looking for a town with the look of cripple creek (Denver: appointed, homes) - Colorado (CO) - City-Data Forum

jenndun · 07-31-2007, 02:45 PM

I have been to cripple creek and I love the view. I am looking for a town with a similar view. The thing I don't like about cripple creek is the gambling. Its fun to visit but don't want to live in a casino town.

Dreaming of Hawaii · 07-31-2007, 02:50 PM

There are lots of small towns with views in Colorado. Buena Vista and Salida are on Highway 285 about 2-1/2 hours from Denver. Fantastic views! Paonia is between Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction, south of I-70. Nice small town but in the middle of no-where. Westcliff, about an hour and a half southwest of Colorado Springs, is even smaller and has great views of the Wet Mountains.

Those are three that we have visited recently. Where in the state do you want to be? How small of a town are you looking for?

jenndun · 07-31-2007, 03:01 PM

no more that 8-10 thousand people. Can go as low as 1-2 thousand. It needs a grocery store, gas station and medical services. Needs to be close to a town with a hospital (with in 60 min.). I have a child with some mild medical needs. It is one reason we want to move to a fresh air state. Needs phone and high speed internet for dh's work.

jazzlover · 07-31-2007, 05:11 PM

jenndun,

I think you better do some more research. What kind of climate do you want? If you visited in summer, you probably saw Cripple Creek when it looked its best. As I have posted elsewhere, a lot of people who fall in love with Colorado in the summer are very disappointed when the find out much of the landscape is brown 9 months of the year in many places. Do you want open expansive views or more trees, etc.? Some more specifics as to what you are looking for would be helpful.

jenndun · 07-31-2007, 06:06 PM

I want to look out my windows and see mountians. I love snow but not tons of it. Maybe 4-5 ft a season. I live in texas and i am sick of 103 degree summers. I need very inexpensive. I have looked around Blanca at some land but I am worried about not getting snow in the winters that sticks for a few days. I found 10 acres that seems to be a good deal but not sure about it yet. I would love to live around woodland park but think it might be too expensive.

I did visit in the summer. But I live in texas where it is dry and brown anyway so at least in co I can get some beautiful winters.

Nadine · 07-31-2007, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenndun

I want to look out my windows and see mountians. I love snow but not tons of it. Maybe 4-5 ft a season. I live in texas and i am sick of 103 degree summers. I need very inexpensive. I have looked around Blanca at some land but I am worried about not getting snow in the winters that sticks for a few days. I found 10 acres that seems to be a good deal but not sure about it yet. I would love to live around woodland park but think it might be too expensive.

I did visit in the summer. But I live in texas where it is dry and brown anyway so at least in co I can get some beautiful winters.

I agree, do some more research. Leadville is very similar to Cripple Creek . In weather, altitude, 2 miles high and views. Has a hospital, no gambling, is old historic etc. At this time it does not get the snow it used to nor is it as cold. But Cripple Creek and Leadville are sisters in most things. Leadville property is cheaper than a lot of Colorado and certainly cheaper than living in Cripple Creek. Roads are kept open quite well during the winter so it is possible to get out. Heat may be used most mos of the yr. Right now at 7.05 PM the temp in Leadville is 67. Even summer, like Cripple Creek. Has more business than Cripple Creek. I have not checked out the school system on how they rate now. At one time they were up but that was before Climate Molybdenum shut down. We used to joke---Don't sleep in or you will miss summer. It is short but beautiful. IMO it is nicer than Cripple Creek and has been cleaned up and painted a great deal since I lived there. We used to say, Leadville looked it's best when covered with snow. Again like Cripple Creek.

vfrpilot · 07-31-2007, 08:45 PM

Quote:

I want to look out my windows and see mountians. I love snow but not tons of it. Maybe 4-5 ft a season.

Quote:

Can go as low as 1-2 thousand. It needs a grocery store, gas station and medical services. Needs to be close to a town with a hospital (with in 60 min.). I have a child with some mild medical needs.

You should look into Palmer Lake. Cute little town against the mountains west of Monument. Monument is minutes away, Colorado Springs is 30 minutes and Denver is 45. School District 38 is highly rated. Lots of mountain cabin style homes and also contemporary style.
We lived outside of Waco for a little while back in the mid 80's.