Durango Colorado - Durango was founded in 1880 as a railroad town to supply the silver and gold mines in the San Juan Mountains to the north. It boomed in the early days and became the smelting center for ore. When mine production began to decline in the early 1900's, Durango's area's year round climate , farming and ranching and scenic beauty kept this unique Colorado Mountain town thriving.

The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Train is famous and considered as one of the top train rides in the world. Durango has also year round recreation from hiking, biking, jeeping, rafting, fishing, hunting, skiing, to excellent sight seeing and shopping in locally owned stores that have been owned and operated by the same families for generations, many still occupying their original Victorian buildings in the Historic Downtown area. The town is earning a reputation as an artist community and mountain bike capital of the US.

Durango, now a town of around 15,000 residents, sits in a small valley surrounded by red sandstone bluffs. The Animas River runs through the valley. Durango is home to Fort Lewis College, also known as the Campus in the Sky, and provides your lodging in “BBIC Inspected and Approved” B&B's/Inns, like Blue Lake Ranch and Lightner Creek Inn B&B.

Less than an hour from town, visitors will find Mesa Verde National Park, one of the world's most important Historic sites and home to the Cliff Dwellings.

Durango Mountain Resort, formerly Purgatory is just 20 minutes north of Durango and offers some of the finest skiing in the Southwest.

The influence of the Spanish and Native American populations still living here gives a unique flavor to Durango.