The Timbers ski in ski out 5-star condominium complex

 

When I decided to look for a new Colorado mountain condo, I had to do some homework.  My wife and I had just sold our Grand Lake second home.  Not because we disliked the Rocky Mountain National Park region, actually quite the contrary.  With two baby daughters, we weren’t accustomed to the 2-3 hour car journey from Denver.  You could say that amount of time is nothing to an L.A. commuter, but we weren’t use to all the diaper pit stops. 

It’s a difficult chore trying to decide where to look, especially since we had at least half-dozen internationally acclaimed ski areas within 2 hours of our Denver digs.  Vail & Beaver Creek were high on our list, but not on our pocketbook.  The Vail Valley has everything to offer winter and summer vacationers, but lots of money are a requirement. 

Next, we looked at Copper Mountain.  Few choices on nice condos made our research project short-lived. 

Winter Park seemed to be the best choice, we thought.  However, not enough esteem!  WP boasts a more local atmosphere and we wanted something with more class and character. 

So, you say Breckenridge.  Of course!  Breck is the most visited Colorado resort you say?  Yes, I agree.  However, many think Breck can fulfill everybody’s needs.  Well, that was the problem.  It fulfills everyone’s needs.  So many choices in Breck bring so many people.  During ski season you can’t move in Breckenridge.  State Highway 9 is known as the Rocky Mountain 405.  Those from L.A. will know exactly what I’m talking about—major traffic!  Breck is it, if you don’t mind crowds. 

“Why were we being so picky, I asked my wife?”  Well, ski resorts are not cheap, and we wanted the best deal at a resort that offered skiing, was close to Denver, not too crowded, but had all the amenities of Vail and Beaver Creek.  Is that a lot to ask? 

Well, it turned out, it wasn’t too much to ask. 

Colorado mountain real estate experts

In comes Darryl Nolz.  A veteran real estate broker from the largest ski resort broker in Colorado—Slifer, ,Smith & Frampden.  Darryl had shown me extreme patience in my real estate search.  He had at least 500 miles on his Jeep Cherokee from escorting me throughout Colorado mountain resorts.  He had originally made a suggestion on the perfect location, but I didn’t listen.  Eventually, and after two–long years, I came back to his original pick….Keystone. 

Unlike all of the other Resorts we interviewed, Keystone wasn’t ranked amongst the top 10 ski resorts in North America…and it’s still not.  It’s had some past ownership woes and really hasn’t made a national presence until just recently.  After more detailed research we decided that Keystone Resort was the diamond in the rough. 

You know, when a stock is featured in The Wall Street Journal or Barron’s, the next day  its price increases?  Well, Keystone had never had that article written, so many people didn’t know about it’s abundance of character. 

OK.  So, what’s the real scoop you say?  What is Keystone, I asked Darryl.  I had been there as a kid and remembered it really had a mediocre reputation.  I did remember it boasted the longest beginner run in the country—schoolmarm, but that was it.  And, it was owned by The Ralston Purina Company.  What do Dog Food producers know about après’ ski?  It turns out – nothing. 

Oh, how times have changed Darryl said!  With change comes innovation and with innovation comes the NY Times and Barron’s.

River Run Village window view looking toward the slopes

I signed the real estate documents on May 29, 2005.  Keystone Resort was no longer owned by RPC, but now by a company with the true expertise to bring Keystone into the 21^st century.  That company was Vail Resorts, Inc. 

Who knows ski resorts better than Vail?  Well, the answer is “nobody”. The fog was lifted.  As I looked closer, the fog was actually being lifted in style – by a new Gondola and other state-of-the art investments.  New improvements to Keystone Resort were the local news.  And, it had been in motion for several years prior to me coming to Keystone.  Proof – a new $800 million, state of the art base area called River Run Village.  “Build it and they will come”, must have been the credo of Vail Resorts’ top brass.  Vail executives must have been the proverbial fortune tellers of Y2K.  90 minutes from Denver, massive snowfall, a variety of terrain, and an amazing array of on-mountain and après activates.  It’s true—they had something for everybody –without the crowding. 

Fortunately, we made the decision to purchase a condo that soon turned into a nice vacation rental investment.  Our 905 square foot 1 bedroom, 2 bath condo wasn’t the biggest condo in the area, but it did boast ski-in ski-out honors and was located in the luxurious complex know as The Timbers at River Run.  It’s the ideal destination for travelers expecting the absolute best in amenities, including direct mountain access, heated pavers, heated driveway, heated indoor/outdoor pool, private ski lockers, sauna, steam room, full wet bar, spa, and a $35K grand piano; just enough for the average Joe.  Moreover, it was only 75 minutes away from my Denver home, which made for only 2 diaper pit stops.  The wife and babies were thrilled, and I took all the credit. 

Play Jeopardy with me.  If the answer is :

            “A family ski destination that is remarkably simple, and accessible, but remarkably RESORT”, what would be your answer. 

Of course the answer would be, KEYSTONE RESORT! 

It’s not just a ski area any longer.  Keystone bleeds the description of “Resort”.  With world renowned skiing and snowboarding terrain, 5-star dining, an assortment of lodging options, a multitude of winter/summer activities, the highest rated night skiing in Colorado, and the largest outdoor ice-skating rink in the state;  it’s not your Ralston Purina Resort any longer.