Wildhorse Meadows Trailhead Lodge results

I heard from a good source who was involved in the sale that 71% of the units sold yesterday, 61 out of 86 condos. I would call that a very successful launch given the pricing averaged $904 per sq foot and the most expensive ones on a per sq foot basis went first. They now have almost 2 years to sell the remaining 30% and they are likely to make a push to sell a few more before they go public with the news by calling everyone again like they did on the Range lots.

One Steamboat Place is is also progressing very well through their selection process. They have fewer units but it is taking longer because they give people overnight to decide if they want the time. The conversion rate from reservations to people deciding to proceed with their purchase was over 75%. That is nearly unprecedented even if it comes down as they get further through the list and people can't get the units they wanted. One Steamboat Place is going for between $1,000 and $1,100 per square foot. Both projects are realizing ground breaking prices and bringing higher levels of quality to the market.

These sales have big implications for pricing of both mountain and downtown developments going forward including existing units. I believe that higher quality units will see a particularly strong pull from these new price points. If you are curious how the market is moving, what impact it is likely to have on your property or your goals and what the real drivers are feel free to contact me. My number is 970-819-6930 or email me at the address on this page.

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Setting lift towers for the new six pack

I watched the heavy lift helicopter up on the mountain this morning prepping for the lift tower placement of our newest lift here in Steamboat. It will be a high-speed detachable model with significantly more capacity than the gondola so the morning 15 minute crunch on holidays will get much shorter this season. It will also allow fast access to the lower mountain cruisers like SeeMe allowing more than one run a day or several runs in an hour lunch break. :)

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Ski Time Square & Thuderhead project time frame

Word from qualified sources is that the project that will replace Ski Time Square and Thunderhead Lodge on the North Side of Steamboat's base area hopes to enter planning this fall, start demolition of buildings in the Fall of 2008 and begin construction in the Spring of 2009 after ski season.

I have cause to believe that they are working on bringing a "Ritz Carlton Steamboat" or comparable luxury hotel brand for the flagship ski in ski out property. Back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page for more.

Steamboat Valley View Trail

I rode on one of my favorite mountain bike rides in Steamboat (its almost just out my door) Zig Zag to Valley View Trail on Mount Werner with a friend from Boulder last weekend. He put together this trails description that I thought was worth sharing. It includes a GPS plot of the route on a topo map, pictures and a great description of the trail. Check out this version of Valley View Trail too. Cool pictures on that page as fall is giving way to winter. Fall is the best time of the year to ride this trail. I like to go in the evening when the alpenglow streams in through the golden leaves and your tires travel on a path of gold. It is one of the more beautiful times I can think of in a beautiful valley.

If you haven't ridden it before you should also check out the Hot Springs Mad Creek Loop or the Mad Creek to Red Dirt Loop. Back to the Steamboat Springs blog main page for more.

Wild Horse Meadows Gondola Bonded

It looks like there is now a bond ensuring the construction and completion of the new people mover cabriolet gondola from the Meadows parking lot and Wild Horse Meadows to the new base area plaza at One Steamboat Place. This plaza is nearly an acre, wraps around from just south of the current transit center to gondola square, will not have any steps and will be on a snow melt system.

The first condo building at Wild Horse Meadows is about to be formally offered. on July 25th to reservation holders. It is an 86 unit building with the amenities for the whole complex that sites next to the new gondola.

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Frontier Steamboat flights are getting closer

Steamboat is getting closer to a deal for Year Round flight service from Frontier Airlines. This has been coming together for nearly a year now and I have heard of 2 Frontier pilots that have bought property here in anticipation of this service. Hopefully they are right. The increased competition will be great for the availability and cost of flights for locals and guests year round.

Selected quotes from the Steamboat Pilot:"Such a flight will bring airline competition between Steamboat and Denver, which should benefit pricing and expand connecting options for Yampa Valley residents. It also would continue an unprecedented string of successes for the airport and air service in general.

Frontier officials would only say the next round of announcements is expected to include some Colorado mountain communities. A newspaper in Sun Valley, Idaho — which was vying for Frontier service — reported those communities would be Colorado Springs, Aspen and Steamboat. The flights would be daily on the Q400, a new 70- to 78-seat propjet from Bombardier. Frontier would add the new service sometime this fall

The Frontier service would compete with United, which provides four flights per day on 37-seat turboprops operated by Skywest. United adds a jet flight to DIA during the ski season. Frontier’s competition with United out of the Denver hub has resulted in significant price breaks for travelers on both airlines. Seeing that competition expand into markets like the Yampa Valley would be a win for tourists and locals.

The addition of Frontier service would be on top of what already is expected to be the biggest winter in the airport’s history, with five airlines serving 10 markets and an estimated 175,000 available seats. For the first time, YVRA will have service to all three airports serving the New York metro area. Not that long ago, Yampa Valley Regional Airport was a small, crowded airport with a dirt parking lot and mostly seasonal service. How things have changed. The facility, once second rate, is in a different league thanks to a three-phase expansion that included a new terminal, a new parking system, a new apron to accommodate larger jets, new passenger waiting areas, new ticket counters and new retail stores. As the facility has grown, so has service. With Frontier, YVRA would have year-round service on three airlines serving two markets. For the Full Story in the Steamboat Pilot click here

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