Why Durango?
Durango's a great place for a vacation home...
First, we're more than a ski town...we're a real community offering an incredible life style, amenities and recreation galore, a four-year liberal arts college, and just a half-hour to one of America's most popular national parks, Mesa Verde. Durango is easily assessible by air; the LaPlata County Airport, 30-minutes from downtown, is serviced by Frontier, United and U.S. Airways. We also have a private airport just outside of town that accommodates prop-driven and corporate aircraft.
Let's start with great skiing...
According to Ski Magazine, Durango Mountain Resort (aka Purgatory) enjoys the best skiing weather in the USA! We've got views that leave you gasping, terrain for beginners, cruisers for intermediates, and bumps and tree skiing for experts. Mountain expansion programs created great new on-mountain amenitites: new restaurants, new recreation facilities, clubs, shops and much more. Add the expanded tree skiing in Paul's Park for advanced shussers and you've got yourself a real winner!
Add our great LOCATION!
We've got location! Want a break from the mountains? In 30 minutes you can be in historic downtown Durango enjoying a myriad of restaurants, bars, shops, galleries, and even live shows with name entertainers at nearby Fort Lewis College. Enjoy Durango's historic narrow guage railroad by taking a trip from the downtown depot to Silverton, a mining community sitting 9000 feet above sea level. Pass through the rugged mountains along the raging Animas River and see the largest wilderness area in the lower 48 states first-hand.
And Activities for everyone...
Have friends or loved ones with a physical or cognitive disability? They can enjoy the mountains while you catch some air on Styxx. The Adaptive Sports Association (ASA) of Durango operates a ski/snowboard school on the mountain and offers lessons and instruction in skiing and snowboarding. ASA draws disabled athletes and those wishing to become one from across the country. If you own an Alpenglow townhome, you can ski right to ASA's door at the bottom of the Columbine trail. Let ASA show you how disabled people of all ages can enjoy winter sports and how easy it is for anyone to learn. Regardless of the disability or injury, ASA has the right equipment and instructors to let everyone enjoy the slopes at Purgatory!
Lots of apres ski and fun for non-skiers...
Need a break from skiing/ How about a picturesque sleighride into the back country? Nearby outfitters, such as Buck's Livery, operate sleighrides tours and packages during the daytime and evenings.
Only here: Durango's Snowdown Winter Carnival...!
The last week of January marks Durango's Annual Winter Carnival aptly named "Snowdown". From the theme-based parade on Friday night and lots of escapades at local watering holes, to funky events like kayak races down the slopes at Purgatory and hot air baloons skirting the cliffs in the North Animas Valley, Snowdown provides winter theraphy to locals and visitors alike. Mark your calendar and join the fun! Ah yeah...watch out for the elk!
There's much more to do in Durango! Check out our Gallery page for photographs capturing local scenery and other popular events. There's always something going on in Durango...become part of it!
