Gateway,Co is another area SW of Grand Junction that is starting to get "discovered" thanks to John Hendricks.
Close to the mtns...about an hour from Telluride, plus it has a really cool new car museum .
http://www.gatewaycanyons.com/area.php
If you like the Ouray scene better, you should also look into
Silverton, CO...not as cheap as it was a few years ago, but some
"summer only" lots can be had pretty reasonably.
Great 4x4 roads all over that part of the state, the scenery will
blow your mind !