Greetings from Durango, located in southwest Colorado, at the foot of the San Juan Mountains, where we are keen to check out the area as a possible “short-list” candidate to call home sometime in the future.

Gold fever struck the area in 1860 as hundreds of miners camped out hoping to make their fortunes from gold, and silver, in the mountains surrounding the town.

The town of Durango was founded some twenty years later by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Company along the banks of the Animas River to serve the San Juan mining district. Within a year, the city’s population had sky-rocketed to nearly 2,500 with people arriving from everywhere to work in the smelters and mines, and on the railroad.

Today, the town’s population is in excess of 18,000. For the outdoor enthusiast, Durango has something for everyone: breathtaking scenery with both the San Juan National Forest and Mesa Verde National Parks within easy reach; biking and hiking trails galore, plus river rafting and fishing. When winter snow falls, Durango soon becomes a ski paradise with Ski Magazine calling it one of “America’s Top 10 Ski Towns” featuring slopes for every skill level.

There is also a charming downtown area that is a Nationally Registered Historic District and home to boutique hotels, restaurants, craft brew-pubs, art galleries and shops.

The backdrop of one of Miss Poppy’s walks today in the San Juan National Forest while we were checking out properties and land for sale!