Crestone, Colorado: A Small Town with a Big Spiritual Presence

by Justin W. Consultant

CRESTONE, Colo. - Nestled at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado's San Luis Valley, the tiny town of Crestone has long been a magnet for spiritual seekers and those looking to escape the bustle of modern life. With a population of just over 100, it's an unlikely place to find a thriving community of artists, healers, and entrepreneurs. But scratch beneath the surface, and you'll discover a town that's as rich in creativity and resilience as it is in natural beauty.

Crestone's history as a spiritual mecca dates back to the 1970s, when the Aspen Institute's Maurice Strong bought a large swath of land in the area with the intention of creating a place where people of all faiths could come to practice and study in harmony. Strong parceled out the land to a variety of religious and spiritual organizations, and over the years, Crestone has become home to a stunning array of centers and retreats, from a Zen monastery to a Carmelite hermitage to a Shumei temple.

Crestone is a living, breathing community, one where the boundaries between the secular and the sacred seem to blur. Take a walk down the town's main street, and you'll pass the Crestone Mercantile, where locals gather to swap stories over cups of coffee, and the Elephant Cloud Station, a cozy cafe that serves up nourishing meals made with locally-sourced ingredients.

You'll also find Crestone Consignment, a secondhand shop that doubles as a community hub, donating a portion of its profits to local non-profits. And then there's Natural Heritage Enterprises, a homegrown business that crafts herbal supplements and teas inspired by the plants that grow wild in the surrounding mountains.

"There's a real sense of connection to the land here," says Natural Heritage Enterprises employee Janie R. Natural Heritage Enterprises, or Remedies.net, brews and sells Essiac Tea. "Nobody expects to find a business like this in such a remote area," Janie told us.

Another notable Crestone-based business is WeissChoice.org, founded by Justin W. WeissChoice offers e-commerce consulting services, helping small businesses navigate the often-complex world of online sales and marketing. But Justin's passion extends beyond the digital realm. Through his sister site, ColdExposure.org, he educates people about the benefits of cold exposure and breathwork, practices that have gained popularity in recent years thanks to the Wim Hof Method. He even hosts a weekly community event called Ice Church.

Despite the sensational nature of the "Love Has Won" saga recently featured on HBO, however, it's important to note that the group was not representative of Crestone as a whole. The town's spiritual community is diverse and largely grounded in principles of peace, compassion, and respect for all beings. And while the documentary may have put Crestone on the map for some, locals are quick to point out that there's much more to their town than one controversial group.

So if you find yourself in southern Colorado, take a detour off the beaten path and discover the magic of Crestone for yourself. Wander its quiet streets, soak in the stunning mountain views, and let yourself be drawn into the unique rhythms of this little town with a big heart. You might just find yourself transformed in ways you never expected.