Relocate to Cripple Creek, Bailey or Canon City areas? (Pueblo: real estate, property taxes)

[VanCleef]

Thanks to GStone777 & pittnurse70. Canon seems to be a favorite for a number of folks. It's good to know that the stores GStone mentioned were located there. That would save me some time and gas, not having to trek out to Pueblo or COS. My online search continues, while I await my freedom from employment. As always, I'd be glad to read more comments (good or bad) regarding the areas I've written about previously.

[SheridanL]

Hi,

I own a home in Canon City and moved to Vero Beach Florida on May 1st,2007. I THOUGHT that I would love living directly on the beach but, I am moving back to Canon City in 6 weeks!!!YAY!!!

My home in Canon is in the east part. I have 2 acres, a tennis court, huge home and it is very reasonble price wise. Across the street from me is a farm with horses and cows.
The gentleman there has his own horses and also trains and boards others.
I grew up in Denver, lived in Aurora and have spent much of my life in ALL parts of Colorado.

Canon City is the best town for everything...prices, weather..being in a mountain community yet, a hop, skip and jump away from the bigger towns!!
There is Walmart, Home Depot, Office Depot, Chile's....soon to be Ruby Tuesday's..etc.

I am sitting here looking out my windows in Vero Beach, watching the ocean waves....one would think with this kind of view, I wouldn't want to go back, but, that is how fantastic Canon City is!!! I can't wait to go home!! I will never leave again!!

By the way, a lot of home owners have ditch water to irrigate their properties. I do.
There are MANY different ditch companies, mine happens to be Fruitland, so, that is a plus on the water situation.

Hope this helped!!

[Liggit]

I am interested in a job in Canon City and am considering a move. My husband and I are both in healthcare and we have two daughters (JH/HS age). What is CC like for raising kids? Does anyone know anything about the school system? How about the crime rate? I read in one of the posts that there are quite a few registered sex offenders living in Canon City. I have seen the statistics, but I am interested in local opinions. Any and all input would be appreciated.

[SheridanL]

I raised my yougest son here in Canon. He went to Junior and High School here. No problems at all!!
He is now 21 and is a Cryptologist in the Navy. He is stationed in Hawaii and, CAN'T wait to get back! HA!! ( could'nt wait to leave now, wants to come back, go figure?!)
He was just here on leave (2 weeks ago) and soooooo didn't want to go back to Hawaii!! WHAT??? Is he crazy???? NOPE!!
It is just that wonderful here!! Even better than living on the beach in Florida like I did for a year!!!!!!!!!! Trust me it is sooo true!!!!!!!!!!

[famlife]

Originally Posted by VanCleef

My early retirement should happen in 2008, and I've been planning to relocate to Colorado for about 5 years. I have 3 areas in mind;
Cripple Creek/Divide/Florissant or Bailey or the Canon City area.
I originally thought about the Buena Vista/Salida/Westcliffe area, but I'm unsure about major shopping there. (I'm sure there's a store in every small town where you can buy milk, bread, etc. I'm curious about larger chains like Home Depot, Best Buy etc.)

I won't need to work, and I can spend up to $330k for a house with some acreage. I'd like my neighbors houses to be situated some distance from mine. I'm not concerned about the school systems. I would be interested in; what the local residents are like, info about the weather, high speed internet availability, close mountain views (I already know that much about the B.V/Salida area).

If anyone can give me some first hand information about the 3 areas listed above, I sure would appreciate it.

i lived in Bailey, CO for a few years and that was the best time of my life. the rest of my life since has been wishing i was back there! It's been awhile, but when i lived there.. there was definitely space between neighbors, housing costs were kinda going up quickly, i don't remember there being big box stores there, but they did have plenty of shopping in Conifer and Evergreen.. and yummy restaurants in the area too.. the weather was great! alot of sun, all the seasons were there.. winter didn't seem as cold as it was. it was pleasant to be outside in the winter IMO. there was sooo many hummingbirds, dragonflies and wildlife. the mountain views were about the prettiest i've seen. nothing very dramatic, but very very pretty. i loved the huge boulders in my yard and tons of fishing and camping.. fireworks at Como... the people were nice and easy-going,(if you were'nt from CA lol) and life seemed to move at a slower pace.

this is just all my take on the area. purely opinion!

Cripple Creek was pretty cool, too. Very historic and western!

And i don't know why, but i was strangely attracted to Idaho Springs. Everything has sparkles on it there lol esp. the sidewalks! plus i think the history of the gold mines and the 'panners is really cool. i plan on taking my kids there to pan for gold and visit the mine lol great fun!

[VanCleef]

Thanks to all who provided me with information. My apologies to those who wrote previously, to whom I never replied. Things were hectic for a while. With any luck I'll be situated within a month or so. Good luck to all.

[colorado-dreaming]

It has been fun reading all the responses about CC, as my husband & I are seriously contemplating moving there next year. We currently live in Florida, lived in the Denver area for 3 years in the early 80's, and really want to get back out there, just not to a big city. After being in FL for 22 years, we are ready for a little cold weather and from what we have read CC sounds great. We also would like to get out in the country, but since at least one of us will probably work, not too far out. Keep the info coming.

[gberry]

Are the resident of Canon City mostly retired or is there a fair amount of younger people/new families?

[Pilot1]

I would rule out Cripple Creek as others have said due to the harsher winters, and it is kind of remote, but I would consider Bailey. Its within an hour drive of Denver if you want that. We almost bought a home in Bailey, but decided to be closer to Denver for work, but you don't have that issue.

Canon City is nice also and has a totally different feel than Bailey. To me Canon City is more southwest. I like the Royal Gorge area a lot. It is warmer also, but its a dry heat.

[Ticky909]

you might try 'rand' colorado.