Location: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
November 1, 2007
Set on a 47-acre site, slightly removed from the base-area bustle, Wildhorse Meadows will deliver a variety of residential elements that will be linked to the mountain via a new gondola. "Our connection to the mountain helps us maintain a higher real estate value, yet we keep a residential feel because we are not in the congestion of the ski area," says David Hill, president of Resort Ventures West, the developer.
Wildhorse Meadows will hold 41 homesites (priced from $475,000 to $600,000), the Trailhead Lodge, a collection of condominiums ranging in size from 460 to 2,200 square feet, townhomes, mountain lofts and a to-be-named luxury hotel with fractional- and full-ownership residences. The development will also feature a post office, cafe and the Steamboat General Store—"Essential services that someone would need so they don’t have to get in their car," says Hill.
That walk-to lifestyle is what has attracted buyers downtown. "We call it dine-in/dine-out," says Jim Cook of Greencourt Partners, the developers of three mixed-use projects downtown. Alpen Glow offers eight loft condominiums ranging in size from 900 to 1,855 square feet and six 1,800-square-foot units with garages. Howelsen Place will feature 42 units (ranging in size from 624 to 2,035 square feet) set among retail space. Just steps from the Yampa River, Riverwalk will mix 88 residences with a boutique hotel and retail space.
"People want to stroll the streets and go to the arts district, something the
town has planned along with an art museum and performing arts center," says
Cook. "We were a viable town before we were a ski resort, so the downtown will
always be the gateway to our community."
FACTS & STATS
Ski town USA: Steamboat’s legacy began in 1913, when Carl
Howelsen—known as the Flying Norseman—brought ski jumping to town. He built a
100-foot jump that became a ski hill, which today serves as the oldest
continually running ski area in Colorado. In 1961, the Steamboat Ski Resort was
born and given the name Mt. Werner, in honor of local Olympic skier Buddy
Werner.
Getting There: Located 22 miles from downtown, the Yampa Valley Regional Airport just completed an $18 million redo to accommodate larger planes. Nonstop flights from 10 major U.S. hubs are available on Continental, United, American, Delta and Northwest. The airport also provides a fixed base operation, the Spectrum Jet Center for private aircraft. The Steamboat Springs Airport—Bob Adams Field, located three miles west of downtown, has a 4,452-foot runway to accommodate smaller planes.
Settling There: Across the road from Wildhorse Meadows, the Porches, launched by Colorado homebuilder Bruce Shugart in 2003, delivers a collection of 66 tidy two-story residences (ranging in size from 3,000 to 5,000 square feet) tucked into a 16-acre site that has a neighborhood feel. The residences are offered as whole ownership (priced from $1.9 million to $2.8 million) or as a six-week private residence club membership (priced from $320,000 to $400,000).
Steamboat’s first luxury ranch development was Storm Mountain Ranch, founded by Marabou owner Jeff Temple in 1998. The 1,063-acre property holds just 14 homesteads, ranging in size from 35 to 70 acres. Temple put 793 acres of the land into conservation easements and kept its status as a working ranch. Original homesites sold for an average of $2.8 million. A recent resale of a 5,000-square-foot home went for the $7.2 million asking price.
For friendly, small-town service, Old Town Realty has dozens of area listings, from ranches to condominiums (970.879.8696, www.oldtownrealty.com).
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