On the Trail with Sheriff Will Diaz – Antonito

I’m not native to the town, but some part of me still remembers it with fondness. After all, I was a Police Officer there. There are tons of good people there, many who I’m proud to call friends. People like the Madrid’s, the Vigil’s, the Lucero’s. and the Malouff’s.

Antonito began its life as a sheep camp called San Antonio Junction. It got its name because of the location in proximity to the San Antonio and Conejos River. But when the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad ran the line south to that location, a town was created. The Post Office was moved from nearby San Antonio to the new town of Antonito on 24 Jan 1881. It became an incorporated town on 29 Dec 1889.

Wondering where the name came from. We already had Antonio (it was called San Antonio Junction). The “ito” and the end would roughly translate out as “Little Antonio” or “Antonito.” In this case, the child definitely grew up to be larger than the parent.

Agriculture is still a large part of the local economy. On almost all side, we still find open fields. To the south, there are the perlite plants which employee a fair number of people.

The recreational marijuana industry has done much to help the local community and to maintain historic buildings.

One of them is the SPMDTU in middle town. Think of an auditorium/meeting hall for local farm workers you get an idea of its purpose. It’s a mission the goes way back and was and still is an important part of the community. The building and the values continue the mission of making the area a better place to live.

Another historic building is the church in nearby Conejos. Our Lady of Guadalupe has been open to the faithful since 1863. It’s a beautiful structure with a long history. I’m posting a link here for you to check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

Of course, no visit to Antonito would be complete without riding the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. Most train rides are short and over in a few hours. Not this one. Riding these rails is pretty much an all-day experience. Starting in Antonito, the engines roll through some of the most spectacular country in America. They weave their way through Colorado and New Mexico to Chama. Check them out, it’s money well spent.

The train has been a number of movies to include Indiana Jones and the last Crusade. You’ll also see the house a young Indiana ran to in Antonito.