We’ve recently returned from a family trip to Durango, Colorado, a place that has been on my bucket list for years, not only for the western vibe but mostly because of the infamous train ride that it’s known for.
Like most everyone else who has visited Durango, we took the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train through the San Juan National Forest, an authentic ride through the mountains and wilderness much as it would have been back in the late 1800s. After 3 1/2 hours (which didn’t seem nearly that long thanks to our entertaining guide and beautiful scenery), we stopped in Silverton for a 2 1/2 hour visit before we boarded the bus back to our VRBO. (We took the bus back since it was literally 2/3 of the time faster, but we could have returned by train if we’d wanted a reverse view of what we had seen going up. LOL)
If I thought Durango had a western vibe, it had nothing on Silverton.
Quaint and full of history, we had our choice of restaurants to go for lunch, and we ended up going to the Lacey Rose Saloon, a bar and restaurant next to the legendary Grand Imperial Hotel. After a lovely meal, we meandered out of the saloon and stopped short at the bar. Though the hotel was built in 1882, the beautiful back bar was added in 1902. Made of tiger wood maple and graced with large mirrors, its carvings are stunning for the Victorian period.
And here’s the best part.
While in the throes of Silverton’s silver mining hey-day, outlaws and prospectors alike spent time in the saloon to slake their thirst and engage in some spirited gunplay. Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and Bat Masterson were among them, and if you look closely, you can see that a bullet once pierced that beautiful tiger wood maple above the mirrors. Folks say it was Bat Masterson’s bullet. If true, either he’d fired a warning shot that day–or he wasn’t as good of a shot as he was known for.
Now this is interesting. Once my ex-military brother spied this photograph, though, he made a certain detail clear. That bullet was a casing–not a bullet projectile and therefore not Bat Masterson’s bullet. The saloon’s bartender did say it was a .38 special casing that had been placed there as a landmark in the last twenty or thirty years to help people locate the hole.
Hmm.
Was the hole originally made by Bat Masterson’s bullet, then filled in with a modern-day .38 casing for the tourists’ benefit? We may never know for sure, but all stories start somewhere, right?
That’s what legends are made of.
Do you have someplace that’s on your bucket list to visit?
(I want to go on a cruise to the Bahamas! And then maybe to Ireland . . . )
Have you been to Durango? Silverton? On the Durango-Silverton train?
Pam has written 30 romances, most of them historical westerns, but she's proud of her contemporary sweet romances featuring the Blackstone Ranch series published by Tule Publishing, too! Stay up on the latest at www.pamcrooks.com
European castle tour.
Good morning, Denise! You’re such an avid P&P fan, I didn’t realize you had an interest in castles! They’d be fun to see, including their countryside. Do you read Regencies? I could never keep the dukes and the earls and royal lineage straight. LOL.
I love Regencies! Cowboys and Dukes are my jam. lol
I want to go to Ireland, England and Sweden.
I’ve heard so-o many good things about visiting Ireland, Rhonda. England is so rich in history, and my husband, too, has always wanted to go to Sweden.
I hope you make it to all three of those places some day!
I’ve been to the Bahamas and Ireland. I would love to go to Australia and New Zealand, but I’m heading to Hot Springs National Park tomorrow to research an upcoming book set there.
I love how much you’ve traveled, Janice! Did you take a cruise to the Bahamas?
I have a friend who has literally traveled the world, and she said of all the places she’d been, Ireland was her #1 favorite.
Good luck with your research. One of the best–and most fun–parts of writing a book!
Ireland is definitely #1 on my bucket list. England and Scotland would be next, with Fiji or the pacific islands.
I would enjoy visiting a place that brings the Old West to life, to enhance my reading experience.
Another Ireland fan, Danielle!
I hope you get to Durango and Silverton some day. Ver-ry Old West! Deadwood, SD, is another good place if you enjoy western history.
At my current age, nearly 80, I have been so many places in the US, there is very little of interest left for me. I would love to revisit Hawaii and my husband has always wanted to go to Alaska. We both are just using wishful thinking. We have been out west more than once in our lifetimes and enjoyed exploring all the old haunts of the infamous gun slingers. Durango and Silverton have not been one of the places we visited, unfortunately. Your trip sounds terrific and something we would enjoy very much.
Never say never, Judy!! I believe traveling is one of the best parts of growing older and retirement. I feel like I have such a bigger appreciation for the world and our country, all that God created for us to enjoy.
That said, it’s not for the faint of heart. You have to have some savvy to get around. So much is done online, too.
Hawaii is on my bucket list! We’ve been to Alaska – a cruise – and it was fabulous. So different than Nebraska where I live!
We loved Silverton and Durango. Beautiful areas to travel through. Amazing beauty! Good for you to enjoy those awesome cities.
Yay that you’ve been to Durango and Silverton! I assume you took the train? And I know you enjoyed Deadwood, too. You’re quite the traveler – good for you!
No – I did know even know about the train. Darn!
Kathy!!! That’s such a bummer!
I’ve not been out west, except to San Antonio. I don’t have a bucket list to visit – l’m almost 73 and my husband has dementia so we don’t go to far from home.
San Antonio would be fun to visit. I’ve always wanted to stroll the Riverwalk, and you don’t get much more western than Texas!
We don’t know what the future holds, Karijean. Maybe you’ll get to build that bucket list some day.
no not been there – but I have been on a cruise – it was not long enough!
Yay, Teresa! Everyone should experience a cruise. They’re amazing, and you’re right, not long enough. So much to do and see.
Where did you go on your cruise?
I want to take an Alaskan cruise and visit Hawaii. Those are the only 2 states my husband and I haven’t traveled to. That probably won’t happen because we are 70 and 73, but our next road trip will be to Utah to the canyon lands.
How fortunate you are, Elaine, that you are so well traveled. Honestly, the Alaskan cruise was SO WORTH it! I’ve never heard a single bad thing about one, and they are so popular. We enjoyed every minute when we went.
But I must say Utah is also on my bucket list. My daughter’s family went there last year on vacation, and the scenery. WOW!!
I think I would like to visit that town
Maybe some day you will! Silverton and Durango are delightful, but for me, Silverton more so. My blog didn’t have enough room for all that I could have written about.
Italy is on my bucket list
Ooooh, Italy!! Yes, yes. Absolutely for me, too. Even though I’m only half-Italian, I was raised Italian, and my family spoke often of Italy. In fact, I can’t believe I haven’t been there yet. Sheesh!
We both need to make it happen, Jcp, right? 🙂
Gettysburg is definitely on my bucket list
Ah! I’ve been there! I forgot about that. Rich in our country’s history, for sure!
We took the train to Silverton. Enjoyed this greatly and the town. Love the authenticity of Western towns.
Unfortunately Durango has changed greatly.
I also loved Leadville. So much atmosphere and very special.
Hi, Anne! Durango was much bigger than I thought it would be. 20,000 people, I heard? Almost impossible to keep the town with a strong western vibe as Silverton. Dodge City, KS, is another place that is proud of showing off its western heritage.
We didn’t go to Leadville, though we saw the signs. Maybe next time!
Hi Pam , yes we have been to Durango on the Train and we really enjoyed it. It has been along time ago and I wouldn’t mind going again. That is for sure on my Bucket list to go back to Durango on the train. Thank you for sharing this with us I really enjoyed reading it especially since we have gone on the train, at the time we went there was a miners exhibition, my husband used to mine in the Uranium mines in NM. Another place I would love to go by train is where the Red Cardinal birds are abundant. Have a great day and a great rest of the week.
Yay, Alicia! I’m glad you enjoyed the train and Durango. I wonder how many thousands and thousands of people have made that trip over the years? 🙂
Oh, I haven’t heard about the red cardinals! Ever since my parents passed away, cardinals have become special, and I would truly enjoy a train trip there. Thanks for mentioning it!
I would love to visit Ireland and Scotland, since I am part Scot/Irish. I would also love to go to Hawaii.
Hi, Bonnie! You’ve chosen some popular places as those you’d love to visit. All three countries have been mentioned numerous times today. Add me to the Hawaii list!
Pam, I would dearly love to visit Durango. It looks so rich in history. The only place that comes close I think is Cimmaron, New Mexico. That was a huge outlaw town with shootings and things every night. The St. James Hotel there was amazing. It also had bullet holes in the ceilings and carved wooden bar. We used to stop there all the time on the way to Red River, New Mexico but when we went this time, the hotel had closed and was up for sale.
What an absolute shame about the St. James Hotel. I’m sure those old buildings were a real money pit to maintain, but hopefully some history-minded investors will come along and keep it going. Such a loss of history if they don’t.
Boy, seeing those bullet holes in the ceiling and wooden bar sure would get my imagination going of the rowdiness that went on in there! Fun!
I want to go to Ireland, Scotland and maybe Hawaii
You would not be alone Quilt Lady. All lovely places, for sure, with so much history. If I were ever to go to Hawaii, Pearl Harbor would be on my must-see list.
Growing up, family vacations meant going off the beaten path. My Dad had a love affair with steam locomotives. So, if there was a steam train anywhere near our “destination” we’d be on it. Long before it became a trendy thing to do, we rode the train from Durango thru the San Juan Mountains along the Animas River, aka, “El Rio de las Animas” or “the River of Lost Souls” to Silverton, years before it was “discovered” and became touristy.
Oh, interesting, Carol! We hiked in the San Juan Mountains (I even saw a bear running along our path not that far away!) You sound very familiar with the area and your memories!
My husband worked for Union Pacific all his career and loves steam engines, too, like your Dad.
Glad you’ve experienced the train!
We have been on the Durango to Silverton train. But the time we went, it only went half way before it went back. I can’t remember if it was the weather or time of the year that made that necessary.
I have several places fighting to be on the top of my bucket. list. Angkor Watt, Machu Picchu, the Galapagos Islands, Ireland, and Scotland. The last two are the most realistic. I’m afraid age, bad hips and knees have made the first 3 a bit unrealistic. I am still game to try them, but my husband, not so much.
You are such a free spirit, Pat! My goodness. Even if you never go to those places you mentioned, you’ve been to so many others that most people will never experience.
When we took the Rocky Mountaineer train through the Canadian Rockies (beautiful, beautiful trip), the railroad was threatening strike, and then they sure enough did. They had to cut our train ride short and put us all on buses instead. They even refunded part of our trip, which I thought was classy of them.
I have always wanted to ride the Durango to Silverton train – it’s still on my bucket list!
I hope it happens for you, Ginni! It’s so nice to just sit in your seat and look through the big windows and enjoy the wilderness, all while listening to your guide. We loved it!
I always wanted to go on an Alaskan cruise.
I hope you get to, Linda. They are such a big difference from Caribbean/Mexico cruises. The scenery is stunning. Our Alaskan cruise was one of our favorite vacations ever.
No I have never been But someday I would love to visit Montana !
Montana is very western, too. Probably a little too isolated for me, but beautiful country.
Hi Pam, We have always wanted to go to the Grand Canyon. Some of my friends have gone & they say it’s beautiful. Love reading your books, your reader always.
Good morning, Lois! The Grand Canyon is spectacular. Just gorgeous. We went on the Skywalk, and it will be forever imprinted in my mind. Scary and impressive, all at the same time.
Thank you for your kind words about my books. Warms my heart, dear lady.
No I haven’t but I would love to go on that train and see all of the beauty of the area. I been on several trains here in New England and is just has beautiful scenery. My dream always have been to go to Scotland to see the all beauty that Scotland as to offer. Of course there is lot of place I still love to bee here in the United States like Colorado, Montana.and the great lakes that in my bucket list.
We truly live in a beautiful world, Sandy. I’m a Midwest girl, and I don’t get out your way often, but I would to go to New England again. Maybe a cruise to see all the historical sites.
I hope you get to see some of the places on your bucket list.