U.S. Highway 550 - The Durango Herald

La Plata County residents save a few bucks by harvesting roadkill meat

It’s legal in Colorado to harvest deer and elk on roadways

DATE: Jan 24, 2018 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango man dies in single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 550

Vehicle drifts off left side of road, collides with tree

DATE: Jan 22, 2018 | CATEGORY: Local News

Avalanche victim remembered as ultimate outdoorsman

Slide occurred Sunday on south side of Red Mountain Pass

DATE: Jan 22, 2018 | CATEGORY: Local News

Boy who died in four-vehicle crash on Hwy. 550 identified

Mother suffered brain injury; brother, 6, suffered broken legs

DATE: Jan 18, 2018 | CATEGORY: Local News

9-year-old boy killed in crash involving school bus south of Durango

U.S. Highway 550 closed about 3½ hours Wednesday

DATE: Jan 17, 2018 | CATEGORY: Local News

Three horses struck by car on U.S. Highway 550 north of Durango

Three horses owned by La Plata County rancher Ed Zink were killed earlier this week after being hit on U.S. Highway 550 in the Animas Valley, several miles north of Durango. Zink ...

DATE: Jan 5, 2018 | CATEGORY: Local News

Rollover crash near base of Coal Bank Pass closes U.S. Highway 550 early Friday

Driver abandoned vehicle in middle of the road

DATE: Jan 5, 2018 | CATEGORY: Local News

Isolated storm hits Red Mountain Pass with snow

Weather Service predicts system to clear out by afternoon

DATE: Dec 14, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

CDOT to repair Hermosa railroad crossing

Crews will conduct work Monday and Tuesday

DATE: Dec 1, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Southern Ute police deputy involved in injury crash south of Durango

Subaru became engulfed in flames; highway closed for about an hour

DATE: Nov 10, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

New art coming to intersection where Arc of History once stood

The selected artist will collaborate with students, community

DATE: Nov 10, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Multiple funding sources may be needed to connect ‘Bridge to Nowhere’

Preferred realignment would cost $99.6 million

DATE: Oct 20, 2017 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado history gets weird, wild, wacky at Fashion Do’s and Don’tsAnnual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Cowboys. Fancy ladies. Gold miners. Even-toed ungulates that some in Durango might consider more like rats.Where can you find a runway show that takes you on a whirlwind tour through the weird, wacky and wildly exaggerated 150 years of Colorado history? Only at Durango’s annual Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, held Wednesday, where models and audience members donned costumes celebrating Colorado’s sesquicentennial – the theme of this year’s two-week Snowdown celebration.Standout acts included the Ghosts of Durango, which featured four of Durango’s most famous ghosts: a Rochester hotel ghost in a Victorian get-up of a more “modern” variation; the Strater Hotel’s head of housekeeping, also head of more discreet services; a young girl haunting El Rancho bathroom; and Sheriff Bob Thompson, killed in a 1906 gunfight. according to emcee Suzan Lane. A Another act was the secret circus society, featuring Rubi Starr, Jeni Gross, Tabatha Joy Bettin, Adrienne Young and Ethan Deffenbaugh dressed as a car and the roadside pests better known as deer. Group members said the inspiration for the costume came from lived experiences driving the Durango roads. The two-person Cantine Couture act starred Leslie Ponce and Tyler Frakes in an homage to the plentiful variety of Mexican restaurants found in any Colorado town. Ponce, dressed in comically large Mexican pointy cowboy boots, ambled down the runway as if taking a stroll under the hot, dusty, high-altitude sun, while Frakes flitted about the stage in a bright yellow salsa dress. Ponce said this years costume had been tough to decide, but the final decision was inspired by TikTok videos of Mexican cowboys in pointy boots. This was the duo’s third year strutting down the runway. Why they keep coming back for more, Frakes said laughing, was, “for the fame, the glory and the attention.”

Fashion Do’s and Don'ts has been one of the most highly anticipated Snowdown events since it’s inception in the 1990s. It has more than doubled in size over the past several decades. Last year, there were a record number of models, and in order to keep the event at a manageable size, this years fashion show was the first one to require the acts to audition. But many of the models were unphased by the change. “It was actually easy,” said Jodi Zuber, one part of the two-person duo that made up the 1950s Texas Invader Ski Couple. Her partner-in-costume, Danny Jaques, said they had been doing this for several years, and it’s good with everything going on in the world to “get some levity and let your hair down.” The performers were not the only ones in costume. Audience members also dressed in a wide variety of unique takes on what makes Colorado, Colorado. JonBenet Ramsey made a miraculous appearance, being played by an 82-year-old woman, as did Casa Bonita, an ensemble that included a taco, sopaipilla and gorilla in chains – to name some of the characters. By the end of the show, people were in high spirits, as usual. “It was just delightful,” said a first-time audience member. If blessed with the chance to get the much coveted tickets – he said he would jump on it. jbowman@durangoherald.com

Annual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Photos: Snowdown 2026 Fashion Do’s and Don’ts

Photos: Durango High School basketball teams lose to Montrose High School

Photos: Local girls high school wrestling at La Plata TriDurango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Durango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Photos: Fort Lewis College women’s and men’s basketball take on Westminster UniversityBoth Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Both Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Photos: An afternoon in 2004 with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell as he works on Capitol HillDurango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Durango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Photos and video: ICE protests return to DurangoAbout a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

About a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

The Durango Herald’s year in photos 2025

Photos: Chapman Hill fires up the snow guns

La Plata County residents save a few bucks by harvesting roadkill meat

Durango man dies in single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 550

Avalanche victim remembered as ultimate outdoorsman

Boy who died in four-vehicle crash on Hwy. 550 identified

9-year-old boy killed in crash involving school bus south of Durango

Three horses struck by car on U.S. Highway 550 north of Durango

Rollover crash near base of Coal Bank Pass closes U.S. Highway 550 early Friday

Isolated storm hits Red Mountain Pass with snow

CDOT to repair Hermosa railroad crossing

Southern Ute police deputy involved in injury crash south of Durango

New art coming to intersection where Arc of History once stood

Multiple funding sources may be needed to connect ‘Bridge to Nowhere’

Videos & Photos

Search Directory Plus

Most Popular

Most Recent

Ballantine Communications, Inc.

Contact Us

Find Us