Guide To Mesa Verde National Park For First-Timers

Above, Square Tower House at Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Living in the Four Corners region of the U.S. (where Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico meet) gives me easy access to places such as Durango, Monument Valley, Petrified Forest National Park and Mesa Verde National Park. Each are roughly a 3-hour drive from home.

Mesa Verde National Park is situated near Cortez, Colorado. I have been there several times, including camping there twice. My most recent visit was four years ago.

For those who have never been there, Lonely Planet has posted a guide for first-timers.

It begins with:

Around the year 550 CE, the Ancestral Pueblo people began settling in what is today southwest Colorado. Here, on a slightly sloping section of the Colorado Plateau, they farmed, made pottery, wove baskets, and built sprawling villages within the canyon walls.

Then, around 1300 CE, they moved away and never returned. It’s not clear why the Ancestral Pueblo deserted the place that had been their home for roughly 700 years. But they left behind many clues about their rich cultural heritage, which today’s archaeologists are still eagerly studying.

Recognizing the value of the Ancestral Puebloan’s artifacts and cliff dwellings, President Theodore Roosevelt created Mesa Verde National Park in 1906. It was the first national park to “preserve the works of man,” as Roosevelt said, in addition to natural resources. The park protects nearly 5000 archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings.

Mesa Verde is one of four national parks in Colorado. Though it’s the farthest from Denver, this archaeological marvel is well worth the extra drive time. Here’s what to know as you start planning your first visit.

To read more, go here. 

Jackson Hole/Snake River KOA No More

Above, the then-Jackson Hole/Snake River KOA in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While working on this blog post on "greedflation", I was reviewing my account with KOA Kampgrounds which shows the history of my stays.

As I was doing so, I spotted this:

It was a nice park, but we noticed that the park catered more to cabin stays rather than RVs. There weren't that many RV sites there, we noticed (compared to other KOAs). We stayed there in 2019 while visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks along with some river-rafting on the Snake River.

Hopefully, another park in the Jackson Hole area will become a KOA Kampground as it is a prime area for RV camping. The nearest one is 57 miles east of Jackson.

This makes two KOA Kampgrounds I have stayed at in recent years that have left KOA. The other being the Cortez/Mesa Verde KOA in Cortez, Colorado. 

Cortez-Mesa Verde KOA Sold Last Year

Above, our campsite three years ago when the park was still a KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While checking in at the KOA Kampground in Willcox, Arizona last week, I picked up the 2023 KOA Kampground Directory.

After getting my campsite set up, I thumbed through the directory and saw that the Cortez-Mesa Verde KOA in Cortez, Colorado wasn't listed.

This morning, I did some checking at RV Life Campgrounds Reviews website and found that the Cortez-Mesa Verde KOA was sold to new owners last year and the campground is no longer affiliated with KOA.

It is now called Cortez RV Resort by Rjourney.

I first stayed at this RV park back in the early 1980s and it was a KOA Kampground back then. I last stayed there three years ago.

To read reviews of this RV park, go here.

The Dyrt Study: What It's Like To Camp Today

Above, the Cortez, Colorado KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There are studies looking at pretty much every aspect of modern day lifestyles. That also includes vacationing and camping.

RV Travel has posted an article on a study by The Dyrt on what it's like to camp today. Some findings are, as the article says, disconcerting.

The article begins with:

The Dyrt, a rapidly growing website and mobile app, is possibly the country’s most comprehensive platform for the camping public—which means, in turn, that The Dyrt’s users may comprise the country’s broadest demographic profile of the camping public. So when The Dyrt’s users have their temperature taken, it pays for other industry participants to take notice.

But first, some context. The Dyrt has listings of 44,000 public and private campgrounds and “other properties” that accept RVers and tenters. Last year the site pulled in more than 27 million visitors, more than doubling its 11.8 million visitors in 2020. More than a million of those visitors have been sharing tips and reviews on the site, and this past December, 3,000 of them—selected at random—responded to a far-ranging questionnaire about themselves and their experiences. An additional 2,000 respondents, chosen to be census-representative by age, race, gender and region, also were questioned, by two third-party organizations.

The result, released earlier this month, is the statistically most meaningful picture of what it’s like to go camping in America that the industry has produced to date. Some of its findings are by nature unsurprising—it’s their size or extent that may catch your breath. Other conclusions are disconcerting, to say the least.

To read more, go here. 

Hordes of Campers To Hit The Road In 2022

Above, the Cortez, Colorado KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like 2022 will be another record year for RV and other types of camping.

People who headed out for camping last year are most likely to so again this year, according to a study.

RV Travel reported:

It looks like campgrounds will remain crowded in 2022, according to Kampgrounds of America’s Monthly Research Report for January.

The monthly report looks at camping trends via input from campers throughout North America. The report includes feedback from all camper sources, not just KOA campers.

The January KOA Monthly Research Report projects that 70% of those who camped in 2021 plan to do so again in 2022. With most campers (22%) booking their trips three to five months in advance, the outlook is for another year of growth in the camping industry. 

“Camping has become the preferred way to enjoy the outdoors over the past year, and our research indicates that will continue,” said Whitney Scott, chief marketing officer of Kampgrounds of America. “It’s encouraging to see intent to camp remaining strong in 2022 with both veteran and new camping markets.”

To read the full article, go here. 

KOA Sets New Record For Revenue Growth

Above, the Cortez, Colorado KOA office. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We all like success stories, right?

Well, even if you don't, you're getting one here now anyway.

This involves Kampgrounds of America (KOA) and their new record for revenue growth in 2021.

RV Travel reported:

In what is likely the first of many 2021 campground success stories across the industry, Kampgrounds of America says it broke all its existing records last year to set a new high mark in registrations and revenues in the company’s 60-year history.

KOA reported a 33.2% revenue increase over 2020 and a 33% increase in revenue over 2019, the company’s previous highest-grossing year, in their Q4 Business Report. Advanced deposits on future business are up 51% over the previous year, indicating this record growth will continue into 2022. Additionally, KOA continues its expansion in franchise contracts and its company-owned portfolio, adding thirteen new campgrounds, thirteen new construction contracts and fifteen owned locations in 2021.

KOA reported a 41.8% increase in short-term revenue in 2021. Compared to a record 2019, 2021’s short-term revenue is up over 38%. Short-term occupancy for 2021 increased 31.4% and 21.7% over 2020 and 2019, respectively.

In the interests of full disclosure, I am a KOA member and stay at their campgrounds quite often during my travels. I find them pretty consistent and know what to expect at each one. 

To read more, go here. 

Things To Do In Cortez, Colorado

Above, Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last September, Mitch Geriminsky and I took a camping trip around southwest Colorado. 

Some of the places we visited were Durango, Ouray, Ridgway, Silverton and Cortez.

While staying at the KOA Kampground in Cortez, we took a daytrip to Mesa Verde National Park. Also, while in Cortez, we did some exploring of a big antique store called the Antique Corral. 

Above, a big collection of yard statuary at Antique Corral. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There are other things to do in and near Cortez and TravelAwaits posted an article on them.

They begin with:

At the foot of the unmistakable silhouette of the Mesa Verde land formation, the small town of Cortez in Colorado lies among the richest archaeological centers of the U.S. Southwest. Steeped in the history of the Ancestral Puebloan people, Cortez offers a glimpse into their lives through the surrounding sites, from the world-famous Mesa Verde to Crow Canyon, and small sites you’ve never heard of.

In the center of it all, Cortez offers the best base for exploring them while learning about the ancient people who lived in the Four Corners area. Though I have visited the area often over the years, I still find new things to discover every time.

To explore the ancient sites surrounding Cortez, you’ll need at least a few days. But if you enjoy the archaeology of the Southwest, you might stay longer or return over and over. You can start with the following things to do in and around Cortez. 

To read more, go here. 

Mesa Verde National Park Extending Hours

Above, one of several cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since it is getting hotter outside, hours are being extended at Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado.

According to National Parks Traveler:
 

Hotter summer temperatures and increased visitation have prompted Mesa Verde National Park officials to open access to the Wetherill Mesa earlier in the day as well as to the Petroglyph Point and Spruce Canyon trails.

The number of tour tickets available at Long House will also increase. 

Beginning July 4, Wetherill Mesa Road will open at 7 a.m. MDT. The gate at the Petroglyph Point and Spruce Canyon Trailhead will also open at 7 a.m. MDT.

“Providing opportunities to explore the park during the cooler morning hours will allow more visitors to access the trails and sites and make for a safer and more enjoyable visit,” Superintendent Cliff Spencer said. 

To read more, go here. 

2021 North American Camping Report Finds 2.6 Million New Camping Households

Above, my friend Mitch became a first-time RV owner last year. We traveled to Colorado last
September with his trailer. This was taken at the Cortez, Colorado KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Regular readers of this blog are aware that there is a boom in RV sales (well, I've discussed it enough) and the following report should not come as a surprise. Most of them are first-time RVers.

Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA Kampgrounds) released its report titled "2021 North American Camping Report" and it confirms what I and other have been reporting.

Its findings are now posted at RV Travel.

It starts with:

Kampgrounds of America Inc. just released its 2021 North American Camping Report, and it confirms what most recreational vehicle owners already knew – there are a lot more new RVers out there.

The North American Camping Report is a scientific survey of the trends and habits of campers in the U.S. and Canada. Kampgrounds of America Inc. has been commissioning the survey report every year since 2014. (Full disclosure: This writer was one of the authors of the report between 2014 and 2020 while the Vice President of Communications for KOA). Nearly 4,000 surveys were completed in January 2021 for the Report.

The 2021 edition of the North American Camping Report found that the proportion of first-time campers grew five-fold since 2019, and the number of households that now own an RV grew by 2.6 million. More than 86 million U.S. households now consider themselves campers, and 48 million of those households took at least one camping trip in 2020 – up more than 6 million over 2019.

To read more, go here. 

Mesa Verde Natonal Park Designated As Dark Sky Park

Above, Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park has received a new designation, one that should make amateur astronomers happy.

The Journal reported:

Mesa Verde National Park is known for preserving ancient cultural sites, and now it will protect the nighttime view of the stars above as well.

This year, Mesa Verde was designated the 100th International Dark Sky Park, according to a park news release Monday.

The certification recognizes the exceptional quality of the park’s night skies and provides added opportunities to enhance visitor experiences through astronomy based interpretive programming.

“We are happy to announce our work to advance the preservation of Mesa Verde’s night skies and provide visitors opportunities to experience the wonder of starry nights,” said park Superintendent Cliff Spencer. “National Parks are some of the best places in America to see a breathtaking array of stars, planets and neighboring galaxies.”

The multiyear application process included light pollution surveys, light source inventory, reducing outdoor lighting and downcast lighting systems. Essential outdoor lighting was upgraded to energy efficiency bulbs, which reduces park costs.

Dark Sky parks are also seen to create economic opportunities by promoting astronomy-based tourism.

Above, a view of Cortez, Colorado from Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

RV Trips, Camping Seen As Not Risky

Above, camping at the Cortez, Colorado KOA Kampground last summer. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last year, the governor of New Mexico closed down all state park campgrounds when the pandemic struck. 

Along with that, national forest campgrounds in the state were also closed.

It is ironic that she did all that when people, who were under "house arrest", feel that RV trips and camping is the safest option for a summer vacation.

According TravelPulse:

RVezy, a peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace, has found that Americans still consider outdoor vacations to be the safest during the COVID-19 pandemic, and traveling by RV leads the way in preferred vacations this summer.

A majority of Americans consider the activity not risky, according to an RVezy survey conducted by Abacus Data.

Despite the increase in vaccine rollouts, the survey also highlighted that 94 percent of Americans mentioned "doing something safe" as a top priority for their vacation plans.  

"Our survey results show that Americans consider RVing and camping almost twice as safe as other types of accommodations such as staying in a hotel. We are also seeing that 66 percent of Americans consider camping in an RV of little to no risk compared with 38 percent who feel the same way about flying on a plane to a destination," said David Coletto, CEO of polling firm Abacus Data.

There's no argument here on that!

To read more, go here.

RV Dealer Shipments Soar In January

Above, the Cortez, Colorado KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The boom in demand for recreational vehicles (RV) does not appear to be abating.

January RV dealer shipments soared in January.

From RV Travel:

There seems to be no end to the sizzling demand for recreational vehicles. While the pandemic has hurt most of the travel industry, it has only increased demand for RVs.

The RV Industry Association’s (RVIA) January 2021 survey of manufacturers determined that total RV shipments ended the month with 45,930 units, an increase of 39.2% compared to the 33,003 units shipped during January 2020, making this the best January shipment total on comparable record.

To read more, go here. 

3 Reviews Posted At Campground Reviews

This morning, I finished up with reviewing the campgrounds Mitch Geriminsky and I stayed at during our recent trip to Colorado at Campground Reviews.

The reviews are on Lightner Creek Campground in Durango, Ouray KOA in Ouray and Cortez/Mesa Verde KOA in Cortez.

Above, Lightner Creek Campground in Durango, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For Lightner Creek Campground, go here.

Above, Ouray KOA in Ouray, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For Ouray KOA, go here.

Above, Cortez/Mesa Verde KOA in Cortez, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For Cortez/Mesa Verde, go here.

Antique Corral In Cortez, Colorado

Above, some of Antique Corral's yard art. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One never knows what's "out there" to be discovered while traveling.

Towards the end of our vacation trip in Colorado last week, we discovered the Antique Corral in Cortez, Colorado. It has to be the biggest antique store I've ever seen. We must have browsed around in the store for an hour.

They buy, sell and trade antiques and collectibles. They also have an auction service.

Outside of the store, they have a big selection of yard art of livestock, wagon wheels, dinosaurs(!) and other things. Along with a big selection of antiques inside the store, they also have a 1950s style lunch counter.

They are located at  

6817 HIGHWAY 160 – 491

CORTEZ COLORADO

81321

Store:(970) 565-1265

Their store hours are:

MONDAY - SATURDAY: 9-5

SUNDAY: 10-4

DINER: 11-4

To access their website, go here. 

Home Again!

Above, the cover to G-FAN #128.

Well, I'm back at home in Jamestown, New Mexico.

We (Mitch Geriminsky and I) left Cortez, Colorado at 8:00 this morning. Google Maps states that the drive from Cortez to Jamestown is a bit under three hours long, but we managed to reach Gallup at 11:30. Gallup is roughly 20 miles from Jamestown, so it is about right.

We didn't rush getting to Gallup, but we were both a bit starved. So I directed Mitch to the El Rancho Hotel there for breakfast. I thought about Earl's Family Restaurant, but was unsure there would be parking for Mitch's truck and 32 foot travel trailer, so we went to the El Rancho where I knew there would be enough parking space. We both enjoyed our breakfast.

After breakfast, we headed to Jamestown and once we reached my place, we unloaded my things from the truck and trailer. Mitch decided to press on to Lake Havasu, Arizona (a six-hour drive) although he was welcome to rest up at my place for the night.

After taking a shower, I proceeded to unpack my luggage and start doing laundry. I then rested for a while until about 1:30 to go to the Flying J to get my mail.

As expected, my mailbox was stuffed with a week's worth of mail. One welcome item was G-FAN #128. Since this summer marks the third year since Haruo Nakajima's passing, I wrote a remembrance article on our 2013 attendance at the Mad Monster Party in Charlotte, North Carolina and it appears in this issue.

The issue has a unique cover. It appears to be a "homage" to the Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers of the 1940s. It looked nice!

One article caught my attention in G-FAN #128. It is on the "cancel culture's" possible effect on 1962's King Kong vs. Godzilla. It focuses on the "blackface" make-up of different movies, including the natives of Faruo Island. I read some comments on Facebook about this article that were negative. Actually, the topic is a valid one that needs discussion. Are old movies, including King Kong vs. Godzilla, to be banned from screenings (or television) just because they "offend" some people? People need to grow up and put on their big boy and big girl underwear. History is history, whether "good" or "bad", so get over it. Blazing Saddles sure as heck would not be produced in today's politically correct climate.

As Clint Eastwood said in Escape From Alcatraz, "There's always the possibility that some asshole will be offended. Isn't there?"

One little problem cropped up when going to the Flying J. There were water spots on the Mustang's windshield and I turned on the wipers to clean it. A fastener for the driver's side wiper arm broke when I turned them on (the wiper was stuck to the windshield) and the wiper blade went flying. It was a new wiper arm that I bought two years ago. Fortunately, I still have the old wiper arm. I'll put that one back on tomorrow as the current arm is being too stubborn to come off and I am too tired to bother with it today.

Another interesting piece of mail was from Glenn Thornhill (thanks, Glenn!) which contained some old pictures of my first motorhome (I have no idea how he got a hold of them).

Above, a Gulf gas station in Shiprock, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One interesting thing we saw along the way from Cortez: While driving through Shiprock, New Mexico, we saw a Gulf gasoline station. I haven't seen this brand for about 40+ years, since they left the Los Angeles market.

Well, I am just going to kick back and relax for the rest of the day.

Heading Home Today

Above, mule deer near our campground in Cortez last evening. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today is the last day of the trip. We'll be heading out of Cortez, Colorado this morning. The drive back to Jamestown, New Mexico is only three hours long along U.S. 491 through the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe areas to Gallup.

Interestingly, U.S. 491 was once designated U.S. 666 until 2003.

According to Wikipedia:

U.S. Route 491 (US 491) is a north–south U.S. Highway serving the Four Corners region of the United States. One of the newest designations in the U.S. Highway System, it was created in 2003 as a renumbering of U.S. Route 666 (US 666). With the 666 designation, this road was nicknamed the "Devil's Highway" because of the significance of the number 666 to many Christian denominations, which believe it to be the Number of the Beast. This Satanic connotation, combined with a high fatality rate along the New Mexico portion, convinced some people the highway was cursed. The problem was compounded by persistent sign theft. These factors led to two efforts to renumber the highway, first by officials in Arizona, later in New Mexico. There have been safety improvement projects in recent years, and fatality rates have subsequently decreased.

Above, the entrance sign to Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been an enjoyable vacation break. It was fun to ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, to visit Durango and Silverton, Colorado for the first time since 1986. Visiting Mesa Verde National Park for the fourth time was also pleasurable. Visiting Ouray and Ridgway (to see True Grit locations) was also enjoyable.

Above, the Lone Spur Cafe in Silverton. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Getting to these areas within a day's drive from home is an added plus. It was interesting to see so many Jeeps and other off-highway vehicles (OHV) was interesting. None of the Jeeps were of the vintage as mine.

Above, the DSNGR at Highline with the Animas River 400 feet below. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The weather was varied. An early (for September) winter storm came in at about the same time as the start of the trip and we were treated to rain in Durango, snow scenes (on U.S 550 "Million Dollar
Highway" between Silverton and Ouray) and then more seasonal weather towards the end in Cortez.

This is one trip that I plan on doing again.

Above, a morning campfire. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Mesa Verde National Park Today

Above, a view of Cliff Palace. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today was spent (for the most part) touring Mesa Verde National Park in the Four Corners region of southwestern Colorado. This was the fourth time I've visited the park.

The park is notable for cliff structures built by the Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi), with Cliff Palace being the largest of the cliff dwellings. The Anasazi Indians populated the Four Corners region from around 1,500 B.C. to about the 13th Century. Some Anasazi pottery shards were found on my property a couple of years ago.

Above, your truly at Cliff Palace overlook. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

We started it by having breakfast at the snack bar at Morefield Campground in the park. Following that, we went into the store next door before heading out.

Above, Mitch Geriminsky at Cliff Palace overlook. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Naturally, as with all other national parks, a camera is essential equipment and I managed to make good use of mine during our tour.

Somce photos:

Visiting Mesa Verde National Park Today

Above, Spruce Tree House during a previous visit. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like we're in luck.

The restaurants at Mesa Verde National Park are open for business but will close for the season on October 1.

Above, this morning's fire at camp. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Many of the trails appear to be closed, but, fortunately, most of the cliff dwellings can be seen from a distance (good thing I have a telephoto lens).

This page gives the most up-to-date status of the facilities and features at the park.

Now In Cortez, Colorado

Above, the Lone Spur Cafe in Silverton. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We've reached Cortez, Colorado after about a four-hour drive from Ouray.

We did stop in Silverton for breakfast at the Lone Spur Cafe. The food was good and the decor was right out of the old west.

Above, the Lone Spur Cafe's bar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Following breakfast, we then headed to Cortez and checked into the KOA Kampground there. After a while, we took a drive into town and stopped at the Antique Corral. It was a big store with lots of stuff to look at (we bought a few things). Outside front of the store, there was a collection of fibreglass horses cows and other animals. The cows reminded me of the one Noel Neill bought a few years before her passing in Arizona.

Above, the front of the Antique Corral in Cortez. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Afterwards, we stopped for dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant (the food was good) and then headed back to camp for the rest of the day. We will be going to Mesa Verde National Park tomorrow.

Change of Plans

Above, the Durango train at Highline. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Next week, friend Mitch Geriminsky and I were going to southwest Colorado to Durango, Ridgway (where John Wayne's True Grit was filmed) and Cortez for a camping vacation in his new travel trailer.

Those plans are on hold as Mitch has AGAIN come down with COVID-19. He came down with it 2-3 months ago. But he caught it again during a recent trip to Wisconsin. So far, he just has a fever. Maybe the antibodies from the first time are keeping the virus more at bay.

So, we had to cancel our campground reservations and tickets for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. It looks like September will be our next option.

Actually, this works out good as far as the Durango train is concerned. Out tickets are for the shorter Cascade Canyon ride. But starting in September, the train will again go to Silverton. At least that's according to their ticket office.

Instead, I will be going to Commiefornia to attend my aunt's memorial service.