Welcome to Morrison
Small town charm with magnificent natural beauty
The small town of Morrison greets travelers with high red canyon walls. It is just inside a short drive from Denver’s Highway 470 & Morrison Road. The quaint, but seasoned, town is a main stop and thoroughfare north to Boulder by the Hog Back and to every part of the Rocky Mountains, including the world-famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Though Morrison is just 2.2-square-miles, it encompasses up to 5,000 unincorporated addresses from south Turkey Creek Canyon and the southeast region. Homes range from an average of 60-years-old to new high-end developments, many with large acreage and horse properties.
Locals are used to seeing people from all over the world pass through Morrison’s old downtown Main Street. From the hottest July to the snowiest March, lifestyles vary from elegant to outdoorsy and laid back to on-the-go. You can walk from fine dining to live rock in this compact city of a dozen blocks. The backdrop of majestic red mountain sandstone, over 868 acres of jutting formations over the city, is visible even from across the Denver area.
What to Love
- Red Rocks – the only naturally perfect acoustic amphitheater in the world
- Located in the heart of the state – nestled just inside the mountains next to Denver’s main highways
- Small town experience
Local Lifestyle
The main city of Morrison, with under 1,000 people, sets a tone of nostalgic charm and laid-back living. Many Morrison residents own horses. Residents easily access shopping from Morrison Road or any highway artery into nearby Lakewood or Denver. During busier times, especially during the concert and ski seasons, you will see tourists in Morrison.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
The small size of downtown Morrison is its perennial appeal. In just a few blocks, you find antique and artisanal stores, galleries, fine dining, and park settings – all against a backdrop of breathtaking rock formations. Coloradans and concertgoers have enjoyed the Morrison Inn’s Mexican food and margaritas for decades. The live music and rooftop patio make for a fun night out. You can find live music in other venues, like the Morrison Holiday Bar, and Red Rocks Beer Garden – voted one of Denver’s Top 10 patios. Café Prague’s patio is for more refined tastes, with offerings of finely prepared Eastern European cuisine and an extensive wine list.
Just two miles south of Morrison, you will find a Colorado tradition of fine dining at the Fort Restaurant, situated on a promontory overlooking Denver. Modeled after an adobe 19th-century fur trading fort, the establishment serves buffalo and prime rib entrees and an extensive wine list. It also features live music and special events.
Things to Do
From downtown Morrison, you have a straight drive to Conifer, Evergreen, the Continental Divide, and Breckenridge – all top destinations. At the same time, you have constant access to downtown Denver or anywhere in the metropolitan area. Golfers love the scenic Red Rocks Country Club, just outside of Morrison, which challenges even the most experienced. Hikers can trek the many trails of red sandstone formations at the Jackson County Open Space, just outside of downtown Morrison near Red Rocks. Or, the Time Trail, known as an “interpretive trail,” lets you learn about the terrain through Morrison's geologic history spanning up to 2 billion years. When you visit the Dinosaur Ridge Trail you will spot dinosaur tracks. The Morrison Natural History Museum reveals adult Stegosaurus tracks from the Morrison area.
Drag race lovers appreciate Morrison’s famed Bandimere Speedway, on the side of Highway-470. For winter sports, Coloradans head to Winter Park, Loveland, Keystone, and other Colorado resort areas. Of course, Morrison is also home to the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater. It has 10,000 seats built into the rocks overlooking the Denver skyline. Its first concerts date back to the early 1900s.
