Rental Income at Durango Mountain Resort

[justmyopinion]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

^Understand, too, that second-home recreational development is really an environmental scourge that does, in many ways, as much long-term environmental damage to watersheds and wildlife habitat as does irresponsible mining or oil and gas development. As such, recreational land development--and the people who support it--are thoroughly despised by many long-time Coloradans. Of course, the real estate developers and their realtor lackeys that pimp their developments aren't going to tell you that.

I'm old enough to remember what the area around "Durango Mountain" (formerly "Purgatory") looked like before the development wrecked it. All that recreational development up there is nothing but a cancer.

Well, there goes Jazzlover again, putting down Colorado, and any changes that have come to it in the past 30 years. He says he "happily left Colorado"; I am glad for him. I hope he found a great place to live, but I do wish he was not such a curmudgeon when it comes to this state. He is constantly criticizing it. EVERYPLACE in America used to be less populated and more beautiful, not just Colorado. And, I doubt that wherever he is living now, that THOSE locals are exactly thrilled that he moved in either!! But I am sure he doesn't see it that way.

So, I will move on…...In spite of growth, there are still some wonderful things about this corner of the state, and in particular, Durango. DMR (formerly Purgatory) is a great place to ski. We got in over 50 days of skiing last Winter, and loved every day of it. I never stood in line for more than 2 minutes. Yes; it has built up in the past 25 years, as has most ski resorts (or at least, any ski resort that is worth skiing at, and where people actually want to go.) But in comparison to other ski hills like Telluride, Aspen, Park City, Vail or Breckenridge, this is quiet. VERY quiet. And the views can't be beat.

But, as for being a good investment, I would have to say "no", because there are already quite a few condos and homes at DMR which stay empty after ski season. It is a beautiful mountain, yes, but in the Winter and Summer months, most people who come to this area prefer to rent something closer to town where they can walk to dinner. Unlike the ski areas listed above, this mountain is not a city; is it ONLY a ski hill. The city of Durango is a drive 25 miles south.

I have read where vacation rentals in town are doing great. They rent for skiers in the Winter, and hikers and bicyclers all Summer. I do "dread" the influx our city has with all the tourists, but… those tourists bring in much needed dollars for our restaurants and businesses. Our train (a "choo-choo" really) is well known, and chugs right through town. We have fabulous restaurants, and the tourists help keep them open and the train moving. My favorite Seasons here are Spring and Fall; most the vacationers have left, the mountains are breathtakingly beautiful and we have the town to ourselves.

Perhaps you should look to investing in a condo in town. Its value would have more of a chance of increasing quickly, and you would have a more steady stream of year round renters.

I LOVE IT HERE; don't even need to go on vacation anymore. Shhhhh; don't tell anyone. I LIVE on vacation.

[McGowdog]

He lives in Wyoming, where the biggest town is 50k. Good points on Durango and the comparison to population growth in general. The older I get the less I can tolerate gridlock, so the stagnation of Pueblo county is serving me well. So keep invading the Front Range until water availability becomes a serious enough issue.

We had bad traffic around Pueblo West over the 4th, but I knew my way around good enough to avoid the worst of it. Some folks can perhaps do the same in the Denver Metro but it's getting harder to do.

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

If I remember, Jazz did live in WY and said so, but then returned to Colorado. Dunno where he is now but ...

He flipped back to Wyoming again... for now.

[brightdoglover]

If I remember, Jazz did live in WY and said so, but then returned to Colorado. Dunno where he is now but you know he likely still wants to be the only SUV on those back roads or wherever.