Update, July 24: It was incorrectly reported in the July 17 print edition that 67,200 people visited between July 2 and July 6. In fact, 62,700 people visited. The SUN regrets the error.
The Pagosa Springs area welcomed more than 62,000 visitors over the Fourth of July holiday period.
According to a report provided by Tourism Director Jennifer Green, 62,700 visitors visited the area between Wednesday, July 2, and Sunday, July 6.
In 2024, Green reported the area saw 63,300 people visiting Archuleta County between July 3 and July 7 — also a Wednesday through Sunday.
Green notes in an email to The SUN the July 2-6 period this year was down 2.2 percent over the same dates last year, but, in looking at July 2-4, the 2025 figures are 0.1 percent higher than the same period in 2024.
Last year, Green noted that the area saw 68,600 visitors over the Fourth of July holiday in 2021.
The average stay in the market from July 2-6 this year was two days, according to Green.
“There are a few factors that I can see contributing,” Green notes concerning this year’s visitor numbers, pointing out three possible factors for this year’s overall decline:
• Travel trends during economic uncertainty, such as people taking shorter trips and spending less.
• Timeshare checkouts are on Fridays, with the Fourth of July also falling on Friday in 2025.
• The lack of a traditional parade.
Green also notes the Visitor Center also often hears that Colorado has gotten expensive.
The financial impact of the visitors to the area remains to be seen, with both sales tax and lodgers’ tax revenues reported in arrears.
randi@pagosasun.com
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