Not only does Breckenridge come to life in Gilliland’s books, but so does historic Summit County in the neighboring communities of Frisco, Dillon, Silverthorne, Keystone, Montezuma, and Copper Mountain.   

Scheduled for publication Spring 2009, the new book revisits the first gold strike in Breckenridge in 1859.  In the meantime, future residents of Breckenridge CO homes can pick up Gilliland’s other books detailing the Colorado high country, history, and hiking and skiing trails.  Walk through the passages in the New Summit Hiker (2006) where Gilliland guides hikers to wilderness trails, waterfalls, alpine lakes, wildflower meadows, and incredible sites with panoramic mountain views.  Readers enter the gateway to the Colorado peak experience.

Pick up a copy of SUMMIT, A Gold Rush History of Summit County Colorado (2006) to learn about alpine mine camps, highline stagecoach and narrow gauge railway routes, Ute Indian sites, and the Rocky Mountain frontier.  SUMMIT offers colorful accounts of Colorado’s flourishing gold and silver rush 1859-1910.

Gilliland’s secret writing skill comes from her sense of humor.  As she explained to Andrew Tolve in the Colorado Summit Magazine, “It’s hilarious what goes on.  People are plain funny.  They just are.  What angling people will do and the shenanigans they will pull against each other….Some of the personalities today are as humorous as the ones yesterday.  I’m always richly enjoying people.”

So she could pen Rascals, Scoundrels, and No Goods (2005) about the “escapades of charlatans, swindlers, seducers, rogues, and imposters…scamps and hooligans.”  Gilliland writes, “A Victorian lady would rush for her smelling salts at the first whiff of scandal—and so may you.”

Don’t let the squirmy accounts keep you from investigating the great values available today in our gorgeous mountain ski hamlet.  Who knows?  You, too, may strike it rich after you purchase your own mountain retreat.

Jonna Beardsley of Breckenridge Associates offers a wealth of information about real estate in the Rocky Mountains.  Call Jonna at (970) 453-2200 for friendly, professional assistance.

Buyers who come looking for vacation real estate in Breckenridge during this week, January 13-16, can watch how the blocks of snow are built and even join in the fun helping the Town of Breckenridge to make it happen.

T blank canvases of snow that are carefully planted around the Riverwalk Center and Blue River Plaza will be turned into awe-inspiring snow sculptures by the teams of artisans.  Each four-person team carves a unique sculpture into its twenty ton block of snow.  Using no power tools—only creativity and hands—the sculptors form their masterpieces before thousands of spectators.

Sculpting begins January 20 and ends, usually with a flurry of all-night finishing touches, on Saturday, January 21 at 10:00 a.m.  As judges observe the emerging designs, spectators may also voice their opinions by voting.  On January 25, a panel of artists awards the top three teams on the basis of theme, style, and technique.  They will also announce the winners of the awards for People’s Choice, Kids’ Choice, and Artists’ Choice.

Another interesting element of the event is the exhibit at the Snow Sculpture Headquarters in Riverwalk Center.  The stories from the last two decades of Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships will be displayed.  Everyone can learn about the roots of the event, the competitors, the beauty and fun that the Championships bring to this historic village.  They began as a tribute to the God of Snow during the annual January Ullr Fest and grew into an international event.

The event leaves a spectacular Ice Village at the Riverwalk Center.  Glowing statues remain on display, weather permitting, until February 1.  At that time, they disappear during the night.

The teams selected to participate in this competition include Team Bulgaria, Team Canada Ontario, Team Canada Yukon, Team Canada U.S., Team China, Team German, Team Mexico, Team Netherlands, Team Spain, Team Switzerland, Team U.S. Alaska, Team U.S. Breckenridge, Team U.S. Loveland, Team Minnesota, Team Vermont, and Team Wyoming.

Jonna Beardsley of Breckenridge Associates is a long-time resident and Realtor and may share her own stories about the snow sculpting competitions in town.  Call Jonna at (970) 453-2200 for friendly professional real-estate assistance in the Rocky Mountain area.

The Golden Stories of Breckenridge is a growing series of video documentaries about Breckenridge history.  The videos include interviews with historical experts, residents and visitors who have been a part of the last century, as well as direct descendents of the families who lived in early Breckenridge Colorado homes. 

Sponsored by the Town of Breckenridge and produced by local videographer Wendy Wolfe, three videos are available at this time:  The Depression Years, The High Line, and Rest in Peace.

• The Depression Years features stories from three early residents including their colorful and touching memories of the railroad, the dredge boats, the early schools, and recreation in the area.  The stories are woven together with clips of film and photos that help paint a vivid picture of the experiences.
• The High Line features the local narrow-gauge railroad from 1882 to 1937.  Impressive stories of the building of the track over Boreas Pass underscore one of the most daunting accomplishments in railroad history.  Known as the High Line, those who worked it endured long and difficult days, cruel winters, and runaway trains.
• Rest in Peace elaborates on the beautiful Valley Brook Cemetery that was established in 1882.  It is the final resting place for many of the Town’s earliest pioneers whose ornate monuments tell the stories of the Victorian times.  Today the natural sanctuary thrives with wildflowers and wildlife.

The Golden Stories of Breckenridge may be viewed on local television and at the Edwin Carter Museum. The VHS-formatted videos are also available for purchase at the Breckenridge Activity Centers and at Town Hall for $20.

Jonna Beardsley of Breckenridge Associates is a long-time resident and Realtor.  Call Jonna at (970) 453-2200 for friendly professional real-estate assistance in the Rocky Mountain area.

A tribute to the mythical Norse God of Snow, the legendary Main Street Parade is part of the weeklong Ullr events being held January 4-10 near homes in Breckenridge.  Son of Sif and stepson of Thor, the God of Thunder, Ullr is the winter god.  He loves the cold and could be seen traveling over the country on his skis and skates.  It is said that he covered the earth with snow each winter to protect it from harm.

As he skied through the Northern Forests, Ullr was so skilled with the bow that he could beat anyone out for a hunt.  Ullr also glided throughout the land on his great skis for pleasure.  One of his travels brought him to Breckenridge, high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, where he decided to settle down.  Taken by the beautiful mountain village, Ullr blessed his new home with some of the finest snow in the world.

And so it is that the people of Breckenridge began in 1963 to hold a Festival every year to repay and honor Ullr, the God of Winter, for his gift of snow.  When Ullr came to town that year, locals went to the Town Council and lobbied to hold “Ullr Dag”, which can be interpreted as Ullr Day.  During the first few years, locals honored Ullr with gold coins, parties, skiing, and more parties. 

As the years passed, they embellished the festivities with the Ullr Ball, the Ullr Bonfire, Snow Sculpting, a Ullr King and Queen, the Ullympics, dating games, and the Ullr Parade.  At times old skis are burned in the bonfire while the parties emblazon the town.  Plan to make it to Comedy Night and/or the Mountain Rotary Club Chilly Chili Cook Off, too.

Jonna Beardsley of Breckenridge Associates is a long-time resident in Breck.  She offers a wealth of information and affordable local options.  Call Jonna at (970) 453-2200 for friendly, professional real-estate assistance in the Rocky Mountain area.

The Riverwalk Center will charm guests and performers alike with improved acoustics, temperature control, and lighting features.  For ten years, the National Repertory Orchestra and the Breckenridge Music Festival have held performances in an iconic twin-pointed tent called the Madonna. The facility, which seats 750, is a perfect Breckenridge CO home for cultural events during summer as well as winter.  The Breckenridge Festival of Film, now able to darken the room to show films, will also use the beautiful new facilities. 

The Arts District of Breckenridge, which provides public interaction through open studios and workshops, is changing board by board—literally.  On the corner of Washington Avenue and South Ridge Street, the Arts District is creating indoor and outdoor spaces for resident artist studios, workshops, and cultural events.  The pedestrian-friendly area, designed in partnership with the Town and the State Historical Fund, will feature the old Fuqua livery stable.  Taken apart in 11 pieces, the reassembled stable will house three studios inside while preserving a slice of history from the old mining town.  In addition, the old Quandary Antiques building is being relocated to the Arts District and will be a ceramic studio.

Crowing the preparations for the birthday celebration, the Heritage Alliance rehabilitated the Edwin Carter Museum, turning it into an interactive place of learning about nature.  Bird exhibits will float in the new lofty ceilings and a theater room will showcase the life and passion of naturalist Edwin Carter.  Other plans are in the wings to turn the saw mill into an exhibit and to turn the spotlight onto railroad history by bringing Engine No. 9 downtown

Contact Jonna Beardsley at (970) 390-2533 or (800) 774-7970 to learn more about available investment properties in the area.

Film, Theater, Entertainment:  Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through the summer, Breckenridge’s Blue River Plaza is alive with free performances.  The events include music, theater, art, culture, sports, historical displays, and activities for children.  Our award-winning Backstage Theater offers splendid productions several times a year.  Every September, the Breckenridge Festival of Film features celebrity guests, filmmakers, premier shows, seminars, special events, parties, and dozens of independent films. 

Art:  All year round, over a dozen galleries provide everything from fine art to great prints, posters, and photos in various themes from Southwestern or Western to Nuevo deco.  During the summertime, the community hosts three art festivals attended by some of the best artists in the nation.  In addition, the Arts District, a pedestrian friendly area with outdoor and indoor spaces for workshops, features artists-in-residence, galleries and cultural events and bustles with creativity and opportunities for everyone.

Museums:  Beginning at the Welcome Center, visitors begin learning at an interpretive 19th-century log cabin that is the centerpiece of the museum portion of the center.  A multimedia display highlights the town’s history from the days as an Indian settlement to the gold rush days to the modern Victorian ski village.

The story of the original owner of the Barney Ford House Museum, an escaped slave, is preserved at his 1880s Victorian home and the Edwin Carter Museum displays the collection of Rocky Mountain flora and Fauna documented by its namesake.  Main Street historic Museum features seasonal exhibits that showcase the town’s history.  An engaging Mountain Top Children’s Museum offers exhibits, camps, and workshops all year round.

Music:  In addition to regular children’s concerts, the Riverwalk offers almost 40 classical and non-classical concerts throughout the summer including performances by the National Repertory Orchestra and the Breckenridge Music Institute Orchestra.  Then during the month of June around Maggie Pond and a floating stage, the town lights up with the rhythm and funk of the best of jazz, both here and in town’s nightclubs.

For more information about real estate in the Rocky Mountain ski resorts, contact Jonna Beardsley at (970) 453-2200 or e-mail Jonna2breckenridge associates.com.

Most people are aware of stories of Breckenridge’s Victorian real estate—former hotels, saloons, and brothels—and the explorations, gold booms and busts, and a rowdy mountain lifestyle.  Kingdom Days are a reference to a time between the mid 1800s until 1936 when the community was inadvertently left off the official U.S. maps.  Having no reference point, the town became known as “Colorado’s Kingdom.”  The mistake was finally discovered during the official incorporation.  So, the fun-loving Kingdom Days reminds us of a little slice of unique history that made this Victorian mining and resort town what it is today. 

During the summertime guided or self-guided walking tours through the historical museums, new residents and visitors learn how a small group of men and one woman founded the town in 1859 to establish some type of governance for the droves of settlers who came from across the country and around the world to seek their fortunes. 

Some people did find gold but all discovered the glory and bounty of the Ten Mile Range.   One of these people was Father John Lewis Dyer, an itinerant Methodist minister who made his way in the 1860s. Father Dyer regularly skied across the Continental Divide on 12-foot long wooden skis to deliver the Gospel, sacks of gold, and mail to the mining population.  He founded a Methodist Church in 1880, which is still active today.

Another was Edwin Carter who first came to participate in the gold rush, but when he saw the destruction that mining and a growing population wreaked on local wildlife, he changed goals.  During his career as a naturalist, Carter assembled over 15,000 specimens, many of which are displayed at the Carter Museum in town and at the Denver Museum of Natural History.

Barney Ford became the town’s first black businessman when his Chophouse opened.  , and he is considered Colorado’s first great leader of African American heritage.  His fine home is now the Barney Ford House Museum that highlights his life story:  an escape from slavery, work with the Underground Railroad in Chicago, far-flung business endeavors, and starting the first adult-education program in the state.  He became rich from investing in the Oro Mine and Mill in French Gulch.

On July 23, 1887, the largest gold nugget ever found in the state of Colorado was discovered here by Tom Groves.  “Tom’s Baby” weighed in at 13.5 pounds but was not seen for 85 years after he put it on a train to Denver.  In 1972, the Colorado State Historical Museum examined gold specimens that had been deposited in a Denver bank in 1926 and found all but five pounds of Tom’s Baby. 

Stay tuned for more adventures after you contact Jonna Beardsley at (970) 453-2200 for information about available real estate in the area.

Highlands at Breckenridge real estate includes the subdivisions at Lincoln Highlands, Discovery Hill, Braddock Hill, and Highland Park.  All the while, just imagine panoramic views of the Ten Mile Range, the Gore Range, and the Continental Divide from whatever Breckenridge CO real estate that you choose.  

Staffed by a friendly and professional Nordic staff, the stupendous lodge features a relaxing lobby with a massive stone fireplace.  The comfy over-stuffed leather seating by the fireside is great for warming up after an invigorating trek.  Comfortable camaraderie over hot chocolate or coffee and large picture-window views of the Continental Divide enrich and enliven any vacation.  The lodge is where you’ll pick up tips about applying wax or some handy details about the trails.

Matter of fact, this is a wonderful place to experience a romantic horse-drawn scenic sleigh ride and splurge on an elegant dinner accompanied by musical entertainment from the beautiful mountain lodge. 

The full-service Nordic retail shop along with a Rossignol Demo Center featuring the finest quality Rossignol Nordic Ski equipment to rent or purchase can delight even the most hard-nosed downhill skier or rider.  If you’d like to improve your stride, choose your equipment and sign up for the PSIA-member Nordic Ski School that offers private and group lessons for all ages and abilities.

Groomed for classic skiing and skate skiing, the 20 kilometers of meticulously groomed trails are ready every day in addition to 12 kilometers of well-marked snowshoe single-track trails.  As skill is developed, in addition to the Golden Horseshoe, you can take on other areas of the resort from the highest chairlift in North America where you’ll look out from 12,840 feet in elevation. 

And remember to come back in the summertime to swing your 7 iron in the thin mountain air.  The Town is the only municipality in the world to own an award-winning Jack Nichlaus-designed golf course.  The Bear nine, The Beaver nine, and The Elk nine will have changed their garments from sparkling white to lush green and will treat you just like gold.

Contact Jonna Beardsley at (970) 453-2200 or (800) 774-7970 to learn about available properties in the resort areas.