Rifle, CO: Our top 5 Reasons to visit this vibrant downtown!

Rifle – A Brief History

The land that Rifle resides on was once in the heart of the Ute Nation, a classification of the Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin. 

Rifle became more and more settled as the 19th century gave way to the 20th. In 1889, the railroad cut through from the east and ended in Rifle for a while before connecting lines were completed. This opened up the floodgates for new travelers, settlers, and trade and Rifle became a thriving hub for commerce. If it needed to be shipped east to a buyer’s market, or shipped west into ranching country, it came through town. Rifle was incorporated in 1905.

The first major economy known to Rifle was ranching. The land surrounding the town was arid, and much of it was unsuitable for farming without irrigation. 

The next economic boom involved energy production. Rifle is located in the east portion of the Piceance Basin. The basin is home to different forms of fossil fuels, the largest quantity of which is oil shale. However, the unreliability of this fossil fuel has left the city in the throes of a cycling boom and bust economy.

As of 2007, an organization called the Campaign to Save Roan Plateau has been engaged in an effort to minimize oil and gas drilling on the top of the Roan Plateau, which locals call the Bookcliffs due to its distinctive appearance.

#1. Enjoy a snack on Main Street – downtown has a variety of places to meet up and hang out!

We decided to have lunch at the Brewzone in downtown Rifle. Good food and beer and a fun vibe! There are plenty of other options for a snack and a meet-up with a friend.

• Brewzone Rifle – Google Maps – We enjoyed our lunch at the Brewzone!
• Sweet Coloradough – Google Maps – donut shop!
• Forever Sweet CO – Google Maps – another bakery
• Promex Bakery – Google Maps – Yet another bakery
• Tutty Frutti Ice Cream – Google Maps – and icecream 🙂

#2. Main Street restaurants and shops

There is a large variety of restaurants on Main Street (3rd Street) as well as many other shops and businesses. This downtown has many options for local shopping and eating!

• Midland Arts Company – Google Maps – We LOVE a local art shop!
• Brickhouse Pizzeria – Google Maps
• Whistle Pig Coffee Stop & Cafe – Google Maps
• Cafe 168 Pho and Ramen – Google Maps
• Thai Chili Bistro – Google Maps
• TAPATIOS FAMILY MEXICAN RESTAURANT – Google Maps
• JALISCO GRILL – Google Maps
• Lilly’s Kitchen – Google Maps

#3. Walk around – enjoy the neighborhoods, the shady trees and the view!

Downtown Rifle is several blocks away from I70 junction, so traffic speeds are reasonably slow and pleasant for walking. There are also many trees for shade. We enjoyed our walk through a nearby neighborhood, where we could see the pretty bluffs north of town.

#4. Rifle has Theaters, Museums, Groceries, Library, Swimming Pool – all walkable from Main Street!

During our visit we saw (and later read about online) several interesting things to do in and near the heart of downtown Rifle! Below are several examples.

• Rifle Heritage Center – Google Maps – the Rifle museum is a block off of Main Street and gets good Google Reviews!
• Rifle Branch Library – Google Maps – Thea Garfield County Library is a block off of Main street and had lots of community based programs!
• Ute Theater and Events Center – Google Maps – check out all of these live concert events! Website Link. This structure has an interesting history as well as an inspiring renovation story. We know from other places that restoring and repurposing an old theater is a major undertaking and are impressed with the effort in Rifle!
• Brenden Rifle 7 Theaters – Google Maps – a modern movie theater near downtown!
• Bookcliffs Arts Center – “The Bookcliffs Arts Center is located in Rifle Colorado and is dedicated to providing the surrounding region with unique and diverse programming and events which meet the needs of our burgeoning artistic community. We are always seeking to foster stronger public appreciation of arts and culture”
  • Community Classes
  • Hilltop Concert Series – Free concert series hosted every Sunday Evening from the first weekend of June to the first weekend of August
  • Sunrise Arts Garden – “provides community-maintained garden plots in order to promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle through gardening while facilitating access to fresh produce to Center members within our local community“
  • Stonehouse Art Gallery – supporting local artists!
• Rifle Metro Pool – Google Maps – .located at Metro Park, about a mile walk/bike from downtown

#5. Rifle makes a home base – there is so much to do and see in the area!

The geographical features surrounding Rifle are beautiful! We were not surprised to learn that there are many outdoor activities available to experience and enjoy the area’s beauty.

• The Flat Tops – Real Western Adventure – The Flat Tops features a canyon system in the White River National Forest, projecting like fingers into the high plateau. 
• Roan Plateau Area – Real Western Adventure – The Roan Plateau has miles of trails and jeep roads. It is an ideal place for hiking, mountain biking, fishing, ATVing, hunting, horseback riding, and camping
• Mamm Peak – Real Western Adventure – a few minute’s drive from town the landscape transitions from desert pinyon-and-juniper country to a classic Colorado mountain, with many hiking options
• Hubbard Mesa Recreation Area – Real Western Adventure – colorful desert landscape of mesas and rock hoodoos at the base of the Roan Plateau
• Rifle Riparian Zone – Real Western Adventure – located just south of the fish hatchery and features hiking trails, a series of small cascading falls, and beautiful fishing ponds, all along Rifle Creek
• Battlement Reservoirs – Real Western Adventure
• Cedar Mountain Area – Real Western Adventure
• Rifle City Trail map (pdf)
• Rifle Interactive Adventure map of regional trails, lake access and other sites (online)

Annual Events

• May: Rifle Rendezvous – “There is a little something for everyone at Rifle Rendezvous!! The family friendly event takes place at the Garfield County Fairgrounds and features following: Carnival, Car show, Bull riding, Vendors, Live music, Skate/scooter/ BMX competition, and more!”
• May: Annual BBQ Cook Off – “Come enjoy music and family games while tasting a variety of craft beers and voting for your favorite pulled pork! This Rocky Mountain BBQ Association sanctioned Backyard contest will feature amateur smokers competing for bragging rights and cash prizes in Brisket, Ribs, and Pork as well as a People’s Choice category in pulled pork”
• Summer: Hilltop Concert Series (Sunday evenings throughout the summer – “The Bookcliffs Arts Center presents the Hilltop Concert Series each Sunday throughout the summer from 6pm to 8pm. The free concert takes place at the Bookcliffs Art Center on 16th St and Birch Ave and features some of the best musicians in Western Colorado“
• Summer: Rifle Farmer’s Market (Each Friday from mid June to early Sept) – “The Rifle Farmer’s Market takes place at Heinze Park in Downtown Rifle. The market features fresh products from local farms & artisan food vendors, live music, kids area, playground equipment, and more“
• July: Fourth of July Eve Celebration
• July: Garfield County Fair
• December: Hometown Holiday -“Rifle celebrates the holidays in style with Hometown Holidays! The annual event features a festive weekend that includes a parade, fireworks, performances from Symphony of the Valley at the Ute Theatre, screenings of a holiday movie at Brenden Theatres, and much more!“

Organizations that support Community

A wide variety of Organizations support the Community of Rifle. A few of them are listed below:

• Rifle, CO – Official Website | Official Website
  • Downtown Development Authority | Rifle, CO – Official Website – “The Downtown Development Authority works to improve the downtown area in Rifle. It was formed in 1982 by a vote of property owners and residents within the DDA boundaries. The DDA is funded by property taxes imposed upon the properties within the DDA district. Financial donations are also accepted.”
  • Safe Streets for Everyone: Walk, Bike, Drive with Confidence – “Rifle strives to improve safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians through infrastructure upgrades and traffic calming to reduce accidents and promote safer travel.” Based on the US DOT Safe Streets for All program.
  • Quality-of-Life Amenities… | Rifle, CO – Official Website – “The City’s Community Access department oversees Rifle Community TV (a community access style — cable channel, web player, & streaming app), and RifleNOW.org (a community access website).“
  • Community Access Multimedia (CAM) | Rifle, CO – Official Website –
  • Rifle Senior Center | Rifle, CO – Official Website – “Rifle Senior Center provides a safe and friendly environment to promote social interactions with nutrition, activities, and educational programs for senior citizens.“
  • Community Access Multimedia (CAM) | Rifle, CO – Official Website – “The City’s Community Access department oversees Rifle Community TV (a community access style — cable channel, web player, & streaming app), and RifleNOW.org (a community access website).“
  • Economic Development | Rifle, CO – Official Website
  • Long-Range Planning | Rifle, CO – Official Website – Wow! Rifle has a lot of high-value community improvement plans underway
  • Community Navigator | RifleNOW – City webpage with links to the MANY different organizations supporting community! This is impressive!
    • Home – Real Western Adventure – Tourism website for the city of Rifle
      • Interactive Adventure Map – Real Western Adventure – map of trailheads and scenic views!
      • GRIT-2019-Trail-Brochure-Web.pdf – print and take it with you!
      • Activities – Real Western Adventure – so much to do in the area!
    • RifleNOW | Official Website – “hyper-local community information”
      • Rifle Community TV | RifleNOW – ondemand local TV
    • Official Box Office Ute Theater & Events Center, Rifle CO – Wow! A city-owned non-profit entertainment venue, offering way more than movies!
      • Events | The Ute Theater and Events Center
      • History | The Ute Theater and Events Center
      • Renovation | The Ute Theater and Events Center
  • Rifle Community Foundation – “an organization dedicated to the distribution of charitable funds to community service, human service, and educational organizations from South Canyon to De Beque Canyon.  Our foundation is designed to promote charitable giving and the establishment of charitable endowments as a means of sustaining and cultivating the great heritage and valued quality of life we so cherish in our surrounding Western Colorado communities.“
  • RREDC Home – Rifle Regional Economic Development Corporation
  • Business Growth & Support | Colorado River Valley Chamber | Colorado River Valley

Map of Rifle