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About Lamoille County, VT

The Stowe Derby - The Oldest Downhill/Cross Country Ski Race in North America

Caroline DeVore | Owner, Stowe Meadows  Lodge, Stowe VT | NH Real Estate Leader: Real Estate Agent in Bedford, NH

Stowe Derby - Stowe, VT

Stowe, Vermont is home of The Stowe Derby, the oldest combined downhill/cross-country ski race in North America. Mark your calendar for this 67th annual race on Sunday, January 26th, 2012.

The Derby - What's this all about?

"The Derby", as locals call it, is a skiing race that starts at the top of Vermont's highest peak, Mt. Mansfield, and ends 20km (12.4 miles) and 2,600 vertical feet later in Stowe Village. The race combines down-hill skiing with cross-country skiing...all in one race, all on just one set of skis!

This whole concept started back in 1945 when Austrian Sepp Ruschp (1908-1990) and world famous Norwegian mountaineer, Erling Strom (1897-1986) cooked up a wild race idea. Can't you just hear them? "Oh no, down-hill is the most challenging and difficult", "no, cross-country is...". The Derby was born. (I think the same type of conversation was had when Triathlons were created.)

Mr. Ruschp came to the United States at the invitation of the Mount Mansfield Ski Club to be a ski instructor and coach the University of Vermont team. Mr. Strom and Mr. Ruschp were pioneers in North American skiing and left legacies that helped define winter sports for generations. Sepp Ruschp won the first Derby.

The Race: One pair of skis - two types of terrain:

Stowe Derby Course Map - Stowe, VT

Just like the first meeting of these amazing skiers 67 years ago, today's race requires skiers to use only one pair of skis for the full race and cover terrain that challenges expert downhill skiers and cross-country skiers. A race of speed or endurance? Well, both! The first racers to cross the finish line will complete the course in 45 minutes.....most skiers will require nearly 2 hours to cover the main race course. Then, there are the Derby Meisters....


Are you a Derby Meister?
If you think of this race as a type of "Half Marathon", you can ski a "Full Marathon" and complete the race course TWICE...the first time freestyle (or skating) then then the "classic" which is cross-country skiing. at is designed for both down-hill racing and cross-country. For those familiar with the Stowe area, the course starts at the top of Mt. Mansfield, heads down the "Toll Road" and connects to the Stowe Recreation path. Covering the full length of the 5.2 mile Rec Path, the race ends in Stowe Village.

If you're feeling ambitious and you want to try a Derby or a Derby Meister....registration is open until February 24th here: https://www.skireg.com/net/registration/Confirmed.aspx?EventID=3261

If you've completed the Stowe Derby, let us know! Post a comment. We'd love to hear from you.

Cheers and happy skiing!

Caroline

Photo Credit: Mount Mansfield Ski Club - Used with Permission

Stowe, VT Winter Green Mountain Activities Worth Checking Out

Caroline DeVore | Owner, Stowe Meadows  Lodge, Stowe VT | NH Real Estate Leader: Real Estate Agent in Bedford, NH

The snow is falling in Stowe, Vermont and the skiing and snow boarding conditions are fantastic! We can see the groomers out on Mt. Mansfield in the dark morning hours readying the slopes for first tracks. Mt. Mansfield Ski Trails - From Stowe Meadows Lodge

Not into downhill skiing? No problem.

Check out these Top Winter Activities that have the highest recommendations from our staff and our Stowe Meadows Lodge guests.

This is our list of favorites and we continually add new adventures. From power skiing to power shopping, you'll find something on our list that intrigues you.


Top Stowe Vermont Winter Activities
Dog Sledding: What's more fun than touring the gorgeous Vermont landscape via dog sled! Check out Peacepups Dog sledding in Elmore, VT. A fantastic group of lovable pups will take you on a breathtaking 1 hour sledding tour. Have your camera ready! In winter, you'll want to dress warmly and consider putting hand and foot warmers in your bag, just in case. It gets chilly out there! You'll probably want to watch Disney's Eight Below, when you get back to the Lodge. We'll have a copy ready for you.
Peacepups Dog Sledding - Elmore, Vermont

Factory Tours: There are so many fantastic tours in the area.....check out these and "google" for more terrific ideas.
Ben & Jerry's Factory A must stop on any visit to Stowe (year around!). Waterbury, VT is the home of Ben and Jerry's Ice-cream and factory tours are offered daily with ice-cream samples at the end of the tour! If you visit on a weekday, you'll get to see the factory in full ice-cream making mode.
Cold Hollow Cider Mill A great stop for freshly pressed cider and just-made cider donuts.

Cabot Cheese We love cheese and Vermont creameries like Cabot are state treasures! With over 20 samples to try, stopping by the Cabot Cheese Annex store is a great way to sample some favorites and discover a few new flavors. Many of the flavors you'll see aren't available in your local grocery store. This is also a great stop for Gluten-Free travelers. Feel free to buy several blocks of your favorites and store them in our refrigerator til you're ready to head home.

Laughing Moon Chocolates Right in Stowe Village, don't miss the 2:00pm daily demonstration and sampling session. We love the truffles and there are many gluten-free options to try.
Vermont Teddy Bear Factory For the kid in all of us, who wouldn't love to make their own bear! For every occasion, this is a fun tour for the whole family.
- Hiking: Stowe is a fantastic destination for those who love hiking (even during the winter!). There are so many terrific trails. Here is a link to the Top 50 trails in VT and the #2 trail (Moss Glen Falls) is just 4 miles from our Lodge! http://www.tripleblaze.com/best/?c=49 Moss Glenn Falls is a very easy hike that the entire family will enjoy....and be certain to take your camera. Even with snow on the ground, some of these trails are terrific.
- Hiking the Catamount Trail (cross country skiing, snowshoeing): (Winter) - 300 miles in length, the Catamount trail spans VT and is terrific for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The trail can be accessed directly from our Lodge...just a short snow-shoe from our front door. No need to drive to a trail-head, just step out the back door and you are connected to one of the most scenic trails in all of Vermont!
- Hot Air Balloon Rides: Stowe is known as a home of VT hot air ballooning and hosts the annual Stoweflake Hot Air Balloon Festival. For information about pricing and availability, contact: Above Reality Hot Air Balloon Rides and/or BurlingtonVT Hot Air Balloon Rides. Weather permitting, ballooning is available year 'round.
- Ice Skating: Stowe's Jackson Arena (downtown in the Stowe Village) offers ice skating from November through March. The arena is covered, with open sides to let the cool air blow in. Fun for the whole family, skate rental is available on-site.
- Shopping: There are many terrific shopping spots, but here are my favorite two stops: Well-Heeled Shoes and The Stowe Craft Gallery.

- Skiing - Downhill: So many choices! There are several terrific mountains within 60 minutes of Stowe Meadows. Here are a few to consider:Downhill Skiing - Stowe Vermont
- Mt. Mansfield: Just 25 minutes from Stowe Meadows, Mt. Mansfield, Stowe's award-winning ski and snowboard center is an amazing ski area. Mt. Mansfield has the most vertical feet of any ski area on the east coast! Check these links for Lift Tickets, Lessons and on-site ski equipment rentals.
- Bolton Valley: Just 35 minutes from Stowe Meadows , you'll find Bolton Valley ski resort. This terrific resort offers night skiing and many economical lift ticket packages!
- Jay Peak Resort: A terrific 45 minute ride from Stowe Meadows will take you to one of the northern-most ski areas in Vermont, and one of the most modern and newly renovated. Jay Peak offers fantastic skiing, great lift ticket rates and a brand new indoor water park called La Chute offering the longest indoor activity river in the US!
- Smuggler's Notch Ski Resort: About 60 minutes from Stowe Meadows , Smuggler's Notch Ski Resort is "Americas Family Resort". "Smugg's" is on the opposite side of Mt. Mansfield from the Stowe ski trails. In the winter, skiers have to drive around the mountain through Jeffersonville to reach the resort as the Notch road that cuts through the mountain pass is closed from mid-October through Mid-April.
- Skiing Lift Tickets (Discounts): Check out Lifttopia for discounted ski and snowboard lift tickets.Stowe Mountain Cross Over Lift
- Sleigh Rides: A big hit with any age. These draft horses are active year around from sleigh rides in the winter to hay rides in the summer: http://www.gentlegiantsrides.com/. The Trapp Family Lodge also offers daily sleigh rides (http://www.trappfamily.com/activities/carriage-rides) that have been highly rated by our guests.
- SnowMobile Tours: Journey through the Mt. Mansfield State Park on snowmobiles....for beginners and advanced riders. This tour is highly rated by our guests. Weekend tours leave every hour from 8am - 6pm.
- Snow Shoeing and Sledding: Umiak adventures sponsors snow shoeing and sledding trips. Sledding isn't just for the kids! Erich and I have been sledding with the Umiak team and it is really very fun! http://www.umiak.com/
- Spa Day: There are several well-known, full-service spas in the area but our 2 favorites are Topnotch (http://www.topnotchresort.com/spa.php) and the Stowe Mountain Lodge (http://www.stowemountainlodge.com/new-england-spa-resort.php).
- Stowe Mountain Family Activities: Stowe Mountain offers many fun activities in the winter season. In addition to downhill skiing, you may want to investigate cross-country skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, sledding and snow tubing.
- Stowe Recreation Path: A great destination for any runners, bikers or roller-blade enthusiasts in the spring/summer and fall seasons.....and a terrific cross-country ski path in the winter. The rec path is a 5.3 mile (8.5 km) long paved path through the heart of Stowe that offers scenic vistas including the mountains, river and local art projects.
- Trapp Family Lodge: No trip to Stowe is complete without a visit to the Trapp Family Lodge for a piece of "Sound of Music" history. There is also a brewery on site that you may want to check if locally brewed beer is of interest. New cross-country and snowshoeing trails are also available and are some of the best in the state!
- ZipLining: A year-around zip line course is available just over the Mansfield Mountain in Smuggler's Notch. Check ArborTrek (www.arbortrek.com) for details.

Other Ideas:
- Keith Family Farm on Elmore Mountain Road: You can't stay at Stowe Meadows without walking just 1/4 mile North of the house to see the Keith Family Farm. The Keith Farm is one of a disappearing culture of family-owned dairy farms in the area. Teddy Keith and his family own thousands of grazing acres and you may even hear his cows as they make their way in toward the barn in the late afternoon for milking. I believe that the Keith's have the most scenic and expansive view of Mansfield and the Green Mountains in the area. A fantastic short walk or snow shoe away.
- Montreal Trip: For guests planning to be in the Stowe area for more than a few days, we highly recommend bringing your passports along and driving to Montreal, QC, Canada for the day. A short 3 hour car ride lands you in the gorgeous city of Montreal...full of shopping, dining and fun exploring opportunities. Erich is from Montreal originally and speaks French fluently, he'll be happy to put together an excursion for you and help you know exactly where to spend your day.

Stowe Vermont Condo & Townhome Sale - Market Report 2005 through 2011

Teresa Merelman, ABR, CRS, e-PRO, RSPS, GREEN: Real Estate Agent in Stowe, VT

Stowe Vermont Condo and Townhome Sales - Market Report 2005 through 2011

Stowe, Vermont as a four season resort has many condo/townhome projects. The majority of theseStowe Townhomes Spruce Peak properties are owned by second home and vacation home owners. As a result of the tightening of banking regulations, mortgage companies have made the purchase of condos, especially in a resort town, much more difficult. Below areStowe VT Lodge Condos by Teresa Merelman market statistics by year with accompanying charts. You can click on the charts to enlarge them. The statistics are from the the Northern New Enlgand Real Estate Network MLS. The majority of sales are reflected in these market reports.

2005 Stowe Vermont Condo Sales
Stowe Vermont Condo Sales 2005# of Units Sold: 46
Average List Price: $364,415 Average Sale Price: $352,040
Median List Price: $352,000 Median Sale Price: $345,000
Average # of Listings: 43
Average Price per Finished Square Foot Sold: $239
Average Days on Market: 103

2006 Stowe Vermont Condo Sales
Stowe Vermont Condos Sales 2006# of Units Sold: 39
Average List Price: $440,215 Average Sale Price: $419,273
Median List Price: $295,000 Meidan Sale Price: $285,000
Average # of Listings: 66
Average Price per Finished Square Foot Sold: $234
Average Days on Market: 151

2007 Stowe Vermont Condo Sales
Stowe Vermont Condos Sales 2007# of Units Sold: 27
Average List Price: $459,530 Averag Sale Price: $437,752
Median List Price: $399,900 Median Sale Price: $387,000
Average # of Listings: 73
Average Price per Finished Square Foot Sold: $252
Average Days on Market: 222

2008 Stowe Vermont Condo Sales
Stowe Vermont Condo Sales 2008# of Units Sold: 23
Average List Price: $326,300 Average Sale Price: $294,261
Meidan List Price: $220,000 Median Sale Price: $220,000
Average # of Listings: 78
Average Price per Finished Square Foot Sold: $202
Average Days on Market: 289

2009 Stowe Vermont Condo Sales
Stowe Vermont Condo Sales 2009# of Units Sold: 17
Average List Price: $401,970 Average Sale Price: $368,530
Median List Price: $310,000 Median Sale Price: $299,000
Average # of Listings: 88
Average Price per Finished Square Foot Sold: $237
Average Days on Market: 296

2010 Stowe Vermont Condo SalesStowe Vermont Condos Sales - 2010 by Teresa Merelman

# of Units Sold: 27
Average List Price: $367,093 Average Sale Price: $338,275
Median List Price: $329,000 Median Sale Price: $295,000
Average # of Listings: 111
Average Price per Finished Square Foot Sold: $196
Average Days on Market: 244

2011 Stowe Vermont Condos Sales

Stowe Condo Sales - 2011 by Teresa Merelman

# of Units Sold: 24
Average List Price: $471,708 Average Sale Price: $432,372
Median List Price: $404,500 Median Sale Price: $372,500
Average # of Listings: 110
Average Price per Total Finished Square Foot Sold: $218
Average Days on Market: 248

Comparison Chart - Stowe Condo Sales 2005 through 2011

Stowe Condo Sales - 2005 through 2011 by Teresa MerelmanSUMMARY - The number of condo sales decreased slightly from 27 to 24. The Average List Price of condo sold increased from $359,267 to $442,500 and the Average Sale Price increased from $320,000 to $404,167. The average price per total finished square foot also rose from $196 to $218.

The average inventory remained about the same from 111 units in 2010 to 210 in 2011. The Average Days on Market rose slightly from 244 day to 248 day.

Overall, Stowe condo market activity has slowed a bit, but prices have increased. The inventory and type of condo (low association fees vs. higher fees with amenities) offer a wider variety of choices.

It appears to be a great time to buy, but potential buyers need to understand their financing options.

My office, Stowe Realty, also handles rental properties. The activity/demand for rentals over the past holidays was signicant. We did not have enough properties to rent. As the snow continues to fall, the calls keep coming in. If one is looking for a property with rental potential, please know that rental income is a great way to help support your investment. There is no guarantee though, that you will have a net profit.

Search for Condos and Townhomes Available Here

Stowe Realty - Rental Website

For other Stowe Vermont Market Reports, click on the links below:

Stowe Vermont Home Sales Report - 2005 through 2011

Stowe Vermont Land Sales Report - 2005 through 2011

Need help? Give me a call at (802) 793-5171 or e-mail Teresa@StoweUSA.com

The compilation of information is copyrighted and may not be reprinted or used without my permission.

Stowe Vermont Land Sales - Market Report for Years 2005 through 2011

Teresa Merelman, ABR, CRS, e-PRO, RSPS, GREEN: Real Estate Agent in Stowe, VT

Stowe Vermont Land Sales - Market Report for Years 2005 through 2011

Now that 2011 is over, I have been compiling my year end data for my sales reports. Land is hard to quantifyStowe Vermont land - North Hill Rd because prices vary so much based on factors not easily apparent. Such factors include:

1. Size of Lot - Generally, the larger the lot, the less it will cost based on a per acre formula.
2. Location of Lot - Some neighborhoods are definitely more desirable.
3. Views from Lot - a View of Mt. Mansfield can definitely command a higher price.
4. What's Included in the Price? - Survey, Septic Design, Subdivision, Covenants, View Easements, Power to Site, Fuel availability, Access/Driveway, Required Clearing, Topography (blasting costs), Ridgeline Overlay District, Land Gains Taxes, and the list goes on....

The obvious appeal of land to buyers is that you can build what you want. Vermont, like most of New England, tends to have older homes. I recently represented successful buyers of large Stowe parcel. TheGreen Home new owners plan to build a "GREEN" home using solar and wind as their primary sources of energy. I look forward to watch the construction of this home and feel it will be a great asset to Stowe.

Below are the Statistics for Stowe Land Sales. They are based on land sold and reported through our MLS system and therefore do not reflect private sales. Click on the appropriate chart for a Larger Version of Sales History:

STOWE LAND SALES 2005:

Average List Price $478,020 Average Sale Price $444,225
Stowe Vermont Land Sales 2005 Median List Price $310,000 Median Sale Price $295,000
Avg. # Listings/Month: 30
# Sold: 20
Avg. Price/Acre Sold $36,650

STOWE LAND SALES 2006:

Average List Price $342,200 Average Sale Price $316,472
Stowe Vermont Land Sales 2006Median List Price $286,250 Median Sale Price $258,750
Avg. # Listings/Month: 60
# Sold: 12
Avg. Price/Acre Sold $38,551

STOWE LAND SALES 2007:

Stowe Vermont Land Sales 2007Average List Price $577,711 Average Sale Price $498,947
Median List Price $375,000 Median Sale Price $350,000
Avg. # Listings/Month: 65
# Sold: 19
Avg. Price/Acre Sold $31,580

STOWE LAND SALES 2008:

Average List Price $472,231 Average Sale Price $412,962
Stowe Land Sales 2008 Median List Price $295,000 Median Sale Price $278,000
Avg. # Listings/Month: 55
# Sold: 13
Avg. Price/Acre Sold $30,270

STOWE LAND SALES 2009:

AveStowe Vermont Land Sales 2009rage List Price $504,714 Average Sale Price $413,429
Median List Price $495,000 Median Sale Price $400,000
Avg. # Listings/Month: 60
# Sold: 7
Avg. Price/Acre Sold $39,517

STOWE LAND SALES 2010

Stowe Vermont Land Sales 2010 Chart by Teresa Merelman

Average List Price: $359,267 Average Sale Price: $320,000
Median List Price: $250,000 Median Sale Price: $187,000
Avg. # of Listings/Month: 65
# of Lots Sold: 9
Avg. Price/Acre Sold: $56,720

STOWE LAND SALES 2011

Stowe VT Land Sales - 2011 by Teresa Merelman

Average List Price: $442,500 Average Sale Price: $404,167
Median List Price: $310,000 Median Sale Price: $262,500
Avg. # of Listings/Month: 79
# of Lots Sold: 6
Avg. Price/Acre Sold: $60,308


COMPARISON CHART of Stowe Land Sales - 2005 through 2011

Stowe Land Sales - 2005 through 2011 by Teresa MerelmaSummary - The number of sales in 2011 were down over 2010. The Average Lot Size was 6.7 acres. The smallest lot sold was .23 acres located on Spruce Peak and sold for $1,100,000. The largest lot sold was 10.8 acres and sold for $275,000.

Land inventory is a bit up and days on market is down.

I further note that land sales have been down since earlier years. Generally, landowners have a lower holding cost compared to home/condo owners and do not tend to be as motivated to sell as home owners. The value of land is inherit to it's uniqueness and the ability of the owners to build the home of their of their dreams.


Stowe has some great lots on the market! CLICK HERE FOR ALL STOWE LAND FOR SALE
We have some great builders in the area who would be happy to build your Dream Home.

Also, see my reports for:

Stowe Vermont Home Sales - 2005 through 2011

Stowe Vermont Condo/Townhome Sales - 2005 through 2011

Contact me for additional information about Stowe Land for Sale and the Stowe Real Estate Market.

Please note that the above compilation of sales information is Copyrighted and may not be reprinted or used without my written permission.

Stowe Vermont Home Sales Report - Market Report 2005 through 2011

Teresa Merelman, ABR, CRS, e-PRO, RSPS, GREEN: Real Estate Agent in Stowe, VT

Stowe Vermont Home Sales - Market Report 2005 through 2011

Stowe, Vermont is a beautiful, four season resort town. Stowe has a full time populatioStowe VT home for sale - photo by Teresa Merelmann of about 4,500 people. Many of Stowe homes and condos are vacation and second homes. Below are market statistics by year and a chart for each year. The data used is from the Northern New England Real Estate Network MLS. Most of Stowe's sales are through the local MLS. You can click on the charts for enlarged versions. Towards the end of this article, is a year to year comparison.

2005 Stowe Home Sales
Stowe Homes Sold 2005# of Homes Sold: 82
Average List Price: $735,080 Average Sale Price: $682,000
Median List Price: $495,000 Median Sale Price: $475,000
Average Number of Homes on the Market: 74
Average Price per Finished Square Foot Sold: $224
Average Days on Market: 135

2006 Stowe Home Sales
Stowe Home Sales 2006# of Homes Sold: 74
Average List Price: $680,177 Average Sale Price: $637,664
Median List Price: $549,000 Median Sale Price: $507,500
Average Number of Homes on the Market: 95
Average Price per Finished Square Foot Sold: $214
Average Days on Market: 150

2007 Stowe Home Sales
Stowe Home Sales 2007# of Homes Sold: 74
Average List Price: $710,001 Average Sale Price: $652.098
Median List Price: $499,000 Median Sale Price: $450,000
Average Number of Homes on the Market: 109
Average Price per Finished Square Foot Sold: $219
Average Days on Market: 197

2008 Stowe Home Sales
Stowe Home Sales 288# of Homes Sold: 52
Average List Price: $556,960 Average Sale Price: $535,481
Median List Price: $492,000 Median Sale Price: $445,000
Average Number of Homes on the Market: 135
Average Price per Finished Square Foot Sold: $202
Average Days on Market: 215

2009 Stowe Home Sales
Stowe Home Sales 2009# of Homes Sold: 46
Average List Price: $603,757 Average Sale Price: $542,022
Median List Price: $494,000 Median Sale Price: $456,250
Average Number of Homes on the Market: 133
Average Price per Finished Square Foot Sold: $185
Average Days on Market: 165

2010 Stowe Home SalesStowe Vermont Home Sales 2010 by Teresa Merelman

# of Homes Sold: 57
Average List Price: $692,109 Average Sale Price: $625,321
Median List Price: $529,000 Median Sale Price: $490,000
Average Number of Homes on the Market: 141
Average Price per Total Finished Square Foot Sold: $191
Average Days on Market: 225

2011 Stowe Home Sales

Stowe Home Sales - 2011 by Teresa Merelman

# of Homes Sold: 69
Average List Price: $679,939 Average Sale Price: $616,886
Median List Price: $489,000 Median Sale Price: $426,000
Average Number of Homes on Market: 126
Average Price per Total Finished Square Foot Sold: $190
Average Days on Market: 277

STOWE VERMONT HOME SALES - Comparison of Sales from 2005 through 2011:

Stowe VT Home Sales Report 2005 through 2011 by Teresa MerelmanStowe Vermont sales data shows that Stowe Home Sales in 2011 have significantly increased over 2009 by 50%. In fact, the number of transactions was up about 21% from 2010. The average number of listings decreased about 11%. The average price per finished square foot sold remained level at $190/sf. The average list price was about 3% lower than 2010 and the average sale price was about 1.5% lower than 2010.

Although the 2011 numbers appear to show that real estate has picked up, we are not at the quantity of sales and higher price levels pre-recession.

I have been a Realtor in Stowe since 1998. This is still a GREAT time to buy! Take advantage of the higher than normal inventory, the still lower than normal prices, the low mortgage interest rates. Click on the links below for MLS information on homes for sale in Stowe, Vermont:

Stowe Vermont Homes for Sale $50,000 to $500,000

Stowe Vermont Homes for Sale $500,000 to $1,000,000

Stowe Vermont Homes for Sale $1,000,000 plus

Stowe Real Estate for Sale

MLS Search for Stowe Vermont Real Estate - Various search options including Condos, Land, Commerical, and Multi-Family properties for Sale.

Also, feel free to visit my other Market Reports for Stowe VT Real Estate:

Stowe VT Condo/Towhome Sales - 2005 through 2011

Stowe VT Land Sales - 2005 through 2011

Feel free to contact me for additional information about Stowe Real Estate.

Please note that the above compilations of sales information are Copyrighted and may not be reprinted or used without my written permission.