The beginning of the town of Moffat is similar to that of many boom towns of the West, when in 1890, the Denver and Rio Grande narrow gauge railroad connected Alamosa and Salida along what is now highway 17/285. Twice a day, a cattle and grain laden train would steam through Moffat, stopping to pick up additional loads of ore and cattle along the way. At the time, there was even a rail spur that serviced Crestone,
with its surrounding mines and shanty towns. The town gets its name from David Moffat, the railroad and mining magnate. In 1904, he owned more than 100 mines and six railroads, and lived to see his greatest achievement, the completion of the highest railway in Colorado over Rollins Pass.

The town of Moffat saw skyrocketing growth during the next twenty years, due mostly to its status as the second largest cattle shipping hub in Colorado. Soon, hotels, shops, and saloons sprang up to support the brisk trade and exchange in the currency of the day: cattle and ore. Moffat even had professional offices, newspapers and a telephone company. The population grew to several thousand, and it swelled to as much as ten times that during cattle drives and livestock sales.

Beginning in 1908, there was a large push for land development and developers offered parcels of farmland, town lots, and even a brick hotel by drawing for a $200 entry. All this excitement and optimism diffused quickly as full-gauge alternate railway routes created competition for freight and services and grandiose water development projects that were implied by those trying to develop Moffat never materialized. Consequently, there was never sufficient water to irrigate the farm parcels that were sold and raffled off to unsuspecting buyers. By 1920, the population had declined to approximately 120 people, equivalent to the number living there today, many of whom are descendants of early settlers. These hardy and independent residents appreciate the small town atmosphere, unhurried lifestyle, and stark beauty of this vast valley.

Today, social life in Moffat revolves around events at the school, the daily or weekly rituals of picking up the mail or making a transaction at the credit union. Everyone knows everyone, so you are likely to get the latest local news in just a couple of conversations. Visitors, destined for either Crestone or the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, can stop by the coffee shop and gallery and possibly even rest a night at the historic B&B. The big event of the summer is the Moffatstock Festival, on Saturday, July 21st. Music, flea market booths, local farm produce, and other activities make it a fun-filled day, with the proceeds going to the Moffat Community Center Project, which is restoring the old Moffat Church. Set against the panoramic views of both mountains and valley, Moffat is a neighborly town made up of folks who enjoy simple, rural living.