The Ute Indians called the hot springs “Pah gosah.” Pagosa Springs is a small town in southwest Colorado with the largest natural and deepest hot mineral spring in the world known as “The Great Pagosa Hot Springs”.

Cloud-Seeding, Dan Fogelberg and 24 Sex Offenders – What a little digging will reveal.
An excerpt from Book Three in “The Knowledge Path Series” dedicated to helping you find the place of your dreams.
“Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Refreshingly Authentic”

Pagosa Springs continues to grow as an art community. The Pagosa Springs area is home to a variety of art galleries, live theatres, museums, and cultural activities. You can explore ancient civilizations, our Western heritage and deep history, and amazing artisans throughout the year.
5-Year Time Frames — 2003 – 2008
Skimming Pagosa Springs’ back story helps reveal its attraction, especially before and during the Great Recession.
Highlights and Headlines.
A sample of some of my favorites:
Fall of 2006
From the New York Times
Pro peace forces win battle in Colorado town – Denver – Peace is fighting back in Pagosa Springs
Spring of 2007
Drinking Liberally 200th Chapter

One of the progressive movement’s most innovative social organizations has reached a huge milestone: With the arrival of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, the Drinking Liberally map has hit 200 chapters.
Summer of 2007
Four Corners Folk Festival
The Infamous Stringdusters, fresh off their whirlwind 6 week US tour, will have a new face when they hit the stage on September 1 at the Four Corners Folk Festival in Pagosa Springs, CO.
Now we know …
The Great Pagosa Hot Springs –

The Ute Indians called the hot springs “Pah gosah” Pagosa Springs is a small town in southwest Colorado with the largest natural and deepest hot mineral spring in the world known as “The Great Pagosa Hot Springs”.
Fall of 2007
If it’s fall, then it’s Football Season, and …
Pagosa Springs Pirates Football Team
In Friday’s non-league game, the Pagosa Springs Pirates football team got by the host Kirtland Central Broncos , by a score of 20-14.
BootJack Ranch Listed for $80 million

BootJack Ranch listed for $80 million. Brown, a developer who owns a significant chunk of real estate in the old downtown area of Pagosa Springs, is planning to sell a vast ranch where he lives northeast of town.
Antero Reservoir Trout Limit –
The Colorado Wildlife Commission has affirmed a two-trout bag and possession limit for Antero Reservoir for the near future.
And, some bad news … depending on how you look at it.
New Reservoir Water Right Denied –
“We think the Supreme Court got it right” The state Supreme Court has denied a large water right for a new reservoir above Pagosa Springs.
Enrollment Decline Leads to Budget Cut –
Enrollment in Pagosa Springs schools dropped almost 100 students this fall, necessitating a $275,000 budget cut.
Winter of 2007 – 2008
You knew this headline couldn’t be far behind, right?
Property Tax for Education Lawsuit
“This particular issue is going to cause a tremendous increase in property taxes for the schools here in Archuleta County” Mesa County commissioners and several citizens sued the state government Thursday over a law passed last spring…
And, what comes with ice and snow?
Rescued Elk from Iced Over Pond

We were all pretty wiped out by that time” In one of the most unusual emergency operations in Colorado this year, three cow elk that fell through the ice of a private pond south of Pagosa Springs were rescued by Division of Wildlife officers, a local …
Most Snow Fall – Wolf Creek and Silverton Mountain
Wolf Creek and Silverton Mountain were the big winners, reporting 40 inches in the 48 hours ending Sunday (Jan. 6) afternoon, but other areas also tallied impressive totals: 26 inches at Telluride, 29 inches at Purgatory, 36 inches at Crested Butte, and …
Spring of 2008
And, then after that comes …

Landslide Watch Northeast of Pagosa Springs –
“It’s an emergency because it continues to move, and we don’t know when or where it will stop, and we don’t really know what we’ll have to do when it does stop” Officials from Archuleta County and the U.S. Forest Service are watching a landslide northeast of Pagosa Springs that has already destroyed a Forest Service road and could threaten the east fork of the San Juan …
Summer of 2008
Sad news for fans of Dan Fogelberg …

Dan Fogelberg’s $15,000,000 Ski Retreat –
The Pagosa Springs, Col. ski retreat of the late singer Dan Fogelberg, who died in December of advanced prostate cancer, reportedly is under contract after having been on the market for $15,000,000.
Wolf Creek Seeing Red
Colorado’s Wolf Creek Ski Area
The U.S. Forest Service has begun a new environmental assessment of Texas billionaire Red McCombs’ proposed Wolf Creek development that would add housing and businesses to serve as many as 10,000 people adjacent to Colorado’s Wolf Creek Ski Area.
Winter 2008 – 2009
Say, what!?
Cloud-Seeding Program

“Last week, the San Juan Water Conservancy District Board of Directors adopted budgets and joined a cloud-seeding program, but failed to approve a resolution suspending the …
Some us vs. them … or visa versa?
Earthjustice, San Juan Citizen’s Alliance, Colorado Environmental Coalition, Colorado Wild, Oil and Gas Accountability Project and the Wilderness Society –
Last year Earthjustice filed the suit on behalf of San Juan Citizen’s Alliance, Colorado Environmental Coalition, Colorado Wild, Oil and Gas Accountability Project and the Wilderness Society. It challenges the 2007 San Juan Public Lands Center authorization for 27 new coal bed methane gas wells and 11 miles of new roads in the HD Mountains roadless area on either side of the Archuleta/La Plata county line.
USFS Halts Analysis Of Colorado’s Village At Wolf Creek –
USFS halts analysis of Colorado’s Village at Wolf Creek The developers of the Village at Wolf Creek, a development originally proposed to build a resort on …
And, during the Great Recession and later. More to follow …
5-Year Time Frames 2009 – 2014
Steps:
25) Compare what “life” was like in those communities before the Great Recession, how resilient each was during the economic downturn, and to what degree did each bounce back after with any “economic hangover.”
30) Review headlines and relevant news as far back as you can find online to surface each community’s unique pulse and identify information necessary to make your decision. Is there a “ticking time bomb” issue you may uncover that eliminates the resort from your bucket list? Search on topix.com.