PAGOSA SPRINGS
 
 
 

Some one hundred thirty eight years ago when

Captain J.S. Macomb, U.S. Army on discovering

the area elatedly wrote, "There is scarcely a more

beautiful place on the face of the earth", he was

 indeed more right than wrong.
 
 
 
 

One of the largest natural hot mineral springs

Pagosa a Ute Indian word meaning boiling water

lies astride the swiftly flowing San Juan River

that now along Hot Springs Boulevard

divides the rapidly growing resort town.
 
 
 
 

The seat of Archuleta County, not far from

Treasure Falls and Wolf Creek Pass, with

Pagosa Peak at twelve thousand six hundred and

thirty four feet, interspersed with Alpine meadows,

national forests, rivers, reservoirs and lakes,

the majestic San Juan Mountains stand ever

as guardians over an expansive valley, that

includes the Anasazi Indian Ruins at Chimney Rock,

Ignacio, headquarters of the Southern Ute

Indian Tribe and Pagosa Springs itself.
 
 
 
 

These days the town now grown to city size

entertains tourists from around the globe

not only with golf and ghost town tours,

hot mineral baths and wagon rides,

but also with hikes and from nearby Durango

harrowing narrow gauge mountainous train rides.

Known for winter's heavy snow, one

pleasant waitress confided, "We were

snowed in for three days and couldn't

go anyplace for a while."
 
 
 
 

Most folks come to have a pleasant stay,

meet new and old friends and experience

"vacation time." Though a few new friendships

may become more permanent most visitors when

their time is up, just pack, move on and forget the rest,

that is, until their next vacation visit back.
 
 
 
 

HERBERT HOLZBAUER
©Fall 1997