Mixed custody — minimum to close (men) · Correctional Complex · CDOC

Buena Vista Correctional Complex

Buena Vista, Chaffee County, Colorado

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (719) 395-2404 Info last verified: June 2026

A men's prison complex in the mountains of Chaffee County — Colorado's second-oldest prison — combining a medium/close facility and a minimum center.

Statewide rules that apply at every Colorado state prison

These rules are set by CDOC and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in Colorado.

Dress code

No clothing that is solid green, gray, orange, white, yellow, or camouflage, or that otherwise resembles what incarcerated people wear — Colorado prison uniforms are green.
Pants, skirts, and dresses must reach at least the top of the knee; no shorts of any kind and no cargo pants, and nothing tight or form-fitting such as leggings, spandex, or yoga pants.
Nothing sheer, ripped, or revealing — no exposed cleavage, back, or midriff when standing, sitting, or bending, and no spaghetti- or thin-strap tops; appropriate undergarments are required and must not be visible.
No hats, hoods, gloves, scarves, or coats in the visiting room (religious head coverings excepted), nothing showing gang, drug, profane, or offensive images, and jewelry limited to a wedding set, one religious medallion, and medical-alert items.

ID: Every visitor 18 or older shows a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID — the physical card, not a photocopy or digital ID — and must already be on the incarcerated person's approved list, which is capped at 12 adults (minors do not count).
What to bring: Almost nothing comes into the visit room. The only item allowed for purchases is one debit or credit card for the vending machines — no cash or coins — and phones, watches, and other electronics are prohibited; prescription medication must be in its original labeled container.
Scheduling: Each visitor applies to the facility where the person is held, and visits are generally by appointment, with days and hours set by that prison — there is no single statewide schedule, so confirm the facility's process and book ahead before traveling.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Colorado

Overview

Buena Vista Correctional Complex, on U.S. 24 in Buena Vista in Chaffee County, is a men’s prison complex in the mountains of central Colorado. It opened in 1892 as the Colorado State Reformatory, making it the second-oldest prison in Colorado, and became an adult prison in the late 1970s. The complex combines the Buena Vista Correctional Facility (BVCF) (medium and close custody) and the Buena Vista Minimum Center (BVMC) (minimum custody), which now share one mailing address. It offers vocational programs — welding, collision repair, carpentry, and culinary — plus college access through Second Chance Pell.

What Makes Buena Vista Different

It is Colorado’s second-oldest prison, opened in 1892 as the Colorado State Reformatory.
It is a two-facility complex — BVCF (medium/close) and BVMC (minimum) — with different visiting days, so confirm which part holds the person.
It runs vocational programs in welding, collision repair, carpentry, and culinary arts.
It is in the mountains, about two hours southwest of Denver.

Visiting

The statewide CDOC rules above — the approved list, the dress code, ID, and search rules — apply at Buena Vista. The facility’s own arrangements:

The full approval process is in Visiting in Colorado.

Getting There and Parking

The complex is on U.S. 24 in Buena Vista, in the mountains of central Colorado.

Distances are approximate, based on map routing. Visitor parking is on site.

Nearby Services

Buena Vista has gas, food, and lodging; Salida, about 25 miles south, is the larger service hub. The nearest 24-hour emergency room is Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center in Salida.

Mail

Personal mail goes to the facility, addressed with the person’s commitment name and DOC number. Buena Vista is one of the CDOC facilities that photocopies incoming personal mail, delivers the copy, and destroys the original — so do not send originals you want returned. Legal mail is opened only to inspect for contraband, in the person’s presence. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone in a Colorado state prison:

Visiting in Colorado — the approved list, the dress code, and ID rules
Mail & Packages — the DOC number, photocopying, and publisher-only books
Phone & Video Calls — free calls, Securus, and tablets
Sending Money — CorrectPay deposits
Medical & Mental Health — the co-pay, HIPAA releases, and Constituent Services
Transfers & Finding Someone — reception, the locator, and VINE

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.