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Buena Vista KOA
- 27700 County Road 303
- Buena Vista, CO 81211
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Directions
2 mi S of Buena Vista, turn E onto US 24/285, then 1.3 mi. KOA on N side of highway on CR 303.
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Reserve(800) 562-2672
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Info(719) 395-8318
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2011 President's Award
KOA President's Award
Awarded to KOAs that meet exceptional quality standards and are recognized by their guests for outstanding service.
The view from your campsite at this KOA is buena indeed- a panorama of five 14,000-foot-plus peaks frames this mountain valley.
The view from your campsite at this KOA is buena indeed- a panorama of five 14,000-foot-plus peaks frames this mountain valley. Tucked among rocks and shaded by pinon pines, the campground is a few miles southeast of the small resort town of Buena Vista and a mile from the Arkansas River. You can hike or bike on public land adjacent on three sides of the KOA and then sign up at the campground office for fly-fishing and horseback riding. Your hosts can arrange for a wide variety of other pursuits-such as rafting and jeeping and soaking in hot springs-or direct you to hiking trails, ghost towns and rockhounding sites. At KOA, play sand volleyball, basketball and horseshoes, then head for the hot tub. Breakfast is served summer mornings in the cook shack. Enjoy this quiet and tranquil setting. Space is available January 1 through March 31 by reservation only.
Meet Your Hosts
When a lifestyle change was needed for Thomas and Sarah Martin, they decided to purchase a KOA campground. Thomas was a senior vice president at a bank, and Sarah was a registered nurse. They moved from Texas to Buena Vista, Colorado because they had visited the city often with a Boy Scout troop. Thomas said, "We just fell in love with the area." The couple loves the outdoors, and their campground overlooks the Colletiate Peak Mountain range. They have a great sense of pride in their ownership of their KOA and feel that serving as good stewards of the land is a top priority. The landscape and overall atmosphere of the campground is very woodsy and they said, "want to keep it as natural as we possibly can."
Activities available include white water rafting, mountain biking, rock climbing, and fly fishing. They said the campground is ideal for anyone seeking a fun, natural experience.
The couple loves meeting new people, and they have had visitors from 47 states and 24 countries. The employees provide the same dedicated service as the Martin's, and each individual employee is trained extensively over a span of two and a half days from a comprehensive training manual. The Martin's then empower their employees to make any necessary decisions to help the customer have a great stay. Delivery of firewood and any other needs are provided so the camper has an enjoyable stay. Cook shacks are available, as well as fly-fishing and trail guides.
In the off season, the couple enjoys participating in back-country activities. They snowmobile, downhill ski, and cross-country ski and they look forward to learning to dog sled. They say their KOA is fun and that campers can experience a number of extracurricular activities. "Since day one, we did not want to have an average campground or provide average service," said Thomas.
Campground Amenities
- Planned Activities Available
- Families
- Catering on-site by the campground
- RV Clubs & Rallies
- Motorcycle Clubs
- Catering on-site by a local caterer
- Military Clubs
- Tours
- Food prepared by staff for consumption by the customer at their site or in outdoor seating provided by campground
Campground Activities
Fishing
Fish in the Arkansas River when there aren’t too many rafters, or fish in Cottonwood Lake or mountain streams. The Arkansas River, 3/4 mile west, is a noted brown trout fishery. Dozens of creeks, streams, lakes and hundreds of smaller beaver ponds offer quality rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout fishing. Easy river and lake access is available at the end of East Main Street in Buena Vista and at Cottonwood Lake.
Rafting
Raft with River Runners Rafting Co.
Rock Hounding
Ruby Mountain, about 3 miles south of KOA is a close place to find gems and especially quartz. Antero Mountain (14,000 foot peak) for mountain climbing rock hounds has aquamarine crystals.
Hiking
Hike into the National Forest from camp or hike to the top of any of the seven 14,000 foot peaks that are easily seen from camp.
Local Attractions
Rafting on the Arkansas River
Whitewater raft with High Altitude Adventures (on site). 15 years of river running experience. They are Arkansas River specialists.
Whether you're interested in a thrilling whitewater experience or a scenic float down one of the most beautiful stretches of river in Colorado, Black Diamond Expeditions pull out all the stops, every time.
Hiking Collegiate Peaks
Hike Collegiate Peaks to the top! 14,000 feet.
San Isabel National Forest
You can go horseback riding, hiking and biking into the San Isabel National Forest. You'll find lots of old mining areas.
Saint Elmo Ghost Town and Winfield, Vicksburg and Turret Ghost Towns
A trip out West is not complete without an outing to one of the region’s ghost towns. Saint Elmo, southwest of Buena Vista, is the best-known ghost town in the region but Turret, Winfield and Vicksburg are worth noting. On roads through the backcountry, you may also find relics of old towns that no longer exist on present-day maps, monuments to boom and bust mining cycles of the past 120 years. Virtually all the old buildings are privately owned. Leave the buildings as you found them.
Chalk Cliffs Rearing Unit Trout Hatchery
To see trout at all stages of their development, plan a visit to a trout hatchery. It is open to the public year round.
Mount Princeton Hot Springs
When your body’s ready to relax after a mountain hike, bike ride or raft excursion, take it to the hot springs. Hot springs pools are available at Mount Princeton Hot Springs located at Nathrop. Soaking pool, lap pool and creekside pool as well as upper pool and water slide are available. The soaking pool, lap pool and creekside pool are open year round. The upper pool and water slide is open daily Memorial weekend through Labor Day weekend. Usually open weekends only in June.
Colorado Fly Fishing Guides
Colorado Fly Fishing Guides is a certified and registered Colorado Outfitter with permits for the Arkansas River, parts of the South Platte River, Spinney and Eleven Mile Reservoirs, and other State Wildlife Areas. We are continually researching and adding to our permit areas. Let us guide you for a day of unforgettable beauty and memories in Colorado's great outdoors. Visit Colorado Fly Fishing guides online for more information.
AOK Korral Riding Stable
For the finest in riding, come out and experience the spectacular mountain scenery of the Upper Arkansas Valley and the San Isabel National Forest. We offer the best trails and horses for your riding pleasure. Both novice and advanced rider can enjoy the great outdoors through a variety of riding packages. Let us help you plan or schedule a memorable riding trip at AOK Korral Riding Stable.
Cafe-open for breakfast daily Memorial Day to Labor Day
Secluded Tent Sites
Remote Group Areas
Buena Vista Heritage Museum and Buena Vista Model Railroad
Both are located in the historic Old Chaffee County Courthouse on East Main. Buena Vista Heritage Museum offers a bit of history on the town and its people. Artifacts include old clothing, antique furniture, a rock collection and Buena Vista school pictures from when the courthouse was a school.
Ruby Mountain
Ruby Mountain is located off CR 301 about four miles away. You can hunt for "Apache Tears."
South Park City and Fairplay
South Park City and Fairplay are located about 32 miles from the campground. It takes about 45 minutes to make the trip. South Park City Museum is an outdoor museum representing a Colorado mining town between 1870 and 1900. Thirty-two authentic buildings, along with a wide variety of up to 60,000 authentic artifacts inside, portray most of the economic and social aspects of boom town life. The log, batten, clapboard and stone buildings contain period room settings and exhibit areas illustrating the professions, trades and industries that contributed to a 19th century mining town in Colorado. The mining district known as "Fairplay Diggings" was established in 1859. The term "Fair Play" came from the opinion that here every man would have an equal chance to stake a claim. This settlement was also known as Platte City, Fair Play and South Park City. Fairplay was the accepted spelling after 1874. Fairplay is centrally located to provide easy access to some of the best fishing, hiking, camping and skiing in Colorado.
Upcoming Events
Old Fashioned Fourth of July -- July 4
Rodeo & Western Parade -- July 9 & 10
Gold Rush Days -- August 14 & 15
Vendors, melodrama, outhouse races, bed races, gold panning, variety show, food and fun for all.
Rock & Gem Show -- August 13-15
4th Annual King Boletus Mushroom Festival -- August 21 & 22
September Color Run -- September 18
Ice Cream Social - Every Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day
Ice cream Social every Saturday night and wagon rides
Breakfast Served Daily -- Memorial Day thru Labor Day
