Straight Shot Real Estate

05/30/2026

Something I love about Colorado is Cowboy culture. There is a long rich history of raising cattle, gold mining, legend and lore. And this state is still home to many rodeos, cattle operations, real cowboys, and people looking escape the city.

The Wild West entertainment side of Durango specifically has a long heritage too. Costumes cowboys have spend decades meeting the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad with a shoot out re-enactment, sandwich boards advertising cafes in town, and other businesses too.

It been so fun to be a rodeo announcer, participate in bull ridings as about gate man, and hang out with guys like Durango Wild West Talent.

There’s just something special about this place.

05/30/2026

Out in my happy place!
This is a remote little spot on the Los Pinos River, Southern Ute Indian Tribe Reservation in Southwest Colorado.

05/30/2026

The Bleeding Mountains of Animas Valley, Colorado

We take a ride on the Harley to the Bleeding Mountains in the Animas Valley, just north of Durango, Colorado. I show you the unique iron oxide-rich formations that create the appearance of bleeding mountains, explain the geological history including the Permian Cutler Formation and glacial activity, and share important information about this protected ancestral Native American land where ancient mummies have been found. We also discuss the stunning mineral varnish stains and sandstone rock formations in this beautiful area.



Today we're taking a ride on the Harley with my wife, Armella, and, uh, we're here at the Bleeding Mountains. Do you know the Bleeding Mountains? Well, let me show you the Bleeding Mountains. Today on the Straight Shot Show, I'm taking you to the Animas Valley, just north of Durango, Colorado. And these mountains are referred to by locals sometimes as the Bleeding Mountains. And this is where the iron oxide rich ground drops away from the sandstone and makes it look like the mountains have started bleeding. This is protected ancestral native land, and one of the oldest mummies ever found in North America was found in this location, and there are still burial sites in this area, so it's prohibited to hike back in there without one of the native guides. And right on the other side of this field, there's a cliff that drops off into the Animas River Valley. Now, if you want to go to the Bleeding Mountains here in the Animas River Valley, you gotta scroll in on southwest Colorado until you see Durango, Colorado, and then just go a little bit north on Highway 550 toward Hermosa, and that's where you'll be able to see these mountains. The unusual sandstone rocks that stick out make interesting formations, and there's a lot of this around this area, but this is one of the more interesting areas where you can see the mineral varnish that's run down off the cliff over the rocks, leaving these dark stains, and of course, the difference between the two rocks that's been exposed. This is opposite the Missionary Ridge in the Animas River Valley, and this is known as the Permian Cutler Formation. And of course, they say that a glacier came through here many moons ago and created this unusual and beautiful formation. But this is not the only place that bleeding mountains occur throughout the American continent. If you love Durango, follow this page, share this video. I'm James with the Straight Shot Group of Realty One Colorado, and I want to take you on a straight shot to your real estate dreams. If you want to live near the Animas River Valley, reach out to me and I'll help you find the perfect place.

05/29/2026

Getting ready for the next Durango wild West reenactment! What are you guys think of my wardrobe?

05/28/2026

Dow Jones continues to shatter records, and holding as high as it ever has!
Inflation has fallen and is holding at 2% level.
Good things are happening in our economy!

05/28/2026

How Realtors Access Properties: The Supra Key Explained!

I explain how realtors like myself can enter any house using the Supra Key - a Bluetooth-enabled lockbox that holds property keys. I break down how this tool works, including how it opens with a passcode, notifies the property owner when accessed, and makes the home-buying and selling process more efficient in the Durango area.

05/27/2026

Narrow Gauge Railroad Day at Durango-Silverton: Wild West Reenactment Adventure!!

We explore Durango, Colorado's iconic Durango-Silverton Railroad during Narrow Gauge Railroad Day, where we join the Durango Wild West Talent crew and Bayfield Bell Gals for an authentic Old West railroad robbery reenactment. We dress up in period costumes, learn about the region's rich gold mining and cowboy heritage, and celebrate the traditions that bring visitors from across the country to experience Durango's historic culture.



Today I'm here in Durango, Colorado, at the Durango-Silverton Railroad, and we're doing a little bit of, well, Durango stuff. And, uh, let me show you the folks who are here with us today. Welcome to the Straight Shot Show, where we cover everything that's Durango, Colorado. And today we're at Narrow Gauge Railroad Day at the Durango and Silverton Railroad, and we're spending some time with the Durango Wild West Talent guys and the Bayfield Bell Gals. Every year at this time, the train heads up to Silverton to reenact the robbery of the railroad and, of course, the work that went into bringing the miners up the mountain to Silverton. This is the very southwest corner of the Colorado Rockies, and there's a long history of gold mining, gold rush, the old trains, and the cowboy way. And I got to join these guys and bring my replica rifle and my cowboy hat and dress up and have some fun and, of course, hand out some Straight Shot real estate cards to tourists. This is how I left the house today because I'm a land and ranch real estate guy, and these are the people I work around. I did not expect to come downtown Durango and find, well, this. Durango has such a long cowboy history and tradition, and there are a lot of times throughout the year that people come into town just to celebrate this tradition. And the really cool thing is that the guys from the Durango Wild West Talent crew are actually actors and armorers or costume guys for movies, so they've got a lot of great costume wear. And of course, everybody loves to come together for this tradition and see old friends, meet new friends. And of course, there's people from as far away as Washington, D.C., and Louisiana here this weekend mixed in with the locals. So follow my page if you love Durango, Colorado, because we're always going to be sharing the old school culture here on my page. I'm James from the Straight Shot Durango Realty One Colorado team. I'm here to help you find the perfect home for you or, of course, if you're looking to list your house for sale here in the Durango area, reach out to me and I'll be advertising it all across the globe.

05/27/2026

05/27/2026

Bear Dance 2026 just happened in Ignacio Colorado.
Well worth seeing!!