Alamosa, CO: Come for the Sand Dunes, stay for the Downtown Vibe!
July 2023: We recently visited the town of Alamosa (population 9,806*) to enjoy its beautiful historic downtown. While the Great Sand Dunes National Park may be the main attraction drawing visitors to the area, those who take the time to explore the town itself will find an unexpected treat—a vibrant historic downtown with a unique and exciting atmosphere. Alamosa’s fun downtown vibe is worth experiencing and provides a perfect complement to the natural wonders that surround it. We recommend 6 ways of enjoying the downtown Alamosa experience!
The town of Alamosa is the county seat of Alamosa county, and is considered the commercial center of the San Luis Valley in south-central Colorado.
Alamosa – A brief History
Alamosa was established in May 1878 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad and quickly became an important rail center. It was the terminus of the D&RG until 1881, when the line was extended to Monte Vista. The railroad had an extensive construction, repair and shipping facility in Alamosa for many years.
According to local legend, the rail crews were fed in Garland City in the morning, then the building was placed on a flat car and the crews were fed dinner from the same building in Alamosa that night.
About the City of Alamosa – The City of Alamosa
The city takes its name from the Spanish word Alamosa, meaning “of cottonwood“, for the cottonwood forests which grow along the Rio Grande and throughout town.
Adams State College, founded in 1921 as a teacher’s college, is located in Alamosa, adjacent to the historic downtown. An interesting point of trivia is that the elevation of the campus at 7,800 ft attracts many athletes (particularly runners) to the school’s athletic program. Also near downtown is the Alamosa branch of Trinidad State College campus, offering 2 year degrees.
Alamosa is now a notable tourist town with many nearby attractions, including the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado Gators Reptile Park and the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad.
6 Ways to enjoy the Alamosa historic downtown vibrancy!
Many of Alamosa’s downtown buildings date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, showcasing various architectural styles and representing the town’s historical significance. As a result of preservation efforts, several of these buildings have been restored and repurposed for contemporary use, preserving their original charm while accommodating modern businesses. Our most recent visit was in July 2023, but we have enjoyed several visits to Alamosa over the years.
1. Visit any of the multiple local Coffee Shops
Like any good campus neighborhood, Alamosa offers a large variety of sources for Coffee! Our favorites are the locally owned shops located in the downtown area, which is conveniently located near campus.
- Milagros Coffee House – Google Maps – Great coffee served in a nice big building with lots of seating styles – so it is easy to meet friends or hang out with your favorite device
- Roast Cafe – Google Maps – Great coffee in a lovely shop with good breakfast options.
- Roots by Blessed – Google Maps – We didn’t try this one (not open on a Sunday), but it gets good reviews on Google maps and it also sells plants!
- Campus Café – Google Maps – we didn’t try this one, but it gets good reviews on Google maps and has nice looking photos
2. Visit the 2 Local Breweries and Tap house for local brews, good food and terrific atmosphere
Students, locals and visitors alike are fortunate to have 2 really great brewery options in Alamosa. Both are located in renovated historic buildings in downtown, next to each other. Another great option is the Purple Pig Pizzeria & Pub Tap house.
- San Luis Valley Brewing Company – Google Maps – Excellent brews and many terrific meal options
- Square Peg Brewerks – Google Maps – Fantastic microbrews in a great atmosphere; try the peanut butter stout! They have a wide selection.
- The Purple Pig Pizzeria & Pub – Google Maps – A tap house offering many local microbrew options; they also serve amazing pizza
3. Visit the local book store: Narrow Guage Book Cooperative
This is a fantastic local store! It has a great selection of both new and used books, and other merchandise. What is a bookstore cooperative? Their website says this business is volunteer staffed and community-owned – cool! See their community story.
4. Visit the downtown Hobby Shop: Big Valley HobbyTown
Big Valley HobbyTown is located in downtown Alamosa in a historic old building. Its retail space (and online shop) has Radio Control, Model Railroad, Rockets, Games, Paints, Supplies, Crafting Tools, etc, including repair and tune-up services. They have an activity calendar for kids and adults both and offer a Rec Room is for birthday parties, club meetings, family activities, and the like. We enjoy stopping by whenever we are in Alamosa to see what is new in the hobby world!
5. Enjoy the abundance of local downtown public art!
One of the first things we noticed as we walked through downtown Alamosa, is that it has an amazing variety of public art – offering an abundance of fun photo ops! While admiring the many pieces on display, we noticed a sign for a service called Artscape – Art on Loan Program. Internet searching led to my understanding that the City Council of Alamosa began the Artscape program in 2018. Every year there is a a call out for artists to submit a proposed art piece to be loaned to the city for display for a year. The artist is given a small honorarium upon delivery. If the pieces is sold as a result, the city retains a commission. What a clever concept! See photos of the art on display on the Alamosa town website.
While we are on the topic of art, i want to give a shout-out to the Wet Paint Brush studio. They have painting events every weekend in the summer (wine and beer available for purchase) and also room for community and private events.
- The Wet Paintbrush – Google Maps – we haven’t tried this yet, but it gets good google ratings and looks fun!
6. Historic Downtown Alamosa Walking Tour
We LOVE a good walking tour! There is a well-organized Historic Walking Tour map available to fully enjoy the history of the downtown buildings along the way. The tour points to a variety of architectural trends that have passed through the nation since the 19th century —late Victorian, commercial brick, Mission Revival, and Art Deco styles stand side by side in this tightly constructed area. As mentioned above, you can also enjoy the variety of public art and plenty of options for a snack along the way!
To extend out walk, we also toured the nearby Adams State University campus. It has beautiful grounds, including a giant telescope observatory!
More to Explore!
After our most recent visit, i searched online for more information. One of the community events i am intrigued by is the First Friday event series, a monthly celebration of the community’s movers and shakers, creatives and performers, and local businesses. Each month there is a new theme, with a Facebook Event page to keep the community up to date and engaged. What a cool idea!
First Fridays in AlamosaThis growing event is an excellent way to experience our beautiful Downtown! We encourage locals and visitors to seek out new authentic experiences through these events and enjoy Alamosa, differently. We love celebrating and bringing out the community to support all of our local makers, restaurants and stores!
There is much more to in and around Alamosa, gateway to the Sand Dunes National Park!
- Request a Visitors Guide be mailed to your home (or emailed to your inbox)
- See a complete guide of Things to do and see in Historic Downtown Alamosas
- Explore a wide variety of Outdoor Activities around Alamosa
- Check out the local options for visiting Hot Springs near Alamosa
- And of course, there is the Great Sand Dunes themselves a 30 minute drive away!
