The LOWDOWN on Woodland Park??? (Colorado Springs, Columbine: skateboarding, crime, custom home)

[FunBunch7]

Just 18 more days until we are there! Wrapping up loose ends...taking a "nastalgic tour" of Arizona saturday to say good bye to all the places here from our past...reserved my moving truck...$650 one way for a 17 footer!

This has been 11 months in the making and the fact that we are within 3 weeks is sureal! (sp)

My kids are going to Camp Como after just a week there! I'm jonesin' to see what the Donut Mill is all about...I'm like Homer when it comes to donuts!

We can't wait to explore the region!!!!

[otowi]

I hope you have a smooth transition!

[KLBFL50]

My husband and I visited in 2004 and 2-weeks in 2007 and decided we have to retire to Woodland Park. Well, our house is still on the market here in Ocala, FL, but it will happen one day. I hope you love it there. It is the prettiest little town and such nice people we met there. We have lived in FL all our lives but the Rockies are calling to us.

Rampart Range Rd was a beautiful drive, saw a herd of elk. Take the kids to the Wolf sanctuary west of town. The guide asked if anyone wanted to be kissed on the cheek by a wolf and my husband let one lick him through the fence but I wouldn't recommend that. HaHaHa

We went in April07 and it was dreary and snowing when we arrived. The next morning I threw back the curtain and there was the Peak filling up the window. It just stood out against the bluest morning sky. Just seems to be a magical place to us. Enjoy it.

[Sabrinakelley]

People live in Woodland Park and drive up to Cripple Creek to work year round. You can always also catch the bus up that way. 24/7 gambling and $100 max bets are set to start in July. The money should be really good up there once the season really hits. The Pikes Peak region is already seeing an influx of seasonal tourist. It is going to be way busier than our non existent summer last year '08.

Let me know when your house sells. The market is coming around and the inventory is high here so you can have your pick for your perfect mountain home. I love this place and the community.

Originally Posted by FunBunch7

Just 18 more days until we are there! Wrapping up loose ends...taking a "nastalgic tour" of Arizona saturday to say good bye to all the places here from our past...reserved my moving truck...$650 one way for a 17 footer!

This has been 11 months in the making and the fact that we are within 3 weeks is sureal! (sp)

My kids are going to Camp Como after just a week there! I'm jonesin' to see what the Donut Mill is all about...I'm like Homer when it comes to donuts!

We can't wait to explore the region!!!!

Hey FunBunch. Send me your contact information and if you are interested we can take a day to look around the area. I know you were thinking about a rental. Let me know.
It is beautiful this week. I took a jacket out this evening, sat on the deck and watched the sun set.
Elk and deer are out feasting on the grasslands and the bluebirds are flying around and perching on fencepost.

[FunBunch7]

Well, we finally made it to Woodland Park!!!! We've been here a week and just LOVE IT!!!! Obviously alot of time was spent moving in, placing furniture, piano, etc..handing pictures, etc...but we have found time to climb rocks at Garden Of The Gods, drive up to Pikes Peak, drive out to Deckers, drive through Manitou Springs, Divide...it seems like there is a never-ending array of things to do here.

Everyone in the town have been so friendly...even the guy who came to crawl around in our basement to turn our water on was like Santa Clause! We visited the middle school and one of the staff walked me, my wife and our 2 Jr Highers all around the school, even while it was closed!

This town is AWESOME!!!!! The weather has been on the "cool side"...usually in the 60's during the day...but it beats the heck out of Phoenix which is in the 100's!

This is home!

Hey Little City Max...The Eric Harris...maybe we'll bump into each other sometime...I have a silver PT Cruiser with AZ plates "WSHRSKN"...I'm sure you'll see me around town...we like to drive in and out the residential areas to see all the cute and gorgeous houses, ranches, etc.

So far we have seen a fox, some deer, and some llamas...still keeping an eye out for a bear and a mountain lion...but we allways have our video camera ready!!!

It's good to be "home"!!!!

[little city max]

So glad you made it! I just LOVE this town....in fact my husband and I are starting to discuss buying a home here (even been on the prowl to see what's available). We want to live here permanently (maybe Sabrinakelley has some advice for me?) so I know what you mean by "home". I'm sure I'll see you around!

[froggin4colorado]

Welcome home...we've been waiting for you

[PokerMunkee]

Glad you are enjoying it! The wife and I are renting currently (in the duplexes behind Walgreens) and also looking at houses to buy. We want to buy before November since we qualify for the $8k credit. Very few houses in our price range ($215k and under), so hopefully the right one comes on the market soon! Need to get preapproved first I suppose.

Hopefully the weather gets better, rain and cooler temps isn't the best. But it's not too bad.

[WA state]

And have missed it a lot. It is simply beautiful all year long. After living in places like WY and MT it seemed so temperate. We did get "a lot" of snow, but they were totally prepared to deal with it and the streets were plowed WELL. I worked at 6 am and have not had that great experience in WA since they don't have the equipment to plow well. It is worse here to drive. There is also a Wal-mart for necessities and a "food-co-op. Where you can order whatever you want and pick-up weekly. Also City Market and Safeway. We NEVER shopped in the Springs. There were always a lot of wrecks onthe 18 mi road down when we would go down and you do get stuck. One thing I loved about Woodland Park is that the air was crisp and dry and sunny and warm. Even in January I would come home at luch and sit out in short sleeves and tan. I think it is just different than anywhere being so high elevation and clear air. It is good to stick it out a few years though because your blood actually adjusts to the elevation and then the weather doesn't get to you as it would when you first move there from "down low". Schools were awesome, churches nice and sports for my kids were great, they were elementary then.

[WA state]

WOW, just noticed fun bunch really moved there! Good for you. IF you notice any "oxygen sickness" or need a boost while hiking etc. check out that little herbal store down by City Market if it's still there and they hve some oxygenated drops that they sell a lot of to tourists. Really helps the transition. Also blu green algae. Take care and post how it goes, we are thinking of moving back in 2010 if jobs go as planned.