Page 18 Summer in the San Luis Valley 2020CostillA Countyweek from Memorial Day to Labor Day. For more informationcall 719-379-4179.55 STATIONS OF THE CROSS AND CHAPEL OF ALLSAINTS — Local sculptor Huberto Maestas of San Luis createdthese life-sized bronze sculptures of the last hours of Christ’slife. A beautiful chapel lies at the top of the pilgrimage trail.Maestas’ studio is located at 331 Main Street in San Luis: phone(719) 672-3022.Fort GarlandFile photo51 FORT GARLAND — Established in 1858 to protectsettlers in the San Luis Valley from bands of roaming Indians,Fort Garland was once commanded by the legendary Kit Carson.Now operated by the Colorado Historical Society, the museumoffers historic artifacts and photographs of the Buffalo Soldiersas well as displays of early Hispano settlers. Call 719-379-3512.Also view the T33A (Thunderbird) Jet Trainer on static displayat the Costilla County Veteran’s Park located on CR HH east ofthe Town of Fort Garland visible from Highway 160.52 HIKE MOUNT BLANCA — Mount Blanca at 14,345feet is the dominant landmark of the San Luis Valley. Its massifincludes four peaks over 14,000 feet - Blanca, Colorado’s fourthhighest peak; Little Bear; Mount Lindsay; and EllingwoodPoint. The recommended access point to climb Blanca is theLake Como route; a tough hike up the road to the lake, then aneasier hike to the peaks.Mountain Home ReservoirFile photo53 MOUNTAIN HOME RESERVOIR — Just a fewmiles southwest of Fort Garland is Mountain Home Reservoirstocked with trout 10 to 15 inches. It is a great place for a dayor afternoon of family fishing. A smaller reservoir, but also agreat place to play in the water, is Smith Reservoir, located justsouth of the town of Blanca.54 THE LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM (White MountainTrading Post) on Highway 160 at Fort Garland offers a varietyof activities including gunfights, horse rides, blacksmithdemonstrations, glassblowing demonstrations, live bison andhistorical pioneer and Native American displays. The museumis open with free entrance from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a56 VISIT SAN LUIS — San Luis is the oldest town inColorado, founded in 1851 by Hispanic settlers from NewMexico. The Museum and Cultural Center has colonial andpre-colonial artifacts, a collection of santos, and a replica of amorada, an adobe chapel of the Penitentes.57 SANTIAGO Y SANTA ANA FESTIVAL—CANCELLED FOR 2020- The Santiago Festival and the SantaAna Festival will be held July 25-26 in San Luis with dances,crowning of a festival queen, lots of music, a barbecue and amariachi mass in the courtyard of Sangre de Cristo Parish.58 LOSCAMINOSANTIGUOSSCENICB Y W A Y— Take adrive alongthe 129-mileLos CaminosAntiguos(“AncientRoads”)Scenic Bywaybeginning inthe San JuanMountains, onCumbres Pass,and passing theoldest churchin Colorado,the first townin the state andSan Luis’s first schoolthe Great SandDunes National Park. See www.loscaminos.com.File photo59 SANCHEZ RESERVOIR — Located about eight milessouth of San Luis at 8,200 feet elevation, Sanchez reservoiroffers fishing for walleye, saugeye and northern pike. Also enjoyboating and other water sport opportunities.60 RIO COSTILLA STUDIO TOUR — The 21st annualtour is tentatively scheduled this year for early September,in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. With morethan two-dozen artists involved, the tour features artwork,sculpture, food and more. Contact: (575) 586-1581, (719)433-3885 or riocostillaart@gmail.com. Also see www.riocostillaart.com.
Summer in the San Luis Valley 2020 Page 19101 things…mAke Creede one of them!Antlers Broken Arrow Elk CountryCreede ChamberKids
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