It's been 2 years since Armadillo Ranch opened the doors again at 962 Manitou Ave. With a location steeped deep in decades of Manitou music traditions, there were large shoes to fill. After a roaring summer in 2019, the pandemic drove this small, family-owned fledgling business into an uncertain future. With all the local venues shuttering their doors, the Armadillos made a bold move...

For the local artists starving for a stage to play on and a group of dedicated Manitou residents and music fans, the melodies continued to roll out the front door, making smiles behind masks and air hugs and elbow bumping a regular sight. As would have been expected at the ORIGINAL Armadillo Ranch (and if you don't know that story, then you must stop in and ask the owner, Jason), the music never died.

It's time to celebrate. Celebrate making it through these difficult past 15 months with the lights on and the doors open.  Our dedicated music-loving family has made it possible for this small town venue (oh yes and bar/restaurant) to survive when the odds weighed heavily in opposing favor.

So on the 2nd Anniversary of Armadillo Ranch, stop in and enjoy the culture we've been creating- one where everybody; regardless of your age, race, gender, sexual orientation, political views, hair color, if you love dogs or can't possibly imagine having one, or whether or not you drive a stick shift- there's no judgement here. We're all our own kind of weird in Manitou, after all.

So, here's the details on the weekend festivities:

Live Music:

• Thursday: Manitou Strings @ 8 p.m.
• Friday: Big Sky @ 9 p.m. (throwback set with former members of Big Sky)
• Saturday: Big Sky @ 9 p.m. 
• Sunday: All Aboard @ 2 p.m. and  Musicians Appreciation Jam @ 7 p.m.*

*Local musicians appreciation jam will provide food/drinks to artists who have played at Armadillo Ranch, so come down and make some fireworks with us!

While you're at it, check out this news clip that happened after our brief shut-down: https://www.fox21news.com/news/local/live-music-returns-to-manitou-springs-venue/