight. Another has a gray rug spread beneath a few old easy chairs

with faux fur blankets. Vintage trunks and barrels serve as end tables, an old mirror sits against the back wall, and a chandelier hangs from the ceiling as guests chatter.

When warm weather returns, the greenhouses will be temporarily taken down and replaced with a bocce-ball court and whatever else Carol comes up with. This is classic Carol, says Beau Lindborg. “She has so many ideas and I’ll think she’s crazy. Next thing you know, it’s beautiful.”

Like all the furnishings both inside and outside the Union Social House, the shabby chic décor was cobbled together from yard sales, thrift stores, and online auctions.

“All of these tables and chairs have a story.

They’ve been gathered around for years,”

says Carol, and she believes that history helps add to the atmosphere of the place.

These tables are where the people in the North Main District came to forget all of the challenges that the year 2020 brought with it.

Those furnishings weren’t in the original plans for the pub, but one of Carol’s investors backed out after she had already signed the lease. In typical Carol fashion she found a way. She reached out to what she calls her “beautiful web of people” and pretty soon she was surrounded by an army of workers.

That army did everything from run errands to paint chairs, and they are the “union” in the Union Social House. A giant wall of framed portraits can be found in one of the bar’s hallways, and there are far too many faces to count. Each one had a hand in bringing the place into existence.

The phrase “family bar” sounds a bit oxymoronic, but that’s what the Union Social House is. A table full of old men sit together laughing. They’re here most nights. A few girls in their late 20s make small talk over sliders and beers on the back patio. A few kids play around them. In non-pandemic times, they might come together around the many board games and darts that Carol keeps around.

On this evening, a couple of first-timers walk in the back door, and a group of regulars greet them with a nod and a smile. At some point during the night they will become part of the family.

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Skin care for 50 years In addition to general dermatology and skin cancer treatment, we are the only practice in the four corners area to offer laser aesthetic procedures with board-certified dermatologists on-site.

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Voted ‘Best Aesthetics Clinic’

74 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

durangodermatology.com Photo Copyright StelioMedia.com

wild game, fresh seafood, uncompromising quality

our family There are no words for the challenges we have all faced these past few months, however one thing remains clear — our reasons for moving to Durango and for wanting to be part of this community have been reaffirmed over and over. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the love you continually show us. We consider ourselves fortunate to live here with you, our extended family and are pleased to share that love with our visitors dining with us. Join us in celebration of friends, family, food and life.

Cocktails: 2–5 Mon-Thu: 5–9 Fri-Sat: 5–10 Sun: closed Private events upon request

1017 main ave. 970.259.1945 75

Embrace Your Soul

Resort Style Swimming Pool 17 Natural Hot Springs Pools 8 Private Ofuro Soaking Tubs Newly Renovated Full Service Spa 76 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

Open Daily: 9am - 10pm Reservations Required www.dhsresort.com 970-247-0111

Cole Davis

CONTENTS: 78 80 82 86 93 94 98 102 103

FEATURED SPAS DURANGO KIDS KEEP OUR BEARS WILD…AND SAFE DURANGO DREAM HOME TEQUILA COCKTAIL RECIPE FEATURED REALTORS HOME SWEET HOME ADVERTISER INDEX LOCAL GIVING 77

F E AT U R ED SPA S

Renewal, treat yourself Amid the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s essential to hit the pause button every once in a while and take some serious “me time.” Lucky for us, Durango knows just how to make that happen. Offering a variety of revitalizing options that cater to both mind and body, these exceptional self-care providers will whisk you away for a deeply relaxing interlude of rest and reinvigoration.

We think you deserve it.

Aesthetics and Wellness of Durango knows precisely how to bring out your unique glow.

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Durango Hot Springs Resort + Spa offers the perfect place to soak, unwind, and enjoy the view.

The Woodhouse Day Spa immerses you in a tranquil escape that is both nurturing and restorative.

So take that time for yourself. Your mind and body will thank you.

78 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

The Woodhouse Day Spa 1521 MAIN AVENUE durango.woodhousespas.com 970-247-7769

The Woodhouse is proud to present a clean and transformative facility that allows you the opportunity to embrace a world that encourages your highest level of mind, body, and spirit wellness.

Their comprehensive list of services aligns with their holistic approach to wellness. Whether you find yourself needing a body treatment aimed at increasing circulation, a therapeutic Vichy shower, a facial that uses top-of-the-line products and technology, deep relaxation through a massage experience, a signature hand or foot treatment, or a sleep treatment, the staff is dedicated to being experts in the services they provide so you leave feeling renewed and restored. Also ask about their Woodhouse Signature Services. They don’t just offer services at The Woodhouse Day Spa; they offer a luminous experience that you can only find within their doors. Human connection is a high priority for The Woodhouse, so if they don’t get the opportunity to see you in the spa, they invite you to join in on one of their evening rooftop events. The one-of-akind rooftop space overlooking the Animas River is also available to rent for private events! Book your appointment online, or texting is now available at their main number.

SERVICES INCLUDE: • Body treatments • Foot treatments • Hand treatments • Massage therapy • Skin care • Sleep treatments • “Spend a Day with Us” packages • Waxing

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Aesthetics and Wellness Durango

Durango Dermatology is a locally owned practice, providing skin care to the community for 50 years. Their team consists of two board-certified dermatologists, two board-certified physician assistants, a certified aesthetic nurse specialist, and a registered nurse/licensed aesthetician.

In addition to general dermatology and skin cancer treatment, Durango Dermatology provides the most up-to-date and expansive offering of laser and aesthetic treatments to treat most skin types and conditions.

Durango Hot Springs Resort + Spa is uniquely located above some of the most naturally healing waters in the world. The distinctive blend of 21 minerals bubbling up from within the Earth and filling 28 different water features will soothe the weariest of bodies. Durango Hot Springs is also the only hot springs in the world to use the AquaGen water system to infuse all pools with micro-meter oxygen bubbles. Combine soaking in the natural hot springs with a spa treatment that draws on inspiration from the world’s ancient wisdom and techniques. Durango Hot Springs Spa features a variety of massages and modalities, from a traditional, relaxing, Swedish massage to unique specialty massages, such as Stone Cold Fire, which helps facilitate muscle recovery for the athlete coming to Durango to play in the vast outdoors.

Aesthetics and Wellness is the only MedSpa in Durango and the surrounding area that offers Ultherapy Ultrasound Treatment for skin tightening and lifting. PDO Threads offer a nonsurgical facelift through the insertion of very fine medical-grade suture to stimulate collagen. Neocollagenesis is the making of new collagen for tighter and smoother skin. With free consultations and skilled practitioners, you can achieve your aesthetics goals with ease and confidence. Their new Diamond Glow facial exfoliates, extracts, and infuses the perfect serum for you and your skin concerns. Diamond Glow diamond tip delivers a next level resurfacing treatment that deeply cleans and rejuvenates the skin. Add a chemical peel or dermaplane to your Diamond Glow treatment for even better results!

SERVICES INCLUDE: • Hot springs soaking pools • Massage and spa treatments • Dry-finish sauna • Lodging rentals • Gift certificates

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DURANGO KIDS

Photos courtesy of Joe Lewandowski/Colorado Parks and Wildlife

The Durango Fish Hatchery & Wildlife Museum Spawns Fun for the Whole Family

by Kathleen O’Connor

It’s a sunny and brisk March morning as I pull into Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Durango State Fish Hatchery parking area for a tour with assistant hatchery manager Ryan Votta. As a local parent, I’ve been here many times with my son. He loves feeding the resident fish, courtesy of a fish-food dispenser placed next to the 14 outdoor raceways (artificial channels), some of which contain the various species of fish found here at the hatchery. Those species include rainbow, brown, cutbow, and cutthroat trout, as well as kokanee salmon.

Initially built in 1903, this local gem claims the honor of being the oldest stateowned fish hatchery in Colorado. It is also a significant contributor to the popular activity of recreational fishing, which contributes roughly $1.9 billion annually to the state’s economy. In 2020 alone, the hatchery raised approximately 1.3 million fish for stocking roughly 50 rivers, streams, and reservoirs in the southwest region of the state. Additionally, the hatchery pro-

80 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

vided 350,000 native cutthroat trout eggs and 1.6 million kokanee salmon eggs to other hatcheries, which, after they hatch and grow to two inches in length, will be used for stocking the local rivers, reservoirs, and high-elevation lakes that are popular among many anglers.

Though the facility is located next to the Animas River, all water used for rearing fish comes from three nearby natural springs. The water is treated, supplied with additional oxygen, and pumped into the facility to provide “good, clean, cold water,” as Ryan put it, to the resident fish.

In addition to the hatchery, the 14-acre facility is also home to the family-friendly Wildlife Museum. Visitors may wander freely through the eclectic space and get up close and personal with more than 50 different wildlife species—including bobcats, black bears, and various birds of prey— through the taxidermic mounts on display around the museum. Kids and adults alike can test their animal knowledge through one of the many interactive exhibits that are both educational and fun. (At press time, the Wildlife Museum was still closed due to COVID-19, but the hatchery was open.

To check, call the museum before visiting.)

Wildlife sightings are not restricted to inside the museum, though. “Over 200 bird species have been recorded here, including a wood thrush, which was a first-ever county record,” Ryan mentioned. “We have resident mule deer roaming the grounds and also the occasional black bear.” Other interesting wildlife sightings include a long-

tailed weasel, gray foxes, beavers, and even a river otter spotted in the pond adjacent to the hatchery.

Admission to both the wildlife museum and hatchery is free and donations are appreciated. The hatchery is open yearround, every day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Wildlife Museum is usually open to the public (in non-pandemic times) from May 15 to September 15. School groups and other group tours can be scheduled by appointment at 970-375-6766.

Don’t forget to bring quarters for the fish food!

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Whether visiting or living here, Do your part to

by Bryan Peterson

Bears have exceptional noses. With this extraordinary sense of smell, bears are lured near people by the scent of human food: garbage, outdoor grills, ripened fruit, chickens, pet food, compost, and more. Bears reap huge caloric boosts from these “food rewards” and quickly seek out more. Last year, over 2,600 of the nearly 5,000 bear-related reports to Colorado Parks and Wildlife were of bears raiding unsecured trash cans and bird feeders, or other sorts of human foods.

Bears can become increasingly bold in their attempts to score even more of more of these foods, often resulting in damage to garages, chicken coops, vehicles, coolers, tents, campers, and homes. More than 350 of the reports last year were of bears breaking into human dwellings and structures.

Once bears pose a threat to humans or their property, options for wildlife officials are limited and often tragic. These “conflict” bears are hazed, relocated, or in some cases, humanely killed. The old saying “a fed bear is a dead bear” is still a truism. Last year, Colorado wildlife officials killed 120 bears in the state, the second most in the past five years; 89 bears were captured and relocated for unwanted behavior.

Now in its 18th year, the nonprofit Bear Smart Durango was formed with a singular mission: to reduce human–bear

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conflict in the greater Durango area by addressing the root cause—namely, the behavior of people. Soon, both La Plata County and the City of Durango adopted laws mandating that trash be kept from bears.

Residential bear-resistant trash containers, which didn’t exist here in 2003, when Bear Smart Durango was launched, are now commonplace. Programs were developed to educate community members. A bear working group, composed of local stakeholders, was initiated and now meets quarterly.

Emphasis shifted to programs that directly reduced the amount of human foods available to bears. Bear-resistant containers are distributed to county residents to store livestock feed or for those lacking trash service. Over 70 residents have been assisted in installing electric fences to protect chickens, beehives, compost, fruit trees, and more from bears. Residents drop off bird feeders in exchange for kits to make hanging flower baskets to feed birds. Post-Halloween, residents donate pumpkins that feed farmers’ pigs instead of bears.

Over the past two years, the Good Food Collective has harvested and distributed over 70,000 pounds of fruit from trees in backyards and orchards in southwest Colorado, helping to save bears while bridging the gap between food waste and food insecurity in the region. A similar effort

exists with Pine River Shares in Bayfield; their Community Fruit Harvest is now in its third year.

Don’t allow bears to become accustomed to being around homes. Immediately report bear sightings and incidents to Colorado Parks and Wildlife or online at BearSmartDurango.org. Durango residents should report incidents of bears getting into trash by calling City Code Enforcement at 970-375-4930, while county residents can call Animal Protection at 970-385-2900.

We’re very lucky to share our home with an abundance of wildlife, including bears. In order to keep them wild and everyone safe, we all must do our part to reduce the risk of something unfortunate happening with bears and people. Nothing good comes from bears finding human food where we live, visit, and play. Let’s all work to keep our area safe for both people and bears.

-------------Bryan Peterson is executive director of the nonprofit Bear Smart Durango, which offers real solutions that work to address human–bear conflict, helping keep both people and bears safe. For more information, visit BearSmartDurango.org or email bp@frontier.net.

Kennan Harvey

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP? Whether you’re visiting, sporting, or living here, taking some simple precautions will help greatly in making our area safer for both people and bears.

Here are a few simple things you can do:

Courtesy of Bear Smart Durango

• Never feed or approach wildlife.

• Keep your dog on a leash.

• If where you’re staying has bear-resistant trash cans, dumpsters, or food storage lockers, use them and keep them locked.

• If food storage lockers aren’t available where you’re camping, store coolers out of sight in vehicles, and keep vehicle windows rolled up and doors locked.

• Never keep food or anything with an odor in tents, and keep your camp area and picnic tables clean.

• Do not burn or bury trash.

• Leave your bird feeders at home.

• Immediately report any bear sightings or encounters to campground hosts or to Colorado Parks and Wildlife at 970-247-0855.

For those of us who live here:

Steve Novacek

Courtesy of Bear Smart Durango

• It’s most critical to keep trash in a bear-resistant trash container or stored in a garage or shed (note that bears do break into structures).

• Remove bird feeders during bear season, as it’s nearly impossible to feed birds without also feeding bears.

• Keep doors or windows accessible to bears closed and locked, including garage and vehicle doors.

• Never leave food or anything with an odor in vehicles.

• If you have fruit trees on your property, remove fruit from the trees and the ground, or register your tree at fruitglean.org.

• Feed pets indoors and store livestock feed in bear-resistant containers.

• Empty grease traps from your outdoor grill.

• Electric fencing works very well to protect chickens, beehives, fruit trees, compost, and more.

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D U R AN G O DR E A M H O M E

DURANGO DREAM HOME SACHS

By Graham Coffey

Up on Florida Mesa lies a home as unique as any the Durango area has to offer.

The ranch house sits on a large plot of land featuring mountain views in every direction. The scenery surrounding the home is so good that the owners wanted a few different outdoor spaces, one for each of the mountain ranges they can enjoy from the property. On one side is a large round island patio with views of the La Plata Mountains.

On another side is a patio with a hot tub, where the residents can soak while views of the HD Mountains wash over them. Just for good measure, a third patio features an above-ground firepit with more long-distance views.

Those types of outdoor spaces certainly aren’t something you’d find at most properties. But what is even more unique is that

86 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

the property houses multiple generations of the same family—and each one of those inhabitants has tastes of their own. While most builders might balk at the task of designing and building a home where the style of construction and decor changes room by room, this home is the type of project that contractor Rob Sachs and his team at Sachs Construction specialize in.

You might know the Sachs Construction name for the firm’s numerous commercial projects in downtown Durango. Even if you weren’t aware at the time, if you’ve been in the area long, you’ve probably enjoyed an evening in a place they built. While Sachs is known for building and designing Durango staples like El Moro and Chimayo, he and his team also excel outside the restaurant category.

In certain circles, Sachs is even more renowned for his high-end custom residential projects, but since most of his residential clientele request anonymity, the Durango public only gets rare glimpses into some of the unique projects his firm has undertaken. Despite that, Sachs Construction is very much in demand for its unique custom homes, because they excel with clients who want a more out-of-the-box design. The firm’s uniqueness also stems from its downtown Durango office space, which was formerly a locally famous Victorian-themed bar called The Pelican’s Nest.

Durango Magazine sat down with Sachs in his downtown office, and it was immediately clear that 38 years of construction experience have molded him into a man who is unafraid of anything that can go wrong on

Photos courtesy of Brandon Mathis

a jobsite. Still, that doesn’t mean he takes his work lightly. “When you go buy a car and you walk into the dealership, you obviously feel like you want to be taken care of. But if something goes wrong, and you end up with the wrong purchase, it’s fairly easy to turn around and sell your vehicle. A house is the largest investment most people are going to make in a lifetime. It’s a huge investment, and we want to be sure that we get it right the first time, and we want to make sure they are comfortable with the plan and know exactly what they are getting.... We won’t pull the trigger on something until we know it’s right.”

In the case of the house on Florida Mesa, Sachs and his team wanted to design a home that was right both for how the family lives as a unit and for the lifestyles and tastes of each individual. That meant being very cognizant of each person’s design tastes. “Every bedroom has its own suite bathroom, and each member of the family had specific requirements for colors and styles that they wanted their space customized to,” Sachs explained.

One of the clients loved wild colors, so the Sachs team worked hard to understand her vision. “The important thing is really listening to the client and hearing what they’re saying and being able to go out on that limb with them. We truly get involved with these people, and they are getting direct interaction with me and the project manager on a daily basis. It’s a hands-on boutique experience, and we really develop close relationships with our clients,” said Sachs.

Aside from creating multiple spaces customized to each family member’s personality, the Sachs team was also responsible for creating the gathering spaces where the family and their guests congregate. The

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family loves to entertain on Friday nights, and their kitchen features a 60-inch Thermador range and multiple ovens so they can prepare meals for large groups of friends.

The beverage center serves as an open invitation for guests to make their preferred cocktail. This home was made to gather in, and the dining area was designed around a custom table that seats 24. The warmth from the great room’s fireplace naturally draws the party in for conversation and laughter before and after meals.

The opportunity to build homes and curate experiences like these is one that Sachs cherishes, and he credits the Durango community for giving him the opportunity to be successful. “There are a million builders in this town, and we take it very seriously when someone selects us. Building a home is a huge emotional and financial investment, and we fight every day to take care of that trust. I’m very blessed to do what I do,” he says, “and I’m very grateful that people select us.”

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TEQUILA COCKTAIL RECIPE FROM STAR LIQUORS

Tequila means different things to different people. Whether you prefer your tequila in a Margarita, shot with a lime, neat, or enjoyed on the beach or in the mountains, it’s a spirit that is easily enjoyed in pretty much any situation.

Tequila is a distilled beverage made from the blue agave plant. Mexican law regulates that tequila can only come from the state of Jalisco and must be bottled between 35 and 55 percent ABV. When sold in the U.S., tequila must contain a minimum 40 percent ABV. Popular tequila brands in the United States include Hornitos, Don Julio, and Patron.

Tequila is made from the sugars found in the blue agave plant. The plant’s core is cooked, allowing the sugars to be extracted, then fermented, distilled, and sometimes aged. Agave plants from the highlands of Jalisco often yield sweeter and fruitier tasting tequila while plants sourced from the lowlands deliver a more earthy flavor. The length of time tequila spends in barrel determines the depth of color and the intensity of wood or oak character in the flavors.

WE ARE THE SPIRIT AND SPIRITS OF DURANGO

Supporting local organizations is a deeply ingrained facet of the overall philosophy and mission of Star Liquors. They proudly donate to numerous nonprofit organizations. They believe that artistic culture and awareness benefit our community as a whole. Family-owned since 1984, the focus of Star Liquors has been on diversity of products, customer service, and employee team-building. It has proven to be a winning recipe for this friendly neighborhood liquor store and wine destination.

SPICY MANGO JALAPEÑO MARGARITA

Use coupon code DGOMAG for FREE delivery on orders over $50 *Limited Delivery Available*

INGREDIENTS: • 2 oz Blanco Tequila • 1 oz Cointreau • 1-2 oz Fresh Lime Juice (the juice of one lime) • 4 oz fresh mango juice • fresh mango, diced large • 2 small jalapeños • Tajin—a chili, lime and salt seasoning available in most grocery stores.

• limes for garnish INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Char jalapeños on the grill or over a flame until blackened or to preference. Utilize one for garnishing and slice one removing the stem.

2. Rim a cocktail glass with lime and generously dip in Tajin seasoning, set aside.

3. In a cocktail shaker, add a few slices of charred jalapeño, and a few chunks of fresh mango; add ice and muddle well.

4. Add in tequila, lime juice, and mango juice, shake until well chilled.

5. Pour into the prepared cocktail glass and fill with crushed ice.

6. Garnish with a skewer of mango sprinkled with Tajin and charred jalapeño, sliced lengthwise, and a wheel of lime.

93 7. Enjoy!

R E ALTO R PRO FI LE S

Jerome Bleger

Teddy Errico

WELLS GROUP DURANGO REAL ESTATE

LIV SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY: TELLURIDE

1130 Main Avenue Durango, CO 81301 970-759-1658 wellsgroupdurango.com

215 West San Juan Avenue, Suite C3 Telluride, CO 81435 970-708-5959 teddyerrico.com

A realtor with 14 years’ experience, Jerome has lived in Durango since 1991. He is a graduate of both Durango High School and Fort Lewis College. Community and family are big parts of Jerome’s life. He and Tiffany, his wife of 19 years, are raising three daughters in Durango.

He is a coach for Durango Youth Baseball, a member of the Durango High Noon Rotary Club, and a church council member. He is also an ipso facto dance coach for all three of his daughters. Jerome is an expert real estate agent who can help you with your search in Durango and the surrounding area.

He provides professional, responsive, and attentive real estate services. His expertise encompasses land, home, and commercial real estate. For more information and to get to know Jerome, email jerome@wellsgroupdurango.com.

If you’re looking for property in the luxurious resort towns of Telluride and Mountain Village, get your trusted real estate advice from a 21+ year broker and 25+ year local that lives full time in the historic town of Telluride. Less than a two-hour drive from Durango, Telluride offers world-class skiing, golf, music and film festivals, and so much more within a majestic mountain backdrop of 14,000-foot peaks. To search all property in the Telluride region, please visit www.tellurideselection.com.

Allison Grassetti

Tim Papi

GLACIER REAL ESTATE

COLDWELL BANKER DISTINCTIVE PROPERTIES

600 Glacier Club Drive Durango, CO 81301 970-390-2925 theglacierclub.com/real-estate

785 Main Avenue Durango, CO 81301 970-759-1871 tpapi.realestatedurango.com

Allison has more than 25 years’ experience in selling, promoting, and marketing top resorts and mountain destinations throughout Colorado.

A longtime resident of Colorado, Allison delights in introducing new clients to the magic of mountain living and the active and exciting lifestyle it provides. She became a dedicated real estate sales professional at Glacier, a private mountain and golf community set between downtown Durango and Purgatory Ski Resort, in January 2021. Since then, she has, along with Michael Gullotti, completed $17.7 million in sales within Glacier’s private gated community. Learn more about Allison and Glacier today by emailing her at agrassetti@theglacierclub.com.

Tim passionately serves and cherishes the Durango area and community. Tim’s love of the outdoors and the small-town charm of Durango have kept him here for nearly 30 years. He and his wife are truly happy to call Durango home and couldn’t imagine a better place to raise their two ambitious young boys. When buying or selling your home or investment property, you can count on Tim to assist you.

His legendary attention to detail is in a class by itself. Tim’s lighthearted positive attitude, serious work ethic, and expert knowledge of Durango will make your real estate transaction a rewarding experience. Call today or email Tim at tim@realestatedurango.com

94 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

95

Discover TELLURIDE With historically low property inventory, it has never been more important to receive your Telluride Real Estate advice from a trusted professional and longtime local with experience in development, land, luxury properties and almost every aspect of the Telluride community.

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$1,695,000 | TellurideSkiLot.com

TEDDY ERRICO 970.708.5959 Teddy@TeddyErrico.com Transfer Telluride 215 San Juan Avenue #C3 Telluride, CO 81435 96 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

LEADING THE WAY IN

ORTHOPEDIC CARE DR. PHIPPS • DR. HAMMOND • DR. BUTZEN • DR. ESPOSITO

Surgery—or the mere thought of any medical procedure—makes plenty of people uneasy. But the practitioners at Animas Orthopedic Associates (AOA) approach their work with compassion, connection, communication, advanced technologies, and techniques to ease the process for patients.

“We created a unique situation where you’re not just a number, like you are at a larger facility,” says operations manager Ben Rae. “We want good patient outcomes. That’s the most important piece.”

AOA is a high-volume orthopedic office specializing in joint replacements, sports medicine, hand, foot, and ankle, which truly represents the gamut of musculoskeletal conditions. That said, the attention patients receive is highly specialized, as the practitioners have their unique niches. Since AOA is independently owned and operated by its physicians, they are not beholden to corporate-driven directives.

Dr. Phipps, president of AOA, states, “We get to adopt and advance new technologies and tactics after vetting their benefit for our patients. Having autonomy provides us greater flexibility to rapidly evolve with changing healthcare needs.”

Early adoption of advanced technologies and

techniques offers patients access to state-of-the-art care unrivaled by larger institutions and larger cities.

Whether it is endoscopic, carpal tunnel, patient-specific shoulder planning, or robotic hip or knee replacements, you can be assured that the AOA practitioners strive to be on the cutting edge.

“We were able to acquire robotic technologies before many of the bigger cities in Colorado,” said Dr. Phipps, “and now the implementation of robotics continues to grow nationwide and soon will likely be the standard of care.”

In addition to the physicians at AOA seeking the highest-quality care for their patients, they recognize the need to be cost conscious. For example, in-office hand procedures are offered by Dr. Butzen to help curtail costs.

Ultimately, the practice’s dedication to the local community epitomizes its heartfelt approach.

Dr. Hammond and Dr. Esposito donate their time to help with local youth athletics. AOA also sponsors athletics and local charities. These doctors choose to work, play, and live in Durango, and they’ve made it their home.

“We are vested here,” say Rae.

970-259-3020 • animasorthopedics.com 97

HOM E SWEE T HO M E

Photos courtesy of Quality House Interiors

HOME SWEET HOME

Quality House Interiors: Something for everyone One day last summer, Anitra Jackson, a design consultant at Quality House Interiors, arrived at work to find stacked on her desk a pile of colorful tiles animated with hand-painted fish. The request from the builders at Edgewood Construction and the homeowners was simple: “The house was to be designed around these tiles,” Jackson smiles.

To begin, Jackson connected with the clients, listening as they conveyed their idea to use the tiles as inspiration for three separate bathrooms: a Mexican-tile bathroom, an Asian-inspired bathroom that evoked the feeling of a waterfall, and of course, the fish-tile bathroom. Flooring, bath, and backsplash elements were carefully selected to complement the whimsical tiles.

Throughout the rest of the house, rustic hardwood flooring accents the alpine setting surrounding the house. For the craft 98 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

room, waterproof tiles with a distressed vintage veneer make for the perfect utilitarian solution, while ceramic tiles add an Americana charm to the laundry room.

“Our work is understanding the clients’ priorities and unique goals and then introducing products that blend well with these goals,” says Jackson. “We try to keep choices limited and not too overwhelming.

Sometimes it’s guiding folks in the right direction, but other times we’re learning from them.”

For instance, Jackson says she loved that the fish-tile house features a “paperprocessing room” instead of a home office.

She was so inspired by the cleverness of the concept that she went home and replicated the simple joy in her own home.

“It’s all about how people feel in their house,” she says. “It’s about creating a home where people are happy to be.”

By Joy Martin

Like Jackson, other members of the team at Quality House Interiors are discerning about the products they offer, seeking out premium, CRI Green Labelcertified materials. From plush carpeting to Stonecore, laminate to luxury hardwood or vinyl planks, QHI’s flooring options include the industry’s top-quality brands. Whether emphasizing a mountain view or darkening a room for maximum relaxation, QHI’s selection of shades, blinds, and window coverings meets the full spectrum of needs and desires.

“We’re a customer-centric company,” says owner Ben Kuprevich. “It’s not about closing the sale or selling a specific product but rather making sure it’s the right fit for the customer and the right product for the setting.

No matter who the lead is on a project, Kuprevich says, it’s a collaborative effort,

and everyone gets a chance to look at what’s being designed. In slower times, which are few and far between these days, the Quality House crew keeps their skills sharp through in-house “design challenges.” Designers will take turns picking an obscure color, a common crowd-pleaser, or a tricky budget constraint, then identifying wily ways to design around these puzzles. Such talents come in handy, whether working with a first-time homebuilder or with a client designing their dream retirement home.

“The staff is incredible,” says Kuprevich.

“Their deep product knowledge and years of experience are the greatest assets here. I shine brightest knowing we’re able to offer these quality products and services with the level of professionalism and mom-andpop-store comfort we bring to each job.”

In 2018, Kuprevich came to work at Quality House Interiors with former owner Robert Bisinger and his past (and Kuprevich’s present) partner Larry Latimer, with the idea that maybe someday he’d purchase the company. In January 2020, Kuprevich took ownership and adopted the same values that Quality House Interiors has built into its 32-year legacy: best quality, best service, best prices.

“Renovating or building a home carries a bit of stress when you’re making design decisions that might last the next 10, 20, 30 years,” says Kuprevich. “We see folks come in who are already suffering from fatigue.

But then after figuring out what fits them best, two hours later, I’ll hear laughter out on the showroom floor. That’s the whole point: making it as easy as we can for our customers.”

Much of the clients’ delight comes from the warmth and approachability of designers like Jackson, who grew up dabbling in interior design at her parents’ rental property. As a teenager, she remembers installing carpet with her dad. Later, she and her husband renovated their first home together, right after getting married. This adventure nurtured a passion for creating beautiful spaces, and Jackson accepted a role as a design consultant at Quality House Interiors in 1996.

“Quality House is willing to fairly compensate good employees, which keeps us around for a long time,” says Jackson, who is celebrating her 21st year working at QHI. “No other place in Durango can match the longevity of our showroom consultants and installers.”

Quality House Interiors has a little something for everyone. Beloved fish tiles welcome.

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100 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

LIFE IS BETTER OUTDOORS

21516 HWY 160 Durango, CO (970) 247-1461

Come experience all that Durango Ski & Patio offers • Largest patio furniture inventory in the four-corners.

• Finest brands in the industry with styles, comfort, and quality that will amaze!

www.DurangoSkiandPatio.com 101

AD V ER T ISER I N DE X A Shared Blanket............................................................................................ 30 Aesthetics and Wellness Durango............................................... 79, 101 Adela Flora.......................................................................................................... 85 Affordable Blind Pros.................................................................................... 89 Allison Grassetti, Glacier Club/Wells Group................................... 94 Animas Chocolate & Coffee Co.................................................................71 Animas Museum...............................................................................................55 Animas Orthopedic Associates........................................................ 13, 97 Animas Surgical Hospital/Urgent Care............................................. 84 Animas Trading Company...........................................................................16 Artesanos..............................................................................................................17 Art Hawk Studio............................................................................................... 46 Backcountry Experience............................................................................ 85 Bank of the San Juans................................................................................100 Bar D Chuckwagon........................................................................................ 68 Barefoot Durango.............................................................................................21 Bear Smart Durango......................................................................................55 Bent Elbow, The............................................................................................... 45 Brown’s Shoe Fit Company........................................................................25

102 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

Carol Wilkins Designs.................................................................................. 46 Center of Southwest Studies................................................................... 30 Closets Plus........................................................................................................ 90 Coal Bank Cafe & Deli....................................................................................41 Create Art and Tea.......................................................................................... 30 Crow’s Closet.......................................................................................................16 Dandelion Cafe................................................................................................. 66 Dietz Market.........................................................................................................91 Dr. John Partenope..........................................................................................20 Durango Arts Center..................................................................................... 59 Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering.................................................... 59 Durango Craft Spirits.................................................................................... 66 Durango Dermatology...........................................................................74, 79 Durango Hot Springs Resort + Spa.............................................. 76, 79 Durango Kids Pediatric Dentistry......................................................... 84 Durango Mountain Realty......................................................................... 84 Durango Nursery...............................................................................................91 Durango Organics...........................................................................................92 Durango Ski & Patio......................................................................................101

Durango Smoke Shop...................................................................................55 Earthen Vessel Gallery..................................................................................31 East by Southwest..........................................................................................70 Elevation Custom Builders...........................................................................11 Eolus....................................................................................................................... 69 Fallen Angel, The...............................................................................................21 Fort Lewis College..........................................................................................29 Genesis Land and Waterscapes............................................................ 90 Glacier Club, The................................................................................................ 5 Gold Law Firm, The........................................................................................ 95 Golden Block Brewery................................................................................. 44 Good Karma.........................................................................................................21 Grand Imperial Hotel..................................................................................... 44 Guild House Games........................................................................................24 Home Builders Assoc. of SW Colorado............inside back cover Jack’s Meats, Poultry, Seafood.................................................................67 James Ranch Market & Grill..................................................................... 64 Jerome Bleger, Wells Group...................................................................... 94 Karyn Gabaldon Fine Arts...........................................................................31 Kennebec Wealth Management...........................................................100 La Plata on Main................................................................................................17 Lively.......................................................................................................................24 Louisa’s Electronics......................................................................................102 Magpies Newsstand......................................................................................67 Mamma Silvia’s Italian Kitchen...............................................................70 Mantell-Hecathorn Builders Inc..............................................................29 Maria’s Bookshop............................................................................................25 Molas Lake Campground........................................................................... 45 Music In The Mountains............................................................................. 59 Nature’s Oasis................................................................................................... 65 Nayarit Mexican Casual Cuisine............................................................ 66 Oh Hi Beverage.................................................................................................92 Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour......................................................................41 Olde Tymer’s Café........................................................................................... 63 Pleasant Journey Alpacas...........................................................................55 Pine Needle Dry Goods................................................................................24 Pine Needle Mountaineering................................................................... 74 Primus....................................................................................................................75 Purgatory Resort................................................................................................. 1 Quality House Interiors................................................................................37 Quiet Bear Art .................................................................................................. 46 ReLove Consign & Design...........................................................................21 Reynolds Ash + Associates...................................................................... 58 River Liquors..................................................................................................... 68 Route 550 Gifts................................................................................................. 46 Sachs Residential Construction, LLC..................................................... 9 San Juan Expeditions................................................................................... 44 San Juan Symphony...................................................................................... 59 Sand & Snow Studio......................................................................................47 Scenic Aperture.........................................................................................25, 31 Sears Hometown Stores............................................................................. 90 Signature Furniture Studio/Gallery......................................................47 Silver Creek Design....................................................................................... 89 Silver Summit Jeep Rentals...................................................................... 44 Silverton Chamber of Commerce...........................................................41 Silverton Soapbox.......................................................................................... 45 Silverton Summer Sounds........................................................................ 45 Silverton Weddings....................................................................................... 45 Sky Ute Cultural Center and Museum.................................................33 Soaring Treetop Adventures...............................outside back cover Sorrel Sky Gallery.........................................................................................7, 31 Southwest Ag, Inc............................................................................................81 Southwest Vapor..............................................................................................92 Sparrow Mercantile, The..............................................................................16 Salt 360 Float Studio....................................................................................100 Star Liquors.........................................................................................................93 Stay The Trail Colorado................................................................................ 40 Sunnyside Farms Market........................................................................... 69 Sutter Net Positive Homes.......................................................................104 Supernova Furniture & Sleep Gallery...................................................91 Teddy Errico, LIV Sotheby’s International................................ 94, 96 Tequila’s Mexican Restaurant...................................................................70 Tim Papi, Coldwell Banker..................................................................81, 94 Tippy Canoe.........................................................................................................17 Toh-Atin Gallery..........................................................................................31, 33 UltraSteam/RugMasters............................................................................. 89 Urban Market......................................................................................................25 Wesley Berg Photography..........................................................................47 White Eyes Gallery..........................................................................................47 Wize Owl Handprints.....................................................................................47 Woodhouse Day Spa, The.................................Inside front cover, 78

LO CA L G IV I N G

Courtesy of The Hive

Courtesy of Necro Productions

THE HIVE

WHERE COMMUNITY IS QUEEN!

By Billy Grimes

There’s a lot of buzz these days about The Hive, one of Durango’s newer nonprofit organizations. Founded in 2020, the youth-focused community hub is currently located in downtown Durango.

The Hive offers a variety of programs to advance life skills and foster self-reliance through creative performance and recreational opportunities.

Drawing from the success of SOS Outreach, a winter-based national mentoring program, The Hive was co-founded by Kelsie Borland, Jeff Hammer, and Alex Vick to create year-round opportunities for Durango’s youth. They expanded on their own interests in snow/skate boarding, art, and music to create a place for young people to become empowered and accomplished. Imagine having your first gallery opening or stage performance.

These threshold events can help conquer

fear and doubt and be helpful in facing future challenges.

The core values of The Hive are selfreliance, responsibility, courage, discipline, integrity, wisdom, compassion, and humility. Many of these are conveyed through workshops that encourage young people to pursue their passions, and they are confidently led by adult mentors who share those same passions.

Volunteers are encouraged to consider facilitating a workshop or chaperoning an event.

The Hive is unique in that it is all-inclusive in its efforts to help. Although it offers mainly youth programs, it is open to anyone, with no age limit. I stopped by on a Freestyle Friday, and a group of 20- to 30-year-olds were learning how to silkscreen. Throughout the winter, The Hive, in collaboration with The Dandelion Café, featured a biweekly soup fundraiser for families needing assistance.

As a resource center for multiple organizations in Durango, The Hive wants to cross-pollinate to strengthen the entire community and beyond. They believe that working together increases each other’s reach and impact. They’ve painted murals all around town and are part of the Dumpster Beautification Project

and the Durango Learning Lab at the Powerhouse Science Center. They’ve also partnered with The San Juan Board of Cooperative Educational Services to do suicide-prevention work.

This summer, they will offer full-time programs for both local and visiting youth. Although The Hive charges for participation, they offer donation-based fees as well, meaning pay what you can if you can. They will never turn away a young person or keep them from participating if they cannot pay. There are monthly memberships as well and opportunities for scholarships when available.

The future looks sweet for The Hive, with goals that include a performance stage and an indoor skateboarding facility. For more information, check the website at www.thehivedgo.org.

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Looking for a New Home in SW Colorado?

970.317.2216 | sales.sutterhomesco.com

104 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall

2021

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COVER PHOTO:

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SOARINGCOLORADO.COM 970-769-2357 106 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall