Western Colorado Facts That’ll Make You Say ‘No Way’

Over 29 years in the radio industry, I’ve had a chance to live in almost all four corners of the country. Of the 9 states I’ve called home, Colorado is the one I was looking for all my life.

Where else can you see the World’s Largest Flattop Mountain, drive past Colorado’s only “active” volcano, and visit 800-year-old cliff dwellings? Big land, deep time, and far fewer people. This is a recipe for stories that sound made up, but aren’t. Let’s take a look.

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Why So Many Western Colorado Facts Sound Fake (But Aren’t)

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Western Colorado has been an incredibly busy place for a long time, especially when you look at geologic activity such as uplift, volcanic flows, inland seas, and at least one period of Ice Age erosion. It takes some time to wrap your head around it: an ancient seabed pushed skyward, Grand Mesa forming, and the Colorado, Gunnison, and Dolores Rivers carving through Precambrian Rock. After all this, we’ve yet to even account for Puebloan history or the fossil-rich Morrison Formation deposits. It’s easy to understand why people think Colorado’s staggering list of amazing facts is just made up.

Western Colorado’s Most Googled Local Legend

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If you had to guess, what do you think is Western Colorado’s most googled legend? If you guessed the Skinwalker Ranch Phenomenon, you were right. It stands out as the most-searched legend in the Four Corners area. Despite being surrounded by geological and historical wonders, Mesa County’s most searched Colorado legend is the story of Mike the Headless Chicken, from right next door in Fruita.