Best CO Ski Town To Move Family To?

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by SheridanL

True enough Jazzlover....and I usually agree with him....however...

There will always be "people" who wish to live in the "upscale" areas. Doesn't matter if they are "trust fund" babies or, just have a load of cash to spend! They will buy and live in these upper scale areas! No one can stop them....they just want to have a safe area with good schools for their kids. IF ONLY!! IMO

Fuel costs make a huge difference (especially NOW and,.the future) but, NOT for the "uber" rich. They will not care how their property declines...why would they? They are where they want to be!!
They have their "pie in the sky........McMansion!!

. . .

My how things change AND,,,,,,they will AGAIN!!!!!!!!! YEP!!

I have the sometimes unfortunate perspective of a long study of Colorado history. There was a time when places like Aspen, Leadville, Telluride, Cripple Creek, and other mining towns were flush with what then were considered mansions, and Denver was full of overnight millionaires--all thanks to the boom of the silver and gold mining industries. In the case of silver, it was almost all based on the US Government creating an artificially inflated market for silver. When that ended with the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in 1893, the foundation under which much of Colorado's economy and wealth was predicated crumbled away almost within months. Many a mansion in Denver became a tattered remnant of times gone by, many being eventually ingloriously subdivided into seedy apartments and boarding houses. In the mountain towns, opulent houses were often simply abandoned to the elements--the towns themselves becoming either near or complete ghost towns. As a kid, I wandered through many of them before the elements finally claimed most of the structures by the late 1970's. (Read Muriel Sibell Wolle's 1949 book, Stampede to Timberline, for some perspective).

So, the idea that today's Colorado mountains will always be peppered with McMansions and the affluent "gentry" that occupies them is counter to virtually everything in Colorado's history. All glory is fleeting and ephemeral in Colorado--it's just the way the place is--and always will be. We are building tomorrow's ghost towns in Colorado . . .

[CTC]

Gypsum,CO is just another 6 miles down valley from Eagle (30-40 min from Vail/BC)

Real estate prices in Gypsum are much lower than Eagle, and Gypsum is more laid back without much traffic (Eagle can have traffic).

We don't have kids, but there are 2 new schools nearby where we live (Chatfield Corners) and kids actually walk to school in the morning.

It is very community orientated here and kids get to ski once per week via school based programs.

If you are a skier and would like to raise your kids in a safe, non traffic, outdoor emphasis-look at Gypsum.

Don't be put off from JL's comments because he is not a skier (just doesn't understand ), and really not much into the outdoors from what I can tell. I would have loved to have been raised here-talk about an ideal childhood-your kids will thank you for living here. Hiking,rafting,skiing,fly fishing etc etc. Culture at Vail/BC and a pleasant mix of locals,tourists,old time ranchers, hispanics.

Oh yeah-550$ unlimited skiing pass this year for Vail Resorts in CO (and A-Basin to boot) is a major perk, so is Costco. The airport is in Gypsum as well-and during the off season is pretty cost effective to fly in and out of.

There is a new bike trail along Highway 6 from Eagle to Gypsum.

If you can afford it Gypsum is a real nice compromise between Vail and the Front Range.

[brightdoglover]

Regarding Telluride being a family-type safe community, do remember that the Eagles' song "Smuggler's Blues" specifically mentions Telluride as a major stop on the cocaine trail.
Gorgeous box canyon, bizarro sense that L.A. has been transplanted.
Regarding "cheap" airfare, the short hops (say, Denver to Montrose) were always pretty high, not they're impossible.
I would be better off driving my Toyota round-trip from Boston to Colorado at $5/gallon than flying, especially regarding shorter hops. I concur that some areas will not have public airport access, or so little at existing airports as to be useless for the traveler.

[SheridanL]

My youngest son lived in Gypsum part time with his father (we had joint custody) during his grade school years. He liked it fine.

Speaking of my youngest (now 21),.... 2 days ago, my nephew showed up with him!!!!!!!!! He flew in to COS to surprise me!!!!!!!!!!!WOO HOO!!
He is a cryptologist in the Navy and is stationed in Hawaii. I get to have him here until the end of the month!!! I am one happy mother!!
He's still asleep, that's why I'm on here, jfyi. HA!!

[5stones]

Glenwood springs would be a good town to consider as well.
Close to Aspen and the Vail area.
But also close to "local ski hills".

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by SheridanL

My youngest son lived in Gypsum part time with his father (we had joint custody) during his grade school years. He liked it fine.

Speaking of my youngest (now 21),.... 2 days ago, my nephew showed up with him!!!!!!!!! He flew in to COS to surprise me!!!!!!!!!!!WOO HOO!!
He is a cryptologist in the Navy and is stationed in Hawaii. I get to have him here until the end of the month!!! I am one happy mother!!
He's still asleep, that's why I'm on here, jfyi. HA!!

Enjoy his visit!

[mtnbikr32]

We just moved from the Vail Valley with our new daughter and I would highly recommend not moving there. The house prices are ridiculous compared to other resorts and the schools are going downhill due to the high influx of illegal immigrants. They are cutting programs left and right! There is also a growing gang population and the problems that come with that are starting to appear. Just our two cents.

[mojodog]

Park City, Utah. It was all that you listed and more.