About Chaffee County, CO

Salida Colorado Real Estate Purchased After Driving Back Into 1955

When my husband and I drove into Salida Colorado, we thought we had driven back into 1955. This small historical town was alive. There were families on bicycles, with strollers, with dogs all walking about town. The city parks were full with kids and families playing and having a picnic.

The historic downtown was bustling with people going in and out of small shops, art galleries and restaurants. Then at the end of town, we ran into the Arkansas River and a large park over-looking the kayakers doing tricks in the river, kids getting their feet wet and dogs swimming after sticks. Everything seemed so alive with activity.

The streets in town are named F street, G street, Fourth and Fifth streets. Lining these streets, there are 1900's historical Victorian homes with no one home looking like another home. You can walk the streets everyday and notice a different home that you had not seen before. There are 16 blocks from the river to the main highway with lovely homes that line the streets all the way. Again, people running, riding 1950's bicycles with baskets and bells and gardening in their front yards planting flowers or just relaxing on their front porches watching the world go by. There is also a trail system that you can access from town where you can walk from the river to the country in a short period of time.

Surrounding the small town of Salida are 14 thousand foot peaks that were snow capped at the very tops and between town and the peaks are small farms and ranches. There is just lovely county side lining the valley floor with the river meandering through it.

We also found that there are so many events, activities and interest groups that you can get involved in so it is so easy to meet local people. You cannot go to the grocery store and not run into several people that you know. When you drive down the street, you wave at every other car going by.

In the winter, there is Monarch Ski Area which is 20 minutes from town. Again, it is just a good old fashioned ski resort, no lift lines and plenty of skiing. If you want to teach your kids to ski, this is the place for them to learn. Many people also enjoy snowshoeing, cross country skiing and snowmobiling.

In the summer, there is hiking, biking, four wheeling, river rafting, festivals, car shows, art walks, hot springs and music venues, time with family in the park, Fourth of July with parades and fireworks, playing in the river or just relaxing on your front porch with friends.

After driving back into 1955 and finding small town life, we decided to make this special place our full time home. I have the opportunity to share this with the many visitors and people looking for this kind of place on a daily basis in my real estate business.

If this lifestyle appeals to you feel free to contact me. I will introduce you to the local activities and personalities who make up this wonderful town that makes you feel like you are living in in Mayberry back 1955.

Barbara Pearson-Sawyer, GRI

Cell: 719-207-3884

Email:barbara@pearson-sawyer.com

Web: http://www.barbarapearson-sawyer.com

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

A few months ago I inherited a small beautiful house about 65 miles from Miami Beach. The house is pretty old and I was thinking about selling it. But as you know the situation in the market is awful and houses are neither bought nor sold. I decided to spend my holiday there and at the beginning of April I settled there for a month (I was going to stay there only for two or three weeks). But when I saw the place I loved it at once.

The place is very quiet with a beautiful and picturesque forest on one side and sandy beaches on the other side. I’m fond of jogging, swimming and sunbathing so now I’m thinking about moving here with my pets forever (by the way, they liked the place at once, too). 

Now my life is like a paradise. Every morning I get up early, took my iPhone with installed All-In Fitness Pedometer (I need to control and count the miles I have run), put on my headphones, switch on my favorite music and go jogging. That’s fantastic! Now I’m completely satisfied with my lifestyle and want nothing more.

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.