Thoughts on Canon City

[spqrzilla]

My wife and I are considering a move. We'd keep our practice in Denver and commute up a few days a week.

Any thoughts on Canon City? We've enjoyed the time we've spent in the town in recent years. And housing looks affordable to us (we are cheap bassards).

[Irving]

I have family out there, but when I go down, I just come in on 50 and go straight to family's house, so I don't really know much about the town. Any specific questions you'd like me to ask?

[davsel]

Do you speak Spanish?

[68Charger]

Prison Town, largest employer in the county is Department of Corrections (either state or Federal)... growing retired population-

County government is really a PITA (and has corruption issues, ask some- and I concur).
I've lived in this county for 18 years, and prefer to do business in Colorado Springs.

You do have to ask why is real estate low there...

[Irving]

Member DANGER used to live there as well.

[ruthabagah]

I saw your post and remember this one from another member.

https://www.ar-15.co/threads/142921-Canon-city-gems?p=1790777&viewfull=1#post1790777

[redneck122]

I have family down in Canon and Florence, so i'm down there a bit. Not a horrible area, but not much to do there entertainment wise. Also like mentioned before, quite a bit of corruption in gov down there. I like some of the scenery around there, but i always feel the need to carry an extra mag or two...

[earplug]

Much depends on your current hobbies and retirement wants?

[Irving]

How do the prisons affect the town? It's pretty common for people to dog Canon because of the prisons, but I think it's dumb.

[ruthabagah]

Yeah, thumbs down from me. (Unless you can easily inject yourself into a good'ol boy club, and cover each others ass in the biggest historical KKK town of Colorado, then it may be perfect for you). A lot of abnormal people down there and a lot of personality disorders. Just remember more than one out of two employed people there are DOC. IIRC, they have something like 16-17 prisons in the County. Great place to raise a family, eh?

I posted the link to your post which I think sums it up pretty well. Since I first read it, I met a 54 year old former convict with a 21 year old Gf from Canon city... She has 2 kids from 2 different father, used to be a prostitute until she met him.... That pretty much fill a bunch of the types you have on your list!

[gnihcraes]

How do the prisons affect the town? It's pretty common for people to dog Canon because of the prisons, but I think it's dumb.

MIL was living down there, so she could "Visit" someone on a regular basis. Lot's of people coming and going in that area for visitation. Not always outstanding citizens. my .02

[spqrzilla]

Not raising any kids. My hobbies are BS'ing on the internet with opinionated asses much like myself and shooting guns. [Coffee]

[Grant H.]

I've spent some time down there for work, and I sure wouldn't ever move there.

Everyone I have "met" comes across as a dbag. Maybe I'm a judgmental jerk, but it's just not a good place.

[buffalobo]

Build a place up near Guffey and stay away from town when you can.

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[marty]

Nice winery there!

[Irving]

I think part of me not seeing problems with the town is just going straight family's house and then leaving again.

[Delfuego]

I'm sold, sign me up, sounds delightful. At least you're close to the Royal Gorge, if you need to leap into the abyss...

[Irving]

Build a place up near Guffey and stay away from town when you can.

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That's exactly what my uncle does.

[BushMasterBoy]

When the sirens go off, It means an inmate escaped. I think it is the only legal place you can hunt another human...

[Ah Pook]

Don't pick up hitchhikers.

[dirtrulz]

we just bought some property southwest of canon city towards westcliff. It doesnt seem that bad. decent sized town with most conveniences. I dont care about how many jails and prisons they have. there are plenty of jails and prisons and people who should be in them around denver too.

[68Charger]

How do the prisons affect the town? It's pretty common for people to dog Canon because of the prisons, but I think it's dumb.

There are lots of ex-cons that never make it very far after they get out- the other thing that I've seen over the years is that it just weighs heavily on those that work in the prisons. If their interaction daily is with the kind of people that are incarcerated, and are used to treating them accordingly, then they may treat others in the community the same- assuming the worst of everyone. Eventually, you wind up with it changing the culture- even to the point where it's hard to find good help even for restaurants, etc... which perpetuates the cycle of treating each other like crap.
Still think it's dumb? Come live here for years and you'll see what I mean eventually... I've lived in NE corner of the county for 18 years, limit my interaction and I've still seen plenty of it.


we just bought some property southwest of canon city towards westcliff. It doesnt seem that bad. decent sized town with most conveniences. I dont care about how many jails and prisons they have. there are plenty of jails and prisons and people who should be in them around denver too.

Agreed- but keep in mind that between Florence and Cañon, and hwy 50 between there is the highest concentration of prisons of anywhere in the US.
I just limit my interaction to people in general- and don't let how they treat me get me down... The physical area is nice (though roads in Cañon weren't laid out real well, IMHO- I don't like the frontage roads along hwy 50).

There are some good people here, don't want to give the impression that you'll never find anyone decent- just trying to give an impression of the downsides.

[Irving]

There are lots of ex-cons that never make it very far after they get out- the other thing that I've seen over the years is that it just weighs heavily on those that work in the prisons. If their interaction daily is with the kind of people that are incarcerated, and are used to treating them accordingly, then they may treat others in the community the same- assuming the worst of everyone. Eventually, you wind up with it changing the culture- even to the point where it's hard to find good help even for restaurants, etc... which perpetuates the cycle of treating each other like crap.
Still think it's dumb? Come live here for years and you'll see what I mean eventually... I've lived in NE corner of the county for 18 years, limit my interaction and I've still seen plenty of it.



At least you live there. Most times it's coming from people who don't live there. "OMG, do you KNOW how many prisons Canon City has? No Thanks! I'll never find a city nicer than Morrison."

[battle_sight_zero]

I am thinking of buying some land out that way too. Nothing wrong with the City. I visited a few months ago and was amazed of how quiet it was in the town. Here in the metro we have the constant noise our mind drowns out. It was freaky not to hear that noise. As for criminals there is a hell of alot more of them running around Denver than there. The key is hopefully getting them behind bars there. Good luck with your move, but certainly there is some beautiful land that way.

[earplug]

G. Gordon Liddy had unkind words about people who worked in prisons.

[hurley842002]

G. Gordon Liddy had unkind words about people who worked in prisons.
Most people that live in prison have unkind words about people who work/worked in prisons, your point?

[earplug]

I trust G. Gordon Liddy's assessment. Have you read any of his books or his history?

[cstone]

For someone who went to jail because he wouldn't talk, Liddy hasn't been able to keep his mouth shut since he got out of the joint.

I listened to him on the radio for a while and he lived about ten miles away from me in southern Maryland, but he could be pretty nutty sometimes.

[hurley842002]

I trust G. Gordon Liddy's assessment. Have you read any of his books or his history?
No, I don't need to.

ETA: I did read the Wikipedia page on him, so I had an idea of who you were talking about. Still doesn't change my opinion.

[BushMasterBoy]

I saw an old woman covered in tumors. She lived near the Cotter Uranium mill.

[Great-Kazoo]

I trust G. Gordon Liddy's assessment. Have you read any of his books or his history?

I have and will pass on G.'s assment. Might as well ask Obama about Law Enforcement. Curious, you personally know anyone working DOC, or just anecdotal musings from some books. .

[earplug]

I know some people.

[hurley842002]

Let's get back on the subject of Canon City itself. If you want to start a new topic on how horrible people who work in the DOC are, be my guest. I'd love to hear more about your expertise, based on the opinion of an ex con, and likely discruntled ex staff that couldn't cut it in the field.

[Irving]

I look forward to that thread so I can contribute with my experience of having watched all three seasons of Orange is the New Black.

[spqrzilla]

I do understand how working in prisons can put a tarnish on someone's soul. That's simply human nature.

Coming from Aurora, the percentage of douchebags seems to be no higher ... at worst. Canon City does have a higher percentage of Colorado's version of hillbillys, I'll grant.

So far, I'm not put off by people's comments. The Victory Defense store news story was hilarious. It wasn't a shop that I care to visit twice even before I read that story.

[hurley842002]

I look forward to that thread so I can contribute with my experience of having watched all three seasons of Orange is the New Black.
Sounds like you know people too lol.

[Great-Kazoo]

Sounds like you know people too lol.

he's gotta Gal

[battle_sight_zero]

Did some checking and dreaming after this thread. Looked at the real estate in the area and was impressed. I could sale my house to a pothead and move down there and get a bigger house on some acreage for about what I pay on my current mortgage. Regardless of the prisons down there or the so called tainted DOC employees, the land out there looks beautiful. However also looking north tp.Wyoming since some of my firends have moved that way because of the Colorado politics. Good deals there too.

[Ah Pook]

Did some checking and dreaming after this thread. Looked at the real estate in the area and was impressed. I could sale my house to a pothead and move down there and get a bigger house on some acreage for about what I pay on my current mortgage. Regardless of the prisons down there or the so called tainted DOC employees, the land out there looks beautiful. However also looking north tp.Wyoming since some of my firends have moved that way because of the Colorado politics. Good deals there too.
Where you movin'? I''m looking for a neighbor.

[Great-Kazoo]

Did some checking and dreaming after this thread. Looked at the real estate in the area and was impressed. I could sale my house to a pothead and move down there and get a bigger house on some acreage for about what I pay on my current mortgage. Regardless of the prisons down there or the so called tainted DOC employees, the land out there looks beautiful. However also looking north tp.Wyoming since some of my firends have moved that way because of the Colorado politics. Good deals there too.


Where you movin'? I''m looking for a neighbor.

We're checking out Northern NV. 640ac $$300K

[hurley842002]

We're checking out Northern NV. 640ac $$300K
Where at in Northern NV? We are considering Reno/Sparks in a few years.

[Great-Kazoo]

Where at in Northern NV? We are considering Reno/Sparks in a few years.

You'll know soon enough.

[cstone]

We're checking out Northern NV. 640ac $$300K

Weekend range trips [Coffee]

Will you have a dump station for our RVs? Please let us know when you have electrical hookups.

[Great-Kazoo]

Weekend range trips [Coffee]

Will you have a dump station for our RVs? Please let us know when you have electrical hookups.


All included in our, 1 low senior citizen package.

[Bailey Guns]

All included in our, 1 low senior citizen package.

Wi-Fi...I'll need wi-fi, too. You know...to report back to the forum members.

[Bailey Guns]

Oh...and a breakfast special.

[spqrzilla]

We had looked at Cheyenne ourselves but decided it did not work for various reasons specific to us.

[BushMasterBoy]

foxtrot ain't wrong, something is definitely wrong with Fremont County. I lived there from 1995 to 1998.

[rock_castle]

My wife grew up there and still has family there. It's not a bad town. There is some cronyism in the local government, but I don't think they are any more corrupt than any other small town. It's close to the mountains and the Arkansas River runs right through town. Very scenic. There is a nice golf course just outside of town that is fun to play and reasonably priced. I wouldn't choose to live there, but if I had no other choice I would be fine with it.