Relocating to the Deadwood/Lead area (Rapid City, Sturgis: ski resorts, real estate, homes)

[durangobob]

My wife and I chave lived in Durango Colorado for the past 18 years and it is time to move on. What was once a small s/w town is now the new Vail/Aspen. Way too many attitudeds and too much money. We are looking into the Deadwood/Lead area. We like the four seasons and dont mind the cold or snow. Heat is ok as longs as the humidity is low. We are retired and own a home in Durango that, thanks to the new money here, should sell for more than enough to buy us a nice place in SD. No need to work as I have a GVT pension. We ride MC's, garden and enjoy a cocktail or two.
We are looking for any input about Deadwood/Lead

durangobob

[Jammie]

Hi Durango and welcome to the forum.

Just from reading your post, it looks like you've picked the perfect spot for your family. That part of the state has a semi-arid climate so there is very little humidity there. Since the cold and snow don't bother you, you'll be just fine.

The cost of real estate may start going up out there since Homestake got the new science lab. But right now there is no comparison to the Vail area that your real estate is comparable to. You should be able to sell your home and buy one in Deadwood/Lead and still have $$ in your pocket.

Since employment isn't a concern, is there anything specific you'd like to know about? Have you ever vacationed there?

[BusySocialWorker]

I agree - based on your post, I venture to guess you will enjoy the area you picked

[Jammie]

There's just a bit of general info you may be interested in. The area was in a pretty big slump several years ago so in the early 90s (I think), gambling was legalized in Deadwood. It's quite the little boomtown now with a lot of casinos. Kevin Costner even owns two of them and we were in one of them. It's kind of neat because he has some of the outfits that he wore in Dances With Wolves and a lot of pics of the movie hanging in there. I think the one we were in is called the Midnight Star.

I've never been there in the winter, but the summers are active. They have things like car shows where people from a lot of different states participate. Of course, they have Deadwood's Kool Summer Nights. That's my fave. They have free outdoor concerts and entertainers. It's about a 4 day event. Sat. usually exceeds 10,000. It is nothing rowdy though. Just a fun time.

Then there's also Sturgis week, which you probably know about. The entire Hills are full of bikers.

That's just some of the more exciting things that happen there. It's actually a beautiful, peaceful area.

[durangobob]

Jammie
We left NY 18 years ago in search of small town vaules and found them for a while in Durango. Lots of changes lately, none for the better. We have never been to the Deadwood/Lead area, but we have done lots of on line research and it sounds ideal to us. We will be headed up the last week in September to look at homes. My wife and I are bother Elks (she was past manager, me, the chef) so I figure to hook up with Lodge 508 and meet some folks. We do like to home vegetable garden and we were wondering about the growing season. Is it long enough for tomatoes? Thanks for your response
durangobob

[BusySocialWorker]

yep lots of tomato growers here... the season is definatly long enough but you will need to ward off the deer

[DannyBanany]

Busy's right.

Tomatoes do grow pretty well in the Black Hills region, but I am not sure you will have very much room to grow IN Deadwood itself. The town is wonderful, and very neat, but it is built in a deep canyon and all of the homes are on cliffs.

You might want to live in a development near Deadwood. There is one called Apple Springs, which is fairly new and I believe it is built on a golf course. And then there is Boulder Canyon, which is a beautiful neighborhood about 3 miles out of Deadwood. These places would give enough space for a substantial garden. There is also a new development underway where Kevin Costner is building something like, 1400 homes, but I am not sure what it is called. One drawback that you may not like about the area is that many people will be beginning to move into the area because the old Homestake Gold Mine is being turned into a GIANT science lab. Hopefully this will not scare you away though.

Winter bring many tourists to the Deadwood area too, because there are ski resorts and gambling resorts in that area. It is a very fun place to be though, and Rapid City is about an hour away if you want to do some shopping and get some entertainment in a bigger city setting.

Good Luck!

[durangobob]

If all I have to fight are deer that would be a pleasant change. I am now at war with deer, elk, bears, wild turkeys and racoons,

[PA2SFLA2?]

Duranobob I too am considering relocation to this area. I have never personally visited although I am planning a trip with a friend during this year. Everything so far I have read or seen have been on a positive note. I too will not need to get a job although I may want to do something as I will be still fairly young and active. Does anyone know of any work compensated or volunteer that someone with a lengthly background in Law Enforcement Investigations that would be available anywhere in the Lawrence County area? Also there has to be some drawbacks to this area. I have lived in both small towns and large cities. Also in cold and extreme tropics. I want that small town feeling again with the four seasons.

[nanjosbrand]

I don't know much about living in Deadwood/Lead, but from visiting there, it's sure nice. The Mickelson Blike trail is near there and it's great for biking and hiking. I fell in love with that aspect of Deadwood. The buffets are yummy! I think Lead would be the nicer town to live in verses Deadwood, but agian, this is just from my perspective from when I visited there a year ago.