Photograph by Steve Mundinger
Location: Pagosa Springs, Colorado
July 1, 2006
Robert Goodman, a fourth-generation local and owner of Goodman’s Department Store, welcomes plans to redevelop downtown, but wants to make sure his hometown "doesn’t turn into a resort destination. This is a magical place, with skiing, fishing and elk hunting out your back door, a place where people are still real friendly. We don’t want to lose that."
Neither locals nor developers can argue with that. The area’s beauty and down-home feel make it a compelling option for property hunters, whether they be Texas billionaire Sid Bass (who Heraty says has a big spread in Aspen "but only invites his close friends to his Pagosa Springs ranch") or families looking for their Rocky Mountain high.
"If you’re a nature lover, being here is like being a kid in a candy store," says Mary Jo Coulehan, executive director of the local chamber of commerce. "We’re a new piece of candy that people are starting to notice."
FACTS & STATS
HIGH-COUNTRY BLISS: Pagosa Springs sits casually at 7,079 feet in the southwestern corner of Colorado. It is a healthy trek from just about anywhere: 330 miles from Denver to the northeast and 262 miles from Albuquerque to the south, which also makes it feel like you’ve arrived at your own corner of heaven. During wintry months, the easiest way to town is a flight into Durango, the region’s biggest hub, followed by an hour’s drive to Pagosa Springs. Charter flights may land at Stevens Field, the town’s public airport.
REELING IN THE YEARS: Humans were drawn to this dramatic region long before the days of the second home or fractional jet ownership. More than 1,000 years ago, the ancestors of today’s Pueblos built more than 200 stone structures in what is now called the Chimney Rock Archaeological Area (970.883.5359, www.chimneyrockco.org), halfway between Pagosa Springs and Durango. Other ages-old delights are the area’s hot springs (best enjoyed at places such as the Spa at Pagosa Springs, 970.264.5910, www.thespaatpagosasprings.com) and mountains (make some turns at powder-filled Wolf Creek Ski Area, 970.264.5639).
BUYING INTO PARADISE: Recent statistics indicate that the median home price is under $200,000; while ranches have sold in the area for many multiples of that, there still are good deals to be had. Land begins at less than $200,000, with exceptional acreage going for as much as $4 million. Custom three-bedroom homes on dozens of acres hover around $1 million; houses of similar sizes in closer proximity to neighbors are in the $400,000s to $500,000s. Among area Realtors offering market insights are the Source (970.264.7000, www.pagosasource.com), Jim Smith Realty (970.264.3200, www.jimsmithrealty.com) and the Pagosa Group–Coldwell Banker (970.731.2000, www.pagosarealestatepro.com).
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