I've been researching places to relocate to and one place in Colorado that keeps
popping up for me is the Pueblo area.  For those residents and prior residents; what do
all of you think of the area?  It has much cheaper house prices than the rest of the Colorado
front range from what I've been seeing in Pueblo West.  Also, how are the gun shops in the area and are there some places to shoot?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Strictly from a biased northern front range resident, "The Asshole of Colorado" comes to mind.

But that's mostly in-town. Pueblo West is better.

Thanks for your candor.  I, until recently, had a somewhat similar viewpoint (albeit not
quite that drastic) of the area.  However,  when I found you can get a new house on an acreage
for around $225K  I became more open minded. The area seemed to have grown  quite a bit
in terms of shopping, restaurants, etc.  and compared to some of the areas I've been researching
its not too bad.  Also, its close to camping and the mountains.
How about those who live or have lived there?  I most concerned from the standpoint of
the area for guns and shooting.

Pueblo's not a bad place to live.  Of course I am rarely home for more than a few days.  I would live in Aberdeen or out in Pueblo West.  There are a lot of decent local restaurants (Pass Key comes to mind).  Gun shops in town suck.  Best bet is to head to Springs or Denver. The advantages are quick access to Raton (Wittington) and the Sportsmans Park in Pueblo West.  Cost of living is lower.  I have lived all over and I work all over the world.  I came back to Pueblo for a few reasons.  It is a great place to be a shooter.  Easy access to good roads for riding (MC).  Decent weather year round(everything is relative- I worked in MN this winter for 2 months).  It is not the most sophisticated town.  There is some crime(again its relative- it's not Detroit, but I lock my doors, etc.)  Easy access to CO Springs airport if you need to travel (takes 35 minutes door to check-in).  Negatives, it is one of the poorer municipalities in Colorado.  Pueblo is a strongly Hispanic town(nothing wrong with this at all, most of Southern Colorado is), but some of the youth seem to take the cultural thing to an extreme and have a huge chip on their shoulder.   The city government not progressive and doesn't always have the best interests of it's residents in mind when making some of it's choices.  Just look to the Wal-Mart debacle, the pending potential acquisition of Aguila energy (a major fiasco if this happens), and a possible Native American casino in the downtown.  This get irritating when you see where your tax dollars are going.

That's my short take on the city.  Let me know if you have any other questions.  I would check it out for a couple of days.  Look around downtown.  Ask one of members from Sportsman Park to tell you when a match is going on out there, and go check out the range( I would tell you, but I am away on work right now and don't have the schedule).  They have IPSC, IDPA, 3 gun, cowboy matches, etc.  

Thanks for that feedback.  Every thing helps in my search to escape the congestion of
the Colorado Front Range.

Quoted: Thanks for that feedback.  Every thing helps in my search to escape the congestion of the Colorado Front Range.

Where are you living now?

I'm planning on moving to Ft. Collins in Nov./Dec.

IPSC matches are the second Sunday of the month, IDPA 3rd Sunday, 3 gun is 4th sunday, all at 10 am at the Pueblo West Sportsman's association range, which has 6 pistol bays, one 425 yard rifle range, 2 300 yard rifle ranges, and 2 or 3 100 yard rifle ranges.

Hey shootemup,
I'm living near Greeley. And I always thought very little of the Greeley area although it is
finally getting some decent shopping and restaurants. About the only good thing is the close
proximity to Pawnee National Grasslands where you can do some long range (several hundred
yard) shooting.  Otherwise there is nothing to write home about.  I want to buy a decent size
acreage where I can put up a large shop and most acreages up North here are $3-400K if they
have a decent size house.

Quoted: Quoted: Thanks for that feedback.  Every thing helps in my search to escape the congestion of the Colorado Front Range. Where are you living now? I'm planning on moving to Ft. Collins in Nov./Dec.

I live in Ft Collins, looking to move to Minneapolis soon.  Too damn crowded, the Californicators are taking over.

Isn't Pueblo in that area where there is a VERY high amount of uranium in the ground, and has caused some health problems?  

I think radon is a concern in many houses with basements along the front range but I wasn't aware
that Pueblo was worse.

This is a good topic.  I'm in the process of buying 40 acres about 20 miles West of Pueblo.  I'll sell real estate like I do now and my wife is a teacher.  I'm not super thrilled with the town itself, but our other option was Littleton (which I do like).  However, finding 40 acres in the south metro area is not in our budget.  

I grew up in the Springs and took a job down here in early 1997.

That being said, the city of Pueblo is a SH*T HOLE for the most part.

Pueblo West, which IS NOT a part of Pueblo and not connected to Pueblo is good to go.  It is a high mountain desert and most of it is virgin territory (thus you won't find a lot of mature landscaping), but it's nice, houses are cheaper and better built than what you will find in the city of Pueblo.

If you live on the north side of Hwy 50 in Pueblo West you can be in Colorado Springs within 30 - 40 minutes depending on where you live.

I refuse to live in the city of Pueblo, but Pueblo West is a nice area.  I currently live in Pueblo West and will be building another house here next year.


Remember Pueblo and Pueblo West may have simular names, but they are two entirely different places.



Take care and stay safe

Again, a big Thanks for everyones feedback.   I do appreciate it.

Not to hijack or anything.....my land is roughly 15 miles west of Pueblo proper.  How's this area?  Its on a ranch.

Quoted: Not to hijack or anything.....my land is roughly 15 miles west of Pueblo proper.  How's this area?  Its on a ranch.

Can you give a more exact location.  Is it in Pueblo West or Penrose?  North or South of Hwy 50 West?

Ok, best I get from Map Quest:

Out of Pueblo down I-25

SW on CO-78 about 20 miles towards Beulah

A couple miles before Beulah, head North on CR-201 (SILOAM RD)

Left on Canyon Heights for 3 miles

My lot is on Soda Creek Rd.


So, its about 20 miles South of Hwy 50 & 20 miles West of I-25

Closest (looks like a town) is Bronquist

Quoted: I refuse to live in the city of Pueblo, but Pueblo West is a nice area.  I currently live in Pueblo West and will be building another house here next year.

We are getting ready to build a new house in Pueblo West on Avineda Del Ora in the Spring. Do you know John Brandstator?

Quoted: Ok, best I get from Map Quest: Out of Pueblo down I-25 SW on CO-78 about 20 miles towards Beulah A couple miles before Beulah, head North on CR-201 (SILOAM RD) Left on Canyon Heights for 3 miles My lot is on Soda Creek Rd. So, its about 20 miles South of Hwy 50 & 20 miles West of I-25 Closest (looks like a town) is Bronquist

That is a nice area, looks like there are several of us from this area on the board. We are going to have to start a Pueblo area ARFCOM army. I have access to a huge amount of ranch and farm   property all over South east Colorado if any one in interested in doing some coyote or prairie dog shooting.

Quoted: Ok, best I get from Map Quest: Out of Pueblo down I-25 SW on CO-78 about 20 miles towards Beulah A couple miles before Beulah, head North on CR-201 (SILOAM RD) Left on Canyon Heights for 3 miles My lot is on Soda Creek Rd. So, its about 20 miles South of Hwy 50 & 20 miles West of I-25 Closest (looks like a town) is Bronquist

It's a very nice rural area, I work with a few guys that live up in that area.  It is not what you would consider a "developed area".  Very nice, and right up against the mountains.

Quoted: Do you know John Brandstator?

I live just a couple miles from him, and I'm dropping off projects at his house on a regular basis.

I'd love to get in on some hunting with you all when I get down there.  I'll be bringing a lot of my NFA toys with me & plan to have a small shooting range.
Now I just need a job  My wife's a teacher, so she'll find something.  I'm in real estate development here in Alaska, so maybe I'll find something along those terms.  Otherwise, I'll get a job driving the school bus!

Quoted: Quoted: Do you know John Brandstator? I live just a couple miles from him, and I'm dropping off projects at his house on a regular basis.

He has done several chores for me! My wife tells me that since I am going to be living closer to him my visits are going to be strictly monitored.

Quoted: I'd love to get in on some hunting with you all when I get down there.  I'll be bringing a lot of my NFA toys with me & plan to have a small shooting range. Now I just need a job  My wife's a teacher, so she'll find something.  I'm in real estate development here in Alaska, so maybe I'll find something along those terms.  Otherwise, I'll get a job driving the school bus!

Jones& Healy is looking for agents and there are a bunch of people selling houses in the area and allot of people moving into the area so you should be good to go with Realestate.

Thanks for the tip.  I'd like to stay in my current profession as I'm good at it.  I'm not your usual real estate Broker and as such operate mainly on referrals and past clients.  I also do a lot of development work and new construction, something that I suspect your area may be going into boom cycle as a bedroom area for the Springs.  I'm just glad so many areas have a 35 acre minimum for lot size, keeps some areas less crowded.

If you are not tied to a specific area, look at the Arkansas river valley (area east of Pueblo).  Avondale, Fowler, Manzanola, Rocky Ford, etc...  The area is nice, excellent farm produce in season, very relaxed.  The Fowler Rifle Club is where I shoot.  $10 a year for my whole family, you get the combination for the front gate.  I am not enamoured with the city of Pueblo, but the Ark valley is a great place to live.  (BTW, I commute to Colorado Springs for work.  1hr+ drive.)