We had the pleasure of staying the night in the southwestern Colorado town of Durango a few years ago on one of our long, cross-country treks and were delightfully surprised at what a cool place it is. As is the case with many of our trips, we wished we had budgeted more time to see this awesome city, with its authentic old west feel and retro vibe. Much of it looks as it would have a hundred years ago to this untrained eye, and a grizzled Walter Brennan riding down the main drag saying the word "pie-annie" instead of "piano" would not have been out of place. There are lots of amusing signs and great storefront windows to peek into. All of our usual budget motel suspects were booked the night we pulled in, so we ended up staying at the General Palmer Inn, a fabulous downtown old west hotel from 1898...the kind of place you picture Wyatt Earp frequenting. We salute you Durango...you're the rootin'-tootin'-est, six-gun shootin'-est, cowboy bootinest town this side of the Rio Grande (and I don't mean Mahatma Gandhi).
Jan, We would have loved to take that train ride but we were headed home and had to keep to a schedule. That's the problem with driving on long trips...so much to see, so little time!
The Indian sign was previously installed at the Chief Restaurant: https://www.flickr.com/photos/edge_and_corner_wear/6013385534/
I have always suspected that it advertised for a Pontiac dealership originally. Pretty much identical to the one in Cincinnati: https://www.flickr.com/photos/agilitynut/3810323051/
Did you happen to take the train ride to Silverton?
ReplyDeleteJan, We would have loved to take that train ride but we were headed home and had to keep to a schedule. That's the problem with driving on long trips...so much to see, so little time!
ReplyDeleteThe Indian sign was previously installed at the Chief Restaurant:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.flickr.com/photos/edge_and_corner_wear/6013385534/
I have always suspected that it advertised for a Pontiac dealership originally. Pretty much identical to the one in Cincinnati:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/agilitynut/3810323051/
Note both signs had waving arms.
Thanks, Debra. Always love to hear the back story from a road scholar!
ReplyDelete