Over the years, Durango has been a source of inspiration to actors and directors filming award-winning movies and famous authors penning Western novels. Athletes have shattered records and made global news from our trails and slopes. And bubbling beneath all this is a rich and storied history.
Here are seven reasons Durango should make your Colorado bucket list:
1. It’s the Hollywood of the Rockies
With 2 million acres of wild national forest at our doorstep, it’s no wonder this southwestern city has been chosen as the set for movies and film more than 30 times. Some of the many movies shot in Durango since the early days of film include “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” “A Ticket to Tomahawk” and “City Slickers.” You can even visit the exact spot where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid plunged into the Animas River. The scene was shot at Baker’s Bridge, just north of Durango, and it's perfect for an afternoon picnic.
2. Culinary Creativity Abounds
Once known as the city with more per capita restaurants than San Francisco, Durango has always served as a foodie’s paradise. You might even spot some Durango delicacies on your grocery store’s shelves, from Ska Brewing beers and Honeyville honeys, jams, jellies and sauces to Durango Diner Green Chili and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory sweets. Durango chefs, brewers and artists earn awards year after year for their creative dishes.
3. It's a Haven for Professional Athletes
Our fresh, dry powder and trails that snake through spruce forests with breathtaking views make Durango a city where outdoor adventure is considered a near-religious experience. Competitions like the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic and the Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run draw impressive athletes from around the country.
From Ross Anderson, known as the “The Fastest Skier in All of American History,” and Olympian Ruthie Matthes to world-class mountain bikers like Ned Overend, Bob Roll and Missy Giove, famous athletes have sought out Durango for its unrivaled terrain, trails and outdoor-sporting community.
4. Authors, Artists & Celebrities Find Inspiration Here
A number of famous artists and writers have called the historic hotels of Durango their home away from home over the years. At the Strater Hotel on Main Avenue, you can slumber in the exact room where Louis L’Amour wrote his famed Sackett Series. About a block away, the Rochester Hotel pays tribute to Durango’s motion-picture history, with each room’s decor referencing different locally filmed Western movies. The General Palmer Hotel, named for the Civil War general who built it in 1898, has hosted celebrities like Michael J. Fox, Tanya Tucker, Christie Brinkley and Ed Marinaro.
And that’s not all — Sticker Art, created by artist Bryant AuCoin, was inspired by the scenic mountain vistas that can only be found in Durango.