Here's What Life Is Like In Small Town Colorado Now

[@NickJohnson]

Here's my entire Mountain West Road Trip playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLq-_cmf3H6yq836p_Frch75GtIGQXn-AX

[@DavidRamirez-qw3jp]

i be honest that's HollyWood how will you know you will get shoot because of all the scenes i think the was just HollyWood Fake Movies the think people in the past will get shoot for anything the only will to know is if you went to the pass and tell me if you see people always taking away they guns and shooting themselves Oftenly

[@Mr.Howell78k]

SPECIAL REQUEST NICK: Please review the Oliver Anthony song, I think it speaks to EVERYTHING you've been talking about for months. Mappy's already shaking his hed up and down. ❤

[@RAJohns]

You have a style like the old 60 minutes guy: Andy Rooney

[@thomasmartinscott]

My Band played Durango in the 1980s and again in the early 2000's. I didn't recognize the place! With a different Band, I played a corporate party on that train. The atmosphere was anything but "small mountain town". I moved to Ouray in 1996 to work in Theater Shows, the last of which was with Dennis Weaver (Chester on Gunsmoke and McCloud). Since 96 Ouray has been taken over by a handful of people who think it belongs to them because they have money. Silverton is the most preserved of the area because it's quite secluded, and there's nothing more there than there used to be, and you can't make a living there. We played New Years Eve in Silverton and it was like stepping back in time. Very Nicely Done video, Nick!

[@gigi9301]

@@RAJohns Yep; nice saunter. kids with rich parents love to get a residence here..."move" here

[@paulstoeckle7873]

Lived there for 31 years and had a real love of place, but at 53-years-old I'm content to have moved away. The 90s were the salad days in Colorado.

[@samtarariverasanchez59]

🎉❤

[@prescottlange]

May I ask where you moved to?

[@basedretard844]

Cant wait till freaks like the lady in the intro are gone. The Boomer Generation and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race

[@gregleavitt1255]

Yes, new millennium was bad for the US, not just CO.

[@The-Finisher]

Yup

[@DJPTEXAS]

That's why you NEVER tell anyone about your secret fishing spot !

[@DJPTEXAS]

@@ruger8412 LOl.....

[@Steve-318]

Social media ruins everything.

[@williamwilkins3084]

That's one thing I'm sure not going to do, is let anyone know where I'm going to move to next.

[@PattiParanormalProject]

Absolutely!

[@skylarsartnphotography3450]

​@@Steve-318And before that, it was television! You know a long time ago, seashores of Florida and even Cali were quiet and secluded....but then in the 1960s those Frankie & Annette beach movies came along and then everyone had to start touring and going to beaches

[@DJPTEXAS]

The worst thing about a small towns progress is they lose that uniqueness that draws everyone there... pretty soon they all look alike with Starbucks and chain restaurants pushing the small mom and pop places out... I am shocked traveling across the country at how every place looks the same with the same stores ect.... sad...

[@rexcatston8412]

you should come to Europe. You can travel 8 countries and you'd never know it except for the change of weather. The EU flag should be replaced with a picture of an Arab selling off-brand iphone covers at a market stall.

[@DJPTEXAS]

@@rexcatston8412 I lived in Europe for awhile ! Yes I hear ya......haha

[@carinarilk89]

​@@rexcatston8412Where are you from? Is Europe really Europe? No!😢

[@bludgeonedtodeath90]

You are absolutely right! Democrats moving and destroying everywhere.

[@bludgeonedtodeath90]

@@rexcatston8412 Did you mean Eurabia?

[@IronBrig4]

South Park did at least two episodes on this. First, when they gentrified Kenny's neighborhood into SoDoSoPa. Second, when Cartman became a real estate agent for all the new people moving in. He ended up pricing all the locals out. Also, social media has changed a lot of these quaint, isolated communities and sights. Once somebody puts your secret fishing spot or hidden valley on TikTok, it's gone. The scenesters swarm in.

[@facediaper09]

We're doomed

[@Trump2024asw]

​@@facediaper09Emp.

[@HeritageWealthPlanning]

Oh man that was so funny!

[@Ariapeithes_]

That's awful.

[@caravanstuff2827]

Social media and the MSM are the biggest problems in America to day...time to reset and shut them both down..go back to tv and home based telephones...the world was a happier and more sensible place to live in back before these evil inventions!!.🙏❤️🇺🇲🇺🇦

[@markmark2080]

Came to Colorado in 1950, grew up in Boulder during the 50s and 60s, if you didn't experience it there is no way to explain/comprehend how wonderful the state was back before shopping malls, maze street suburbs and interstate highways...

[@beegiator]

The small town feel that was once Boulder is long gone. Sad. My family lived there but have since moved to another city.

[@dpavlovsky]

Was born in '84 and lived most of my life in the CO front range. It was such an awesome place up until about the mid- to late-90's, at which point it began its slow-and-steady decline.

[@lettyschlieper7410]

I love how hard the Mayor of Durango is fighting for his town. Prayers for him and his strength.

[@myseville1976]

Fight for what? Is there a war going on! Land can't be bought unless it is for sale!

[@johnbartholf777]

"Is there anyplace in America that hasn't been ruined by economic decline... or economic success?" --Nick Johnson Truer words have never been spoken! Everywhere I go, people are either complaining about how their small town is dying. No jobs. People are moving away. OR they're complaining about how there's all this growth and all these new people are raising property values and prices. Another GREAT video! And the mayor you interviewed really knows what he's talking about.

[@redstickham6394]

That statement is so true. It's almost like a state/city/community just can't win. Are there any places for "regular people" anymore?

[@b-genspinster7895]

People cant see the forest for the trees. Population growth is bad. Very bad.

[@carolparizon4900]

Just wanted to comment that this is one of the best videos you've done! So true what's happening to these small quiet towns with the residents fleeing from California to small towns with the same mindset they had in California. Bringing their beliefs that just don't work. Kudos!

[@loriwyoming835]

People are now moving out of Colorado into Wyoming. Now they're pushing my small town to pass higher taxes for multi-million dollar rec centers and splash pads. It's a town with a population of 5000. We bought our house for $35,500. 30 years ago, it's now valued at $329,000. Things have just gone insane!! Of course we have a hedge fund manager buying every ranch he can get his hands on in my county which is driving up housing and land costs.

[@jeffrutledge1789]

We all have to stop illegal and legal immigration into this country which is the cause of all this! Our population is dropping.

[@virginiansupremacy]

dont forget texas too, the girl at the start mentioned texas. they're silently creeping up and ruining places like colorado, but californians get all the attention.

[@lidiaochoa4193]

Yup, 100% agree! and BTW, I'm a Californian, been here all my life!

[@geraldinevaughn8435]

What beliefs, and what exactly is everyone changing? No one really says exactly what newcomers are changing.

[@grumpyoldlady_rants]

The population has increased almost 40% since 2000. The worst part about places growing like this is often the long time residents get priced out of real estate. The median cost of a house is almost $600k.

[@stubru16]

city people and townies always make a complete mess of their areas so once they destroy their areas they just move somewhere else and trash the next place they live in

[@lidiaochoa4193]

Wow! 600k for a mediam house? That's not bad. In "hell la," the medium cost for a slum house is 800k up😂😂😂😂😂

[@ledzep3692]

That's dirt cheap for folks coming from California.

[@carlcolvin8320]

​@@lidiaochoa4193don't feel too bad we had the Kalifornians invading Reno Nv. A house is listed for $ 450,000.00 The only thing that I do not like besides the Kalifornians are the ILLEGAL ALIENS

[@philipparana9225]

Too bad for them

[@markmay8942]

I had a friend who was a real estate agent in a small Colorado town. When the Californians moved in they started complaining there were not not enough restaurants, boutiques and salons. They effectively Californicated the town and drove the locals out. I miss the old Colorado when all we had was a Montgomery Wards.

[@susanw489]

Surely you're talking about Montrose ;)

[@reallyemptypockets6509]

After 35 years in Colorado I just moved to small town Nebraska pop.5000, at 6pm on the Main Street in town not a single car, lots of closed shops, some empty houses, but it is quiet and Affordable.

[@living4christ]

I'm taking the rails next week across the country from Sacramento to Chicago on amtrak, in a roomette. Its going to be so nice to sit back, relax and watch the country go by.

[@NickJohnson]

Lucky!!

[@benjaminjantzen1398]

I got to do that with a college buddy!…was fun…ate and drank the whole time.

[@marksandoval5361]

Hey, your in my town, which is probably the best small town in America. I'm sure glad I moved here 25 years ago when it was still affordable because the cost of an typical home here is approaching $1,000,000. Unfortunately, Durango is rapidly on the way to becoming Aspen where the rich people live in town and all their servants live down valley an hour away. Developers and the city counsel have steadily pushed the city up-scale while giving lip service to affordable housing but doing nothing about it. Despite this, it is still the best small town in America because of it's Victorian Architecture, world class outdoor activities (mountain biking, rafting, skiing, hiking), and sunny climate. The price of admission is very fat wallet.

[@joeg5414]

That's pretty much it. I live near Bayfield. I do pest control and rich people afraid of spiders but wanting to live in the mountains has been great for business😂

[@hoppes9658]

Fourth generation from northern Michigan and Durango would be living on the other side of hell.

[@rogergoodell1874]

YOU are the problem. My family has been in Durango over 150 years. 25 years??? 😂. You people are what made the cost initially go up.

[@YOUR-LOCAL13]

It’s all about greed and it’s sickening.

[@Wanderer_in_the_Desert_Winds]

I remember when I lived in Colorado Springs in the 90's, at a stop light a car was in front of me with a bumper sticker that said "Move back to California and take a Texan with you". Ironically the car to the left was from Texas and the one to the right was from California. I wish cell phones were a big thing back then so I could have got a photo of that...

[@NickJohnson]

Amazing!!

[@Pebbs800]

I think the irony of the lady at the grocery store perfectly sums up a bunch of peoples' attitude in this state. "Out of stater that's been here for 20 years complains about out of staters that have been here for 2 years." I was in Ouray about a year ago and struck up a conversation with a guy who was a native and his outlook on the whole influx of people was interesting. His take was that he was kind of ok with the boom this state has had, given that many of these towns and their histories would likely be forgotten and they would slowly rot away (think wv).

[@holdenc3082]

Old Mary wasn’t crying for me when I got priced out of Southern California by the other 49 states invading us. You used to not be able to throw a rock without seeing a Colorado license plate in Southern California.

[@kenrossmac]

I was thinking the same thing! She isn't even a native Durangan!🙄 Also... should people not be allowed to move where they want to? Should there be a checkpoint at the border where people have to pledge to abide by a certain set of beliefs or views??🙄 That doesn't sound very American to me mister! 😂

[@b-genspinster7895]

@@holdenc3082somehow, I don’t believe there were a bunch of Colorado plates in California unless they were coming back to check on their relatives or houses they own there from before they moved. Old Mary is probably an alcoholic smoker from Texas or California who thought running away to Colorado would changes things for her but didn’t.

[@vireogilvus]

Yup. It's the whole "you aren't IN traffic, you ARE traffic" thing

[@onerationallady2661]

Can you believe these ppl are pissed they are being priced out of their homes?!?! The audacity!! It really is ironic isn’t it?? 🙄

[@cheryllewis5195]

Great video Nick! I agree with your guest, when you move somewhere be respectful of the culture and try to assimilate, rather than trying to change things. This is unfortunately happening in a lot of places.

[@geraldinevaughn8435]

Yet when Americans go overseas, whether to visit or live, they're still referred to as Ugly Americans who don't assimilate well into other cultures, or find it extremely difficult to do so. Interesting.

[@Na-nc6qt]

This has happened to fort collins in northern Colorado. I am a native and it is sad to see that people don't camp in tents but ugly RVs and our mountains are trashed. People are rude. Wish they would move back to where they came from.

[@markmark2080]

"ugly RVs" 👍

[@jl6714]

This all started happening in every nice city and town when people starting working from home during covid. They packed up and moved. It's destroying everything.

[@danrynazewski4151]

My cousin just moved to Idaho they sold their California Home for 3 million they bought it for 300k so they moved to Idaho retired in a four bedroom 3 bath home for 250k .. Who can blame them plus they voted for Trump so they went to their people!

[@aaronj08ar]

​@@danrynazewski4151 Your extended family members sound very intelligent.

[@tonyascaso6254]

I had a good friend that said that when a town gets a stop light it is time to move. He was 100% correct! This happens everywhere. Thing is most of those CA people will move out in a few years. The winters and altitude plus they brought the problems they had in CA with them. Anyway start going to City Council Meetings and push for No Growth or Slow Growth. The City Council will always sell themselves out to the developers and real estate industry.

[@Trump2024asw]

Lol in central Florida... help

[@Dangic23]

CO still a trillion times better than Florida. I’m in the Panhandle

[@blueamenaa749]

I live in a small town in France near French riviera. We re 3k people, house are 700k. Everyone is living. The bakery closed. Houses are mostly holidays house of the rich, they sit empty 9 months of the year.😶

[@HairyPixels]

LOL 100% true though

[@punkeratthecasbah2114]

Californians will bring California problems with them? Why do you all sound like Fox News douchebags? Has Durango turned red now that it's all money?

[@CreamCheesePepperJelly]

Wow same in FL, use to be so nice and peaceful until the bridge from NY & NJ finished up and steady stream came pouring in.

[@costernocht]

Nick, you are totally unique. I love your narration. Thanks for another great video.

[@dsrtflwr6093]

Truly, this is happening everywhere.

[@fernandoscrenci4874]

100%!!! No question about it!!! The Empire is coming to A end!! Mark my words!!!

[@richardmori1389]

What a tragedy for our country. Used to love Durango 20 years ago. Californian politics and culture are pure poison. They seems to ruin anything they come into contact with.

[@maryutz8358]

The problem is wealthy people, wherever they're from. Extreme limits need to be put on the wealthy. We need to reign in these criminals.

[@jeffrutledge1789]

Like I keep saying no one on here is talking about it this is all from illegal and legal immigration! Our population is dropping we should have more room. This has to be stopped!

[@devengudinas1649]

Become rich and your mind will change.

[@maryutz8358]

@@devengudinas1649 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@tomcripps7229]

@@maryutz8358they had the same problems 30 years ago. It was said that you could make a small fortune in these towns if you brought a large fortune with you. The internet has changed everything and when the working classes can no longer afford to live there, the sense of community is lost. Towns like Aspen and Telluride have a constant stream of traffic coming and going of construction, service workers which create smog in these canyons and valleys, hard on the roads and they slow travel. There are far more questions than answers. The ultra rich, mostly absentee residents will get their way and buy up the towns, have proxy voters to push their agenda because profit rules everything. And I'm not a socialist.

[@Richard-sc7yq]

Based on what you filmed for this video, Durango, Colorado is a beautiful place. Much of the natural area surrounding Durango is forested, with abundant Poderosa Pine and Quaking Aspen. The stunning scenery ranges from high desert mesas and canyons to high alpine peaks and meadows. However, it's elevation is 6,512 feet. It's average high temperature for the month of July is a very comfortable 86.0 degrees Fahrenheit. Its average low temperature in January is a very cold 14.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The average annual precipitation is 20.95 inches. The average snowfall each year is 64.7 inches of snow. Durango is somewhat isolated--the nearest international airport is in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a distance of 214 miles or so.

[@les0101s]

After this video, more people will be moving in.

[@stonemagic540]

too bad that dont stop the influx of liberals and their ilk..we are having a drought from hell, by the way

[@tfFlyer-e9w]

Man I miss Colorado of the early 2000’s when you could get a seasonal job in Vail or Steamboat and easily find affordable housing . Colorado is the most beautiful state next to Utah

[@5280MTM]

I live in Steamboat and those days are done. Housing is impossible to find, and what is available is unaffordable for 99% of the working class. Steamboat resort packs 6 employees into a 2 bedroom apartment. Studios go for 1500+. Those prices have been trickling over to the small outskirt towns like Hayden and Oak Creek. Majority of my friends have all packed up and moved on, because working 3 jobs to cover rent is not worth it. We also see it at the College I work for. We cant get new students if they don't have anywhere to live. The only students really attending anymore are the rich kids who's parents can afford it. I've been trying to buy my 1st home the last few years and nothing in Hayden or Oak creek is below 450k- Steamboat is 1+ mill for a home. Steamboat went from that small ski town vibe to Aspen/Vail in a couple short years and the COVID home cash grab seriously destroyed living. The whole town shuts down at 8pm because there isnt enough people to work the jobs.

[@greasesicle]

CO or UT aren't beautiful. Kooks from neighboring states say they are beautiful.

[@wanneroo7106]

Yes I know those times and places. I think I was paying $400 a month in very nice employee housing and making many multiples over in income and living a good life. I saw the writing on the wall and left in the late 2000s. My family had a long generational history in Colorado and sad to see it now in some places.

[@ADOTlied]

I guess you haven't been to Arizona lol

[@Islandboy1900]

Nick, you have the best narration ever when it comes to your videos. Kept me entertained. Keep it up friend!

[@pianogirl3870]

I have been so bored with youtube videos....but yours rock! I live in Colorado and did a 2 month business trip in Salt Lake.....loving your videos and learning lots. Jesus bless you!

[@NickJohnson]

❤️❤️

[@TheBodynsoul1]

I grew up in Colorado and lived in small mtn. mining town, i had a small business for 9 years but when our town officials began letting franchise businesses with big $$ push us smaller independent businesses out! I threw in the towel and moved out of state. i also saw the gentrification destroying the rustic infrastructure and the disregard for the land it was disgusting to witness its demise!

[@SMaamri78]

I lived in Colorado Springs in the mid 1980’s. Stationed at Peterson AFB. We loved Cripple Creek. It was such a nice mountain mining town. We moved away and didn’t revisit for 30 years. Cripple Creek had been destroyed, imho, during our absence. Nothing but casinos now. I was so saddened by that.

[@NameSpaceVoid]

It's wild how quickly things can change when such a massive population of rich people seem to collectively decide to move somewhere en mass. I'm considering a job in CO which does break 6 figs but still have doubts...All I hear about is people moving out because the cost of living is so insane, 21% higher than the rest of the country. I've never seen a housing market so cracked as the Denver area. Even with a 100k salary on my own it would be hard to do.

[@grumpyoldlady_rants]

The figure I saw (from 2022) is it’s cost of living index is 96 - 4 points less than the overall US average.

[@lowking7235]

I make well over six figures and I still live month to month

[@grumpyoldlady_rants]

@@lowking7235 - I get it. You must live in an expensive area and/or have kids. My son and his wife have two little boys. My son earns over $100k a year and it was a struggle. They live frugally, too. Of course it’s not the same struggle as people with low paying jobs.

[@mikemiller659]

Thats plenty of money YOUR problem is the government is stealing 1/3 of it ..for migrants..healthcare for migrants..bombs..bombers Cash for ukraine

[@sookietrueblood-gp4sd]

Well I still wish you well with your new journey. God bless you.

[@shaunsteele6926]

I feel the same way about Temecula, CA. I moved there in 1987 when it really was a "small town". Now it looks like Anaheim... it's a shame what people have done

[@stacky512a]

True, but Temecula is clean and friendly. (Esco resident here)

[@Jenult]

They're doing this to my home town too, they're turning Arizona into California...

[@CaptainSeamus]

I have to travel into western Colorado on occasion... seeing the changes in Montrose, Delta, and yes, Durango, is kind of bittersweet to me... I wish the folks moving in there could dig how the lifestyle is the real gem of these places. Cheers!

[@tommy516]

I don't understand how ANY Colorado city can be listed on a top place to live, list. One, the home prices are INSANE, two, it is very crowded and the various cities did not plan well for the influx of people or HOUSES that they have allowed to build. There are still single lane roads that are heavily trafficked. The road that that girl who died after having that rock thrown threw her windshield is a majorly traveled road...its still a country road, with no plans to widen in. Three, its just overcrowded and crime is growing....

[@jimechols4347]

Same thing with Austin Texas.

[@YOUR-LOCAL13]

Crime is definitely shooting up. Fentanyl trafficking and theft is skyrocketing. Many, many young people dying from fentanyl usage and these deaths are being covered up by the communists in our state and local governments.

[@ohwell2790]

People who have moved to the small town in Arizona that I live have ruined everything and brought traffic and noise, higher rents, higher home costs etc. It used to be a town that travelers got gas and kept going. Now drugs and crime are on the rise. It sucks

[@rexcatston8412]

Here in England we have a different problem. All the coastal towns get bought up as holiday homes so the locals get priced out but also because nobody lives there 45-50 weeks a year, the stores go out of business too. Eventually you just end up with 100s of little villages that date back 100s of years but are now incoherently expensive and empty

[@crazychicSHENA]

Same in Ireland coastal town's and village's have growth. Like in sunburns of Dublin and counties to the north and mid Ireland are growing now that Muslims illegal immigrants have landed in Ireland☘️🤷‍♀️ while the economy inside the E.U market's go % in product values😮.

[@shaunsteele6926]

@@crazychicSHENA it's a shame they sold out to the EU. When I visit Ireland now it just isn't Ireland anymore.

[@Angry_Toe]

It’s happening here too- especially in New England Cape Cod and Maine. Parts of the southern coast are also suffering from a lack of service industry workers because there is no affordable housing for them during the busy season.

[@CourtneyNielsen]

Curious…what percentage of “Californians” that move and change things up were born in California, vs having moved to California first, changed things up, then left for the new states to change them up? Anecdotally I’ve noticed most who leave California had left somewhere else first. - from a native Californian who’d rather stay and fight.

[@mritzs5142]

I am one of those I lived on the East Coast I lived in Texas for a long time than my husband and I moved to California for his work I never wanted to go out there I never liked Los Angeles and I was not impressed with it , fact I was let down it didn’t feel like a city at all it was likeExactly what Dominick Dunne expressed in his book a lot of small suburbs trying to look like a city, but I do agree with you I think a lot of people come to California and they’re so disappointed the pollution the homelessness the cost of living the traffic the crime we left good luck fighting to stay there

[@NickJohnson]

Period

[@yeboscrebo4451]

It’s not worth fighting for. They’re intentionally dismantling the state, destroying it in order to “build back better”. San Fran is going to become a dystopian hellscape smart city once they gobble up all the real estate for pennies on the dollar.

[@maryutz8358]

The problem is wealthy people. It's time to start reigning them in. They ruin everything.

[@kbtexas2142]

@@NickJohnsonWhen and why did periods stop being a thing!?!

[@You_Tuber_Premium]

I lived in Durango from 2016-2019 The homeless were EVERYWHERE! They sleep and hangout whenever the want. Manly around the soup kitchen. The soup kitchen enables far-far more than it helps. The people who are temporarily down their luck will automatically do better if they want to. Then we got the underbelly class that wants to stay like that ON PURPOSE.

[@joeg5414]

You should have been here last year before they cleaned out the homeless camp by purple cliffs, behind home depot by the river. Whole area completely trashed and covered in tents. Was there a couple years before they cleared it out. Was a real eye sore. Plus they were leaving used needles and crap (literally) by the river. Oh and the used toilet paper is a nice touch. Definitely improved though since they cleared out the camp. People were coming from Farmington, Albuquerque and all over because they heard homeless were well taken care of in Durango. Luckily that's changed. Durango can't support a large homeless population

[@MasterMalrubius]

We were in Durango last summer. Santa Fe -> Taos -> Durango. It was really just a stop to take the Durango to Silverton train. We stayed a couple nights and it was OK. Nice people and it is beautiful.

[@kevinkier6790]

That was a good interview Nick, I've lived in the Denver area for 66 years (native). The good mayor Jasper brought up a lot of good points about living in Colorado.🤠

[@corgimom2]

You should have checked out Ouray, CO. I grew up spending my summers there. My parents owned 2 homes on Main Street. It's a small mountain town. Old gold mining town. It's in between Montrose and Silverton off 550. My dream has always been to move there one day, but that's now impossible. So many people form the outside (other states) have ruined it. They've built HUGE homes there and now the prices of homes are outrageous. There's no way I can ever move there unless I win the lottery. Too many outsiders. Too trendy. The place to move. People who work in Ouray have to live elsewhere due to the shortage of affordable housing. It's sad.

[@NickJohnson]

I saw it! It'll be in another video!

[@Chordonblue]

Lived here for 6 years of my childhood during the 70's and early 80's, graduating high school. I KNEW this would change because that was the stated GOAL. The parts of town that were dirt cheap to live in simply don't exist anymore, nor do the people (many of whom were minorities). They've literally moved MOUNTAINS here (see: Smelter Mountain tailings), and although I recognize it, I remember a time where a retired miner in his 90's talked with me about the 'old days' while on my paper route for the Durango Herald. That was 40+ years ago now and MY memories of Durango then are as different from now as his were from MINE. Change is inevitable, and it was only a matter of time before Durango was 'discovered'. But, it still looks as pretty as I remember, and Nick, you should've ridden the train. The trip on the tracks to Silverton are just amazing.

[@NickJohnson]

I saw silverton! It'll be in another video! 🚊

[@Chordonblue]

@@NickJohnson Great! Can't wait to see it!

[@jeffrutledge1789]

The only thing that should be changing is technology! We have millions of illegal and legal people flooding over the border causing this! Our population is dropping so we should have more room.

[@b-genspinster7895]

@@jeffrutledge1789 we still have too many people even if as you say, the population is dropping. Which it is not.

[@acsentu8]

The only train I've been on was the one from Durango to Silverton. Back in 1980. Family trip. Thanks Dad and rest in peace til we meet again.

[@LinkMassing]

Wowwwww!!! I went to high school there and graduated from Fort Lewis TWICE in that little town!!!!! It really was a safe, warm, nice place. Everyone I know who is still living there has told me how bad the place has changed and completely ruined.

[@LinkMassing]

Also, one thing that was missed, The Strater hotel is where they filmed National Lampoon's Vacation when Chevy Chase stole money out of the silver cash register. That silver cash register is still there till this day behind the counter.

[@alitlweird]

Dear Mappy, Your channel is one of my favorite channels on the entire KZbin’s! I also like when Nick Johnson talks about his adventures.

[@NickJohnson]

Mappy says ❤️❤️!

[@ajf5823]

This is what Colorado has become: Overrun with tourists and transplants from California and Texas. I lived in Montrose 3 years ago and the Texan Tourons invade in droves. You can’t find a trail or scenic road and enjoy solitude. In the winter the ski towns are overrun. The closer you get to the Front Range, the worse it gets. You will spend more time driving to and from the mountains then you will hiking or skiing in them. I love Colorado and wanted to stay but it has become too reminiscent of the crowded, congested, expensive east coast l fled from. Now I’m in a remote area on Lake Powell in Utah working in a campground where more than half the people who visit have Colorado plates. They are coming here to the desert where it’s over 100 degrees to escape their mountain towns that are being overrun . 😂

[@GenXfrom75]

Charleston, SC used to be fairly small... but natives have absolutely been priced out!! It saddens me everyday. 😢 People move in and ruin it for the people who've been there, often for generations

[@planetvegan7843]

Funny, that's what the first nations said about you.

[@eurodiaz3712]

oh please@@planetvegan7843

[@bestchannelintheworld]

@@planetvegan7843 except those were tribes, refusing to form their own state when literally all other parts of the world have all been controlled by states for millennia. If the natives had their own state, nobody would've taken their land, it's that simple. States respect other states' right to exist, but tribalists can go fk themselves.

[@GenXfrom75]

@@planetvegan7843 ok 🤣

[@IOrion2013]

You keep getting better. Love your commentary.

[@saundrajohnson1571]

Well, you made it to Durango - such as it is. I first got here in 1987. Bought some property and made it my home until 2002. During that time, I sadly watched a pasture that fed herds of elk get turned into a golf course littered with expensive homes. After too many years away, I came back in 2018 to a Durango I barely recognized. I discovered a man-made lake had been created, named after a former senator. I still haven’t seen that lake. I discovered marijuana had been legalized. And the apparent doubling of the population came along with being Californicated. No, it sure isn’t the Durango I used to know and love. But the beauty of the nature surrounding this little town still survives, and I’ve decided to retire here. I live on the outskirts, in a place that’s more rural than urban. That’s just the way I like it. I also still drive down old Main to admire the old buildings that still dominate downtown. And I do love that ol’ train. People, if you come here to live, enjoy it, admire it and respect it. Don’t come here to try to change it. That just ruins it for everybody.

[@ragauerk9310]

I left in 2002 also and miss it dearly. Maybe would break my heart to return now.

[@andrewduncan6587]

Great video as always! We live in a small Colorado mountain town and hear locals with these same complaints. It's a ski town and NEEDS the tourism to survive yet many people simply don't understand that. Blows my mind!

[@YOUR-LOCAL13]

How about have tourism but don’t sacrifice your town’s culture for it. I’ve lived near Denver my whole life and I hate what it’s become. We visited Deadwood, SD for the first time in July and we loved it: the culture and the locals. I pray they never let tourism nor outsiders change it.

[@j_p_stratorus211]

@@YOUR-LOCAL13 Those towns in the black hills are awesome! Very calm and tranquil feeling in the air up there. Great hiking trails too.

[@kaleobreeckner8458]

I lived in Durango for a summer in 2017. I subleased a room right in downtown with my friend from high school who went to the college. The gentrification was just starting to skyrocket but we managed to find a place for pretty cheap. It’s a great, crunchy little mountain town, I have very fond memories.

[@txspacemom765]

As a Texan, I am so sorry. We have seen the same thing. The town I have loved here in Texas went from 14,000, maybe, to over 110,000 in less than 8 years and it's still going. I would love to come visit your town. I do not do politics and idealisms. Just want a good cup of coffee, some beautiful scenery, hiking and a good book.

[@ADOTlied]

Hiking is political, everything is political in life, you'll have to get over it or get involved.

[@anthonyencarnacion7203]

Thank you so much for loving America enough to be the channel of choice to get real information on its hills, hollars, and hamlets..

[@judys9083]

Everyone leaving other states to come to Colorado over the past few years. Time to move out. Unfortunately...not many other nice/affordable/safe places to go in America anymore.😟

[@macmovieman1]

Thank you Mary for taking care of it for us until we get there.

[@moreless2690]

"What goes around comes around" . Indeed, the sad truth is that it happened more than 200 years ago in Centennial State was a Nicknames for the State of Colorado. Despite the changes in the past, Native American Indians, a forgotten people, are still present here and observing their land. All Native American Prophecies are coming True, ... we were told we would see Amrican come and go and sense American is dying from within. Because they forgot the intructions on how to live on earth.

[@siiciitree]

Indeed!! And it's a bit ironic to see so many people in the comments complaining about "outsiders" coming into "their land"

[@Dethflash]

Great timing on this video Nick! I was planning to road trip through Durango to Mesa Verde, but sadly life happen and that road trip isn't happening this year. So thank you so much for this video! I feel like I can still experience a little bit of Durango.

[@NickJohnson]

Ok!

[@warrenmcelroy4718]

Mesa Verde is just an Extremely Amazing place, I really do hope you’re able to make the trip someday soon.

[@jeerat8242]

I’ve lived 45 miles south of Durango my whole life. The best way to experience this beautiful small town is to do just that. Aztec, New Mexico (45 miles south) is a great small town of about 6,000 people. Farmington, New Mexico is only 15 minutes away which has everything you need. When you get the itch for the mountains, they’re 45 min away in Durango. You don’t get the harsh winters in Aztec that you do in Durango. Skiing is amazing up there at Purgatory. White water rafting right there in Durango. Zip lining. All kinds of stuff.

[@YOUR-LOCAL13]

You shouldn’t have told anyone about Aztec. It’ll start being invaded by those who will want to change it to be like where they came from.

[@LuckysLair]

Shhhhhhhh don't tell anyone

[@Davidsavage8008]

I had. Job offer welding aluminum bikes that was moving to Durango . I looked into the work force and Durango life style , I declined the offer and moved to Lewiston Idaho , aluminum jet boat Capitol of the world. I enjoy your videos . I'm Sure you love making them too. Awesome work

[@oxigenarian9763]

Having lived in the Four Corners region (Cortez) for an extended time and as a Colorado resident for 50 years who now lives in the Western Slope Region, I can tell you that the nature of Colorado is irretrievably changed. Durango is no singular exception to the decay of western rural life; it is everywhere. The Front Range is a giant octopus whose tentacles have touched the rural, conservative life that existed here long before it was loved to death by newcomers. There are very few places left that you can still feel the past, places that have not had their heritage sucked up by the socio-political machinery of the Front Range. In most cases, you will only find this past life in Louis L'Amour books. Nick, I think you didn't (maybe on purpose?) say enough about how the college has influenced the character of the present-day Durango. Colleges today are a force as they bring the newest ideas and culture to bear wherever they are; a force that is counter to what towns like Bayfield, Durango, Cortez and Dolores have lost. Colorado, as it used to be, RIP.

[@ginakelley749]

Grand Junction is turning into another Los Angeles 😡😡😡

[@oxigenarian9763]

@@ginakelley749 The whole state is turning into another California...

[@SMaamri78]

I was stationed at Peterson AFB in the mid 80’s. Then moved away. It was 30 years before I was able to return for a visit. What a shock I was in for. So sad.

[@les0101s]

Times have changed. Can you make enough money now being a cowboy? It's confusing to hear talk about the culture changing because part of just sounds like a generational thing. People have to change in order to make a living. Can you make a living farming, or should you get a computer science degree? It's not just because people are moving to Durango from other towns, it's because people from Durango sold out and moved, per the Mayor.

[@oxigenarian9763]

@@les0101s Yes - times HAVE changed. To borrow something from a movie line, we can't make a living anymore from building buggy whips. My point is that we did not have to turn our backs on God or abandon the timeless values of our founding principles...

[@herrprepper2070]

I moved to Longmont, Colorado from Wyoming back in the early 70’s. It was a zoo then and it’s a thousand times worse now. I lasted 3 months until I was back in Wyoming.

[@Kevin-ys7sj]

Silverton may be the next victim! Beautiful scenery, love the railroad and Old West history. Rv'd in Colorado e few times and saw a lot of special places, never went near Denver or any other big city, Leadville was awesome, camped @ Turquoise Lake.

[@racer193wr]

I live on the outskirts of Halifax Nova Scotia... This story is almost identical to here.. with the exception of the people moving here seem to be escaping liberal controlled provinces.. the problem is that they are changing it to be more like home which is making it hard as hell to live here as someone who has lived here all of his life beside six years living in British Columbia..

[@stubru16]

Same in the U.K the Londoners have destroyed their city and now flock to the countryside and build on every bit of land they can get. The countryside will probably be turned into another city soon when they’ve finished destroying it

[@planetvegan7843]

Except with halifax there is no payoff in quality of life.

[@Slaythehippies]

I live in Philly and a family member wants me to move out to Idaho. I looked up COL in Idaho, Montana, Washington....it's all astronomically expensive! I can't afford those places! Guess Ill just stay where I am and continue working to try and make my neighborhood a better place.

[@judyvaughn761]

I don't know why Durango felt like they'd be spared from all the hell that's going on the Earth

[@gailcross4165]

I lived in Bayfield for 14 years and moved back to Durango almost 7 years ago in order to care for my dad. I live close to the hospital now with my dad long gone. I love Durango but may have to relocate in a year or two due to being priced out. Makes me sad.

[@stonemagic540]

NOW they are putting ANOTHER Mac Donalds up by the hospitle

[@gladegoodrich2297]

Moved to a small town of 13,000 people 35 years ago. Now the population has tripled to 39,000. Went from 6 cops and two stop lights to 48 cops and at least 50 stop lights. Tax and spend is what politicians call progress.

[@judya8392]

Nothing destroys a small town faster then people who are not wanted planting themselves and trying to change everything.

[@Jumpyrumble]

Interesting take from ‘native Coloradans’ whose ancestors brutally killed indigenous people, took their lands, and made a few changes.

[@lkern6238]

​@@JumpyrumbleIndigenous never claimed ownership of land. Land being owned is a european concept.

[@jandoerlidoe3412]

The landscape around Durango is nothing short of stunning......

[@deanhawk7260]

Excellent video. Hopefully the town can find a balance of keeping its traditions and culture.

[@Draemencia]

I find it funny that the lady mentioned that it’s all California and Texas that are ruining the place. Here in Texas we complain about the California transplants. Been here my whole life, I want to move not cause of the people but because of the heat during summer and I fell in love with being on the mountains. I’ve visited several times and just love the views from the mountains. I also love Vancouver for their outdoors as well. I won’t move not until the kids are adults but by then who knows what the world will look like.

[@JudyMenzel7]

For early 1970s to around 2005, the woods of Durango were part of Harley rallies and runs. But due to the influx and loss of forestland, those are long gone

[@martinginsburg7222]

& thats a good thing. I've been on a lake kayaking and all I heard all day long was Harleys. Only Harleys & people making money off it want that noise & pollution

[@maryutz8358]

Extreme limits need to be put on wealthy people. They are ruining our country.

[@ConsolidatedPBY]

They’re trying to kill us all.

[@shaunsteele6926]

you misspelled boomers

[@maryutz8358]

@@farseervisions what? Are you saying all wealthy people are Jewish? Lol! It sounds like YOU'RE the one who's stereotyping. Go gaslight someone else.

[@marcussmith4913]

ya unfortunately the only way to change things is to burn it all down. We basically have to throw a revolution and take it all back =]

[@j_p_stratorus211]

Not just wealthy people, but it's strongly liberal wealthy people and their lower class stoner hippy liberal types who trail behind them.

[@Shiftheads]

Colorado definitely use to have more of a country/western kinda feel(even near Denver) and it totally has turned into over populated California type place unfortunately.

[@YOUR-LOCAL13]

I’ve lived in Colorado my whole life and I remember when, probably in the 70’s, maybe late 60’s, politicians were whining about how they didn’t want Denver to be considered a cow town. Right after that, they started rezoning properties to not allow horses anymore. That kept spreading into all areas around Denver. We used to see many places with horses, which was wonderful, until they pushed horse property out and they’re still trying to get rid of the last few horses properties anywhere near Denver. Horses and western culture used to be strong in this area. So sad that was destroyed.

[@franciscogallegos7936]

I like your videos because you talk s**t talk s**t talk s**t and then you talk to someone intelligent from the town. Thank you for giving more then one side of the story. It's exactly what you're supposed to do and exactly what we need more of in this country

[@rogerburn5132]

NICK BRILLIANT VIDEO VERY INFORMATIVE VERY WELL DONE BIG THANKS 👍👍👍👍

[@travisstovall1300]

That’s my hometown… Great job covering it

[@Seanb-n2v]

I grew up in Durango. It was a thriving community back in the 90's. I loved my hometown. The pain of going there now and seeing what it has become, and seeing old friends that are near poverty in Bayfield is akin to losing the closest of family members... California can suck my globes...

[@waltchan]

California state create a lot of rich Democrats from the tech industry boom, so they can move to Durango someday. The governor is proud of all their achievements.

[@stonemagic540]

NOW Bayfeild IS Being Californiated...

[@thomfiel]

In my old job, I used to attend an annual business meeting in Denver. Sometimes, I'd take a week's vacation and tour the state. I loved Durango--but that was over a decade ago. Thanks for the update.

[@zrelefor]

Lived in Durango from 2011 through 2013. It was a great place to live, just wasn’t sustainable long term because of the housing costs.

[@josephhertzberg2734]

People were complaining about the Californication of Durango in 1993 when I lived there. Really popped the price of houses up. I heard all the same complaining.

[@bjmarchives]

I live in Denver. It’s not recognizable. It’s unreal how many Texas, Florida, and California plates we see on a quick drive. Almost everyone new I meet is from one of these states. Not only can we not afford it, we refuse to spend asking price for homes here. it’s not worth it to us. 😂 so we’re moving to Europe. It feels ruined. But I lived here for over a decade and enjoyed it. Great years.

[@paanglin]

My father in law had a restaurant there 30 years a go called Amorae. Hopefully I am spelling it rite. We loaded up in Houston Texas and went over there to see him. He had a Beautiful house up on a mountain. Stopped and bought a t shirt that said bare whiz on it. Those were the days. I am with you on those days are long gone. $200000 for a trailer home. O my.

[@jmc4israel]

Sounds so much like what has happened to Prescott, Arizona. You need to come visit.

[@gregleavitt1255]

Simple Formula: More People = More Problems.

[@iguanaamphibioustruck7352]

You can imagine my going back to my HS town of Moab after 30 years. We must have been close to the same parallel. I played football against Cortez, Colorado, was like a foreign country. I am thrilled that there are people who enjoy the SW. I have never been so hot, tired, dirty, thirsty, hungry and measurable as I was working in the SW. After graduating from Cal Poly, I took a job with Weyerhaeuser and except for 3 years in Chicago I have been here ever since. I never tire or complain about the rain. Enjoy the company, there is nothing more lonely or beautiful than a SW desert.

[@Madamjonibee]

I went to school at Fort Lewis College in 1973. Obviously much different then! I wouldn’t like it now. One night it was really snowy without much traffic. We had a snowball fight on Main Street- cowboys on one side of the street and hippies on the other side. We had a blast

[@carlcolvin8320]

I thought about moving back to Colorado but after I heard that Colorado Tax Dollars are being wasted on ILLEGAL ALIENS my response was F**K that.

[@missusjasus]

Hi Nick! I grew up in Colorado the moved to Washington. For the last three years I've driven my van to live and work in summit county. I love it soo much but, I'm forced to leave my job and the state as soon as winter hits because there is NO affordable housing or work force housing in that area!! But, I still return every year hoping to get lucky and find housing. I tried living in my van in the winter. No thank you!

[@contractorvegas5384]

Great idea to interview a local that really knows his community to comment on their local issues 👍👍👍

[@angierox6964]

I’ve lived in Durango since ‘92. My children were born here. I’ve always been active in the community. I’m highly educated, and own a small business and am single . The reason I mention single is because it’s almost impossible for a 55 year old woman or man to live on one income here. But here’s the good news! I found a semi-affordable studio, so my coffee maker is only 4 steps away from my bed! If I was into meth and hanging out with homeless I’d be a happy camper. I share a wall with a meth dealer. My other neighbor is fresh out of prison so it’s nice seeing him appreciate his freedom, though the domestic violence is pretty loud. I am very close to the river! While exploring the other day, I found all sorts of interesting items… There are quite a few little camps with trash all over the place, some pants, etc…my need for a little peace, and the sound of the river was definitely not met. If I want to stay in my town with my family and grandchild I’m going to need to get another job. Unfortunately a couple major surgeries have made that difficult. It’s hard to move forward when you can barely meet your basic needs. A roof over my head, safety, and food. And yes, I’ve tried a roommate recently, and the creepy dude was going into my bedroom and stealing my things. And for some reason, the 20-year-olds in this town don’t want to live with a 55-year-old woman! lol The homeless and meth population hitched a ride with the part time seasonal residents. Durango hides them well but I’ll gladly give a list and photos of their hangouts. They are not the problem, they are the consequence of a sick money driven country.

[@the_derpler]

I love Colorado, I thought to move there a while back, but its sooooo expensive now. I just want a nice place I can ride my bicycle around :)

[@gumby2241]

I live in colorado springs and there are a lot of places to ride your bike, but it's a big town now and of course the homeless ruin everything with their trash and lawlessness.

[@xmvirus202]

Great video Nick! I was hoping to see a debate between Marathon Mary and Mappy Karen 🙅🏻‍♂️

[@peregrination3643]

I grew up in a town half the size (Glenwood Springs). Even in the 90s I associated Durango as a semi-ritzy place. Not quite Vail though. Still, a lot of Colorado towns have had the double-edged sword of wealth influx whenever California has a big fire season or crime event. I was always told that my town got a lot of LA people in 1994 because of a fire (just repeating childhood lore here--could very well have more to it). Colorado towns vary a lot. The resort areas obviously bring in more wealth while the mining and ranch towns are amazingly still the same 20 years after I left the area. My town still has a middle-class feel to it. The main complaint I have when I return is that it's such a narrow valley and feels claustrophobic with the development they're put in the last 20 years. But even 20 years ago when my parents wanted to leave a slum-converting neighborhood (drug parties across street), they couldn't move to a different neighborhood. They were priced out. That's how we ended up going to Arkansas.

[@KVMerry]

Outdoor person paradise. San juan mtns, western slope of colorado. Mountain bike heaven, flyfishing heaven, backpackers heave, , one of the most awe inspiring places on this planet. This guy misses everything about golden waters, black canyon, the people who come here from all over the world to fish. Bluegrass concerts, skiers heaven. Hippie heaven, musicians heaven. Million dollar hwy. Waking up surrounded by 14,000ft mtns, herds of elk. Color changing trees. Not for city people like this guy.

[@tomcripps7229]

@@KVMerrygood place for rich hippies, not working class hippies.

[@4Fox59]

I grew up here in Grand Junction. Used to love going to the pool in Glenwood. Now the town is packed with unpleasant people.

[@max_archer]

If it was 1994 the Northridge Earthquake seems more likely than a fire to me.

[@krr711]

The mayor said pot was on the decline. It is getting more marketing all the time and now that it is legal will not lessen. I live in Indiana where it is illegal. They market it here and you can't even buy it. Appreciate your work, Nick. I have watched many of your videos.

[@GentlemenMonkey]

I lived in Durango from 00' to '12. I loved living there but the writing was on the wall, not a place to raise a family and be a working class guy. Moved north up the western slope to the Montrose/Delta area where the cost of living was sooo much better. I'm really sorry to see what has become of Durango. It was a really nice place to live once upon a time.

[@gumby2241]

A friend is moving to montrose from colorado springs to live a small town life. I hope it doesn't get ruined too.

[@GentlemenMonkey]

@@gumby2241 Montrose is pretty good for the foreseeable future.

[@Andriig75]

Moved to Dolores in 2007

[@97I30T]

@@gumby2241 I think Grand Junction will get ruined before Montrose does.

[@Coalbucketlist]

A lot of people moving into states here in the Midwest also driving the prices up. I could make a lot of money selling my house but where would I go if I can't afford to buy a house for the budget I'm living in my house for? I agree with that Mayor, I love my home and don't want to move or make money off of it. What concerns me is our taxes going up in our community because of the market value now.

[@annabelleb.8096]

I can imagine how long time residents in CO must feel. I moved from Evergreen in the '80's and back then the residents were complaining about how that town was changing. When I see videos of it now it looks like just another wealthy mountain suburb. A suburb and not a mountain town anymore.

[@MrAlliecaulfield]

Had good friends who lived on top of of Bear mountain in the 70s and 80s. Yeah Evergreen was becoming a tourist trap back then

[@annabelleb.8096]

@@MrAlliecaulfield I moved to Evergreen from NYC so it seemed very quaint to me. I didn't stay long tho. Living on Bear Mountain must have been nice. I lived in an apartment in town.

[@auspiciouscloud8786]

I love listening to you, you are wonderful! ❤