Buena Vista, CO

There is a Great Hot Air Balloon Rally in Buena Vista, CO this month on July 22, 23 and 24. I am bringing my balloon named "Splash" this year. There will be 14 balloons attending this year with flights each morning at the Buena Vista Rodeo Grounds (1 miles west of BV on county road 321) at 6:00am and also this year we will have a balloon glow on Saturday night in town at the soccer fields.

If you are in the area, come by and see us and our flight team, our balloon is easy to spot (see photo below)

For balloon rides each morning you can contact Endeavor Balloons at 719-221-5148

Here in Buena Vista, there is a lot of snow on the mountains. It seems to me as though they are whiter than normal for this time of year...but it could be me. The good news is that while hiking yesterday I spotted a bunch of Pasque flowers...they are the real indicator of Spring here it the Colorado Rockies.

Everyone here...well we real estate brokers...are really ready for spring. Actually the first few months of the years showed more activity than a year ago, but those of us who have hung on are ready for some real mountain action. There is a great property inventory here in Buena Vista and some good deals to be had. That is not to say that values have dropped all that much, but we probably have what you are looking for...and what a great place to live!

Buena Vista is central to kayaking, rafting and mountain climbing in Colorado. It is a small town and some of the streets are still unpaved...in fact Main Street has only been paved for 50 years or so. Now it is unpaved again...looking a bit like the old west...as we prepare for pedestrian bumpouts, benches, landscaping and new lighting along our main drag. BV as we call it...is a popular area for retirement and second homes. Recently younger families are moving here to live where they play and enjoy small town mountain living. It feels as though fresh thinking has reached critical mass here. Green is in, although the valley is still wearing winter brown backed by white peaks. We will never be Aspen or Vail...we are OK with that. Come join us...or at least drop by.

I just returned from snowshoeing in the Sawatch range between 10 and 11,000 feet. What a day! Typical Colorado blue sky and lots of dry crunchy snow. The views are wonderful, the forest silent, yet alive. One couple had just summited Mt Yale (14,200 ft) and others were asking if it is always like this in Buena Vista. Well, pretty much. Last year, 337 days with sunshine. Plenty of snow in the mountains, none on the valley floor at 8,000 ft. After 30 years as a meteorologist...I picked right. Now I sell homes to others who have discovered the secret.

It has finally happened. With snow on and off for the last few days, Buena Vista is looking quite wintry. There are about 6 inches of new Colorado powder on the ground with more promised. The real treat will be when the sky clears and the very white, soft peaks of the surrounding 14,000 foot mountains stand out against a cobalt blue sky. If you have not experienced the Colorado sun and blue sky while playing in deep powder, I invite you to try it.! Better yet, come and stay.