July 4th In The Colorado Mountains: Celebrating Independence Day In The Summit Area
Between the beautiful wildflowers, balmy temperatures, and endless lineup of fun events and festivities, there's no better place to be for the Fourth of July than the mountains! Wondering what to do? With a calendar jam-packed with Independence Day activities and celebrations, the Summit Area is sure to have something for everyone this holiday weekend. Whether you're looking for parades, fireworks, concerts, or local flavor, you'll find something to get excited about below. Breckenridge July 4th Events: Historic Breckenridge goes all out for the Fourth, with a wonderful mix of patriotic events and athletic pursuits. Cheer on professional and amateur racers alike as they race to the finishline of the famous Firecracker 50, kicking off the biggest parade of the summer; honor the nation and its history with readings of the Declaration of Independence and a patriotic concert at the Riverwalk Center; or immerse yourself in the arts with a street festival and BreckCreate Arts District events all weekend long. July 4: Breckenridge Independence Day 10k Trail Run July 4: Firecracker 50 MTB Race July 4: Breckenridge Independence Day Parade July 4: National Repertory Orchestra Fourth of July Spectacular July 4-6: The 41st Annual Breckenridge Summer Arts Festival Copper Mountain July 4th Events: Get ready for an action-packed long weekend at Copper featuring free live music with headliners Donovan Frankenreiter and Grace Potter, the Colorado mountain bike championship, and a rail jam for all those already longing for the snow. July 4 - 6: Red, White, Brews, and Tunes Free Concert Series July 5: Woodward Summer Rail Jam July 6-7: The Colorado MTB Championship Frisco July 4th Events: Celebrate the small-town way in Frisco this weekend with a parade, a free concert with the North Mississippi Allstars, and a family-friendly day of local history and learning. July is a great time to get out on the water, so consider spending a time at the Frisco Marina for boating, paddling, fishing, or soaking up the sun at the new Frisco beach. July 4: Frisco Fourth of July Parade & Street Party July 4: Free Show with The North Mississippi Allstars July 6: Frisco History Day Silverthorne & Dillon July 4th Events: Enjoy a quieter side of Summit County this weekend with more live music, local art, and the biggest farmers market in the county. July 4: Silverthorne Fourth of July Concert & Block Party July 4: The US Air Force Academy Band at The Dillon Ampitheater July 5: Silverthorne First Friday Art Market & Live Music July 5: The Dillon Farmers Market Keystone & Arapahoe Basin July 4th Events: Take in live music at some of the most scenic concert venues around. Try a gondola ride or a wildflower hike, and learn to love some of your favorite ski resorts without the snow! July 5: The Hazel Miller Band Live at A-Basin July 5: The New Arkansans Live In Keystone July 6: The Keystone Summer Comedy Kickoff Fairplay & Alma July 4th Events If your Fourth of July isn't complete without fireworks, then head to South Park, Colorado this holiday. Take in Independence Day with a distictly western flair in Fairplay, and join the town of Alma in celebrating the inaugural year of the South Park Bluegrass Festival. July 4: Fairplay Independence Day Parade & Free Concert July 4: Fairplay Fireworks Display July 6: South Park Bluegrass Festival Leadville July 4th Events Another opportunity for fireworks awaits in Leadville. If you've never checked out this incredible mountain town surrounded by Colorado's highest peaks, then there's no better time than this weekend. At it's height, Leadville was one of the wealthiest cities in the world. History buffs will appreciate Leadville's incredibly colorful past, and outdoor enthusiasts will be blown away by the countless recreation opportunities. July 4: Leadville Parade & Fireworks Display July 4: Annual 4th of July Airport Cookout July 5-7: The National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum *Please note that any fireworks that leave the ground are illegal in the State of Colorado, and fireworks of any kind (including sparklers, smoke balls, or fountains) are strictly prohibited on National Forest land. Wildfire is an extremely serious threat in the Rocky Mountain West, and visitors should know that firework regulations are strictly enforced. Don't risk a hefty ticket or endanger our beautiful towns this holiday!
Nellie's Neighborhood: Proud To Announce Our Latest Development
We are thrilled to announce in partnership with Summit County the public release of our latest project, Nellie's Neighborhood! Nellie's Neighborhood is Summit County's first small home community, with 15 deed-restricted single-family homes. Unit prices will range from the $270's to the $490's, and each home will be sold to a member of our local Summit County workforce. When we submitted our sales team proposal for the development, it was an exciting moment of reflection to see how far we've come as a team. As thirty-something-year-old locals, we love helping our peers and neighbors find a path to homeownership. We have been a part of the local workforce for a combined 58 years, and have firsthand knowledge of the housing needs and challenges our region faces. To be at a point in our careers where we can confidently devote our time, expertise, and professional abilities to building a lasting, positive impact on our hometown is something I'm immensely proud of. It is our hope to not just support our Summit community today, but to be a part of shaping an equitable, sustainable, and thriving Summit County for our next generations! It's been a fascinating experience so far learning more about how Summit County's Housing Department is tackling the community's housing needs, and what it takes to fund, build, and sell a workforce housing developement. We're looking forward to sharing more behind-the-scenes details as this story continues. Read on to learn more about the Nellie's Neighborhood development! More About The Project The County is developing the property with a total of 14 detached single family dwelling units, using accessory dwelling unit (ADU) stock plan designs prepared by Design Path Studios, and constructed by Summit Homes Construction. The ADU stock plan concepts are a mix of approximately 500 sq. ft. one-bedroom and 1,000 sq. ft. two-bedroom homes. The 15th home in the development will be an existing cabin that sits on the property, which will be fully rennovated prior to its sale. The development will provide smaller, more affordable homeownership opportunities for the local workforce, with building character and scale that blends into the surrounding neighborhood. Every new construction unit will be DOE Zero Energy Ready certified, with an impressive list of green energy features. Learn More About Summit Homes Construction Here Lean More About Design Path Studios Here Nellie's Neighborhood is located in unincorporated Summit County, convenienty located off of Miner's Creek Road. Centrally located in Summit County with easy access to Hwy 9, and only 0.5 miles from Frisco Main Street, the neighborhood will provide excellent walkability, bikeability, and access to public transportation routes throughout the County. Each property will be sold via lottery, which will be administered by the Summit Combined Housing Authority. The application window for the lottery is June 10th - July 1. Applicants must work 30+ hours per week in Summit County and meet County-determined income requirements to be considered. To be entered into the lottery, applicants must have their application completed by July 1. Nellie's Neighborhood also serves as “proof of concept” for property owners throughout Summit County who are potentially interested in using ADU stock plans to build an ADU on their own property. After commissioning the plans from Design Path Studio, Summit County is offering all four permit-ready, pre-approved plans to Summit County homeowners free of charge. The hope is to save residents the time and cost of working with an architect to design an ADU property. The stock plans are part of a multi-pronged approach by the county to make it easier for residents to develop ADUs, which are required to have deed restrictions aimed at housing longterm, working or retired county residents. Development of affordable workforce housing has been identified as one of the County’s greatest needs, and the Bill’s Ranch property is a key opportunity to address this challenge. The 2023 Summit County Housing Needs Assessment identified a need for up to 1,865 affordable workforce housing for-sale units Countywide by 2028. Nellie's Neighborhood cannot solve all of the identified housing needs, but the County’s goal is to maximize the number of homes on the property while creating a livable neighborhood that is compatible with its surroundings. Estimated Project Timeline May 2024: Site work and construction began June 2024: Lottery applications July 17th 2024: SCHA lottery selection October 2024: First home sales completed May 2025: Final home sales completed The Single Stack Unit Type The Double Stack Unit Type The Coop Unit Type The Shed Unit Type
Breckenridge Ski Resort Announces Plans For Peak 9 Improvements
On Tuesday, the White River National Forest announced the latest proposal from the Breckenridge Ski Resort for improvements to Peak 9, including a new gondola and lift replacements aimed at reducing skier traffic and enhancing the base area experience. After focusing for the last two years on upgrades to Peak 7 and Peak 8 to better transport skiers and riders throughout that terrain, giving Peak 9 the attention it deserves next is welcome news. For all of those who like to start their day at the Quicksilver lift, including Steve and I, the bottleneck at the Peak 9 base is a known challenge. Breckenridge Ski Resort’s plan includes a new Gondola, a new Peak 9 ski school learning area, and an upgraded C-Chair. The biggest improvement is surely the new Gondola from the Maggie/Quicksilver area, which will feature a midload station halfway up the Frontier ski run, and a summit station next to the current A-Chair summit. The Gondola proposal also includes a new learning area for ski school off of the midload station with two conveyor lifts, a warming hut, a bathroom, and snowmaking facilities. Ski school usage of the Quicksilver SuperChair is one of the leading causes of congestion at the Peak 9 base area, so moving ski school’s infrastructure, and giving skiers and riders two base lifts to choose from, will likely have a big, positive impact! The final piece of the current proposal is replacing Breckenridge’s oldest running lift - the 52-year-old double C-Chair - with a high-speed six-seater. Breckenridge VP and COO Jon Copeland said in a statement on the project proposal: “This project aligns with our resort’s priorities to continue to improve flow and circulation across our Five Peaks, specifically in and around our base areas and main portals to the mountain, focusing on upgrades that make our resort better versus bigger”. Copeland said. Because the majority of the project would be built on National Forest land, which is leased by Breckenridge Ski Resort on a special recreational use permit, approval of the proposal by the US Forest Service, USDA, will need to be granted before these plans become official. The White River National Forest division is currently accepting public comment, and is in the process of vetting the proposal before delivering a response as mandated by the National Environmental Protections Act. Whatever the outcome, we look forward to seeing what’s in store for Peak 9!
Summit Sky Ranch Announces It's Newest Phase: The Outlook
We are thrilled to announce that news is out on the next phase at Summit Sky Ranch in Silverthorne - The Overlook at Summit Sky. Since it's establishment in 2018, the exclusive Summit Sky Ranch has been one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in the Summit Area. The Overlook will be the first new phase in over three years, and will be sure to generate much excitement. Current plans for The Overlook include a total of 17 new, 4,500+ sq. ft. homes. The parcels will be significantly larger than previous Summit Sky phases, with approximately 3 acres per building envelope. The Town of Silverthorne does not have The Overlook on its building department docket for 2024, so we'll likely not see the lots platted and ready for sale until 2025 or onward. While this is not set in stone, it's looking like The Overlook will be 'design-builds' vs. 'estate lots' - meaning that the developer will be selling new construction, as opposed to selling undeveloped lots for buyers to build custom homes. As with all previous Summit Sky phases, The Outlook will have a strong emphasis on indoor-outdoor living with floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive outdoor spaces such as decks, patios and balconies. With the rugged peaks of the Gore Range on one side and the verdent aspen groves of the Blue River valley on the other, homes will surely be positioned to make the most of the 360 degree vistas. We will also expect open floors plans, large kitches, at least two primary suites, 3+ car garages, premium materials and high-end finishes. In addition, homeowners at The Outlook and their guests will have access to Summit Sky Ranch's world-class amenities. These extraordinary neighborhood amenities include: The Aspen House: a mountain-modern clubhouse featuring a year-round ourdoor pool and hot tubs, fitness center, wellness studio for yoga & pilates, fire pit, library, business center, kid's rec room, catering kitchen, and community beer and wine taps in the great room. Lake Everist: a private, 20 acre lake open to for paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing, and full stocked with steelhead, trout, mountain whitefish and more. The Lake House: a community lodge feature a boat ramp and docks for easy lake access, outdoor grilling space and a community fire pit. The Observatory: a private astronomical observatory for residents to take full advantage of the elite stargazing this dark sky certified community offers. World-class fly fishing with private river access on the Blue River. Exclusive trail access for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and nordic skiing through the community and connecting into the renowned Eagle's Nest Wilderness and Gore Range Trail network. The Summit Sky Town Park: a multi-use sports field, dog park, sledding hill and disc golf course with a public pavillion that's accessed by the neighborhood trail system. All within 15 minutes to Silverthorne's revamped downtown, and fantastic proximity to all four of Summit's ski resorts. We are excited to see how the developement team's plans for The Outlook at Summit Sky advance, and can't wait to see these luxury homes in person. If you're interested in staying up to date on timeline, developer specifications, and general information, it would be our pleasure to add you to our mailing list for The Overlook at Summit Sky. Just use our contact box below with '@theoutlook' in the message field!
Thank You For Naming Us The Best Real Estate Agents In Summit!
We are positively honored and thrilled to announce that The Mountain Real Estate Team has won the 2023 'Best of Summit' for Best Real Estate Agent/Team! Over 12,000 people cast 90,000 votes in the annual 'Best of Summit' contest, brought to us by the Summit Daily News. Our team garnered the most votes and was awarded first place. Our appreciation for all of you who took the time to vote is beyond words, and we are honored to be recognized alongside so many of our dedicated peers. We are immeasurably thankful for the trust our clients place in us, and it's a privilege to have worked with so many of you in our community. Real Estate can be a complex business, but our clients are the heart of what we do. Kelli, Steve and I look forward to serving our hometown in the same meaningful way in all the years to come. Thanks again to you all for this incredible recognition!
Colorado Ski Season Opening Dates: Lifts Are Officially Spinning Here In Summit!
With over a foot of fresh powder, Summit County's Arapahoe Basin Ski Area opened this morning to officially kick off the 2023/24 ski and ride season here in Colorado! We certainly woke up to winter this weekend, with a massive storm dropping over 20" of snow on the High Country. The freezing temps and natural base mean that the race to open is on for the rest of Colorado's resorts, with Keystone and Loveland expected to open for the season in the next couple of days. Bookmark this page for updated opening day projections for the rest of Colorado's ski areas. We're looking forward to seeing you on the slopes soon! Arapahoe Basin: Open! Keystone Ski Resort: November 1st Loveland Ski Area: ASAP Winter Park Resort: ASAP Breckenridge Ski Resort: November 10th Vail Ski Resort: November 10th Copper Mountain: November 13th Eldora: November 17th Purgatory Resort: November 18th Steamboat Resort: November 22nd Beaver Creek Resort: November 22nd Crested Butte Mountain Resort: November 22nd Aspen Mountain: November 23rd Snowmass: November 23rd Telluride Ski Resort: November 23rd Powderhorn Mountain Resort: November 24th Silverton Mountain: November 25th Howelson Hill Ski Area: November 25th Echo Mountain: December 1st Ski Cooper: December 6th Ski Granby Ranch: December 8th Sunlight Mountain Resort: December 8th Aspen Highlands Ski Area: December 9th Buttermilk: December 9th Kendall Mountain: December 15th Monarch Mountain: TBD Likely Late November Wolf Creek Ski Area: TBD Likely Late November Hesperus Ski Area: TBD Likely Mid December
We've Been Nominated For 'Best of Summit' | Vote For Steve & Kelli
We are thrilled to share that both Steve Olds and Kelli Bennett of the Mountain Real Estate Team have been nominated for 'Best Realtor' in the 2023 Best of Summit. If you haven't voted yet, you can follow the instructions below to vote for us, and all of your other favorite local Summit businesses by August 18th. To vote, follow the link below to the Best of Summit homepage - brought to you by the Summit Daily News. Select the "Home" section, then scroll down to the catagory "Real Estate Agent" Vote for Steve or Kelli Enter your email address to login/register. Once finished registering, hit the submit button, and your vote will be tallied! We always appreciate your ongoing support, and we are proud to have Kelli and Steve recognized as two of the best local Realtors in Summit County. Cast Your Vote Here!
Architect Meet & Greet in Breckenridge: Inspiration To Build Your Dream Home In The Mountains
This Wednesday, August 9th, Kelli and I will be hosting a meet & greet with the internationally renowned markharris Architects - the firm behind the conceptual home design at 5810 Barton Road. We're excited to have Mark himself available to answer questions and tour the building sites. 5810 Barton Road is one of the most unique parcels available in Breckenridge. With 4.59 acres and Barton Creek running through the heart of the property, this parcel feels like a solitary slice of wilderness instead of a Peak 7 landscape only 3.2 miles to downtown Breckenridge. Come stroll the trail along Barton Creek and see Mark's schematic residential design, which arcs over the creek's cascade, come to life. Learn more about what it takes to build your dream home in the mountains, and be inspired by an architectural firm that thinks outside of the box. Our architect meet & greet is open to the public, so come on by between 11:30am and 1:00pm, or ask your Realtor to stop by and enter our Broker raffle! If you're interested in building a legacy Breckenridge estate, then don't miss this incredible opportunity to understand the full potential of this spectacular property. Kelli and I look forward to seeing you this Wednesday!
Keystone To Become Colorado's Newest Town
This Tuesday, the voters of Keystone passed a mandate to incorporate and become Colorado's newest town by a margin of 2-1. Home to Keystone Ski Resort, the Keystone area has long been managed as a part of unincorporated Summit County. The March 28th vote was the cummulation of years of conversation and campaigning by community members. So what does this mean for the Keystone area? Keystone still has a great deal of work ahead as the community now undertakes the momentous task of drafting a town charter. We anticipate Keystone's new government to be inaugerated no earlier than 2024. Per Colorado Statue, Summit County will continue to administer the Keystone area for one year, or until the new town first collects taxes. The charter will likely be put to a vote in late summer or early fall. Whether or not the charter can be affirmed within two votes will decide whether Keystone becomes a home-rule municipality or a statutory town. Proponents of incorporation are primarily focused on growing the community's influence when negotiating with large organizations such as Vail Resorts and Colorado DOT, as well as improving pedestrian infrastruture and safety throughout the new town limits. The logistics of funding the new town will surely be the biggest issue for the charter committee to tackle, as funds will need to be raised through new tax infrastructure. The official Keystone Incorporation Committee website states: There is a perception that property taxes will either immediately or eventually increase once Keystone incorporates. If we incorporate, only a vote by registered voters in Keystone could raise taxes...Keystone, as a resort community with a large sales tax base and thousands of rental units, is in a unique financial position in that Keystone has existingsources of revenue before it would ever look to implement a property tax. Future funding proposals for the new town include instituting a lodging tax and a lift ticket tax, along with converting existing tax revenue streams. The biggest question on many of our Keystone clients' minds is 'will Keystone further restrict short-term rentals'? Thankfully, the answer is no as the Keystone community has championed the benefits of short-term rentals throughout the last few years. The Keystone Incorporation Committee affirms "Keystone was founded as and remains primarily a Resort Community whose viability is built and dependent on short term rentals". Incorporation will mean short-term rental permits or licenses will eventully be managed through the new town of Keystone instead of through Summit County. There will likely be different permit rules and fees, but we don't anticipate any dramatic change. Proponents of the new town have also committed to investing in workforce housing. Keystone has the highest volume of dedicated workforce housing of any community in Summit County. The Incorporation Committee hopes that keeping funds more local will improve housing availability and allow Keystone to invest more in lowering workforce housing costs. Keystone residents, property owners, and community stakeholders can follow developments via the incorporation website: incorporatekeystone.wildapricot.org. Even if you are not a registered Keystone voter, there will be opportunities to give input, share what issues matter to you, and advocate for your vision for the community. Between skiing powder days in the North Peak trees to teeing off at the Ranch, Keystone has long been a favorite community of ours. This will be an exciting time for our newest Summit County town, and we look forward to seeing what comes next! If you have any questions about what incorporation might mean for your Keystone home, please reach out at any time. More Incorporation Resources: Keystone Incorporation Short-Term Rental Considerations Keystone Incorporation Taxation Considerations Proposed Town of Keystone Map Colorado Municipal League - Home Rule Overview Colorado Revised Statues 2020 - Title 31 Government - Municipal Colorado Constitution - Article II Sec. VI (pg 100) Comparing Home Rule & Statutory Municipalities CBS Colorado Keystone Incorporation News Contact The New Town of Keystone
RE/MAX Chairman's Club Award Winners for Colorado Real Estate
We are thrilled to share that in recognition of our status as a top-producing Colorado team, The Mountain Real Estate Team is the recipient of the RE/MAX Chairman's Club award for 2022. We are honored to be recognized out of over 140,000 RE/MAX agents worldwide for our work last year. To be acknowledged as a top-producer by RE/MAX - the largest and most recognized Real Estate brand in the world - is something we are very proud of. We are excited to continue driving results this year with the competitive advantage of the RE/MAX network. Our accomplishments are a testiment to the amazing clients we meet and work with. Helping you achieve your Real Estate goals is the best part of what we do, and we look forward to building on our success in 2023 and beyond!
Summit County Passes STR Ordinance On Second Reading With Changes
Yesterday, after 5 hours of debate and public comment with record attendance, the Summit County Board of Commissioners passed a sweeping Short-Term Rental (STR) regulatory ordinance to limit STR licenses in unincorporated Summit County, and cap the number of bookings in each rental per year. The new STR ordinance was designed to reduce the overall number of Short-Term Rental permits in Unincorporated Summit County Neighborhoods. At yesterday's second reading, the County made one notable change to the ordinance, tabled another change for future consideration, and reiterated their lack of interest in exempting other neighborhoods from the regulations. Below is a breakdown of the ordinance's new STR Caps per water district and the projected year in which new STR permits will become available. STR % Cap STR Units Permit Availability By* Lower Blue 15% 550 2025 Snake River 5% 130 2030 Ten Mile 6% 20 2030 Upper Blue 18% 590 2025 *Projected year of new STR permit availability is an estimate only, based on historical attrition and sales data. Key Highlights of The New STR Ordinance 1. For those that are able to get or currently have Type 1 & Type 2 STR licenses, the number of bookings allowed per year was increased on the final ordinance from 30 to 35. This policy was recently imposed in Palm Springs, which is where the Summit Commissioners got the idea. It allows owners "flexibility" in how they rent their property. In theory, it encourages week-long bookings versus single night or long weekend reservations. As an example, if a property owner books all 35 reservations as week-long stays, that is a total of 245 nights rented per year. If a property owner books 35 three-day weekends, they will only have 105 nights rented per year. It will be up to each owner as to what combination of nights they want to book for the year, and there will be a portal to manage booking reporting. 2. The Type 3 permit that previously existed in Summit County was eliminated. However, the Commissioners made a commitment to revist the Type 3 licence in the near future. The Type 3 permit is intended for investment owners whose property meets a significant number of criteria that make it more suitable as a high-volume Vacation Rental. We anticipate Type 3 licenses being reinstated eventually for single-family properties on acreage that have the amenities and bedroom count to host large groups, business retreats, family reunions etc. The Type 3 license would be exempt from the 35 bookings per year restriction, and possibly, the water district caps. 3. Type 1 Licences, which are exempt from the water district cap, are available for properties with a "Qualified Occupant" who lives at the property full time and works in the county. A "Qualified Occupant" can be the property's owner or a renter. Type 1 licenses will still only be able to have 35 bookings per year, and have occupancy restrictions beyond Type 2 licences. 4. Properties in the "Resort Overlay Zones" of Keystone, Copper Mountain, Unincorporated Peak 8 Breckenridge, and Tiger Run remain exempt from these new regulations. In the exempt Resort Zones, 100% of properties may obtain an STR permit. There is also no cap on the number of bookings allowed per year, or number of rental nights allowed. Please find more information on the Summit County STR Ordinance hereIf you have any questions at all about what this means for your Summit County property, or your property search, please reach out at any time! We are here to help you navigate these new developments, and make sense of a very complex situation. Rely on our 10+ years of professional experience in local Vacation Rental Management to help you make the right decisions in this time of change.
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