Salida, Colorado is Making its Way to the Map

A strange little thing is happening to Salida. Sure, we’re an unpretentious, laid back, mountain town. Sure, we offer world class fishing, cycling and mounting biking. Sure, we have some of the best whitewater in the country and a sweet ski area that’s a locals hot spot. A large historic downtown, burgeoning art scene, a growing collection of great restaurants, fifteen 14,000 foot peaks, several area hot springs, and an abundance of public land. Not to mention, the grounding influences of cattle ranches, a goat dairy and agriculture.

One thing Salida hasn’t really had, however, is a name for itself.

Maybe it is because Salida sits in the shadow of the better-known, higher-elevation, resort towns like Aspen, Vail and Telluride, that it has been slower to arrive on the scene, and on the map, but a strange little thing has been happening. Salida  has been popping up over and over again in the media. Both the May 2012 and June 2012 issues of Outside Magazine, America’s leading active-lifestyle and adventure-travel magazine, make mention of Salida area attractions.

In May’s, Destinations section dedicated to the National Parks, you’ll find, pinned between Bryce Canyon, Utah and Joshua Tree, California – Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado, which is about an hour from Salida.  Set in the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the dunes cover 19,000 acres and rise up to 750 feet, making this a great place to go sand sledding and sandboarding. Curious? Rentals are available at Kristi Mountain Sports in Alamosa, and just like the article says, after you return your board, stop into Alamosa’s, San Luis Valley Brewing Company, for a cold one.

June’s mention, of the Arkansas River, is a bit more predictable. Every year more than a million people float down the Arkansas River – that’s akin to the entire City of San Francisco going whitewater rafting. It’s a unique river and a destination for anglers, kayakers, rafters, and whitewater trill seekers. Want to celebrate whitewater, join us for America’s Oldest & Boldest Whitewater Festival, FIBArk, June 14-17.

Not only has Salida and the surrounding areas received honorable mention in these last two editions of Outside, it was in the top 5 and the first runner up for Native Eyewear’s Locals Only project.  What does this mean? I can only assume it means that Salida is about to take it’s rightful place on the map as one of Colorado’s most desirable mountain towns. If you’d like to make this your place on the map as well, contact me about the real estate possibilities here in Salida, Colorado.

Hale Chamblee
Broker Associate
719.22.4637
hale@weshlilrealestate.com