Mancos has been named one of Smithsonian Magazine’s top 20 best small towns to visit in 2016.
In honor of the National Parks Centennial this year, the list exclusively includes towns near parks. The magazine crowns Mancos one of the best due to its proximity to Mesa Verde, as well as its many outdoor recreation opportunities such as kayaking the Mancos River. The town also is exceptional because of its old west spirit, the magazine says.
“For those who dream of the Wild West, (Mancos) offers a vibrant portrait of this American ideal,” the article reads.
The article also recognizes Mancos, which was settled in 1894, as a nationally registered historic district in its downtown area. The author points to the “thriving artisan community” in Mancos and the many arts- and crafts-makers in the area, as well as the Mancos Brewery and Mancos Valley Distillery.
Mancos Town Administrator Andrea Phillips said everyone in the town already knows that Mancos is a great place, but it’s nice to see a national publication recognize the area.
Tourism to Mesa Verde increased by 8 percent last year, and Phillips said the Mancos Valley feels the impact of more visitation through sales tax boosts to the economy. The town is working closely with the park and tourism agencies such as the Mancos Valley Chamber and Mesa Verde Country to encourage visitors to stay in the area for longer visits, Phillips said.
“The Mancos Valley has lots of opportunities for people to do everything they want,” she said. “We’re not a typical tourist town, but we give visitors an authentic experience.”
Mancos Valley Chamber administrator Marie Chiarizia said the placement of Mancos in the article will help attract tourists as well as entrepreneurs and new businesses.
“We’re thrilled,” she said. “It’s a great honor since we are such a small town, but we have so many things to offer.”
Chiarizia said she has seen the number of visitors coming in to town pick up recently. Since U.S. Highway 160 bypasses downtown Mancos, the town is at a disadvantage, she said. The inclusion of Mancos in the article might help put the town on the map and help people see the quaint, charming downtown area, she said.
“It’s a nice feather in our cap,” Chiarizia said.
The list also includes Moab, Utah, which is close to both Arches and Canyonlands national parks, and Springdale, Utah, near Zion National Park. Other towns on the list in the mountain west are Cody, Wyoming, near Yellowstone National Park and Cloudcroft, New Mexico, near White Sands National Monument.
View the article and full list here: The 20 Best Towns to Visit in 2016.
