Need Suggestions on where to Move in Colorado (Denver, Pueblo: ski resorts, high school)

[Jeroland]

So i am planning to move to the Denver from Montana and just hoping to get some suggestions for a place in Colorado for my parents to move too. Just for your info my father hates rattlesnakes and is a old fashioned type person. He prefers a place where he can do alot of fishing/hunting. He's lived in a ski resort town most of his life that has been over ran with the rich snobby type with attitudes so ski resort towns are out of the question. Just looking for a good layed back medium sized small town with populations between 5-20 thousand people and with mountains/lakes/rivers. I've looked into Durango area not sure what to think. Any Suggestions, thanks in advance.

[Mike from back east]

Canon City, CO. The Arkansas River runs through it, not that far from Pueblo Reservoir, working class town with nice people. Big "industry" is the major prisons in the region providing steady pay for the locals. Milder in winter than most places; the area is called the Banana Belt for just that reason. Very near the mountains and even more fishing and hunting.

If that doesn't work, then Salida or Buena Vista should so it for him.

We have threads on all these places, just hit the search tool or see the index.

[80skeys]

Durango would fall into the category of rich/snobby/ski resort town.

Your dad will want to look at the following towns which are not overrun with tourists and still have a lot of the old flair. These are small towns but most of them are within 30 minutes of larger towns so he should definitely look into them

Western Colorado
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Collbran
Cedaredge
Crawford

Central Colorado
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Buena Vista

North/Central
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Kremmling
Yampa
Toponas

[MSCrugbyGRL]

I would suggest looking into the western slope, Gunnison, Montrose, Olathe, Delta, and Grand Junction are all close to hunting and fishing and have a small town feel. I'm from the area and have to say it is great. You're an hour from the mountains but aren't overtaken by snobs or tourists. The climate is mild and the area is lovely.

sorry 80skeys but i'd have to say skip cedaredge and crawford, though pretty they don't have much to offer but bored high schoolers looking to wreak havoc.

[MSCrugbyGRL]

after re reading your message a little bit, I think that montrose would be perfect for your dad, the black canyon is beautiful and offers a lot of fishing and hunting opportunities. It's right at the base of the mountains but isn't a ski town. It is also quite civilized with shops, retail and restaurants.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by MSCrugbyGRL

sorry 80skeys but i'd have to say skip cedaredge and crawford, though pretty they don't have much to offer but bored high schoolers looking to wreak havoc.

I wouldn't go so far as to paint it in this light. They're small towns, yes, but plenty of retired folks have found their way there, and the advantage is that they are right up against the mountains with beautiful scenery. These are agricultural type of towns, they don't have any of the pretentious people you find in the ski resorts. They have mostly retired people and local farmers.

[MSCrugbyGRL]

That is true as well. They are mainly ag communities. And of course the western slope boasts amazing sweet corn, peaches, and made in the valley wine.

but i used to be one of those bored high schoolers lol

[plainsman48]

Gunnison-Almont-Crested Butte is the perfect area. I have fished about 1/2 of the trout streams and all of the lakes - in 12 years. The bird hunting is excellent and gets better every year. And skiing can't be beat - it doesn't match Vail or Aspen for crowds.

And, I'm gonna miss it.

[jazzlover]

If he doesn't like the "resort vibe," there are few mountain locales in Colorado left where one does not find that. Even pleasant communities mentioned like Gunnison and Montrose are catching it. There's getting to be plenty of "rich snobby type with attitudes" in even those towns. In Colorado, your best bet is down in the San Luis Valley, but the prevalent Hispanic culture there may be a real shock for someone used to very Anglo Montana. The other locale I might suggest, if your father can stand the brutal winters and very small town, is Walden (but way smaller than what he says he wants) in North Park.

Truth is, for what your father is looking for, I would suggest Wyoming. There are still some nice towns in Wyoming where he would feel right at home, and some of them are within relatively easy traveling distance of metro Denver. Laramie would be a good example--even with the college there, it's still pretty "Western" without all the fluff and BS of the resorts.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by plainsman48

Gunnison-Almont-Crested Butte is the perfect area. I have fished about 1/2 of the trout streams and all of the lakes - in 12 years. The bird hunting is excellent and gets better every year. And skiing can't be beat - it doesn't match Vail or Aspen for crowds.

And, I'm gonna miss it.

How'd you do for macks in Taylor Rsvr?