« Kiki Froberg of Telluride 360 Real Estate Lists Telluride Lodge Unit #521 | Main | Telluride 360 Real Estates Newest Broker Steve Eiche Lists Mountain Village Lot 149BR »
October 18, 2004
With its Small-Town Ambiance and Majestic Vistas, this Exclusive Colorado Community is the Place to Find a Wonderful Wilderness Getaway.
Telluride's location – in a snub box canyon surrounded by mountains, more than two hours from the nearest city – could discourage some second-home buys. But the resort town’s very remoteness is one of its biggest selling points. “The people here enjoy privacy and anonymity.” “They shun glitter and love the outdoors.” And there’s a lot of outdoors to love, what with Telluride’s gorgeous scenery and incredible ski mountain. This and a vast array of recreational activities, a lively cultural scene, first-class restaurants and a vibrant year-round community are what draw energetic, athletic types, who are snapping up property here in record-breaking numbers. Tough zoning laws mean you don’t get ski-resort sprawl, as you do at some mountain getaways. With the recent surge in Telluride’s popularity, though, fixer-uppers and bargains are rare.
Lay of the land. Telluride is in the San Miguel County, Colorado, on of the least populated parts of the state, with 4,500 full-time residents in the greater Telluride area. To the east is Bridal Veil Falls, the longest free-falling cascade in the state; to the north, the San Sophia range; and to the south, the ski mountain. Settled in 1878, the former mining camp has had a rollicking boom-to-bust-to-boom history. Butch Cassidy robbed his first bank here. After the silver market collapsed in 1893, the population dwindled to fewer than 500. In 1964 the town of Telluride was designated a National Historic Landmark District.
Telluride’s lifts started running 1972, but it wasn’t until the completion of Mountain Village, in 1987, that the place really took off. Connected to the historic town by a state-of-the-art gondola, Mountain Village is the heart of the ski resort, with lavish slope-side homes and condos, upscale lodges, a handful of restaurants and the busy Mountain Village Activity Center. Telluride Regional Airport, on a mesa above the town, is served by local carriers and accommodates private jets. In winter, when the weather can delay flights, a popular option is the airport at Montrose, sixty-five miles away.
The appeal. The sheer natural beauty is what initially attracts people to Telluride, but the warm, small-town atmosphere and dress-down spirit keep them here. Families enjoy being part of a community. Celebrities and high powered executives can relax in relative obscurity. And everyone pursues skiing, snowboarding, hiking, mountain biking and other outdoor activities with zeal.
The neighbors. Among the home owners who avoid the limelight are Tom Cruise, Daryl Hannah, Dan Quayle, Ford Motor Company chairman Bill Ford, Jr., and Hollywood power couple Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy.
The ski mountain. Telluride’s experts-only reputation has been tempered by the gradual addition of less challenging terrain. Since 1996 the ski resort has spent about $64 million in capital improvements, including the gondola, the activity center, the mountaintop restaurant and the 733-acre Prospect Bowl expansion.
Where to buy. Buyers fall into two camps: those who want the historic ambiance and convenience of town living and those who desire the space, privacy and views of Mountain Village. In town, renovated Victorians are in short supply and cost at least $1.5 million apiece. In Mountain Village, a one-bedroom condo can be had for $300,000, and houses start at about $1.3 million. Also hot are Sunnyside, West Meadows and other subdivisions near the mountain and close to town, where thirty-five-acre lots (without structures) start at $3 million. Ranch land on outlying mesas is available.
Top real estate agents. Telluride360 Real Estate is your source for property in Telluride and surrounding areas. (970)369.4800, http://www.telluride360.com , located in the Mountain Village Core Plaza Bldg.
Posted by Adam at October 18, 2004 10:40 AM