Discover Winter Park and Fraser Valley in Colorado
Brought to you by: Maynard Associates Real Estate DISCOVER WINTER PARK & THE FRASER VALLEY IN COLORADO A Postcard from Winter Park It’s like a winter wonderland here!  The champagne powder makes for superb skiing; relaxing in the hot tub will sure feel great tonight. It’s no problem keeping the kids busy with the tubing hill, sleigh rides, and tomorrow, dog sled rides!   We really love the small town atmosphere, and the people are so friendly.  You have to come experience this for yourself! And don’t forget your mountain bikes for the summer! About Winter Park – Why It’s Different Here Who would think paradise exists just 67 miles outside of Denver?  A two hour drive from Denver International Airport and an hour and a half from Denver, Winter Park’s got “location, location, location.”  But it doesn’t stop there. Winter Park isn’t like every big resort town you have ever been to.  It’s a place where income does not decide who belongs, and where friendliness and courtesy are the norm. Wear jeans to the fanciest restaurants, be comfortable, be yourself.   Of course it wouldn’t be paradise without breathtaking views, and we’ve got that too!  Want the Continental Divide in your backyard?  No problem, it already is!  The Fraser Valley itself sits at around 9,000 feet above sea level with 12,000 and 13,000 foot Rocky Mountain peaks all around.  Whatever your sport or hobby we’ve got it here.  All this makes it perfect for your second home or investment property.  And the best part of all...it's still affordable!  Come and see "Colorado's Best Kept Secret."   Why You Need to Make Winter Park Your Second Home/Investment Destination Winter Park is an untapped resource.  Intrawest, one of the largest resort developers in North America has recently taken control of the ski resort from the city of Denver.  Many changes are expected in the next five to ten years - mainly the development of the village at the base of Winter Park and real estate around the area.  Intrawest already owns major resorts like Copper, Whistler, Mammoth and Squaw Valley. The company prides itself on being connected with local residents and giving them what they want - the residents have spoken!  They don’t want a big cookie cutter resort, they want to stay true to the small town feel, friendliness, and western roots that are Winter Park.  The developers will not ask “how big can we get?” But rather “how small can we be, be successful, and still retain our unique spirit.”  As part of the contract with Denver, Intrawest is required to put 90 million dollars into the resort over the next 10 years.  Intrawest has released its vision of what Winter Park will be in 2014, and it has many excited.  In keeping it true with the west and nature, they will emphasize the train that stills carries coal and other raw materials through the Fraser Valley, the Fraser River that runs through the resort and town, and the spirit of the west which they describe as “gritty, outgoing , and glorious.”  Compared to the well-bred, conventionally-designed villages of other Colorado resorts, Winter Park’s village will be a “work-in-progress” where one can observe raw materials transformed before their eyes, from logs worked into furniture, to blankets woven, to hard rock candy being made.  Now is the time to buy in Winter Park.  It is very early in development where real estate is still affordable.  You can get an acre of land starting at $80,000 and build your dream ski chalet from the ground up.  Many properties have spectacular views of the Valley, Continental Divide, and the ski mountain.    Local History The Fraser Valley is rich in heritage, ranging from the Ute Indians, logging and pioneers, to mining, ranching and the railroad. The area was inhabited by both the Ute and Arapaho Indian Tribes and was discovered by pioneers around 1820. The first settlers arrived around 1850, and the first post office was established in Fraser in 1876, which is now Cozen’s Ranch Museum. David Moffat pioneered the building of a transcontinental railroad line from Denver to the West Coast. Tracks over the top of Rollins Pass were completed in 1905 and used steadily until 1928 when the 6.2 mile Moffat Tunnel was opened. The railroad provided the impetus for another industry in Grand County, logging. While the railroad was pushing west, there was a tremendous need for timber. The logging industry flourished in the early 20th Century, helping provide valuable raw materials to Denver - a booming city on the border of the Western frontier. Although the first ski hills in Grand County were built in Hot Sulphur Springs in 1911, the railroad helped the ski industry flourish, especially Winter Park Ski Area, which opened in 1940. Today, the Ski Train still operates every weekend throughout the winter, providing guests a historic, unique way to come enjoy the mountains.   An Average Lifestyle For the majority of people up here life revolves around outdoor activities.  There is no end to the various ways you can spend your time.  In the winter most people are hitting the slopes; whether it’s the groomer’s of Winter Park, the bumps of Mary Jane or the extreme back country on Berthoud pass.  In the summer, mountain biking is extremely popular with hundreds of miles of trails, along with white water rafting, and golf.  Tourism is at it’s peak around the summer and winter months, though the Aspens in all their golden glory bring tourists in the fall.    Things to Do In the winter: Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding at Winter Park/Mary Jane Resort Tubing at the Fraser Tubing Hill Snowmobiling on Extensive Trails All Over the Valley Sleigh Rides and Horseback Riding, with Dinner and Hot Chocolate by a Bonfire Sledding, Ice Skating, Snowshoeing, and Cross Country Skiing Take a Once in a Lifetime Dogsled Ride on Miles of Trails Backcountry Skiing is a Favorite Here for Expert Skiers - Try Berthoud Pass for Skiing as Extreme as It Gets (beacons and shovels recommended) See: www.winterpark-info.com/activities/91.html In the Summer: World Class Mountain Biking At Winter Park Resort – Alpine Slide, Mini Golf, Disc Golf, Mountain Boarding, Mountain Biking, Human Maze, Rock Climbing Wall, & Bungee Jump Golf at one of 4 Major Courses with the Mountains as your Backdrop Fishing – Both Fly Fishing and Lake Fishing Available Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, or Any of the Hundreds of Miles of Trails in the Fraser Valley - try one of several 12,000 footers! White Water Rafting or Kayaking on the Colorado or Arkansas Rivers  Rock Climbing Attend the Weekly Rodeo Hot Air Ballooning over the Spectacular Valley Camping is Always a Favorite Relax in the Nearby Hot Sulphur Hot Springs Play on the Lakes in Grand Lake – Rent a Boat, Fish, Swim, Relax See: www.winterpark-info.com/activities/91.html Always Shop in the Adorable Mom and Pop Shops Throughout the Valley Dine at an Assortment of Excellent Restaurants to Satisfy a Wide Range of Tastes Hot Air Ballooning Over the Spectacular Valley Near-By Excursions Rocky Mountain National Park – Don’t Miss This! Black Hawk and Central City Casinos only 1 hour away Hot Sulphur Springs Hot Springs – 22 Natural Mineral Pools Open to the Public Great Lakes Area – With Three Pristine Lakes, NO FRANCHISES, Just Mom and Pop Shops and Restaurants (Sorry No McDonald’s Here!) Cultural Events In the Summer Music Festivals – Blues Fest, Jazz Fest, Rock Fest, Hawg Fest Weekly High Country Stampede Rodeo Mountain Biking Events like the Red Cross Fat Tire Classic Art Fairs 19th  Annual Rocky Mountain Food, Wine and Beer Festival See: www.skiwinterpark.com/activities/events.html?nav=summer In the winter: NSCD (National Sports Center for the Disabled) Events Many Major Ski and Snowboard Race Events Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade Calendar of Events www.skiwinterpark.com/activities/events.html www.grand-county.com/Calendar_Of_Events.aspx   Location Winter Park is just 67 miles from Denver and sits northwest of the city in Northern Central Colorado.  The Fraser Alpine Valley sits at 9,000 feet above sea level.  The valley is 12 square miles in size, bounded on the east and south by the Continental Divide, and the west by the Vasquez Mountains.  By car only 70 minutes from Denver and under 2 hours from Denver International Airport.   Getting There From the Denver International Airport, Winter Park is:                     By Train Winter Park is: 2.5 hours from Chicago                                                                        2 hours from Denver 2.5 hours from Seattle                                                                           21 hours from Chicago 3 hours from Vancouver                                                                       28 hours from Sacramento 4.5 hours from New York 4.5 hours from Boston   By Car Winter Park is: 67 miles from Denver 110 miles from Cheyenne 310 miles from Santa Fe 430 miles from Salt Lake City 575 miles from Omaha 676 miles from Oklahoma City 850 miles from Dallas 860 miles from Phoenix   Weather Averages more than 300 sunny days per year Averages 325 inches of snow per year, more than any big resort in the Colorado! Population Winter Park: 800 Fraser: 962 All of Grand County: 13,400   Housing Housing options:  Winter Park and the Fraser Valley have a large range of housing options.  From $80,000 studio ski condos to multi-million dollar residences anyone can buy in.  Many people are buying vacant land and building their dream homes from the ground up.  In Winter Park and Fraser 80% of homes are second homes. Median House Value: $334,400 in the town of Winter Park 80% of homes here are Second Homes Average appreciation is 7-12%   Economics The Winter Park/Fraser Valley economy is tourism based and highly seasonal in nature. Jobs in the retail and service sector dominate the workforce. Unemployment is very low in Grand County, with a lot of people holding two jobs. Sales tax in Winter Park: 8.9% Fraser: 8.0%  (2.9% of this is Colorado state sales tax and 1% is county tax)   Education East Grand School District No.2 - serves Winter Park, Fraser, Granby, Grand Lake, Hot Sulphur Springs and unincorporated areas of eastern Grand County. The district includes three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school, as well as Indian Peaks Charter School.   Healthcare Granby Medical Center 7-mile Clinic at the Base of Winter Park   Links: REAL ESTATE – Area Listings Winter Park Ski Resort – www.skiwinterpark.com     MAYNARD ASSOCIATES REAL ESTATE “Maynard Associates Has Been Selling Real Estate Throughout Winter Park and the Fraser Valley Since 1969 – Treating Customers Like Good Neighbors… Because They Are!!