Ridgway, CO: The Town that Refused to Die – evidence of “True Grit”!

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Ridgway – A Brief History

Early boom days – Rail Road Era

Once home of the Ute Indians, the Town’s more recent heritage is one steeped in railroad and ranching history dating back to 1889, when the Rio Grande Southern Railroad was incorporated to provide rail service between Ridgway and the mining districts of Ouray, Telluride, Rico and Durango.

The railroad company laid out what was to become the Town of Ridgway in 1890 and incorporated in April 1891. It was named after one of the railroad founders, Robert M. Ridgway.

Challenging Times

Ridgway experienced many great challenges spanning the next several decades which would threaten its very existence: the collapse of the silver market in 1893 (the rail service was used to haul gold and silver ore from nearby Ouray and Telluride), two catastrophic fires, the Great Depression, two world wars, the demise of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad in the 1950s, and the controversial plan by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to construct a large dam and reservoir that would inundate the town site with water. Undaunted, citizens always managed to survive and rebuild, earning Ridgway a reputation as “the town that would not die.”

Resurgence

Things started to improve in the 1960’s. The construction of a new state highway to access the ski town of Telluride made the town a focal point and a gateway to the San Juan Mountains. The filming of two prominent Hollywood productions, How the West was Won (1962) and True Grit (1969), brought recognition to the community. Perhaps most importantly, the decision to relocate the planned reservoir north of the town spared the Ridgway community from inundation, saving the town and prompting a resurgence of growth beginning in the late 1970s. Construction of the Ridgway Reservoir was completed in 1987, now comprising part of the beautiful Ridgway State Park, offering abundant recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.  The town started to grow at a steady pace in the 1990s.

Today

Ridgway today is recognized as a small western Colorado town, with beautiful parks, a great library, the Ridgway Railroad Museum and the Ouray County Ranch History Museum, a State-certified creative district, excellent restaurants, unique lodging, interesting shopping, and plenty of family-oriented events spread throughout the year. It provides a great jumping-off point for those traveling the San Juan Skyway (a 236-mile National Scenic and Historic Byway loop), known for its dramatic scenery. Ridgway State Park offers great boating, camping, and RV amenities nearby and can be conveniently accessed from town by foot or bicycle via the Uncompahgre RiverWay Trail.

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#1. Ridgway is an Art Hub!

Ridgway is certified as a Colorado Creative District with a wide array of artistic programs, public art and even art space housing!

• The Sherbino – Google Maps – Live Theater, movies, concerts, and more! operated by local nonprofit organizations
  • See the Sherbino Theater website for active events
• The Courtyard at 610 – Google Maps – an intimate outdoor venue for the Sherbino
• Dragonfly Creative – Google Maps – Art Studio; shop or take Fiber Arts classes!
• Weehawken Creative Arts Centers – Ridgway Classroom #1 – Google Maps – dance classes of all kinds!
• Ridgway Space to Create – Google Maps – downtown housing

#2. Ridgway has historical links to the Movie and Music Industries!

Per the Ridgway Chamber of commerce website, the spectacular San Juan Mountain scenery around Ridgway caught the attention of the director of the film True Grit, starring John Wayne as the one-eyed U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn. For 6 weeks in 1969, the film crew turned 5 blocks of the center of this old railroad town into 1880’s Fort Smith, Arkansas! Many other movies also have scenes filmed in the area.

• On The Big Screen – this webpage lists the many movies filmed in or near Ridgway!
• True Grit Walking Tours and True Grit movie information
• Visit Famous Filming locations –
  • True Grit Cafe – Google Maps – The building housing this cafe is on a street in the movie, and has movie memorabilia!
  • Mattie Ross’ Ranch (True Grit) – Google Maps
  • Deb’s Meadow – Google Maps
  • Dennis Weaver Memorial Park – Google Maps

However, my favorite fun fact (learned during my online research) is that Ridgway is the home of Grammy statue maker, John Billings… for real! Learn more about this pop culture touch-point on his website: Home | Billings Artworks

#2. Beautiful historic downtown with many places to hang out!

As I have mentioned many times, we LOVE a good third space “hang out” place! There are many restaurants and hang out spaces in Ridgeway – all in or near downtown.

• Cimarron Coffee & Books – Google Maps – we enjoyed our coffee here!
• Colorado Boy Pub & Brewery – Google Maps – we enjoyed a pizza and beer dinner here!
• True Grit Cafe – Google Maps – classic restaurant with movie memorabilia
• Eatery 66 – Google Maps – cut outdoor patio, dog friendly
• El Agave Azul – Google Maps – Mexican food
• Thai Paradise – Google Maps – Thai food
• Kismet Cafe, Ridgway – Google Maps – Mediterranean food
• Kate’s Place – Google Maps – Traditional American food
• Land & Ocean – Google Maps – Costa Rican food, not far from downtown
• Bella Vino – Google Maps – Italian food

Old Firehouse Restaurant

Still under construction during our visit, we were curious to learn more about what this old Firehouse building was to become. We learned later that it is now a fine dining restaurant and event venue, although it is still not clear what the buildings with glass walls around it are.

• The Hearth at The Old Firehouse – Google Maps – “Originally built in the early 1890’s, the “Old Stone House” is believed to have first functioned as a single-story merchants store. Upon its purchase by the Town of Ridgway in 1898, a second story was added and it morphed into the “Old Stone Hall.” The building eventually became the town firehouse. Its iconic belfry was added by the producers of “True Grit,” a 1969 Western starring John Wayne, during filming in 1968.  The building served as the studio of the renowned Colorado artists Michael McCullough and Lucy Boody, and is now poised for its next evolution into Ridgway’s premiere multi-use space. The thoughtfully renovated “Old Stone House” will anchor highly integrated restaurant, event, and venue concepts on the ground floor with a suite of mixed uses in the two stories above.” (per the Hearth website)

#4. Hartwell Park as a community hub with good vibes!

The downtown is anchored by Harwell Park, which has many amenities, lots of shade and we learned later, much historical significance. There is a beautiful gazebo, a stage and many statue installations. Two historic museums are located directly across the street. I will admit that my find in the park was a digital sign providing various messages of affirmations… Love it!

• Hartwell Park, Ridgway, CO – Google Maps
• Ridgway Railroad Museum – Google Maps
• Ouray County Ranch History Museum – Google Maps

#5. Ridgway is a perfect hub for day trips for outdoor adventures!

Rather than list the many nearby activities, i will point to the Ridgeway website which has a comprehensive list of activities!

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Annual Events

• Summer: Ridgway Concert Series – “The free Ridgway Concert Series began in 2009 as a local event, and has grown to become an extremely popular regional event… The outdoor shows are held in Hartwell Park every Thursday in July, music begins with an opening act at 6:00 pm, and ends around 10:00 pm.“
• May-October: Ridgway Farmers Market – Every Friday 10am – 2pm in Hartwell Park, Downtown Ridgway
• June: Ridgway FETE de la Musique – “a day to celebrate community, music and Summer solstice!“
• August: Ridgway Rendezvous – Weehawken Creative Arts –
• September: Railroad Days – This weekend event includes a Railroad Museum open house, and the opportunity to ride Motor No. 1 as well as Goose No. 4 on Saturday and Sunday. See the True Grit jail wagon on the OCRHM grounds as well as Paramount’s extensive original test shots of True Grit- along with a special gallery showing for the weekend. There are also free historic walking tours in HX park!
• September: Rally thru the Alley (for the Arts) – “The Ridgway 1k is a very fun, costumed race for all ages with plenty of rest-stops along the way of the “grueling” 6 block downhill course. Each stop celebrates the need to refuel with plenty of carbs… and bacon!“
• Apenglow Community calendar – this community calendar combines events and activities sponsored by wide array of local organizations all year!

Organizations that Support Community in Ridgway

As with many small towns we visit, a vibrant town does not happen by accident! Below are some of the many organizations that support a variety of community assets.

• Home | Town of Ridgway – city government website; so many cool programs!
  • Town of Ridgway Community Grant Program | Town of Ridgway – “The Town of Ridgway accepts applications for community grant funding from non-profit organizations that provide programs and services in a number of areas. The overall intent of this program is to provide financial support to programs and services that benefit the Ridgway community which are not otherwise provided through the Town of Ridgway municipal government.“
  • Space to Create Ridgway | Town of Ridgway – “The building is owned and operated by Artspace, a Minneapolis based non-profit organization founded in 1979 and a national leader in community artist-led development. Artspace uses Low Income Housing Tax Credits to subsidize rental costs.“
  • Ridgway FUSE, A Colorado Creative Main Street Program | Town of Ridgway – “Ridgway’s downtown is one of the few in Colorado to be both a state-certified Creative District and a Graduate-Level Main Street Community… These two economic-vitality programs have been combined to form Ridgway FUSE, A Colorado Creative Main Street Program.” 
  • Sustainability Advisory Board | Town of Ridgway – A Sustainability Advisory Board, established in 2022 to “advance and encourage environmentally sustainable practices and ideas within the Town”
    • Totally Green | San Miguel Power Association, Inc. – more info on the “Totally Green” program to support green power sources
  • Ridgway Master Plan documents
• Ridgway Space to Create | Artspace – affordable housing that is “the perfect blend of affordability and creativity! ”
  • Space to Create Colorado | Artspace – parent organization for the Ridgway property; “We build workforce housing and affordable housing for creators and entrepreneurs.”
• Ridgway FUSE, Creative Main Street – A Colorado Creative Main Street Program
• RIFF 2024 – “RIFF (Ridgway Independent Film Festival) came into being shortly after Ridgway was officially certified as one of Colorado’s first Creative Districts! Now in our 10th year, RIFF has grown from a grassroots, community-centric model of celebrating short film, into a four-day immersive experience.“
• Ridgway Farmers Market – “We bring the best of Colorado’s farmers and artists to the community of Ridgway, Colorado and beyond“
• Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce – “organized to achieve the objectives of promoting business and community growth and development in the Town of Ridgway and the surrounding area”
  • Digital Ridgway Visitors Guide – choose ‘full screen’ for best viewing!
• The Sherbino – “The Sherbino and its adjacent 610 Arts Collective are highly-energized anchors in the heart of historic downtown Ridgway… refers both to the physical space, and all that it embodies. The building — the Sherbino, is owned and operated by the Ridgway Chautauqua Society, a nonprofit organization incorporated in 2012 for the purpose of keeping the historic Sherbino theater a community gathering place and fully utilizing the space by offering high-quality, diverse programming“
• Art Gallery | 610 Arts Collective – “an art gallery and art exhibition space in downtown Ridgway, CO. The Gallery is one of several programs of two separate arts nonprofits in Ridgway:  Weehawken Creative Arts and Ridgway Chautauqua (Sherbino). “
• Weehawken Creative Arts – “… provide high-quality arts education, personal growth programs and cultural events while playing a leadership role in the arts within our communities year round… The Sherbino and Weehawken have partnered with sharing a staff team, a shared office space, a shared gallery space and some shared community/fundraising events. The two organizations also share mutually beneficial programming, and are taking advantage of economies-of-scale efficiencies wherever possible.“
• Alpenglow Arts – “an informal alliance of Ouray County based arts-focused organizations. As an alliance, our objective is to de-clutter the promotion of arts events in order that we may increase awareness of and participation in each, regardless of the sponsoring organization. “
• Ridgway Old West Fest – “The Ridgway Western Heritage Society celebrates Ridgway, Colorado’s film, ranching and railroad heritage, and Western arts & culture. The Society’s primary goal is to provide education about Ridgway’s film history, with emphasis on the True Grit walking tour.“
• Ridgway Railroad Museum – The Ridgway Railroad Museum was founded in 1998, and is located at 200 N. Railroad Street. It is open every day to see our outdoor collection of railroad cars and other equipment. There is no charge to visit the museum but we do accept donations.
• Ocrhm – Ouray County Ranch History Museum started in 2006 at the request of local ranch families to preserve their family’s legacy in this county. Stop by to see what ranch life was like starting from the 1870’s and learn about the ranching that is still going on in our area today. 

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Map of Ridgway