Durango Delivers
Subtle Sophistication, Strater Style
By Stacey Lane and C. Scott Palmer
The Animas River carves an unobstructed path southward from the Hurricane Peak region then thunderously pours into mammoth canyons. Somewhere, sometime ago in those deep chasms, during the Spanish occupation, a group of explorers, unwitnessed, capsized on the waters and were tragically never found. Since last rites of the Catholic Church could not be administered, they believed the dead men's souls could not enter heaven and therefore were relegated to Purgatory. For this reason, the river’s name was given and translates to “The River of Lost Souls”. It spills from the canyons into a sinuous, oxbow path until the water reaches the valley section that the explorers named “Urango”, meaning “water town”.
Durango is a bejeweled city, etched into the mountainsides of Southwest Colorado during the reign of American railroading and is the heart of the Animas River Valley, just south of Oxbow Park and Preserve. It’s a reward for travelers and adventure seekers, originally founded in 1880 by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Company. The legendary, allegedly haunted Strater Hotel, awaits guests eager for Old West flavor, captured permanently in the design, but with a 21st Century environmentally-friendly touch.
The Strater Hotel is a must-see time travel experience inside and out. Known as “The Jewel of the Rockies”, it’s the architectural equivalent of a red velvet cake, laced in gold leaf with rich white frosting, baked in 1887 by William Strater and presented with welcoming pride. After entering the ornate front doors, guests check in to stay in the 93 appointed rooms that blend with the Old West mood. A stroll through its halls reveals the world’s largest collection of Victorian Era walnut furniture. Display cases are filled with items that would have been found in a quality hotel in the 1880’s.
Photo; The Victorian, Old West splendor of the historic Strater Hotel has been warmly welcoming travelers for 133 years, and has become an award-winning, environmentally friendly example of hospitality in the 21st century.
As a member of the Historic Hotels of America, the Strater is appropriately designated a “museum”, thanks to the wide scope of its antique collection. Did that railroad worker in the lobby just disappear? The fact is, many guests have claimed sightings, from the back alley to the lobby, of several anachronistic workers of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gage Railroad.
Durango’s only Old West Saloon, The Diamond Belle, is an essential feature in the Hotel. The period costumes of the bar staff and the ragtime piano entertainment are reminiscent of that bygone era. Enjoy great food served by the “Belle Girls”, piano music and local musicians throughout the four different restaurants inside the hotel.
Strater's Food and Beverage Team recycles as much food waste as possible through aggressive composting and by donating to local food pantry organizations. Notably, the hotel received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) designation for environmental efforts. The areas of concentration include encouraging guests to recycle glass, paper and cardboard, upgrading windows, lighting, heating and cooling systems, as well as installing high-efficiency plumbing fixtures and more.
Famous guests of the Strater include President John F. Kennedy, comedian Will Rogers, legendary author of westerns Louis L’Amour and the Apollo 16 Astronauts. It is estimated that well over 1.5 million people have stayed at the Strater over the past 133 years.
The Strater Hotel is located two blocks from the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, 35 miles from Mesa Verde National Park and is centralized to the nearby adventures offered at the Animas River and San Juan Mountains. The hotel has partnerships with Durango Rivertrippers and Adventure Tours, The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge RR, and the Purgatory Ski Resort.
Durango's architectural heritage is visible along Main Avenue. Take a walking tour of Downtown Durango's living history and be sure to visit the Animas Museum to learn more about Durango's rich heritage. Durango boasts wonderful weather and views, boosted by 300 days of sunshine a year. The backcountry of Southwest Colorado is a perfect getaway for all seasons, with a taste of history’s mysteries, making Durango, Colorado, a destination for that bucket list.
To learn more visit; www.strater.com and www.durango.com
Photo; The beauty of Southwest Colorado is captured in any section of the Animas River, under a sun that shines for an average of 300 days every year.
An example of one of the gorgeous walnut display cases that adorn The Strater Hotel. This cabinet features a Native American headdress and other items of regional cultural interest.