Drake, CO (Loveland, Estes Park, Berthoud: RV park, for sale, foreclosures) - Fort Collins area - Colorado - City-Data Forum

Lawman_Kyle · 03-04-2012, 05:01 PM

So upon visiting Loveland last week and meeting with the company I am going to work for I began looking at homes and found a few in my price range in the Drake, CO area. Mapquest shows the house I'm looking at to be 20 miles from Loveland and about a 30 minute drive. Does anyone here have any insight on this area. Unfortunately I didn't venture to Drake, we went south instead and I found this place online after I've already returned to Oklahoma. Any comments on this area would be greatly appreciated!

Mike Weber · 03-04-2012, 07:39 PM

Drake is a nice little locale, but there is not much there. You will be driving into Loveland for anything you need.

There are few homes down in the canyon near the Drake store. Most of the homes with Drake addresses are in the Cedar Park or Cedar Springs subdivision. These subdivisions are up a steep, winding, narrow gravel road that can be pretty treacherous in the winter. There are folks who live up there year round, but if you are commuting, you had better make sure you have a good 4 wheel drive vehicle, a place in town to stay if caught in a storm, or an understanding boss that will allow you a day off work if the storm comes overnight and you can't get down to work. Many homes in those subdivisions are second homes or vacation cabins that are used mostly in the summer.

Lawman_Kyle · 03-04-2012, 09:13 PM

Thank you Mike. We live in the country now and have a 20 minute drive to the nearest town and a 45 minute drive to a town like Loveland. The winter weather is a concern...but we both have 4x4's.

StealthRabbit · 03-05-2012, 01:26 AM

Econo Drake Homes are likely in Cedar Park area. (where my 4H leader had a 'high-ranch' in the 1960's) This is QUITE different than towns south of Loveland, and quite remote and difficult (bumpy / long access on gravel and VERY busy SLOW winding canyon road(US34), especially in summer. I did fine commuting via motorcycle, BUT pay up your insurance.

Really depends on your needs and taste. I personally would rent something closer in, (on Waterdale Dr or Masonville Rd / Near Big T school), then scout out the area for what would suit you. It can be really tough to sell a place in Cedar Park, as most are 'seasonal' get-a-ways, tho some folks over-winter there.

Lawman_Kyle · 03-05-2012, 08:54 AM

Thanks SR...I loved Colorado on our visit, but the residential areas we found we nothing like we are used to. Beautiful homes, but 10 foot next to it was another home. We prefer a spread out community or like we are now where my neighbor is 1/4 mile up the road. Drake looks to be somewhat like that. With that said though, you folks know the area much better than I do. Our vehicles are both fairly new...mine is a 2012 Denali 2500 Duramax 4x4 and Jenn's is a 2012 Dodge Nitro 4x4. Would these make it in this area, or are the roads that bad?

I'm wishing I would have found this place before we left so I could have seen it first hand.

lucky-13 · 03-05-2012, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawman_Kyle

Thanks SR...I loved Colorado on our visit, but the residential areas we found we nothing like we are used to. Beautiful homes, but 10 foot next to it was another home. We prefer a spread out community or like we are now where my neighbor is 1/4 mile up the road. Drake looks to be somewhat like that. With that said though, you folks know the area much better than I do. Our vehicles are both fairly new...mine is a 2012 Denali 2500 Duramax 4x4 and Jenn's is a 2012 Dodge Nitro 4x4. Would these make it in this area, or are the roads that bad?

I'm wishing I would have found this place before we left so I could have seen it first hand.

I have been looking for a home in the Front Range foothills/mountains and was up there a month or two ago. Most homes listed as Drake are actually on Storm Mountain NW of Drake proper and there are currently many homes available there (several foreclosures in varying conditions). There is more space between homes unlike houses in the Big Thompson canyon that tend to be squeezed into tiny lots on steep hillsides. The biggest problem with Storm Mtn is the single access road which is steep and rough. Your Denali shouldn't have too many problems but the Nitro may not deal as well with the bad weather days - if you move there your vehicles WILL wear out faster as regular travel on roads like this takes its toll.

Another area you might consider is Glen Haven (further NW of Drake but on the main "backroad" to Estes Park - not as many houses for sale and generally pricier than Drake but easier to get to. Like others have advised you might want to rent for a while and conduct your own search of the surrounding areas before you buy.

Lawman_Kyle · 03-05-2012, 11:47 AM

Yes my wife is 6 months pregnant and under her teaching contract until the end of June. We own a nice Montana 5th wheel that I will be living in for the first few months up there. I already planned to get to know the area before buying, plus we have to sell our home here in Oklahoma first. Thanks again for the insight. Seems that the roads there are my main concern. I must say the home I found is my dream home and very affordable compared to the other homes in the area that I tend to find as " just alright" for much more $$$.

StealthRabbit · 03-05-2012, 12:38 PM

You will not be pulling a big 5r to Cedar Park (At least the last time I was up that road, hopefully it is much better now).

You can surely find a rural farm / place between Loveland and Berthoud and NW towards Masonville, that will rent you an RV pad. Take a motorcycle and do some FAST and exhaustive searching for rural props. I would choose the Buckhorn Canyon before I would go up Big T beyond Dam Store. Your access to public lands (recreation and less people) is much better up past Masonville. There are many nice rural mini-farms near Berthoud and Loveland. Look around the base of Carter Lake and between US 34 and Carter Lake. (and north to Horsetooth). There are some real bargains on distressed home sales, and while you may be biting more off than you desire, this is the time to get prime location, as you will be priced out when the market recovers. Thus your current investment is far more valuable near town, as you can always pick up the 'far-away' places cheap. Hold for 2 yrs, and cash in FREE capital gains, then move out in the boonies.

For commuting to Cedar park, I would use a '49 willys or early Land Cruiser, and leave the modern Iron at the bottom of the road. With your capital tied up in nice rigs, you should have plenty to buy a nice place (or sell the iron to fund it... BTDT... I now drive a $35 car Haven't had a new car since 1973 and that one (GM 4x4) spent more time in shop than any of my $100 cars since).

I would not put a wife with family up in Cedar Park (or Glenhaven). There are tons of much more user friendly places with adequate privacy and low cost.

Lawman_Kyle · 03-05-2012, 12:57 PM

Ya I plan on setting up my 5th wheel in Loveland at an RV park, definitely not in the steep mountains. Thank you for your advice again. I will definitely check out the other areas you mentioned.

StealthRabbit · 03-05-2012, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawman_Kyle

Ya I plan on setting up my 5th wheel in Loveland at an RV park, definitely not in the steep mountains. Thank you for your advice again. I will definitely check out the other areas you mentioned.

Consider Riverside Motel, they have some cheap RV sites and are in the center of the region I suggested. ~ 7 miles west of Loveland

There is also Riverview (across from big T school) a bit more $$, but nicer. (unless there is a flood...) I don't think it gets water anymore, as they have cabins too... but I have seen it underwater too many times as a kid to sleep well there.

Consider Flatiron for a REALLY nice and quiet RV site. (still in the center of region I mentioned, bit further, probably 'stay' restricted, but worth at least a week's stay... very nice)