From the Editor

The San Luis Valley Beat Is Growing — And You're Part of It!

When I started The San Luis Valley Beat earlier this year, my goal was simple: to help bring the communities of the San Luis Valley a little closer together by sharing the stories, people, businesses, and events that make this place special.

Thanks to your support, The Beat has grown into something much bigger than I originally imagined. And now, we're taking another step forward.

You may have noticed a few new additions to our website. We've recently introduced three features designed to make The Beat useful not just on Tuesdays when the newsletter arrives, but throughout the week.

The SLV Directory

Our growing collection of local businesses across the Valley already includes approximately 650 listings. We're working to make it easier for residents and visitors to discover restaurants, shops, services, and locally owned businesses that help keep our communities going.

Explore the SLV Directory →

Hot Spots

Hot Spots is something a little different. It's designed for food trucks, traveling vendors, musicians, performers, pop-up businesses, and others who don't always stay in one location. The idea is simple: help people find out who's going to be where and when.

Explore Hot Spots →

Community Events

Our new community calendar is designed to help you discover what's happening around the Valley. From festivals and craft fairs to concerts, fundraisers, and holiday celebrations, we want to make it easier to find activities across all six counties.

Explore Upcoming Events →

Now, I want to emphasize something: These are new features, and they're still works in progress.

There will undoubtedly be things we need to adjust and improve along the way. But rather than waiting until everything is perfect, I wanted to get these resources started and let them grow with the help of the communities they're meant to serve.

And that's where you come in.

If you own a business, organize community events, operate a food truck, or know about something happening in your corner of the Valley, I'd love to hear from you.

You can reach me at editor@thesanluisvalleybeat.com .

The San Luis Valley covers a lot of ground, and no one person can keep track of everything happening from one end to the other. But together, we can build something that benefits all of our communities.

As always, thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting The San Luis Valley Beat. I truly appreciate it.

Frank — The Editor

The San Luis Valley Beat

Spook City — The Mining Camp That Vanished

Established in 1893, this short-lived Saguache County mining camp has a name especially fitting for October.

High in the mountains southwest of Bonanza, a small mining camp once carried a name that sounds as though it belongs in a ghost story: Spook City. But the place was real, and its history is part of the San Luis Valley’s mining heritage.

A Camp Near Ford Creek

The Saguache County Historical Gazetteer identifies Spook City as a mining camp established in 1893 and describes it as short-lived. It places the site at approximately 9,639 feet in elevation, within the area covered by the Klondike Mine topographic map.

Research compiled by Western Mining History places Spook City southwest of Bonanza in the Ford Creek mining district. The account, drawing on historian Perry Eberhart’s work, connects the settlement with the Spook City and Lost Dickey mines. Those properties reportedly belonged to a Danish syndicate and produced small amounts of gold and silver.

Why Did It Disappear?

Spook City appeared during a turbulent year for Colorado mining. The Panic of 1893 and a sharp downturn in the silver industry shook mining communities across the state. However, available records do not establish that these events directly caused Spook City’s decline.

Historical sources provide few details about how many people lived there, what buildings stood at the site, or exactly when the camp was abandoned. Even the origin of its memorable name remains unclear.

A Name That Survived

Some mining settlements grew into towns; others existed for only a few seasons. Spook City belongs to the second group. Though little of its everyday life is documented, its name remains preserved in local historical records and mining research.

More than 130 years after its founding, Spook City offers a reminder of how many small communities once dotted the mountains surrounding the San Luis Valley — and how easily their stories can disappear.

Sources: Saguache County Historical Gazetteer; Western Mining History, Saguache County Mining Districts.

SLV Community Solutions

Bringing the Valley Together to Solve Local Challenges

Making life better in the San Luis Valley often requires more than one organization working alone. That's where SLV Community Solutions comes in.

Serving all six Valley counties, this nonprofit works to reduce poverty by connecting community organizations, sharing information and supporting collaborative solutions to local challenges.

Understanding What the Valley Needs

One important project is its 2023 Community Needs Assessment, which examined housing, transportation, food access, broadband connectivity, homelessness and other interconnected issues affecting Valley residents.

By gathering and sharing this information, the organization helps community partners identify gaps and coordinate their efforts.

Building Stronger Connections

SLV Community Solutions brings together nonprofits, public agencies, businesses and residents interested in improving life throughout the Valley. That regional approach matters in a place where communities are spread across six counties and resources can be limited.

Get Involved

Residents can learn about volunteer opportunities, community partnerships and ways to support the organization at slvcs.org.

Contact: DJ Salazar, Executive Director
Phone: (719) 480-0270
Email: dj@slvcs.org

Capulin — A Quiet Corner of Conejos County

Tucked away in southern Conejos County along Colorado Highway 15, Capulin is one of those small San Luis Valley communities that travelers might easily overlook. But behind its quiet appearance is a history rooted in agriculture, ranching, and generations of Valley families.

The community dates to the late 1800s and has long been tied to ranching and agriculture, the backbone of life in this part of Conejos County.

Today, Capulin remains small and close-knit, surrounded by wide fields, distant views, and big Valley skies. It's the kind of place that doesn't shout for attention but quietly holds its ground.

For those who live there or pass through, Capulin is a reminder that much of the Valley's story is written in its smallest communities, where the pace is steady and the roots run deep.

 Meet Monty

Meet Monty, a medium-sized male American Pit Bull Terrier who is available for adoption through the Upper Rio Grande Animal Society's Conour Animal Shelter in Monte Vista.

Monty's shelter profile lists his approximate birth date as January 30, 2026. He's described as friendly with new people, moderately active, and having a moderate energy level.

With his gray-and-white coat and expressive eyes, Monty is ready for a chance at a home of his own. If you're considering adopting, the shelter can help you learn more about his needs and whether he's a good match for your household.

📍 Adoption Information

Upper Rio Grande Animal Society
Conour Animal Shelter
2825 Sherman Ave
Monte Vista, CO 81144
📞 (719) 852-3366
📧 shelter@urgasconouranimalshelter.org

👉 Contact the shelter directly to learn more about Monty or arrange a meet-and-greet. Ask about Pet ID #2161.

Quick Facts

• Breed: American Pit Bull Terrier (short coat)
• Sex: Male
• Age: Born approximately 1/30/2026
• Size: Medium
• Color: White with Gray or Silver
• Reaction to New People: Friendly
• Activity Level: Moderately active
• Energy Level: Moderate
• Pet ID: 2161

Not ready to adopt? Sharing Monty's story could help him find the right home.

 Crock-Pot Potato, Ham & Corn Chowder

When the evenings turn chilly in the San Luis Valley, there’s nothing quite like coming home to a Crock-Pot filled with something hot and hearty. This easy chowder is loaded with potatoes, diced ham and vegetables. Mashing some of the potatoes gives it a naturally creamy texture without flour or cornstarch.

Ingredients

• 3 lbs potatoes, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 lb fully cooked diced ham
• 1 bunch scallions, sliced, including green tops
• 2 carrots, shredded
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• ½ green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 can corn, drained
• 5 cups chicken broth (I use Better Than Bouillon)
• 1½ teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon Mrs. Dash Original Seasoning
• 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk

Directions

Add the potatoes, ham, scallions, carrots, celery, green pepper, garlic, corn, chicken broth, salt, pepper and Mrs. Dash to the Crock-Pot. Stir well, cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours.

About 2 hours before serving, mash some of the potatoes right in the Crock-Pot, leaving plenty of bite-size pieces intact. Stir in the evaporated milk, cover and continue cooking on LOW for the final 2 hours.

Stir before serving, taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Serve hot with crusty bread, biscuits or crackers.

Around the Table Tip: This is a great way to use leftover holiday ham. Optional toppings include shredded cheddar, sliced scallions or crumbled bacon.