It is a new state for us: Colorado! It was once again kinda sad to be leaving this very beautiful and diverse state. We have been in New Mexico for five weeks and it is time to move on. We have seen so much from the southern hot and dry desert of Alamogordo to Carlsbad Caverns to the high desert in Santa Fe to the northern NM mountain ski resorts in Taos and Angel Fire. Wow! Now we continue our journey northward to La Veta, Colorado and the Rocky Mountains!
The Relocation
This leg of the journey will be 149 miles and the only mountain driving is on the interstate, I-25. Just exactly the distance that I like to drive. Our RV park is a few miles off the highway in the small town of La Veta. La Veta is a small town of 800 people located right next to the Spanish Peaks, some beautiful 14k foot snow covered mountains. The last few miles into town were awesome as the Spanish Peaks were to the left and a volcano to the right.
Circle The Wagons RV Park
This is a nice full hook up small RV park of only 45 sites. The owners are very friendly and they have a nice clubhouse, laundry, and showers. They were full up over the Memorial Day weekend, but we arrived about 1:00 pm on Monday and it was mostly empty. They also have a nightly gathering around a very nice propane fire pit. Not a ton of amenities. My favorite aspect was the park was only a two block walk to the downtown shops. LINK
La Veta
Let me begin by saying that I absolutely love small town USA. Everyone knows each other and most are very friendly. The whole downtown is a two block area where you can find the only small grocery, a bakery, couple of coffee shops, a wine bar, and many art gallery/craft shops.
They also have a nice museum and library in this downtown metro area. The day we arrived, I found the local fitness center. Small, but well equipped, and they take my Silver Sneakers membership! Sweet! I’ve gone everyday at 9am for my workout and think I’ve met half the town! 🙂 Just a reminder to double click on any of the small photos for a full size image.
View from RV park 
Inside the fort museum is the original post office. 
The old school house. 
The bar from Walsenburg. Interesting history. 
History of the bar.
I could live in a town like this during the summers. Winters can be very rough with 300 inches of snow this last winter. Yessir, that is 25 feet of that white powdery stuff. Maybe we try renting a place one summer after RVing. I don’t know. Trish on the other hand prefers the larger town living. But, to live at the base of the Spanish Peaks…
The history of the town begins in 1862 with the building of Fort Francisco, a trading post for the local settlers. Part of this fort still stands today with its two foot stucco walls and is a museum today. The fort had to repel attacks from the Ute Indians.
In 1871, the settlement was named Spanish Peak and a post office was established. New settlers came to the area with the arrival of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. The narrow gauge railroad, which crossed La Veta Pass, was the highest U.S. railroad pass at the time.
Mining was the principle economic driver during the early years. More recently the winter skiing industry failed and the county does not have many jobs. The younger folks have to move away to find employment.
The town hall 
La Veta Inn
Bakery – I sampled! 
The Spanish Peaks
You begin to see these beautiful snow capped mountains as you exit off of I-25 to make the 15 minute drive west to La Veta. And they continue to grow as you get nearer. From Wikipedia: The Spanish Peaks are a pair of prominent mountains located in southwestern Huerfano County, Colorado. The Ute Indians named them Huajatolla (pronounced Wa-ha-toy-a), meaning “two breasts.”
The two peaks, West Spanish Peak (13,626 ft and East Spanish Peak (12,683 ft), are east of, and separate from, the Culebra Range of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. West Spanish Peak is the second easternmost mountain over 13,000 ft (4,000 m) in the United States, second only to Pikes Peak.
Cuchara, Colorado
Everyone told us a must see when in La Veta is to take Hwy 12 up into the mountains to this tiny ski town. It is 12 miles and about 20 minutes south of La Veta through some very picturesque mountain countryside. So, on our second day in town we drove up to Cuchara for lunch. It is a very quaint village of 50 people at 8,500 feet elevation. During the summer months, the population swells to 2,000 as folks come here from Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. For more info LINK.
The Dog Bar and Grill was recommended since the fine dining restaurant is only open on weekends. We both had their 1/2 pound burgers. Very good.
The popular hiking trail at Blue Lake is closed due to the deep snow cap this winter is still melting. So, we just walked around town a bit and chatted with the shopkeepers.
We drove almost to the closed gate on this gravel road. 
That wraps up our five day stay in La Veta, Colorado. Thanks for following along. On June 1st, we pack up and move northward again to Colorado Springs and Cheyenne Mountain State Park. Take care and God Bless.
Great pictures and journaling!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Thank you for following along with us!
Looks like a great little village. If Patricia like bigger places the Colorado Springs should cover that.
Glad you are enjoying Colorado.
Robert
Yep, she should not have a trouble shopping in Co Springs!
Love that area. Spent a week in LaVeta exploring the area
I think that you and Fred have been everywhere at least once!
Been meaning to La Vera this past summer and stayed at the old Lady Veta Inn. It was like stepping back in time. Far removed from the corporate cookie cutter hotels, this is a place a mountain-loving Texan likes. Perfect mix of western mountain and southwestern romantic-rustic.
That is a great description of this small western town!