Colorado City & Rye (Pueblo, Lamar: homes, buying, scorpions)

[perustaja]

Does anyone live in Colorado City or Rye? Just wondering what it's like actually living there. Considering moving there but don't exactly know much about utilities, internet, etc.

[davebarnes]

Did you do any research before posting?
The population of Rye is 250. What do you think it is like?

[interloper1138]

OP, please don't mind Dave. He's being a jerk.

There are several threads on here about Colorado City and Rye. They contain some basic info that is helpful, if outdated. Most haven't been updated in awhile.

I haven't spent a ton of time in Colorado City or Rye, but Colorado City is definitely growing. Lots of construction (relative to the size of the area) when I drove through earlier this year. There are issues with their water system.

If you're looking at Colorado City specifically and are thinking of buying raw land, definitely do your research before you buy. Many lots have no access to any utilities and cannot be developed due to their lack of water and prohibitions against wells on most parcels. The subdivision is massive and only a few sections are actively being developed, but those that are are quite nice. The lots in these sections are more expensive, but still reasonable. I can't speak to utility prices, but I do know that Colorado City has had a lot of issues lately with its water supply due to aging infrastructure. A lot of residents would not cook with or drink it for some time until the issues were resolved. There was also an issue with the post office and residents had to go to Pueblo to get their mail. I believe that has since been resolved, too.

Still, Colorado City is a nice area in my opinion, though. There are restaurants, a library, golf and disc golf course, some hiking trails, a lake, a pool, a few schools and some medical providers. For being 20 minutes from Pueblo, it feels a world away (no offense to Pueblo, just a totally different vibe).

[DOUBLE H]

Originally Posted by perustaja

Does anyone live in Colorado City or Rye? Just wondering what it's like actually living there. Considering moving there but don't exactly know much about utilities, internet, etc.

Perustaja, welcome to the Colorado Forum!

I've brought up a thread you would be interested in--San Isabel and Wet Mountains of Colorado--PHOTO TOUR.

McGowdog has been a long time member on this message board and started the thread in 2008. It's been years since I have been through there, beautiful area.

[otowi]

Colorado City and Rye get a fair bit of snow in winter, especially Rye, usually. Both are small, in particular Rye, and you will probably need to go up to Pueblo sometimes for things they don't offer. Colorado City is a little more like a real town than Rye. I think Rye has one or two 'downtown' streets of about a block or two in length, maybe one or two small restaurants, and not a lot of other business. You'll experience some high-plains desert habitat, some pinyon-juniper, and some ponderosa/fir depending on where you are exactly. I have a friend who lives in the Rye area and likes it for its quiet, but with that it can also get a bit quirky, like Bishop's Castle, etc.

[perustaja]

Originally Posted by interloper1138

OP, please don't mind Dave. He's being a jerk.

There are several threads on here about Colorado City and Rye. They contain some basic info that is helpful, if outdated. Most haven't been updated in awhile.

I haven't spent a ton of time in Colorado City or Rye, but Colorado City is definitely growing. Lots of construction (relative to the size of the area) when I drove through earlier this year. There are issues with their water system.

If you're looking at Colorado City specifically and are thinking of buying raw land, definitely do your research before you buy. Many lots have no access to any utilities and cannot be developed due to their lack of water and prohibitions against wells on most parcels. The subdivision is massive and only a few sections are actively being developed, but those that are are quite nice. The lots in these sections are more expensive, but still reasonable. I can't speak to utility prices, but I do know that Colorado City has had a lot of issues lately with its water supply due to aging infrastructure. A lot of residents would not cook with or drink it for some time until the issues were resolved. There was also an issue with the post office and residents had to go to Pueblo to get their mail. I believe that has since been resolved, too.

Still, Colorado City is a nice area in my opinion, though. There are restaurants, a library, golf and disc golf course, some hiking trails, a lake, a pool, a few schools and some medical providers. For being 20 minutes from Pueblo, it feels a world away (no offense to Pueblo, just a totally different vibe).

Buying land and building doesn't seem appealing to me, a coworker had a very bad experience. I do like that it feels very different from Pueblo for being a short drive. Was wondering if anyone knew specifically about internet and, now, water. Seeing some homes there this weekend. I live and work in Pueblo.

I'll make sure to ask about water and internet when I'm out looking. I don't dislike Pueblo, just figure for the price the drive may be a fair tradeoff. I've also seen way too many scorpions at work, though I know they are in both CO City and Rye (and the springs for that matter).

[McGowdog]

Originally Posted by davebarnes

Did you do any research before posting?
The population of Rye is 250. What do you think it is like?

Rye High School has over 270 students.

Colorado City and Rye and even San Isabel go together. You can get from Colorado City, Mile Marker 74 on I-25 to Pueblo Colorado, Mile Marker 90, in about 22 minutes at 75 mph.

Beulah is around the hill, but not really the same community.

Colorado City and Rye have probably decent utilities for the most part, except for one really bad downfall, water.

They probably have very fast fiber optic internet, decent TV, access to nG, propane, wood burning and pellet stove heating, sewer systems depending where you live, septic systems in others, running water, well water with cisterns, but there again, the drinking water has been very bad lately. Are you willing to haul water? Maybe Rye is better than Colorado City.

You should look into that.

If you like to golf, they have a pretty nice golf course, if they aren't in too much of a drought at the time.

The Wet Mountains are very nice. You are probably at least an hour away from CoSprings where you will find real shopping and decent medical.

I would say the whole community is close to 5000 residents, but some services are lacking there. They really rely on Pueblo being near by. Place to maybe retire or place to give kids a decent affordable education.

Originally Posted by DOUBLE H

Perustaja, welcome to the Colorado Forum!

I've brought up a thread you would be interested in--San Isabel and Wet Mountains of Colorado--PHOTO TOUR.

McGowdog has been a long time member on this message board and started the thread in 2008. It's been years since I have been through there, beautiful area.

Thank you H.

Rare to see a post about CC and Rye. Seen some for La Junta and Lamar lately.

Folks must be sick of the thought of spending 400k for a shed. I don't blame them. But a lot of rich Texans own land up in Rye and up and into San Isabel along Hwy 165. Not cheap.