Shame on you, Durango. Now, I may be under the incorrect assumption that Durango depends for a significant amount of its revenue from tourism. I base this on the unending emails I get promoting all the various events and attractions in the town and the surrounding area,
Two and a half years ago I spent three days in Durango and felt I would like to return, so I booked 21 days in Durango to celebrate my 66th birthday, fish on the Animas and take a trip on the train.
The folks at The Ore House Restaurant were fantastic, the gals and staff at the Diamond Belle Saloon even more so, the owner of the Strater Hotel proved to be genuinely pleasant and made me feel welcome. And the train was exceptional.
But, I was there to fish, and even being checked nearly daily by game wardens (sometimes twice a day) did nothing to dampen my enjoyment or enthusiasm for a sport I truly love. I am not able to say the same about the people of Durango I encountered on the river.
While in the water fishing early in the day, rafters and kayaks from commercial outfitters not only came through the very area I was casting to, but actually stopped in front of me and deliberately disturbed the waters, making them unfishable. I had dog owners throw sticks into the waters in front of me, sending their dogs swimming within feet of me. For the final straw, a fisherman waded into the place I was fishing and told me it was his: He lived in Durango and this was “his river.” I was not on private land.
Enough was enough. I had been shown that Durango had no desire for my dollars, and I was not welcome. I packed my bags after five days, put Durango in my rear-view mirror and took my money elsewhere, where I fished and was warmly welcomed.
Bob Merten
Las Vegas
