Colorado, Part 3

August 31, 2025:

DURANGO:

Bike Ride on Animas River Trail:

Nancy, Gerry, Sybil and Casey rode for about an hour on the Animas River Trail in Durango. There was some public art in Santa Rita Park.

Bike Ride on Animas River Trail

Droplets Mural at Santa Rita Water Reclamation Facility

Unknown Art by Unknown Artist

Whispers in Water by Alex Bond

Train at Santa Rita Park

Double Jack by Clyde Doney

Parade Formation by Mick Reber

Freenotes Musical Ensemble by Freenotes Hamony Park

11th Street Station:

We ate lunch in downtown Durango at 11th Street Station:

Lunch at 11th Street Station

Golf at Dalton Ranch Golf Club:

Bob Barnhardt generously got us a tee time for nine holes at Dalton Ranch Golf Club.

Nancy at Dalton Ranch Golf Club

Dalton Ranch Golf Club

August 30, 2025:

DURANGO:

Destination Ranch:

We were fortunate to attend the wedding of Cameron Barnhardt and Alyssa Swan at Destination Ranch just outside Durango.

The Wedding Setting

Gerry, Casey, Sybil and Nancy

Destination Ranch

August 29, 2025:

CORTEZ:

Cortez Public Art:

Cortez has a number of interesting murals.

The Prospectors by Mariah Kaminsky

Designated Driver by Automne Mosher and Arica Dean

Tree of Life by Mariah Kaminsky

The Rancher by Kathleen King

The Teaching Garden by Arlina Yazzie

Four Seasons and a Banquet by Various Artists

Untitled by Unknown Artist

Art in the Alley by Various Artists

Untitled by Randy Battaglia

Stonefish Sushi Mural

Puebloan Village by Buford Wayt

Imagine a World Where All Children Thrive by Emily Spahn

Child Advocacy Center Public Art

Love Messages by Phil ‘PC’ Conner

Untitled by Otter Lopez

Four Seasons by Kathleen King

TrueValue Bird and Rooster

Harvest Time: McElmo Peaches by Brad Goodell

Eudaimonia by Phil ‘PC’ Conner

Community and Children by Deborah Lux-Harriman and Students

Classic Convertible

The Old Spanish Trail by Mariah Kaminsky

Working for a Living by Brad Goodell and David Sipe

Blondie’s Trophy Room

Cortez Cultural Center:

Community arts hub offering programs & exhibits on Native American & Western art, dance & poetry.

Cortez Cultural Center

Exhibits

Artwork

Hogan

Canyon of the Ancients:

We toured the Visitor Center and Museum and walked 1 mile roundtrip to the Escalante Pueblo.

Entrance to the Visitor Center and Museum

Artwork

Exhibits

Ancestral Puebloan Pit House

Rabbit Skin and Feather Robes

Decorated Stones

Photograph of Escalante Pueblo at Night

Hiking to Escalante Pueblo

Escalante Pueblo

Mesa Verde National Park:

Mesa Verde National Park is known for its well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, notably the huge Cliff Palace. We visited the Mesa Verde Visitor & Research Center, the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum, the Spruce Tree House Cliff Dwellings and the Cliff Palace.

Mesa Verde Visitor & Research Center

Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum

Spruce Tree House Cliff Dwelling

Cliff Palace

DURANGO:

Durango Public Art:

Durango has several sculptures and murals, as well as other interesting public art.

Toh-Atin Art Gallery

Town Plaza Mural

El Rancho Tavern Mural

Paper Airplane Mural

Olga LIttle and Her Burro Mural

Catacombs Fitness Collective Public Art

The Basket Dance by Glenna Goodacre

Newspaper Delivery Boy

Radiant Cat by Claudia DeLong

Snake Mural

Durango Cyclery Mural

Brad Goodell Mural – Smiley Building

Semper Fi by P. Davis

Past, Present, & Future by Brian Saren

American Legion Mural

Puck by Elizabeth Macqueen

Ben Rogers Mural

Cowboy and His Dog Statue

August 28, 2025:

MONTE VISTA:

Monte Vista Public Art:

Our first stop on our way from Alamosa to Cortez was Monte Vista, Colorado, which has a few murals and an annual Sandhill Crane Festival.

Cheryl Ann Davis Morris Mural

Unknown Mural by Unknown Artist

Ski-Hi Stampede Mural by Jamie Brodie

Agriculture in the San Luis Valley Mural by Jamie Brodie

Sandhill Cranes Silhouettes

Carved Wooden Bear

Monte Vista Elks Lodge Mural by Jamie Brodie

DEL NORTE, COLORADO:

Madonna of Penitente Canyon:

In the mid-1980s, in an act of equal parts devotion and audacity, three local Hispanic men belonging to a Catholic sect known as Los Hermanos Penitente (the Penitente Brotherhood) painted a mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe high up on the walls of Penitente Canyon.

According to the local legend, the Hermanos Penitente behind the mural used three lariats tied together and an old car tire to suspend themselves and their paints from the canyon wall.

Trail to the Madonna of Penitente Canyon

Madonna of Penitente Canyon

La Ventana Arch:

This arch is different from many of the others you’ll find scattered around the southwestern United States. Rather than being formed from uplifted sandstone as most arches are, the Ventana Arch formed within a magma intrusion called a volcanic dike.

La Ventana Arch

PAGOSA SPRINGS:

Pagosa Springs Public Art:

Pagosa Springs has a few murals, some public art and the nice Tennyson Sculpture Park and Garden.

East Side Market Building with Skis and a Rooster

River Tribute by Karen Roberts

Two Owls, Bird and Puma by Chad Haspels

Four Seasons Mural by Markus Hughes

Adrenaline Designs Mural

Bootlegger Mural

Bell Tower Park Building Doors

Tennyson Sculpture Park & Garden:

This sculpture park and garden was dedicated by Evelyn Tennyson to her husband, Michael Tennyson.

Tennyson Sculpture Park & Garden Sign

We Still Share the Sunsets by Donna Merchant-Crooks

‘Song of the Spirit’ Wind Harp by Ross Barrable

Cosmic Sun by Ross Barrable

Wind Eagle by Dustin Miller

Seasons’ Shed by James Ferrari

Metamorphosis by Toni Martin

Native by Dave Lamure Jr.

Harmony by Ross Barrable

Blue Sun by Chad Haspels

San Juan Riverwalk:

We walked a couple of miles along the San Juan Riverwalk, enjoying the natural beauty, some public art, and the multitude of natural hot springs along the path.

Aspenglow by Caroline Butterfield

San Juan River Walk Sign

San Juan River

Wind Harp by Ross Barrable

Playground Sculpture

Swimming Bears by Kelly Lewis

Natural Hot Spring by the River Walk

“Hippie Dip” Hot Springs Pool in the San Juan River

Hot Springs Resorts

Peaceful San Juan River

A Warm Welcome by the Chimney by Betsy McDowell

The Geothermal Greehouses

Beehives and Sunflower

Unknown Sign by Unknown Artist

MANCOS:

Dave Sipe Folk Art:

If you like folk art, or just art in general, this is a must-see. Wood carvings of all shapes and sizes adorn the studio, and you just have to stand in awe of Dave’s talent.