Fort Lyon
Fort Lyon was composed of two 19th-century military fort complexes in southeastern Colorado.
A landmark, 5 mi east of Las Animas
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is La Junta, 24 miles west. Where to stay ↓
Summers are hot
July highs run 94–94°, and about 83 days a year reach 90°. When to go ↓
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 16°, with about 16" of snow a year. When to go ↓
Best month: May
May is the mild month, with a high of 79°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Las Animas. Green months are the mild ones.
Fort Lyon
Fort Lyon was composed of two 19th-century military fort complexes in southeastern Colorado. The initial fort, also called Fort Wise, operated from 1860 to 1867. After a flood in 1866, a new fort was built near Las Animas, Colorado, which operated as a military post until 1897.
It has been used as a United States Army fort, a sanatorium, a neuropsychiatry facility, and a minimum security prison. The state closed the prison in 2011, and in early 2013 proposed to use the site as a rehabilitation center for homeless people. Then in late 2013 it became a rehabilitative transitional housing facility for homeless people with some form of substance abuse problem. This is run by the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and has been a developing program to the present day.
- Type
- Landmark
- Listed
- National Register of Historic Places (2004)
- Wikipedia readers
- 8K a year
Where to stay near Fort Lyon
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are La Junta (10) and Lamar (17).
Compare 6 towns
| Town | From Fort Lyon | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Animas | 5 mi west | 5 min | 2 2 hotels | 2,325 | $133K | — |
| La Junta | 24 mi west | 35 min | 10 3 hotels · 2 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 6,864 | $195K | D |
| Lamar | 28 mi east | 40 min | 17 10 hotels · 4 motels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 1 RV park | 7,588 | $153K | — |
| Hasty | 9 mi east | 15 min | 1 1 campground | 125 | $126K | — |
| North La Junta | 22 mi west | 35 min | 2 2 hotels | 535 | $121K | — |
| Wiley | 23 mi east | 35 min | 1 1 RV park | 433 | $140K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Fort Lyon
Other well-known places within 46 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
116 mi National Historic SiteBent's Old Fort National Historic Site7K visitors a year
46 mi National Historic SiteSand Creek Massacre National Historic Site4K visitors a year
44 mi National Historic SiteAmache National Historic Site8K visitors a year
224 mi MuseumKoshare Indian Museum
40 mi MuseumCrowley SchoolPhoto credits
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site: unknown NPS photographer, Public domain · Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site: Plazak at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Amache National Historic Site: Tom Parker, Public domain · Koshare Indian Museum: Ammodramus, CC0 · Crowley School: Ammodramus, CC0
Visiting Fort Lyon
What town is Fort Lyon near?
Las Animas, CO, about 5 miles west.
When is the best time to visit Fort Lyon?
May, with a high of 79°.
What is the closest airport to Fort Lyon?
Pueblo Memorial (PUB), about 76 miles away. The nearest big hub is City of Colorado Springs Municipal (COS), about 99 miles.
Where should I stay near Fort Lyon?
La Junta (24 mi, 10 places to stay) and Lamar (28 mi, 17 places to stay).
Tips from people in Las Animas
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Las Animas’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.