Bluff / Mexican Hat

The remarkable night sky in Bluff has recently earned Dark Sky Community designation. Paul Martini photo

Bluff to celebrate Dark Sky Festival this weekend

by David Boyle News Director The town of Bluff is celebrating the beauty of the night sky with a festival filled with events, telescopes and presentations. The town is celebrating its Dark Sky Community designation with a Dark Sky Festival this Friday and Saturday November 14 and 15. The...

Bluff approves disconnect of 640 acres, but not an additional 8,800 acres

About two years after a decision to deny a disconnect from the town members of the Bluff Town Council on October 7 unanimously approved an ordinance to disconnect 640 acres from the town of Bluff known as the Acton property. The ordinance did however specify that the remaining 8,874 acres requested...

Withdrawal of candidate results in cancellation of election in Bluff

The general election for the Town of Bluff has been canceled after the withdrawal of one candidate. Luanne Hook withdrew her name from consideration for another term on the Town Council. That leaves Spencer Wade and Gary Haws as the only two candidates for two open positions on the Town Board....

Mexican Freetail Bats are common in Bluff. Courtesy photo

Going batty in Bluff

by Andrew Gulliford Contributing writer Recently a friend with sophisticated audio equipment and years of scientific research with bats stayed in room 431 at Bluff Dwellings. Greg Auger explained to me that he recorded bats from sunset to sunrise on June 2, 2025 and studied a number of 15 second...

Bluff earns Dark Sky Community designation

The town of Bluff has been officially designated as an International Dark Sky Community by DarkSky International, joining a prestigious group of Dark Sky Places around the globe committed to preserving the night sky for future generations. As of June 2025, Bluff is the first and only community to...

Friday Night at the Fort

Friday Night at the Fort sponsored by Bluff Fort has been an entertainment staple in San Juan County for many years. Continually inviting the best musical and entertaining artists to perform, Bluff Fort has built an enviable reputation. The regular Friday Night at the Fort schedule for 2025 will...

Candidates declared for municipal elections in Blanding, Bluff and Monticello

16 candidates filed for municipal elections in Blanding, Bluff and Monticello last week. Candidates for mayor and two council seats in all three towns will be seeking appointment to four-year terms by voters this year. Blanding is set to have the only primary race in the county. Five candidates are...

Candidate filings for Blanding, Bluff and Monticello this week

Candidate filings for municipal elections in Blanding, Bluff and Monticello are open through June 6. Candidates for Mayor and two council seats in all three towns will be seeking appointment to four-year terms by voters in November. Interested candidates must file a declaration of candidacy between...

A group of riders in front of the old Bluff Co-Op building in the late 1890s. The building was destroyed during a failed robbery 100 years ago this summer. Courtesy photo

Fred Starr: San Juan County’s most infamous bank robber

Compiled by Grant P. Taylor, Hole-in-the-Rock Foundation board member and secretary Saturday, July 19, 2025, will mark the 100th anniversary of the most infamous criminal act that ever occurred in San Juan County. On the evening of Sunday, July 19, 1925, Fred Starr snuck into the San Juan Co-op...

Bluff busy April includes dark sky, river trail

by David Boyle News Director Members of the Bluff town council had a busy April, finalizing a dark sky application, exploring more involvement at the cemetery and beginning talks for the next year budget at their meetings throughout the month. The town of Bluff completed and submitted another...