Dove Creek is a very small, rural community that seems to be on the edge of the world, but is really on the edge of Colorado. Situated about 20 miles east of the border of Utah and about 60 miles north of the New Mexico border, Dove Creek is part of the famous 4-Corners region of the Southwest.

History and Culture

Dove Creek calls itself the "Pinto Bean Capital of the World" because of its favorite crop, but it also produces wheat and alfalfa. Dove Creek has always been an agricultural town, settled largely by Dust Bowl era families seeking fertile land. Mining has also played an important role in the history of the town. In the 1950’s and 60’s uranium mines in the area were booming. Today, some of the 700 or so local residents still make a living farming and mining, but many are small business owners or blue collar workers. A growing section of the population is retired as well.

Real Estate

Because the area is still largely undiscovered by developers, housing and land prices are still very low for Colorado standards. Houses in the area run as low as $ 50,000 and a great deal of undeveloped acreage is available for as low as $ 24,000 for 40 acres. You can choose to live "in-town," which consists of an area only a couple of miles square or you can live "out-of-town" in the county, where the space between homes is acres-wide and the views of the rolling fields and canyon rims are spectacular.

Schools

The Dolores County School District includes one high school/middle school and one elementary school in Dove Creek. The district has a total enrollment of under 300 students, allowing for a very low teacher-student ratio. The elementary houses students in preschool through sixth grade, with one class per grade level. The high/middle school includes grades seven through twelve. The Dove Creek High/Middle School features a state of the art building which opened in 2002. Dove Creek students have consistently scored above the state averages on the Colorado State Assessment Program (CSAP) standardized testing. Dove Creek varsity athletic teams have always performed well and have consistently won league and regional titles. Community pride and support for the school system runs high in Dove Creek.

Climate

The climate in Dove Creek is milder than nearby mountain communities, but it does experience the ever-changing weather conditions of Colorado. The elevation is just under 7,000 feet, so the region does experience the full four seasons of the year. Winter season includes an average of 26" of snowfall, but temperatures rarely dip below freezing. Summer weather is often fairly hot and dry, with temperatures climbing into the 90’s.

Recreation

There is plenty to see and do in the 4-Corners region, especially if you enjoy the outdoors. Hunting and fishing is popular with the locals, who also enjoy snowmobiling and jeeping in their spare time. Winter downhill skiing is within a couple hours drive to either Telluride or Durango. Rafting and kayaking enthusiasts enjoy the Dolores River, which makes its way through the Dolores River canyons. Camping, biking, hiking, golfing, cross-country skiing, boating and motorcycle racing are also popular recreation activities in the area.

The Dove Creek area is rich in ancient archaeological sites. Mesa Verde National Park is located within an hour’s drive, as are other popular historical sites such as Hovenweep National Monument, Ute Mountain Tribal Park, Monument Valley and the Anasazi Heritage Center.

Pick n’ Hoe

Dove Creek’s population multiplies exponentially on the Fourth of July weekend due to its annual Pick n’ Hoe celebration. For fifty years Dove Creek has held this festival to honor the farmers and miners who settled and built the community. The festivities are sponsored by the fundraising efforts of the Pick n’ Hoe Royalty: Queen, King, Little Miss, Little Mister, and new in 2005, Grouch of the Year. During the three or four days of festivities locals enjoy a parade, softball, volleyball, and horseshoe tournaments, old fashioned style kids and adults games, a street dance, a classic car show, and a concert (Gene Watson in 2005). For lunch on the Fourth, there is a tremendous pit barbecue lunch, complete with homemade beans and coleslaw, served with tortilla and watermelon. The beef is cooked underground for 36 hours, making it super tender and tasty. The whole meal is only $5.00. The locals know that the best part of the day is the great greased pig-chasing contest. Males and females from three years and up compete in age groups to catch a greased pig. The prize? The pig, of course. The whole event is capped off with the fireworks display. The whole town and then some gathers on blankets at the football field to watch the beautiful explosions together.

People

Many of the people who live in Dove Creek, were raised in Dove Creek so there is definitely an everybody knows everybody feel in town. Yet, the locals there are welcoming and friendly to newcomers. They don’t necessarily take kindly to city slickers seeking to make too many changes, but if you want to move in, put your kids in school and make a quiet living in town, you are more than welcome. Once you spend some time there, you will realize that Dove Creek is really a big village where people take care of one another as if they were family.

If you seek that small town atmosphere or you want to raise your children in a place that still believes in old fashioned values, maybe Dove Creek is your next home. The lifestyle is slow, the rent is low and the people are golden.

If you are interested, come for a visit. We are located 35 miles north of Cortez, Colorado on Hwy. 491 (formerly Hwy. 666). You can get a room at the Country Inn Motel (970-677-2234), visit with the locals over coffee in the morning at the deli in the Superette Grocery Store, take a dip in the swimming hole down at the Bradfield Bridge, then get a burger at the Lunch Box. Maybe you’ll find a new home, who knows?

External Links:

• Century21 - Dove Creek Century 21 office
• Realty Executives - Dove Creek Realty Executive Office