vacant land around Laramie or Rock Springs (Sheridan: real estate, how much)

[chad.roper]

Does anyone know of any real estate agents in Laramie or Rock Springs. I am planning to buy several acres of vacant land for my telescope. It needs to be in a dark area far enough away from large cities that there is not much light pollution but it also has to be close enough I can drive there from the airport. I looked at land in west texas but it actually takes longer to get to the Big Bend area from Houston than it does to Laramie because the nearest airport is 350 miles away. I also want to get far enough from I-70, Ft. Collins, and Denver to be away from light pollution.

[sunsprit]

I'd get online and search the available properties ... or better still, since you have a very specific purpose for your land, go visit the areas.

You don't mention how much development you plan on your place. Will you be building a residence?

For the most part, to buy a parcel out of the town areas, you'll be looking at more than several acres.
Will you need utilities? Water? What type of road access to your place? year 'round?

If you're a GA pilot, then both airstrips are reasonably accessible ... although both are subject to very strong winds and strong gusts for much of the year. I've taxied in at both and thought I had flat tires because the bird was bouncing up and down so badly in the buffeting. Definitely places for aircraft that can handle strong gusty cross-winds on landings .... Both strips have parking areas for your long-term airport vehicle.

If you're flying commercially from Houston, then you might want to check out the travel costs. RKS is best accessed from Houston via Delta/connections at SLC, currently about $350 round trip; one flight in/out RKS per day. Laramie is best accessed from Houston via Denver and Great Lakes to Laramie, with a couple of flights per day ... but DIA to LAR is about $300 round trip just for that segment of your travel.

[jdavid93225]

Have you considered northern Nevada or western Utah? Elko or Ely, Nevada, possibly? Those areas look like they might serve your purpose quite well. Salt Lake City and Reno (or even Elko or Ely for general aviation) have their own airports, and would be close to the large areas shown on the map that I've attached below:

Light Pollution Map USA

Those large areas are most of the area between the two cities mentioned above.

[Claim Jumper]

Originally Posted by jdavid93225

Have you considered northern Nevada or western Utah? Elko or Ely, Nevada, possibly? Those areas look like they might serve your purpose quite well. Salt Lake City and Reno (or even Elko or Ely for general aviation) have their own airports, and would be close to the large areas shown on the map that I've attached below:

Light Pollution Map USA

Those large areas are most of the area between the two cities mentioned above.

land/there is a man called adding marbles selling land on ebay- he brags about how great his parcels are/ elko is one of his areas=by the way his land is cheap--if you cant find him i will send you a link if you need me to

[Tanker_Yanker]

Brokerage Southwest in Rock Springs is the only one I can think of offhand, I've had pretty good luck with them. Grew up in Laramie, but never had to buy property there. I'll ask my Dad next time I talk to him. You might also try running down Elk_Hunter on here, he's from the same area I am and pretty knowledgeable too.

[jody_wy]

dosn't the UW have big telescope up by or in the snowys?

[CptnRn]

They sure do. University of Wyoming Infrared Observatory

The University of Wyomings 2.3-meter telescope is located at the Wyoming Infrared Observatory (WIRO) about 25 miles southwest of Laramie, WY on the summit of Jelm Mt. and at an altitude of 9656 ft. (2943m). This site was chosen because: (1) the dryness of the air, an important consideration for infrared astronomy since moisture strongly absorbs infrared radiation, (2) comparatively low turbulence in the air above the mountain, (3) a dark night sky, (4) close proximity to the University of Wyoming, and (5) pre-existing road, electricity and phone lines since Jelm was formerly used by the US Forest Service and BLM as a fire lookout station.

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by Tanker_Yanker

Brokerage Southwest in Rock Springs is the only one I can think of offhand, I've had pretty good luck with them. Grew up in Laramie, but never had to buy property there. I'll ask my Dad next time I talk to him. You might also try running down Elk_Hunter on here, he's from the same area I am and pretty knowledgeable too.

I live up by Sheridan.