Monte Vista Area Guide

Known as “Mountain View” in Spanish, the Monte Vista is a vibrant city nestled in the heart of Colorado’s San Luis Valley. Monte Vista is surrounded by breath-taking sights and offers visitors and residents alike an eclectic array of activities and events for every interest type. Explore Monte Vista’s lush parks and National Wildlife Refuges, discover the area’s rich history, and enjoy the high quality of life and satisfaction you’ll receive when you visit Monte Vista. For more details about Monte Vista, CO please visit their official website http://www.cityofmontevista.com/ or the Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce website at: http://www.monte-vista.org/

History

Monte Vista can trace its beginnings back to 1881, when the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad built a railroad siding named Lariat. Lariat served the early settlers from Swede Lane and Rock Creek. Mrs. Lillian Fassett set up the L.L. Fassett general store south of Lariat in 1882. Henry Taylor, Maurice Pelton, and Hiram Mash bought acres of land in 1882 to start a homestead near the Lariat town site.

Theodore C. Henry, a land promoter, arrived at the town site and brought excursionists from the east to invest in a new town. Henry also borrowed great sums of money for his land and canal ventures. Chauncey S. and Henry J. Aldrich joined Henry to form the Henry Town & Land Co. Then in February, 1884, the Aldrich brothers purchased the Lariat town site from Maurice Pelton for the Henry Town & Land Co.

This town site soon became known as Henry and was incorporated on May 1, 1884. Henry had borrowed more money than he could repay and suddenly left town and his debts. In July, 1885, the Travelers’ Insurance Co. of Hartford Conn. took over the Henry interests. They invested heavily in the new town with land and buildings, compromised with C.S. Aldrich who had lost most of his investments, and made a request for Aldrich and Judge White to rename the town.

The town was soon renamed for the mountain vistas surrounding it and was incorporated as Monte Vista on July 3, 1886. One of Monte Vista’s greatest triumphs was the acquisition, in 1892, of the State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home. Ski-Hi Stampede, established in 1919 and held each July at Ski Hi Park, is the oldest Pro Rodeo in Colorado. Discover this and more information about Monte Vista’s rich history by clicking here: http://museumtrail.org/MonteVistaHistory.asp

Monte Vista, CO nearby Attractions & Activities

San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuges

The beautiful San Luis Valley is over 100 miles from north to south and 50 miles from east to west, backdropped by mountains in three directions. The surrounding mountains provide the valley with pure surface water, as well as an expansive underground reservoir. It is because of this precious water that two National Wildlife Refuges were able to be formed in the San Luis Valley. These wetland refuges are known as the Alamosa and the Monte Vista and are located near the heart and on the edge of the Valley. Discover more by visiting: http://www.fws.gov/alamosa/.

Colorado Gators Reptile Park
Colorado Gators Reptile Park is home to the biggest alligators in the West. With over 23 years of experience, Colorado Gators Reptile Park is a working fish farm and reptile rescue facility. The Reptile Refuge is home to Nile crocs, over 300 alligators, rattlesnakes, giant pythons, ostriches, emus, and over 125 species of birds have been spotted at the park including the rare Great Egret. To learn more about Colorado Gators Reptile Park, please visit: http://www.gatorfarm.com/

Best Western Movie Manor Motor Inn
The Best Western Movie Manor Motor Inn is truly a unique experience. Come stay in the world’s only movie motel. Every room faces a giant outdoor movie screen and sound is piped right into your room. You don’t have to even get out of bed to see a movie at Movie Manor. The Hotel also offers a well-stocked snack bar filled with popcorn, sodas, candy, and much more. Only G, PG, and PG-13 movies are shown from May through September. Find out more about the Best Western Movie Manor Motor Inn by visiting: http://coloradovacation.com/motel/movie/.

Creede Historic Museum
The Creede Historic Museum is housed in the one-story wood frame depot that was built in 1891. The depot was originally built during Creede’s boom days, when the Denver & Rio Grande railway extended its line through Creede to support the mining operation. During the height of the boom, the Creede depot held a telegraph office and offered passenger services on the trains that came and went twice a day. Freight was brought in and ore was shipped out of Creede up until 1973. To learn more about the history of Creede and the Creede Historic Museum, please visit their official website at: http://www.museumtrail.org/creedehistoricmuseum.asp

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
Constructed in 1880, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad was in use until 1969. The railroad was originally constructed as part of the Rio Grande’s San Juan Extension, serving the silver mining district of southwestern Colorado. The railroad’s use began declining in 1893 with the passing of the Sherman Act, but regained some of its former vigor during a post- World War II natural gas boom. The line’s use slowly declined until 1969 when the Interstate Commerce Commission granted the Rio Grande’s request to abandon the line completely, thus ending the last use of steam locomotives in general freight service in the United States.

Shortly after this decision, most of the track was dismantled, however a number of railway preservationists and local civil groups got together to save the most scenic portion of the railway line. In 1970, the states of Colorado and New Mexico jointly purchased the track and line-side structures from Antonito to Chama, nine steam locomotives, over 130 freight and work cars, and the Chama yard and maintenance facility. Today the railroad is operated for the states by the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission and the Friends of the Cumbers & Toltec Scenic Railroad to preserve and interpret the railroad as a living history museum for the benefit of the public, and for the people of Colorado and New Mexico, who own it. To learn this and more about the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, please visit their official website at: http://www.cumbrestoltec.com/history.

The Rio Grande County Museum
Originally opened in 1959, The Rio Grande County Museum offers visitors a rare glimpse into the area’s history ranging from the Indians and Hispanic settlers and the mountain men fur trappers and traders to later settlers who came in search of land, freedom, gold, and silver. The Museum provides a comprehensive exhibit of Indian rock art, lecture series, gift shop, a variety of exhibits of contemporary regional artists, and special programs for school children. The Rio Grande County Museum offers a number of stimulating learning opportunities for visitors of all ages. Discover this and more information about the Rio Grande County Museum by visiting them online at: http://www.museumtrail.org/RioGrandeCountyMuseum.asp.

Parks and Recreation

Monte Vista’s Parks Department is responsible for the landscape and maintenance of over 72 acres of city owned land including: Chapman Park, City Hall/H.M.O., the Adrian Gutierrez baseball field/tennis courts, Sanchez Park, Uptown Parking Lot, Fullenwider Park, Island Park, the three parks that make up Montez Park, the two parks that make up Marsh Park, the City’s Softball Fields, and the Library. For more information about Monte Vista’s Parks Department, please visit: http://www.cityofmontevista.com/parks.htm

The Monte Vista Recreation Department provides a multitude of high-quality recreational opportunities for the residents of Monte Vista and the Dan Luis Valley. The Monte Vista Recreation Department offers supervised activities, programs, and instruction that meet the needs and desires of Monte Vista and Dan Luis Valley residents. The Department also provides safe and clean rental facilities for trade shows, special events, parties, conferences and conventions at affordable prices. The Monte Vista Recreation Department manages Ski Hi Park and provides recreational sports for youths ages 4 -14 and recreational sports for adults 16 and up. Find out more about the Monte Vista Recreation Department by visiting: http://www.cityofmontevista.com/recreation.htm.

Events Calendar

Monte Vista is home to a number of fun and exciting events year round. Come out and be a part of holiday festivals, rodeos, and fun for the whole family. To find out more about these exhilarating events, please visit Monte Vista’s official community events calendar at: http://www.cityofmontevista.com/events-calendar.htm