Travel Buddies: Pete & Joan

Living the Dream, One Trip at a Time

Durango

We started the Colorado portion of this trip in Old Town Durango—a vibrant, walkable slice of Colorado history. This isn’t some dusty old district locked in the past; it’s a lively, full-swing celebration of the town’s Western roots.

Aerial view of Old Town Durango, Colorado, showcasing a vibrant downtown area surrounded by mountains and greenery.

We strolled the entire downtown area, flanked by impeccably preserved Victorian buildings that now house quirky boutiques, old-time candy stores, general stores with creaky wooden floors, Western wear emporiums, and art galleries.

View of historic buildings in Old Town Durango, showcasing Victorian architecture and shops.
Vibrant buildings in Old Town Durango, showcasing a mix of Victorian architecture and modern elements, with a clock tower visible against a clear blue sky.
Bronze sculpture of three horses in a grassy area, with a historic building and a yellow train visible in the background.
Historic Durango train station with a yellow train alongside and mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.

Durango is a “Wild West Gem”! Founded in 1880 by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, Durango entered the scene during Colorado’s mining boom. Thanks to its proximity to Silverton’s gold and silver mines, Durango quickly transformed into a thriving railroad hub. Today, the historic heart of the town still oozes frontier flavor.

The Legendary Strater Hotel

View of the historic Strater Hotel in Old Town Durango, illuminated at dusk, showcasing its Victorian architecture and surrounding area.

Our basecamp was none other than the Strater Hotel, built in 1887 by pharmacist-turned-visionary Henry Strater. With 376,000 native red bricks and intricate hand-carved sandstone cornices, this place shouts history.  It is Victorian opulence on full display. Eighty-eight uniquely decorated rooms boast the world’s most extensive collection of American Victorian walnut antiques. It’s a museum you can sleep in!

Our first assigned room? Let’s just say it lacked that frontier magic. So we swapped it for a delightful nook at the back of the hotel, complete with a front-row seat to the steam locomotives puffing by. The thunder of the train, the whistle slicing through the air… it was like living inside a western movie! And yes—we’d be riding that very train the next day!

Since 1925, nearly 30 movies have been filmed in Durango, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The guest list at the Strater is no less legendary: President Gerald Ford, author Louis L’Amour, and even members of the Apollo space missions have all stayed here.

A historical collage showcasing famous moments at the Strater Hotel, featuring black and white photographs of notable figures and events, framed in ornate wood.

Scenes around the hotel:

An antique phonograph with a wooden case and intricate details, surrounded by vintage storage containers.
An ornate vintage letterbox mounted on a wall, featuring brass detailing and engraved text that reads 'LETTER BOX' and 'U.S. MAIL'.
This is the hotel’s original mailbox!
A display case featuring vintage Stetson hat boxes, glassware, and antique women's boots, showcasing historical memorabilia.
An antique Edison phonograph housed in a wooden box, surrounded by vintage tins and a patterned wallpaper backdrop.

Dinner and a Show at the Diamond Belle

Signage for the Diamond Belle Saloon featuring an illustration of a showgirl holding a cocktail, with decorative text in a vintage style.

Dinner was served with a side of time travel at the Diamond Belle Saloon, located right inside the hotel. Picture waitresses in flouncy 1880s saloon dresses (Pete looked very pleased!)

A man smiling next to a woman dressed in a blue corset and wearing a feathered headpiece, sitting at a table in a vintage saloon setting with other patrons in the background.

and a ragtime piano player tickling the ivories.  The experience transported us straight into the Wild West—thankfully, with indoor plumbing. 

Durango wasn’t just a nostalgic stop—it was also the rendezvous point for our travel partners, Chris and Bonnie Baird, and Jane and Conrad Paul, who’d just driven in from Tucson. We were ready to begin our Southwestern Colorado adventure!

June, 2025 traveling Colorado with the Bairds and Pauls