As we walked further and turned onto South Main Street, we found ourselves in a new “retro” neighborhood that resembles the old row houses of the east coast. Tall windows and front porches with railings adorned each house and stairs led up from the sidewalk to each front door. Rocking chairs or Adirondack chairs waited invitingly on each porch. It was a gorgeous sunny day, and people were gathered on many of these porches with the home’s front door thrown wide open. A warm spirit of camaraderie filled the air. At the far end of town, we found a small grassy park where workers were setting up chairs for an evening outdoor concert. Next to the park a large stone building bore a huge sign, “Surf Hotel.” Surf? In Colorado? We had no idea what that was all about until we walked a little further to the banks of the rushing Arkansas River. Here, in the middle of a spectacular fast-moving river, the town had arranged some boulders to create several standing waves, and people were surfing the waves on boogie boards! Balancing on their boards just like a surfer on the ocean, they’d stay in place on the standing wave while the water rushed under them. Some folks were surfing on their stomachs, and all were having a total blast. Round after round of enthusiasts paddled out to this spot they call the Pocket Wave and took turns surfing. In the calm shallows at the bottom of a
Downtown Buena Vista
The downtown area is delightful for a stroll among historic buildings, and although today’s population is small, we found several wonderful coffee bistros for a morning cuppa Joe. Buena Vista Roastery roasts their own coffee beans, and their French Roast was so good we bought a pound to take with us. A charming sense of whimsy pervades this town too, and we were amused to see a statue of a mastodon standing on the lawn in front of the old Chaffee County Courthouse, which now houses the Buena Vista Heritage Museum.
Boogie boarding on the Arkansas River
BUENA VISTA, COLORADO
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE SUMMER 2026 | 10
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