Moving to either WY, CO or ID (Cheyenne, Laramie: rent, motorhome)

[WyoNewk]

The ski area stipulation might be a major hurdle. We're getting fewer and fewer downhill ski areas in the state. I think they closed Happy Jack near Laramie, Antelope Butte near Greybull/Ranchester, and Meadlowlark near Buffalo/Tensleep. Some might come back, but it's a struggle.

As far as I know, there's still White Pine near Pinedale, and two of them in the Blackhills about an hour from Sundance -- Terry Peak and Deer Mountain, both just outside Lead, SD. My family grew up skiing at Terry Peak. It's a pretty nice smaller ski area with (I think) four chairlifts and a poma with a 1200' vertical. Deer Mountain is a little smaller but still a nice family area. Sleeping Giant is an hour west of Cody (next to Yellowstone), and there's Hogadon just outside of Casper.

Of course Jackson Hole and Targhee are the prime ski slopes in the state, but real estate gets pricey anywhere near them.

This is assuming you're wanting downhill skiing. If cross-country skiing will work, there's plenty of that available -- and it's CHEAP!

[Happy in Wyoming]

Originally Posted by Darrow

My crab apple tree leaves are already turning colors - noted that this morning. It also got cold enough to put another blanket on the bed the past 2 nights.

This is going to make a lot of people very jealous.

[Darrow]

Something else you might consider, I live within city limits with a country feel on 1 1/3 acre. I've got a beautiful view of a Chugwater formation directly east of me and Cedar & Rattlesnake Mts directly west of me. The houses around me have about 1/2 the land size, but still plenty. We feel private without all that additional acreage...and let me tell you, what we have is plenty to take care of. For $300,000 you can buy a very decent home in Cody, but you're gonna have to kick in at least double that to get the acreage and it won't be in the mountains, but close. The mountain homes I see advertised usually have $1,000,000+ tag on them.

Our ski area - Sleeping Giant is going through a major overhaul right now, and looks to be super when it opens again. Another great ski area is Red Loge, MT which is about an hour 1/2 drive...and a fun little town to eat and novelty shop in.

We have several insurance agencies established in Cody, and several of the agents seem close to retirement age...so that could be a plus for your husband.

At any rate, good luck!

[Froggie Legs]

just curious .. do you want the acreage for horses? If not... you might find that less works just as well if you pick your spot right. It's not like there will always be neighbors living on top of each other if you don't get at least 10 acres between. Lots of wide open spaces out in Wyoming.

[sdmcculley]

Thank you so much for all of the comments!!

FroggieLegs - I think that you are right about the acreage! We live on about 1/3 of an acre (if that) and we don't have a lot of wide open spaces around.

It seems that we could do without the acreage. We don't have horses, just two spoiled dogs! We just need room for the dogs, maybe a garden (if that is possible in WY!) And we would rather not be able to see the inside of the neighbors house from inside of ours! Not that we don't like having neighbors. We live in a great neighborhood here and it is what we will miss the most.

Is there a ski resort called Snowy Range near Laramie? What are the major differences between Laramie and Cheyenne area?

Thanks again for everyones help!!!

[sunsprit]

Snowy Range ... which would be hard pressed to be called a "ski resort" ... is over by Laramie. It's a small, family oriented ski hill, reasonably priced ... which has been privately owned for most of the last few years. Struggling financially, it was for sale for quite awhile, and this last season was taken back by the bank in the default. Thanks to community support and volunteer activity, and help from the bank management in relaxing some of the staffing requirements to open the facility, the area opened up for the 2008 winter season. But that decision and support only managed to get the go ahead, conditionally, at the very last minute for the ski season opening.

I didn't follow the outcome of that, but it's still on very shaky financial footing. The area had a new main building ... for the usual support shops, restaurant, ski rentals, etc ... which apparently was more expensive than the former owners could fund out of their cash flow from the place. Absent a new well heeled owner coming along, the outlook for this area is very "iffy" ... unless the bank again allows volunteers to run and operate the place. Even at that, they still require certain professionals to meet the requirements of the Forest Service for EPA and safe operation compliance ... and those people must be paid for their full time jobs.

As far as differences between Laramie and Cheyenne, I think you'd be well served to go back and read the numerous threads about each town that are on this site.

Do keep in mind that your dogs aren't welcome on a neighbor's property where they may have livestock, and are your responsibility to keep under your control. If you have visions of moving out to Wyoming and letting you dogs "run free" as so many recent arrivals have done, you may be in for a rude awakening. If you have a breed or a dog with a temperament to run, harass, or chase livestock ... you'll not have a happy neighbor when your dog "visits" their place. Animal control in the county areas is performed by your neighbors, not by a city employee. I don't mean to be "sour" about this for you, but I want you to be able to make an informed decision about where you might buy land around here ... one neighbor of mine got rid of his remaining large dogs after they killed over $1,000 of my poultry on my property, in my inner corral area ... and after another neighbor shot (and killed) one of those dogs caught "running" their horses for sport. Since they make most of their living in rodeo competition events, possible injury to those horses was not acceptable from the moment the dogs started chasing the horses. Yet another one of those dogs was shot on sight by a different neighbor when the dogs went into his sheep pens and started "playing" with the sheep. You simply must be as responsible about your dog ownership here as you would be in a city environment on a lot. It seems to me that certain breeds really roam and can cause a lot of damage ... and others are more appropriate due to their nature and temperaments, and don't bother livestock, and some do ... like chasing and snapping at poultry just for sport (they don't eat the birds, just kill them ... as many as 10 to 15 per minute).

Gardening in Wyoming is certainly very doable, although I suggest building a greenhouse "tunnel" to extend the season and productivity, as well as your control of the environment for your plants. With an drip irrigation system, this can be very effective for vegetables, herbs, and other item. Check out the "farm tek" website for some of these structures ... and also be advised that the fabric end walls do not hold up in our Wyoming winds. You need the polycarbonate end wall tunnels, or to fabricate your own end walls and door/entrances.

[sdmcculley]

Sunsprt - Thanks for the info on Snowy Range. And about our dogs, they are always contained. Never without a leash. We had some neighbors that let their dogs loose all the time. Drove us crazy!! We didn't have any livestock to worry about but it was still unsettling when they killed bunnies and pooped in our yard. Our dogs are hound dogs (Bassett and Beagle mix) and I realize that if left on their own they may catch a sent and never come back. They are way to important to us for that to happen!! A fence will be on our list of needs!

Thanks for the info on gardening too. I am a newbie gardener. I just had my first one this summer and I love it!

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by sdmcculley

T... About jobs - my husband owns an insurance agency that we are thinking of selling and then buying one when/where we relocate. Insurance agencies seem to be in most areas.

This is important information, and may be a limiting factor, you will want to find and area and agency that will accept a newcomer, as you know it takes generations to establish good agency in smaller towns that don't have many newcomers. Growth areas are easier to get started. These folks (SBDC) can be a big help (in any state where they are established). WY has a great website, so I assume they have a good program. http://www.wyomingentrepreneur.biz/
You will also want to spend some time on each states Dept of Revenue, some states are much more 'business friendly' than others.

Do a lot of market research on the insurance business in each state (may be worth paying for)

About the 10 acres for 300,000. I realize that that price is a little unrealistic. I guess it was just a dream price. We are really more interested in the area than the acreage. And we have some budge room on the price.

This will be possible in select areas, and some areas have smaller acreage that will work for your needs. Be Prepared... 'wide-open-spaces' may be a bit too wide open for your taste. To get in a heavily 'treed' area in the west (as in PA) is a bit difficult. Some older areas of town have decent sized lots, and some are on the border of town so feel more open.

We would like to be near skiing. Keep in mind that near for us would be 20-45 minutes away. Doesn't need to be a five star resort ski area!

for 'downhill', that will be difficult, but possible (fewer choices)

A small quaint town nearby is what I really want.

You need to come visit the area and get a feel for the appropriate towns.

best of luck.

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by sdmcculley

Sunsprt - Thanks for the info on Snowy Range. And about our dogs, they are always contained. Never without a leash. We had some neighbors that let their dogs loose all the time. Drove us crazy!! We didn't have any livestock to worry about but it was still unsettling when they killed bunnies and pooped in our yard. Our dogs are hound dogs (Bassett and Beagle mix) and I realize that if left on their own they may catch a sent and never come back. They are way to important to us for that to happen!! A fence will be on our list of needs!

Thanks for the info on gardening too. I am a newbie gardener. I just had my first one this summer and I love it!

Glad to hear that you are a concerned and responsible dog owner ... my kind of neighbor. With all the wildlife around here, you can bet that your hound dogs will be off chasing badger, skunks, rabbits, voles, mice, raccoons, and the ground nesting birds around here if given the chance .....

Gardening; should you find the "right place" here in the West, be sure to get in touch with your county extension agent's office. They will be able to assist you in choosing the right plants and varieties to grow in the area, and be able to give you a lot of guidance with problems you may have along the way. If you're in certain areas, there will be a "master gardener" program, with volunteers that make house calls and will be more than happy to help your gardening efforts. If you get really interested in this, you can take the classes and get certified, too, as a "master gardener". Worthwhile program in many counties ... you'll learn about plants, planting, growing seasons, nutrients, pesticides, herbicides, greenhouses, soil prep, the list just goes on and on .... and most of the courses are a very nominal inexpensive fee.

[sdmcculley]

Thank you everyone for all of your information! It has been really helpful. I think that we have decided to make a trip out west next summer ... rent a car ... check out a couple of places and hit yellowstone with the kids.

Any recommendations of places that we don't want to miss would be appreciated!!

I was thinking of flying into Denver, staying in Laramie or Cheyenne for a couple of days (maybe during Frontier Days - the kids would love it!). Then head to Cody for a day or two ... From there on to yellowstone ... through SW Montana (maybe stop in Big Sky)... through Idaho and end in Spokane, WA. Maybe stop in Coeur D'Alene?? We will probably take two weeks to do it all. We will have to!!

Thanks again!!!!