Things to Do in Byers, CO (and Where to Eat)

by Chelsea Pruitt

Byers isn't trying to be a tourist town — and that's exactly its charm. This small Arapahoe County community on I-70 is the real Eastern Plains: open land, big skies, and a tight-knit local feel about 45 minutes east of Denver. If you're passing through, scouting a move, or just curious what's out here, here's the local rundown.

Where to eat (this is the good part)

For a small town, Byers eats surprisingly well. Shooters Bar & Grill is the community gathering spot — a comfortable bar-and-grill with a loyal following and a genuinely unique signature, the catfish BLT, that's worth ordering at least once. When you want Mexican, Los 3 Garcia's is the standout; regulars rave about the hand-made, cooked-to-order dishes, and the from-scratch sopes are the move. Rounding things out, the Morena's taco truck handles quick, fresh tacos and breakfast burritos for folks on the go. That's a solid rotation for a town this size.

The wide-open appeal

Byers' best "attraction" is the landscape itself. This is country where the horizon goes on forever, the night skies are genuinely dark, and the pace slows down the moment you exit the interstate. For people coming from the metro, that openness is the whole draw — space to spread out, keep horses or livestock, and live with elbow room you simply can't get in the suburbs. It's quiet in the best sense.

A community with deep roots

Byers has been part of this corridor's story for a long time. When the first continuous transcontinental railroad was being completed in 1870, the eastbound construction crew had reached Byers before the final rails were joined just up the line near Strasburg. Today it's a close community organized around Byers School District 32J, with the rhythms of a true rural town — you get to know your neighbors here.

Is Byers right for you?

If your wish list includes land, affordability, and quiet over nightlife and convenience, Byers is worth a serious look. It tends to offer more acreage for the money than closer-in corridor towns, with the trade-off of a longer commute and a genuinely rural lifestyle (think wells, septic, and self-sufficiency on many properties). For the right buyer, that's not a downside — it's the entire point.