Villa Grove is one of those little towns you drive through and wonder why people live there. Sitting at 8,000 feet above sea level, this place enjoys incredible scenery. Unique in its own way, it is surrounded by majestic vistas. With a breathtaking view of the Sangre de Cristo range at its backdoor, the San Juan Mountains to the west, and the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve to the south, Villa Grove is a picture postcard.

Villa Grove was founded by Francis M. Hill and platted in June 1882. A vital supply town for miners and ranchers beginning in the 1800s, it was the last stop for needed goods before heading over Poncha Pass or up to Bonanza. Miners from all over the region came for food, drink, and entertainment. Many local establishments catered to the voracious appetites of the hardworking laborers. The railway at the foot of the mountains provided transport for goods, cattle, and travelers.

Villa Grove was home to thousands of people in the 1800s, mostly miners living in tents. Now the population is between 40 and 50. Villa Grove is still a great stop for travelers. A 137-year old building, which formerly served as a supply store for coal and drygoods, is now is a great
place to get an iced latté, groceries, and a delicious meal. The town also features a Baptist Church, motel, bed and breakfast, antique store, butcher shop, liquor store, pottery outlet, upholstery shop, and a restaurant. There is a nice town park with a spot to rest and picnic.

Bonanza, which was incorporated in 1880, was one of many sister towns to Villa Grove. Descendants of the founding Ashley and Cole families still reside in the area. Mining was predominant in the entire region from the Kerber Creek District to the Rawley Mine above Bonanza. Ranching grew along with the influx of families working in the area. Most of the time the two lifestyles went hand in hand. When the veins of silver, lead, copper, and zinc ran dry, the people drifted away. Bonanza remains a town to this day and it has few full-time residents. Remnants of its glory days are scattered on the hillsides and hidden in the forest.