The Doghouse BBQ was opened to help preserve the rich mining history of the area. Back in the day, miners would blast a hole well below the surface of the earth as a place to store explosives, and provide a warm dry place to eat lunch. Some shafts took over an hour to reach the surface, so it didn’t make sense to “run out for lunch”. The Doghouse (no - it is not a 'dog house') allows you to run out for lunch without the hour long journey down a dark, damp mine shaft. Have a seat, enjoy the mining ambiance and terrific homemade food. You’ll get more bang for your buck without eating with explosives.

The Small Town of Ridgway Reaps Huge Riches

Have you seen the surrounding mountains that so eloquently grace the town of Ridgway Colorado? Not only are these thunderous ridges beautiful on the outside, but host a spectacle of precious metals on the inside. To be more specific: silver, gold, quart crystals, ruby silver, limestone, and ore. Ouray, at the height of Hardrock mining, had more 30 active mines. To transport all the newcomers, supplies, and precious metals the Denver & Rio Grande Railway arrived in Ridgway in 1887, it remained until the automobiles became the preferred method of transportation.

Ridgway’s support for the surrounding mining towns was paramount. In the early days, supplies were first carried by mules, horses, oxen, and burros from Montrose to Ridgway and then up to the mining towns. After the supplies were delivered, the animals were loaded up with gold, silver, and even coal for local homes, stores, and mines. Ridgway became the supply junction as early as 1887, with the completion of the Rio Grande Railroad and depot. By 1891 one Rio Grande Southern and two Denver & Rio Grande passenger trains would stop daily in Ridgway; in addition to, the official trains and numberless freight trains. Ouray County was booming with its investments in mining, ranching, and railroads.

The roads to riches ended when the government fixed the price of silver with The Sherman Purchasing Act. This created the Silver Panic of 1893 which shut down mines all through out the San Juans. Ridgway recovered later by becoming a major cattle-shipping center for the area. The railway line between Ouray and Ridgway was abandoned on 21 March 1953. Today Ouray County prides itself on sharing with tourist our legacies, spectacular scenery, and old fashioned hospitality. Most of our mining sites are only filled the stories, lost or forgotten tools, and the hope that filled our hardrock miners with finding “the motherlode.” Our railroads too have become a vision from our past that we share when guests come to enjoy what our small, but vibrant communities have to offer.