Top 10 Things to Do in Historic Downtown Durango, Colorado
(in Horsefly History’s Opinion)
Horsefly History Tours- Take a ghost or Wild West history guided walking tour of Downtown Durango. Hangings, gunfights, and brothels abounded. Fun and interesting way to learn about Durango’s history in just a couple of hours. You’ll never view Durango the same.
El Rancho Tavern - Historically a pool hall and saloon. The Central Hotel was located on the upper floor; today, rental apartments. Bessie Rivers, a beloved Madam, owned this French-inspired building built in 1892 and the building directly to the south. She was the Madam of the Horseshoe Club, the nicest parlor house in town. Bessie’s lavish apartment was located where Colorado Grow is. The El Rancho is a local dive with the oldest liquor license in Durango. One of the most haunted bars in town!
Durango Winery - Get off the beaten path and taste local, Colorado wines. This tasting room is in a unique French catacomb-vibed historic basement. You’ll feel warm and secluded. Perfect for a romantic date night.
The Subterrain - One of the most unique and creative venues in town. It’s an ever-changing art installation (a Meow Wolf vibe). Check their website for live events such as plays, comedies, and music. They have a great bar featuring sake, wine, cocktails, and cider. You can rent the space for private parties too! A perk is that it is very haunted; they even have a haunted chessboard! Makes sense since the space was once a mortuary!
The Starlight Lounge is a lively bar with a great patio! There’s almost always some type of fun entertainment in the evenings. Best of all, they serve Rocky Mountain Oysters! A staple reminiscent of the Old West. I Dare you to try them!
Perbacco Cucina Italiana - A culinary gem just steps from the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Depot. Two Italian best friends and their wives started Perbacco. The restaurant is located in the old “Palace Restaurant”. The building was originally ‘The Palace Hotel’ constructed around 1890.
El Moro Tavern - A local favorite, with farm-to-table cuisine, El Moro is also the site of Durango’s most infamous gun fight back in 1906. Learn in-depth about this event on a Horsefly History Tour!
May Palace - Ling has owned and operated this restaurant for over 30 years! She prides herself on keeping her prices low so that everyone can afford a good meal. If Ling isn’t too busy she might just tell you some ghost stories. The May Palace is located in the historic (and extremely haunted- like, extremely) First National Bank Building. Closed to the public, the basement of the May Palace has an original wooden bowling lane built by the first Marshall of Durango, Marshall Dwyer.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Museum is just plain fun to get to! Walk through the depot (as if catching a train - no ticket necessary). Follow the tracks and arrows to the South and you will see a brick building housing the free museum. Inside, are amazing artifacts, an incredible model train, a toy soldier collection, and a super creepy and very haunted boxcar! It’s a historic (1883) sleeper car with beds and a small kitchen. If you don’t feel a vibe in there, you must be dead.
Durango Rivertrippers and Adventure Tours - you can’t really experience Durango to its fullest without jumping on or in the Animas River. Experienced, fun, and professional guides will make sure your afternoon is full of adrenaline and laughter. Tell them Horsefly sent you!
Visit the Durango Welcome Center for the latest information about what to do in and around Durango. The incredibly helpful and knowledgeable people at the downtown Welcome Center will guide you in the right direction.