Short stop in La Veta, a cute little town...

It was a real treat to spend an hour in Pueblo (click here to refresh your memory - A quick stop along the way... ) but we still have a lot of plans for this day, so we soon hit the road again. But we already knew our next stop ;) Even though it was a bit off the way, but we couldn't resist making a detour to have lunch in La Veta - a cute little town just off Highway 160. But it wasn't just the delicious burrito at Legends On Main that attracted us, it was the town itself. This small town not only marks the start of the Legends Highway (which is incredibly beautiful when the leaves turn yellow - Vibrant colors of Highway of Legends), but it also has quite a rich history in itself...

 

This is a town library, by the way. A cozy little place where everyone can borrow a book or two ;) 

On Monday, October 9, 1876 the Town of La Veta was born. The community, of course, dated back to 1862 when it was first settled, and had made some big changes to get as far as it had. By this time, it was full of shanties used residentially and commercially, no holds barred. There were no laws and no law enforcers beyond the bare bones required by the county, with a few restrictions laid down by the railroad and La Veta Town Company. The town is situated on the eastern side of La Veta Pass through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and at the northern opening of the Cuchara River Valley. Just south of town is the foot of the West Spanish Peak.

In 1876, the narrow-gauge railroad came through La Veta several blocks north of the Fort on its way westward through the newly surveyed La Veta Pass The narrow gauge railroad, which crossed La Veta Pass into the San Luis Valley, was the highest U.S. railroad pass at the time.

 

First Baptist Church on S Main St. The only information I was able to find was that it was built in 1930. Still in nice shape and looks very friendly ;)

By 1902 La Veta had grown considerably. The 'La Veta Addition' annexed the eastern area into the town limits adding 46 more blocks. 'Locust Street' had been renamed 'Main Street' as it is still known today, and 'Front Street' had been renamed 'Ryus Avenue'. The Cuchara River still meandered through town, occasionally causing extensive flooding.

Christ the King Catholic Church in La Veta, Colorado, built in 1945, is one of four churches in the Spanish Peaks Catholic Community.

With a year-round population of about 800, La Veta's economy is primarily based on tourism, with visitors drawn to the area’s natural beauty, outdoor recreation opportunities, and cultural attractions. The town is home to a handful of small businesses, including art galleries, restaurants, and shops.

We walked down the street, visited a couple of shops and stopped for lunch at a small family restaurant. An hour later we were again driving towards the mountains...

The pictures were taken on December 07, 2024.