Ideal ski towns for the future factoring in all issues?

[abc]

If I can afford Aspen slopeside, I can afford the pied a terre in Manhattan or wherever.

I suspect many on this board can afford Pied a Terre in Manhattan. But they's prefer slope side in Aspen instead.

Come to think of it, I had stayed slope side at Aspen most times I ski there. Well actually Snowmass, as “Aspen” aka Ajax doesn’t have ski-in/ski-out slope side lodging anyway. And I declare I prefer Snowmass & Highland over Ajax after all. I also had a pied a terre in Manhattan. Gave that up post lockdown.

There’s another of your true Fox and the Grapes Aesop moment.

 

[Newpylong]

If Les Otten does finally pull off the Balsums Resort re birth, I would move north to that area of NH. I just don't know which town or east or west side of Dixville Notch. I would look for a low property tax rate, which my current town of Lee does not have!

They're all pretty much the same east or west of the notch. More services in Colebrook due to population, but their tax rate is through the roof. We have a "camp" on Aker's Pond in Errol. We have fiber optic Internet in town and when we AirBnB it it goes quick. Our tax rate is low there now, about half of Enfield (NH) where we live.

Right now we love going up there because it's pretty relaxing and I do a lot of ATVing and my wife more snowmobiling. Besides those crowds there is a big fishing crowd. We are about 35 minutes from Sunday River or BMOM, and an hour from Saddleback. Not much for work up there besides the timber industry, I kinda want to see the redevelopment take off to offer those folks additional employment options more than anything. Though not interested in it becoming a "ski town". I can see Colebrook becoming that, but who knows if the scope grows as big as he says things will spread quici.

 

[jimk]

This thread has caused me to reflect on the ski towns or places near good skiing that I've visited in my life and which ones I liked.
Here are a few and there's probably more:

Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge, Summit County CO, Steamboat, Crested Butte, Telluride CO;
Park City, Jackson WY, Big Sky, Taos, Driggs ID, Revelstoke, Banff, Bend, South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City, Reno, Salt Lake City, Lake Placid; Sainte Anne de Beaupre'

Rangeley, Kingfield and Bethel ME;

Manchester, Killington, Stowe, Woodstock, Burlington and Waterbury VT;

Meredith and North Conway NH

You can sort of divide up the above places between true slopeside ski resorts and then towns or cities that happen to be near good skiing. For most of us that are not in the 1% owning a home in the big name slopeside resorts is almost unattainable and living in towns/cities that are near good skiing is a more realistic aspiration.
I must say that I liked Steamboat. I only visited it for 4 days in Jan 2012, but it seemed like I could enjoy living there for a few years. It was one of the best combinations I've seen of a real town with a ranching/cattle history, good skiing, and a pretty serious ski heritage/culture (Howelson Hill founded in 1914). Real estate there is approaching 1% price range and it's not my absolute favorite ski terrain/mtn, but otherwise a very neat place and somewhat removed from the crazier touristy places in CO closer to Interstate 70. I also thought that if choosing a town/city near good skiing, rather than a slopeside resort, then Burlington VT has a lot going for it, but it's cold and the local ski conditions are not as excellent as many western destinations.

I have sort of made my choice by continuing to visit my son in Salt Lake City for extended periods in recent winters.

 

[abc]

This thread has caused me to reflect on the ski towns or places near good skiing that I've visited in my life and which ones I liked.
Here are a few and there's probably more:

Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge, Summit County CO, Steamboat, Crested Butte, Telluride CO;
Park City, Jackson WY, Big Sky, Taos, Driggs ID, Revelstoke, Banff, Bend, South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City, Reno, Salt Lake City, Lake Placid; Sainte Anne de Beaupre'

Vail isn't really a town. Big Sky is even less so. But yeah, I'd be happy with any of the rest as a ski base.

For most of us that are not in the 1% owning a home in the big name slopeside resorts is almost unattainable and living in towns/cities that are near good skiing is a more realistic aspiration.

Reno is pretty affordable. Some find it less than desirable as a town though.

Telluride is probably the few truly "slope side" town, as the gondola makes it feels like right at the mountain. Even Aspen or Jackson, the real town is not at the foot of the ski mountain.

So yes, you're absolutely right a bit of a drive is more realistic. I wouldn't bother justifying it with the "anticipation" part. It's just better to live "in town" than slope side. Leave those for the visitors.

But as a visitor, I love the luxury of putting on my ski right at the door. For a week at a time.

 

[Geoff]

I suspect many on this board can afford Pied a Terre in Manhattan. But they's prefer slope side in Aspen instead.

Come to think of it, I had stayed slope side at Aspen most times I ski there. Well actually Snowmass, as “Aspen” aka Ajax doesn’t have ski-in/ski-out slope side lodging anyway. And I declare I prefer Snowmass & Highland over Ajax after all. I also had a pied a terre in Manhattan. Gave that up post lockdown.

There’s another of your true Fox and the Grapes Aesop moment.

My mom used to have a 2 bedroom condo trailside at Stonebridge on Fanny Hill at Snowmass. Walk out the front door of the unit, one step over the sidewalk, put your skis on.

 

[raisingarizona]

Vail isn't really a town. Big Sky is even less so. But yeah, I'd be happy with any of the rest as a ski base.


Reno is pretty affordable. Some find it less than desirable as a town though.

Telluride is probably the few truly "slope side" town, as the gondola makes it feels like right at the mountain. Even Aspen or Jackson, the real town is not at the foot of the ski mountain.

So yes, you're absolutely right a bit of a drive is more realistic. I wouldn't bother justifying it with the "anticipation" part. It's just better to live "in town" than slope side. Leave those for the visitors.

But as a visitor, I love the luxury of putting on my ski right at the door. For a week at a time.

Red River NM has ski area that drops right into town. It’s not a world class ski resort but it’s close to Taos. Living in Red River and having a local ski pass and a Taos pass or ikon could be pretty sweet.

 

[jimk]

I forgot that I took this photo of my son at Red River almost exactly ten years ago.

Here's my thoughts about my one and only day at Red River ski area: On January 1, 2012 we enjoyed a fine day at Red River Ski Area. It's a real good mountain with 1600' VD, five chairs, and 57 trails. Base 8750', summit 10350'. It was pretty much 100% open, although they had no new snow in the last two weeks. Conditions went from packed powder in the AM to a slightly scraped harder surface in the PM; mediocre western conditions, but would have been excellent mid-Atlantic conditions. It was sunny, 45 degs, with very little wind - beautiful day. RR has some very challenging terrain, about six runs as steep or steeper than Blue Knob's Extrovert or Snowshoe's Lower Shays, but with a longer sustained drop than either. Two we skied of this type were Mineshaft and Catskinner. There were nearby glades that would have been even tougher. It has nice advanced blue square runs down the full 1600' VD, but only a minimal number of greens. The town of RR directly abuts the base of the lifts and is maybe the size of Snowshoe's village, but more 1960-70s architecture. The area is popular with Texans and seemed like the kind of place you could enjoy a relatively affordable vacation.

 

[1dog]

The covid case number in Canada is a tiny fraction of that of the US.

I've spent a good chunk of my time up there this past summer. "No Covid" was part of the motivation. (The other part is I also like Canada a lot. And had looked into immigration in the past -- when a certain so-and-so was President. From what I could find, it's pretty difficult. So I'd be curious as to how other retiree managed that through some channels I missed)

That's interesting - I feel same way about yet another so-an-so. . . but like Reagan said ' if we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape too, this is the last stand on earth'.

What if we had say 3 categories of retirement living.

The $50K a year planned income, the $150K, and the 'no-limit-I've-got$10M+ to spend in last 30 years. And assume no debt. Just living expenses.ski passes.snow tires!


I'll wager we've got most of us covered here in those cats.

Most people I have been in contact with who are high-net-worth individuals seem to , after a time, end up with either a couple different vacation/retirement spots, or more likely, just try a different spot every year or every few years.

They rent with no regard of cost and remove ownership hassles and expense.

Kind of Airbnb for the 1%.

I like the seasons and my bride loves the ocean, so NH fits that with decent tax treatment - all NE is close - VT, like Utah, has lower mountains and more snow( for the same meteorological reason - lake effect hits them 1st- sucks out moisture before next range - why we ski VT)

Assuming no debt, it makes sense on economic, liberty, and location for me. Family is important, if I can't fly them to Powder MT/Revelstoke/fill-in-blank, then they won't be able to come
often enough to make it a good thing.

Its fun to hear everyones concepts an ideas. Happy New Year!

 

[Edd]

Image not new but just saw for the first time on Instagram.

I’ll be taking the green pill as a Vail customer.

 

[VTKilarney]

I haven't read the whole thread, but one sleeper town is Red Lodge, Montana. Skiing and golf right in town. The ski area has 2,400 feet of vert and good elevation. Billings is an hour drive and you are on the doorstep of Yellowstone. Lots of condos in town if you don't want to deal with mowing and shoveling.

And what about Craig, Colorado? I have only driven through it, but it's close to Steamboat without the Steamboat prices.

Ruidoso, NM is also another town that I have looked at, although I am not sure how good their snow is.

 

[machski]

I haven't read the whole thread, but one sleeper town is Red Lodge, Montana. Skiing and golf right in town. The ski area has 2,400 feet of vert and good elevation. Billings is an hour drive and you are on the doorstep of Yellowstone. Lots of condos in town if you don't want to deal with mowing and shoveling.

And what about Craig, Colorado? I have only driven through it, but it's close to Steamboat without the Steamboat prices.

Ruidoso, NM is also another town that I have looked at, although I am not sure how good their snow is.

Was just in Ruidoso on the 23rd. Zero snow and I don't think Ski Apache was even opened yet.

 

[2Planker]

I haven't read the whole thread, but one sleeper town is Red Lodge, Montana. Skiing and golf right in town. The ski area has 2,400 feet of vert and good elevation. Billings is an hour drive and you are on the doorstep of Yellowstone. Lots of condos in town if you don't want to deal with mowing and shoveling.

And what about Craig, Colorado? I have only driven through it, but it's close to Steamboat without the Steamboat prices.

Ruidoso, NM is also another town that I have looked at, although I am not sure how good their snow is.

Our friends just retired @ 55 and moved to Ruidoso NM. Took a lil getting used to, but 1 year later they love it

 

[AdironRider]

Craig is a dying town next to a coal plant that is going to be shuttered in a few years and like an hour from Steamboat. Place sucks and is only going to get worse once the plant does close.

 

[Edd]

Interesting read here: https://www.deseret.com/2022/2/7/22...equality-crisis-affordable-housing-healthcare

The gist is how the housing crisis in ski towns is a harbinger for non-ski communities. I feel that where I live, never mind actual ski towns up here.

 

[180]

Love this thread. Its a common theme I hear on the lifts these days as we are all aging. I am afraid we are all going to be looking for cheap on snow housing for our retirements and there won;t be enough for us or the workers.

 

[raisingarizona]

Love this thread. Its a common theme I hear on the lifts these days as we are all aging. I am afraid we are all going to be looking for cheap on snow housing for our retirements and there won;t be enough for us or the workers.

What? Retirement and the cold? F that, I’m headed to Mexico.

 

[wa-loaf]

Just jumping in here and haven't read much of the thread. But has anyone mentioned Greenville Maine yet? There's a plan to revitalize Big Squaw (Big Moose now I think) ski area, put in a Mtn Bike Park, new housing and a marina all on Moosehead Lake. I'm keeping my eye on things up there as much as possible. Could be a great all season place to settle.

 

[180]

Just jumping in here and haven't read much of the thread. But has anyone mentioned Greenville Maine yet? There's a plan to revitalize Big Squaw (Big Moose now I think) ski area, put in a Mtn Bike Park, new housing and a marina all on Moosehead Lake. I'm keeping my eye on things up there as much as possible. Could be a great all season place to settle.

Thats pretty far from everything

 

[wa-loaf]

Thats pretty far from everything

Not any further than Sugarloaf, Saddleback, or Jay from the Boston area.

 

[deadheadskier]

Thats pretty far from everything

Sunday River is really the only major Maine area that's "close" to anything. 90 minutes to Portland, 1 hr to Conway. Bethel is pretty sleepy.

Saddleback and Sugarloaf are both 2.5 hours from Portland. While Greeneville looks way further away from Portland than those two, it's only about 15 minutes.

As a boater, Greenville would be appealing to me if the ski area pans out. Moosehead is almost twice the size of Winnipesaukee (where I boat) with 5% the boating traffic.