Butch Cassidy's Hideout

Most visitors to our little town of Mancos are here to see the wonders left behind by the Anasazi (Ancient Puebloans) at Mesa Verde National Park, the treasures to be found at our local galleries in the Creative District, or outdoor adventures such as river rafting, steam train excursions, hiking, and mountain biking in our beautiful national forests.  But we often overlook the western settlement history of which Mancos and surrounding areas are so full.

There are stories that the canyon surrounding our little mesa here at Starry Nights Ranch was a hideout for Butch Cassidy and his gang.  It is well-known that they high-tailed it here following their infamous bank robbery in Telluride.  One local even calls it “Cassidy Canyon.”  Did they really hide out here?  I do know there are many hidey-holes in the surrounding cliffs.  It’s also a great place for our local bear population.

If you’re lucky (and very careful), you’ll get to see one or more of them.  They do like to help themselves to garbage cans and other sources of free food, so we have to be careful with our storage.  Just ask Sandie about her encounter!  And did you ever see a tree-climbing fox?  Early one morning we were fortunate to observe 2 silver/gray foxes actually climb to the very top of one of our fruit trees! 

Tomorrow is another adventure!