Mancos

Folks usually discover Mancos on their way to somewhere else. Just six miles east of the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park, they stop by the town's visitor center in search of park information or a good place to eat. Something magical happens, however, once they step onto the quaint, historic streets of town. They find themselves smiling as they dial up a room at one of the stunning mountainside bed and breakfasts or the sweet in-town motels. Many decide to lengthen their stay and spend the night in a lakeside yurt, camp and hike in the wild lands at 12,000 feet or bed down inside a historic fire tower with 360-degree views of aspen-laden forests.

Mancos is situated on the Mancos River, a rich riparian habitat for wildlife and a birder’s delight. The downtown is a designated historic gallery district that includes the celebrated Mancos Opera House and the picturesque first buildings constructed in town. Mancos boasts little shops that brim with unique gifts and wonderful art. If the stomach growls, visitors can choose from home cooking, local organic fare and regionally grown and produced wines, not to mention an old-time bar from way-back-when.

Come and see why Louie L’Amour made the Mancos area his home and the settings for his books. Explore the primal connection between Mancos, the home of the Wetherill family who discovered the mysterious cliff dwellings, and Mesa Verde National Park.