Arriba, Colorado — A History to Discover

When Charles A. Creel set up his real estate business on the site of present day Arriba Colorado in Lincoln County in 1888, he knew exactly what kind of town he would like to build there. The Rock Island Railroad track was laid near-by. Later that year and for several years thereafter, Arriba grew steadily and orderly, pretty much following the plan Creel had in mind. C. C. Coleman wasn’t in Creel’s plan, however. Coleman purchased land adjacent to Arriba in 1904, platted it, and by 1907 was selling lots under the name of “Frontier City”. And while his neighbor, Creel, had refused to sell property to people wanting to build saloons, Coleman allowed one of his lots, which was very close to Creel’s home, to be used for a saloon business. The “wets” and the “drys” squared off. Creel apparently took it as a personal obligation to protect the people of Arriba Colorado from the evils of drink.

While Arriba had its’ periods of growth, it has struggled to continue to capitalize on traffic following the construction of Interstate highway 70 and the dimishing requirement for contract harvesting crews who once brough their travel trailers and motorhomes to Arriba along with enough earnings to favorably impact the economy during summers.

Today a few businesses still remain. The Arriba Museum has moved to a more prominent location, and I-70 offers travelers a rest area at the town’s only exit on the Interstate.