The Uncompahgre River runs through the town and flows into the Ridgway State Park and Reservoir, to the north.

There is a notable wildlife presence — mountain lions, badgers, deer, elk, bears, coyotes, wild turkey, and bald eagles are indigenous to the area.

Most notably the area is the setting of John Wayne's western movie True Grit, and others including How the West Was Won and Tribute to a Bad Man.

This "Gateway to the San Juans" position was recognized over 100 years ago when the Rio Grande Southern established Ridgway as a railhead center servicing the nearby mining towns of Ouray and Telluride.

The town is located on the San Juan Skyway, cradled in the heart of some of the most photographed mountains in the world.

It flows northwest past Ouray, Ridgway, Montrose, and Olathe and joins the Gunnison at Confluence Park in Delta.

Ridgway is poised on a highway that leads tourists to several other mountain towns of the San Juan region.

Goal 3 of this plan called for participation in statewide efforts to grow and nurture creative industries as an economic development driver for the State.

The Goal 3 ("G3") committee was formed and approached the Ridgway Town Council for support and leadership in submitting an application to become a certified Creative District with the State.

Louis, who was born in Canada but was working in the timber mills in Michigan, moved to Lake City, then Rico, then Colona and finally Ridgway in the late 1800s.

The building turned out to be a theater designed by Gus Kullerstrand of Ouray and it opened to much fanfare on Saturday, September 11, 1915.

The newspaper coverage from September 17 says, "Close to 400 people took in the event, all parts of the country being represented by a goodly number of persons.

What is now the Colorado Boy Brewery was part of the theater at the time, accounting for the reported amount of space for seating.

The Sherbino family ran the theater for less than a year as another local built a "motion picture business" and most people went there.

Since the Sherbino opened, folks have gathered to enjoy Chautauqua-style entertainment such as orchestra performances, melodramas, plays, traveling troupes, and educational events.

The building has played host to graduations, public meetings, and was used as a roller rink and (for at least one night) a boxing arena.

The exterior had a bit part in the 1968 original movie True Grit that included a false porch built onto the addition on rear of the building.

With the support of many local residents, The Ridgway Chautauqua Society (RCS, a Colorado non-profit 501c3) is now a proud owner and steward of two of Ridgway's remaining historic structures - the remodeled Sherbino at 604 Clinton Street, and The 610 Arts Collective at 610 Clinton Street, next door.

During the warm summer months many tourist and locals take advantage of the Ridgway Reservoir, often wakeboarding or enjoying a day at its beach.

The town also features Orvis Hot Springs, a clothing-optional, natural-hot-springs resort near Ridgway with an indoor, clothing-required pool.