Montrose (Colorado)

Montrose is the second-largest town in western Colorado. Located on the valley floor, Montrose is surrounded by the photogenic mountain ranges of the Uncompahgre Plateau to the west and snow-capped San Juan mountains to the south.
The Uncompahgre Valley was the ancestral home of the Ute nation. But in the late 1870s, the lure of the gold and silver deposits in the area proved too great for the white settler population to resist. Tensions boiled over with the Meeker Massacre in 1879. Pushed to the breaking point by the Federal government's attempts to disband their nomadic way of life, the Utes killed several whites and launched the so-called Ute War. Initially successful, the Utes were forcibly relocated to Utah, and the southwest corner of Colorado, near Cortez.
Two months after the Utes were evicted, in December 1881, the town was founded. In the early days, Montrose was known variously as Pomona, Dad’s Town, and Uncompahgre Town.
Eventually, the town was named after Sir Walter Scott's historic novel, "A Legend of Montrose" because the area reminded Joseph Selig, the town founder, of Scotland's lake country.
Montrose served as a supply depot to service mining towns like Ouray, Silverton, Telluride and Durango in the San Juans, raising cattle and sheep to feed the miners. By 1882, the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Co built a narrow gauge railroad from Montrose to Silverton.
Besides mining and ranching, orchards were a part of the area's agricultural history. The mines went into decline, and agriculture became the center of Montrose's economy. Settlers worked the fertile valley soil producing fruits, grains and vegetables. By the late 20th century, grape growers had discovered the area's potential for raising white wine varietals, and Colorado's wine industry migrated south from Grand Junction and Palisade. The West Elks American Viticultural Area was formed in 2001. Ranging from 5,400 feet (1646 m) to 6,400 feet (1951 m) above sea level, West Elks comprises the highest vineyards in North America.
Montrose now serves as a recreational hub for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts. Leisure travelers can hike, camp or enjoy boating and fishing in the surrounding national parks, forests and recreation areas. The town is a laid back mix of ranchers, farmers, ski bums, aging hippies and jocks.
The busy tourist months are in the summer, with most travelers just passing through in the winter on their way to Crested Butte and Telluride.

By plane

• Montrose Regional Airport

  phone: +1 970-249-3203
  address: 2100 Airport Road
  Regional service from Denver. Used most heavily during ski season. Cafe, vending, restrooms, car rentals.

There are also airports in Denver and Grand Junction.

• Denver International Airport, (DEN). Commonly referred to as DIA. It is located about 20 miles to the east of downtown. Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines all maintain hubs at the airport in Concourses A, B, and C respectively. Most other major domestic carriers also have service here.
• Grand Junction Regional Airport, (GJT), otherwise known as Walker Field, is served by six airlines with nonstop service to Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. Some service is seasonal.

By car

• US 50 runs east-west through town, from Grand Junction to the west and east to Gunnison and Pueblo.
• US 550 comes in from Albuquerque ending at the corner of Townsend Avenue and Main Street, in Montrose.

By bus

• Greyhound Bus Lines

  phone: +1 970-249-6673
  address: 1360 North Townsend

If you want to travel around town, then you will need to rent a vehicle. Prices are the same as across the United States. Downtown Montrose is easily navigated by foot.

• Budget Rent A Car

  phone: +1 970-249-6083

• Dollar Rent A Car

  phone: +1 970-249-3770

• Enterprise Rent A Car

  phone: +1 970-240-3835

• National Car Rental

  phone: +1 970-252-8898

• Thrifty Car Rental

  phone: +1 970-249-8741

• Cimarron Railroad Exhibits

  phone: +1 970-249-4074
  See authentic restored 1880s locomotives and trestles from the Denver & Rio Grande Narrow Gauge Railroad

• The Climbing Tree Children's Museum

  phone: +1 970-240-8733
  address: 400 N. Townsend Ave
  Construction zone, kid's kitchen, toddler tumbling mat, infant stimulation and parent resource library, booknook tree house, arts and crafts room, chalk and magnet walls, live small animals, puppet theaters, dress up and performance stage.

• Montrose Botanic Gardens

  phone: +1 970-249-0742
  address: 1800 Pavilion Dr
  Flowers, rock gardens and ornamental fruit trees, with the West Elks Mountains as a backdrop.

• Montrose County Historical Museum

  phone: +1 970-249-2085
  Focuses on early day pioneer life: buggies, wagons, farm implements and a completely furnished homesteader's cabin. The inside houses a country store, railroad memorabilia, a children's corner, Indian artifacts, and musical instruments,

• Museum of the Mountain West

  phone: +1 970-249-4162
  address: 68169 E. Miami Rd
  History of the region from 1840 to 1940. Open air museum with a series of Wild West buildings arranged like a town.

• Ute Indian Museum & Ouray Memorial Park

  phone: +1 970-249-3098
  Commemorates the life and culture of the Ute nation. Located on the farm once belonging to the famous Ute leader, Ouray, and his wife, Chipeta. The grounds include the Ouray Memorial and the grave of Chipeta.

Skiing

• Crested Butte
• Telluride

• Powderhorn Ski Resort

  phone: +1 970-268-5700
  address: 48338 Powderhorn Rd Mesa Co 81643

• Cerro Summit Recreation Area

  phone: +1 970-240-1411
  address: 433 S. 1st St
  Maintained by the City of Montrose for sledding, ice skating and cross country skiing.

Golfing

• Black Canyon Golf Course

  phone: +1 970-249-4653
  address: 1350 Birch
  18 holes, open to the public.

• The Links at Cobble Creek

  phone: +1 970-240-9542
  address: 699 Cobble Dr
  18 holes, a driving range and restaurant.

Wine Tasting

• Visit Colorado's Wine Country. Colorado is home to over 70 wineries and its own indigenous vineyards, the highest in North America. Wine lovers can enjoy many vineyards around Montrose, as well as several scenic day trips to many of the small towns that grow their own grapes. These lovely little communities include Palisade, Paonia, Grand Junction and Hotchkiss.

• Around the Corner Art Gallery

  phone: +1 970-249-4243
  address: 447 E. Main St
  Montrose's top fine art gallery. 20 Colorado Western Slope artists, exhibiting original paintings, sculpture, pottery, metalwork, crafts.

• Asian Antiques & Designs

  phone: +1 970-249-7047
  address: 219 Main St

• SheShe Boutique & Gallery

  phone: +1 970-249-4944
  address: 340 East Main St

• Garlic Mike's

  phone: +1 970-249-4381
  address: 103 Rose Ln
  New Jersey-style Italian cuisine. Red-checked tablecloths, outdoor dining. Menu ranging from escargot to veal scalopinne picata. Cell-phones off policy makes for a relaxed, slow-paced atmosphere.

• Remington's at the Bridges

  phone: +1 970-252-1010
  address: 2500 Bridges Dr.
  Casual elegance with five-star service and local organic produce. Dine inside or out, with beautiful mountain views

• Jo-Jp's Windmill Restaurant

  phone: +1 970 240-8678
  address: 2133 E Main St
  Excellent food and service for half the price. This place is popular for breakfast because they open early.

• Smuggler's Brew Pub & Grill

  phone: +1 970-249-0919
  address: 1571 Ogden Rd
  Gyros, Philly Cheese steaks, grilled burgers, burritos, pasta and baby back ribs. Pale Ale, Wheat, Stout and Porter, as well as Martinis and Cosmopolitans.

• Best Western Red Arrow

  phone: +1 970 249-9641
  address: 1702 E Main St

• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

  phone: +1 970 240-1800
  address: 1391 S Townsend Ave

• Canyon Creek Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +1 970-249-2886
  address: 820 Main St
  Convenient Main Street location in an old farmhouse. Social setting since this bed and breakfast also has a cocktail lounge. Massages available with reservations. Sunny, coffee-colored rooms with ensuite bathrooms and flat panel TVs.

• Country Lodge

  phone: +1 970-249-4567
  address: 1624 E. Main St. Montrose, Colorado 81401-3809
  The Country Lodge has a rustic charm unlike any other motel in Montrose. There are 22 rooms, some have kitchens, some have themes, and most have patio access to the beautiful garden and pool courtyard. The heated pool is seasonal, but the hot tub is open year round. All rooms are ground level and have parking in front of them. There is also parking for large vehicles on the property. Also features a 1200 sq ft cabin that is ideal for families or extended stays.

Camping

• Cedar Creek RV Park

  phone: +1 970-249-3884
  address: 126 Rose Ln

• Centennial RV Park

  phone: +1 970-240-3832
  address: 23449 US 550
  Full hookups, tent sites, hot showers, laundry, convenience store, play area, heated pool. Open May 1 - Nov. 1.

• Hangin' Tree RV Park

  phone: +1 970-249-9966
  address: 17250 US 550
  Full hookups, pull-throughs, showers, laundry, convenience store, gas, liquor store, propane. Year round.

• Kings Riverbend

  phone: +1 970-249-8235
  address: 65120 Old Chipeta Tr
  Shady, large big-rig sites on the river, 50 amp service. Fisherman's choice.

• Montrose RV Resort

  phone: +1 970-249-9177
  30 and 50 amp hook-ups plus free cable and free wireless internet. Heated pool open seasonally. Laundry facilities and restrooms.

Internet Access

Most Starbucks, hotels and coffee shops throughout the region offer wireless Wi-Fi access. But if you don't have a computer, try the public libraries.

• Montrose Public Library

  phone: +1 970-249-9656
  address: 320 South 2nd St

• Main Street Essentials Day Spa

  phone: +1 970-252-0381
  address: 204 South Uncompahgre

• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - A deep, narrow gorge twelve miles east of Montrose via US 50 and Colorado 347.
• Curecanti National Recreation Area - The visitor center is located just off US 50 on the access road to Morrow Point Dam, 20 miles east of Montrose.
• Grand Mesa National Forest - Grand Mesa, the world's largest flat top mountain. Located 45 miles north of Montrose.
• Ouray - This National Historic District and lovely town has natural hot springs, fine shopping and restaurants. It is only a 45-minute drive south to the grand San Juan Mountains.
• Uncompahgre National Forest - Over a million acres comprise some of the most spectacular views. Located south of Montrose.