Hal Lott
Location: Durango, Colorado
January 1, 2007
Oprah
came to town last summer to film a segment for her TV show. In it, she
repeatedly raved, “I love this town,” while expressing amazement that “nobody is
fat here,” a nod to the hard-core outdoor folks who make this place home, including leading snowboarders.
Although Oprah no doubt appreciated
some of the town’s upscale restaurants and galleries, perhaps the Windy City
denizen was charmed most by its striking simplicity and funky feel that is
reflected in everything from a farmers market to health-drink purveyors who
grind their goodies using stationary bikes as power.
“We’re a real town, with
grocery stores and hardware stores,” says Jackson Clark, owner of Toh-Atin
Gallery, which specializes in art created by Native American artisans from the
neighboring Four Corners region.
“There’s still a slower pace of life here,”
remarks Clark. “A guy who’s a multimillionaire could come into my store, dressed
in jeans and boots, and I wouldn’t have a clue that back in New York he wears a
suit to work every day. That’s the appeal of this place.”; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
Durango listing from Prudential Triple S
Realty—$3.2 million. Top: A $5.2 million residence offered by
Horizon Properties of Durango. (Click image to enlarge)
Another lure is
Durango’s growing status as a regional hub for the arts, education and top
medical care. Festivals such as Music in the Mountains, hosted by Purgatory,
feature a range of traditional and classical concerts, while the Bluegrass
Meltdown attracts some of the finest pickers in the nation. Fort Lewis College
often brings in name lecturers, while helping lend the town a youthful feel. All
this variety makes Durango a tough place to peg.
“We have a college, but
we’re not a college town, and while we have a ski area, we’re not a ski
town—we’re just a bit of everything,” says Tom Gorton, president of the Home
Builders’ Association of Southwest Colorado. “While I occasionally will build an
8,000-square-foot home for someone who’ll use it a few weeks a year, mostly
I’m working on places that people will live in long term. We’re a real town,
and the people who tend to come here want that.”
Facts & Stats
Where and How: Durango (elevation 6,512 feet) borders
New Mexico and is served by a few major airlines out of nearby La Plata County
Airport, which is the simplest and fastest way to arrive. Driving to the region
requires a bit more planning and time. Heading in from Denver (330 miles) during
winter months requires a careful eye on road closures, as a variety of mountain
passes come into play. Coming from points south such as Phoenix (460 miles) adds
a bonus trek through the scenic Navajo Nation and Four Corners areas
(800.463.8726, www.durango.org).
Chugging into the Past: Established in 1881, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (877.872.4607, www.durangotrain.com) is more of a time machine than mere retro transportation. The steam-powered train, which snakes its way up 45 miles of track to the old mining town of Silverton, offers striking views of the roaring Animas River and soaring Rockies along the way. Spring’s lure is thundering runoffs; fall’s includes inimitable Colorado foliage.
Still a Steal: Average prices in Durango are still far below those found in either more well-known Colorado towns or many other resorts nationwide (recently, a simple three-bedroom, one-bath home in downtown listed for $390,000). If the buying bug bites, the following Realtors can offer assistance: Christie’s affiliate Horizon Properties of Durango (970.259.3700, www.horizondurango.com), Wells Group Real Estate (970.259.6680, www.wellsgroupdurango.com), Prudential Triple S Realty (970.247.3840, www.prudentialtriples.com) and Durango Real Property (970.259.6680, www.durangorealproperty.com).
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