Breckenridge Real Estate Blog

How many of you are complaining about the markets, especially the Colorado real estate market?  Well, just bite your tongue as we go over a few figures that will make you sorry if you’ve delayed investing in Breckenridge real estate or vacation properties in Summit County.  The Breckenridge Colorado homes or condominiums that you purchased for $150,000 in 1993 could very well be worth four times that much today.  A 400-percent increase!

Average sales prices have marched right up the chart at a steady incline.  In 1993, we sold 796 Breckenridge CO homes at an average sales price of $145,661.  The next year we sold 738 at an average price of $174,179.  It took four years to move from $202,587 to $294,993.  In 1999, the average sales price for 766 homes was $349,030 followed by $357,591 in 200, $397,820 in 2001.  Prices hiccupped down to $374,736 in 2002 and the next year prices were back up to $395,875, followed by $403,192 in 2004. 

Average home prices took giant steps in 2005, 2006, and 2007 when we sold 1113, 1029, and 691 homes averaging $481,419, $581,876, and $688,853, respectively.

In Summit County residential real estate, there is a similar picture.  In 1993, 1952 homes sold for an average sales price of $132,769.  In 1994, 2002 averaged $154,043 and in 1995 1590 averaged $185,110.  Then it took four years to march through the $200s.  It took six years to bounce through the $300s with average prices of $317,024, $346,446, $323,244, and $325,312, $346,578, and $393,003.  Finally, in 2006, 2809 homes sold for $453, 689 and in 2007, 1993 homes sold for an average of $520,280.

During the years of the real-estate crunch, our investments continue to appreciate at astounding rates.  Residential sales in the county include a total sales volume of $1,036,918,210.  Lot sales in the county account for another $112,373,645 in 2007.  

As the community being surrounded by national forestland approaches build-out, the price points are predicted to escalate even further.  Anyone wanting to invest in second homes, vacation homes, retirement homes, and even first-time acquisitions is advised to get into their investments as soon as possible.  Interest rates, government-backed loans, and years of wonderful use of the property make the investment irresistible.

For information about real estate in the area, contact longtime resident and Realtor Jonna Beardsley at (970) 390-2533.

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Yes, buyers.  It is your time to have a say-so when shopping for real estate in Summit County, Colorado.  Active residential listings of Breckenridge CO real estate alone have nearly doubled since 2007.  Although Keystone CO real estate, Dillon, Frisco, Silverthorne real estate, and rural areas of Summit County CO real estate are also affected, from the vantage of the our Breckenridge Associates office on Main Street in Breckenridge—this is your time.

Not only do buyers of vacation homes in Summit County have a greater selection of properties right now but, according to the Breckenridge Associates Newsletter, sellers are generally more willing to negotiate with prices and concessions.   First-time buyers are able to take advantage of the climate, too.  A $7,500 credit is available for the purchase of a principal residence between April 9, 2008 and July 1, 2009.

And, those who are looking to someday retire to a dream home in the Rocky Mountains have a little squiggle room in the current market.  Matter of fact, Breckenridge Associates has been on the leading edge of luxury real estate in Breckenridge for almost 20 years.  They have represented a third of the transactions of $1M or more.  In January 1995, they were involved in the sale of the first $1M home ever sold in Breck.  By 2000, nineteen homes sold for more than $1M and in 2001 a condominium sold for $1M.

The first $2M home sold in 1997 and the first $2M condo sold in 2007.  Also in 2007 records kept breaking, including the sale of a home for $4M, $4.7M, and $5M.  Breckenridge Associates was involved in the sale of three quarters of the homes selling for over $3M.  In 2008, the real estate team listed the highest-selling home of all time in Summit County at $5.5M.

Whether buyers are looking for “entry level” vacation properties in the outlying areas of “Colorado’s playground” or luxury ski-in/ski-out accommodations right on Peak 7 or Peak 8, this is the time to act.  Our investment properties are only improving in value, trumped by the incredible beauty in the surrounding national forests, crystal clear mountain waters, unlimited recreational activities, and a wonderful cosmopolitan small-town feel.  Buyers, this is truly a time to take advantage of opportunity.

Contact Jonna Beardsley of Breckenridge Associates at (970) 390-2533 for friendly and professional real-estate assistance.

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If “there’s gold in them thar’ hills,” then there must be gold down in the rivers, right?  Our cherished Breckenridge CO real estate, Breckenridge luxury homes, and vacation properties in Summit County, Colorado are like the jewels rising from our historical golden settings.   Gold was first discovered here in 1860 and dredge boats began operation in Breckenridge in 1898 in the Blue and French Gulch riverbeds. 

Nine total dredge boats worked near existing Breckenridge real estate but only five were in operation at once.  The historical dredging boats, Number Six and Number Seven, were built by a Dredge Boat King Ben Stanley Revett and Bucyrus Company of Milwaukee in a pond near what is now the southeast corner of Tiger Run Resort.  Operations were halted in 1942 by government mandates. 

According to a fascinating book by historian Mary Ellen Gilliland entitled, Summit: A Gold Rush History in Summit County, Colorado, the monstrous electrically driven boats used 42 buckets to cut through the landscape dig 200 feet under the riverbeds.  The boats were anchored to the shore by cables and large poles that were loosened every eight hours.  Then onshore winches thrust the boats forward.  They were capable of moving through 2,500 cubic yards of gravel and dirt every 24 hours.  Visitors to Breckenridge ask about the massive rock piles that are still visible piled alongside the pond.

Although we do not know how much of the Au element has been left behind after the Breckenridge Gold Rush, the 100-year-old dredge boats remind us of the serious mining operations here.  These operations dug 40 feet into the bedrock in the Swan River and 50 feet below the surface of the Blue River.  Number Six worked the Sawn and Blue rivers in 1908-09 and retired until it was purchased.  Number Seven worked the Swan.  The Breckenridge Associates Newsletter reports that in a 12-day period Number Seven produced $33,000 in gold from an area above Galena Gulch in 1911.   Gilliland reports that the dredges brought in as much as $32 million when gold sold for less than $20 an ounce—a fortune.

The highly valued metal is sometimes found free in nature.  The Jefferson Lab Science Education reports that every ton of seawater contains about a milligram.  Gold is the most malleable and ductile of all known metals and can be beaten into sheets that are 400 times thinner than a human hair.  Because it is soft, it is usually alloyed with other stronger metals.  It is a good conductor of heat and electricity, doesn’t tarnish, and reflects infrared radiation, making it ideal for electrical conductors, printed circuit boards, and is used as a sun shield for spacecraft, skyscrapers, and telescopes. 

Contact Jonna Beardsley at (970) 453-2200 or (800) 774-7970 for friendly professional real-estate assistance.

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Minutes from the doorsteps of Breckenridge real estate are fabulous spots to view the kaleidoscope of brilliant autumn leaves.  In fact, thanks to the gold prospectors over a hundred years ago, tourists from the Front Range cities also come up to Summit County for Sunday leisure drives over Boreas Pass.  Just one more reason to choose Breckenridge CO real estate for an easily accessible vacation home with refreshing family activities throughout every season. 

The Boreas Pass Road just south of Breckenridge CO homes peaks at 12,000 feet with panoramic views of the Continental Divide and Blue River Valley and large stands of golden quivering aspen from early September to early October.  Evergreens contrast with the vibrant tones of ruby, oranges, yellows, and browns, the endless fusion of color is short lived. 

Falling leaves, pristine forests, and splendid mountain peaks are why so many inquire about real estate in the historic and Victorian Town of Breckenridge.  Her unique museums, old dredge boats, gold mines, and many a tall Western tale offer a sense of continuity, small-town community, and a colorful international flair.

Why do the leaves change color?  Maybe Jack Frost did inspire the chemical processes.  Longer and warmer spring and summer days produce the pigment chlorophyll as well as yellow and orange carotenoids.  In the autumn, the shorter and cooler days stop the production of the green chlorophyll that feeds the leaves.  Then the carotenoids slowly begin to do their dance and other chemical changes may occur, causing the formation of additional pigments that vary from yellow to red to blue.  That’s when the reddish and purplish fall colors get sprinkled in. 

Much of our autumn foliage is quaking aspen that turns golden.  Oaks turn from greens to browns; beech turns golden bronze, dogwood and sumac purples.  

The degree of color may vary from tree to tree.  For example, a part of the tree that is directly exposed to the sun may turn red and leaves on the same tree with less exposure may turn yellow.  An unhealthy tree may never show bright colors.  Weather conditions also affect the year’s display.  The most vivid colors appear after a warm dry summer and early autumn rains that prevent early leaf fall.  Long periods of wet weather in the fall produce drab coloration while droughts favor the production of anthocyanin and red pigment due to the reduction of nitrate absorption.

What cannot be seen is the production of a special layer of cells at the base of the leafstalk where it is attached to the twig.  These cells gradually sever the tissues that support the leaf, allowing the twig to heal after each leaf falls.  The bed of fallen leaves provides water-absorbing humus as the potassium- and calcium-rich forest floor once again dissolves to feed the forest ecosystem.

Contact Jonna Beardsley at (970) 453-2200 or (800) 774-7970 for friendly professional real-estate assistance.

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Residents of Breckenridge CO homes are taking steps to insure that the pristine natural environment stays that way forever.  As the industrial revolution merges into the challenges of the new millennium, Breckenridge CO real estate is getting a “green” code.  In an effort to preserve the pristine environment, the new green Breckenridge building code more than encourages the designing and building of efficient and healthy real estate in Breckenridge. 

The new green code is just the beginning of a substantial effort to change the fact that 40 percent of the Summit County waste stream comes from construction and deconstruction.  This step echoes the new Summit County code and will result in Breckenridge real estate with greater efficiency and lower energy usage.  Our vacation paradise of homes around the Breckenridge Ski Resort and surrounding national forests will not go the way of many municipalities that are beset with grand issues like reducing smog and cleaning out airways and waterways that have already reached dangerously toxic levels.

Some homeowners in Breckenridge have already been using long-life light bulbs and energy saving appliances or recycling, but beginning in the New Year of 2009, a sustainability code impacting new construction.  Single-family homes, multi-family homes, additions, remodels, and the residential areas of mixed-use developments will be affected at that time.  All homeowners will be required to install energy efficient replacement windows during remodels.

Builders must earn a score of zero or better to be in compliance.  Chief building official Glen Morgan, as quoted in the Breckenridge Associates’ e-newsletter, says, “The bigger the house gets, the more green initiatives will be needed.”  Stricter guidelines are in place for homes greater than 3,000 square feet.  The complicated code outlines a series of criteria that will determine how large a home can be and how many amenities are acceptable.  If a home uses more energy, it will be required to offset that usage.   For example, solar panels could be installed to offset the energy required to heat a driveway and outdoor hot tubs. 

The fabulous Rocky Mountains, rivers, and national forests must be guarded for prosperity as a retreat and refuge tucked in the folds of Mother Nature for retirees, skiers, family vacation homes and for those of us to appreciate our pristine wonderland.  Call Jonna Beardsley of Breckenridge Associates at (970) 453-2200 or (800) 774-7970 for friendly and professional real-estate assistance in the resort areas.

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In the search for real estate in beautiful Summit County, Colorado, consider a vacation home near Lake Dillon.  Blending warm summer days in the Rocky Mountains into the cooler late-summer evenings, sparkling Lake Dillon reflects the bounty of the majestic mountains and White River National Forest all around.  On the shores of Lake Dillon, the towns of Dillon CO real estate and Frisco real estate enjoy the waters as well as the nearby ski slopes.  Keystone Ski Resort real estate is about 5 minutes away and the Town of Breckenridge is about 20 minutes.

Summit County’s largest sector of in-town residential real estate is in Frisco, a town of 2,500.  The more intimate town of Dillon is home to about 1,000 residents.  The communities enjoy similar amenities along Dillon Lake at the edge of the national forest.  Top-notch resorts, winter and summer recreational activities, great schools, restaurants, shops, and medical services while living less than two hours west of Denver and the Denver International Airport.  Frisco features a quaint downtown with historic buildings from the 1800s gold and silver rushes, après ski, fine and casual dining, shops, boutiques, the professions and services. 

At about 9,000 feet in elevation, Dillon Reservoir is one of Colorado’s most pristine recreation areas and is surrounded on all sides by unrivaled mountain views. Crystal-clear waters and 26 miles of shoreline make for a fisherman’s paradise.  Add breathtaking scenery with many a secluded place to cast and many a sailor is rocked to relaxation.  The Snake River, the Blue River and the Ten Mile Creek feed Dillon Reservoir, creating a deep water Marina that invites sailboat regattas out onto the lake.  The Dillon Marina is a certified American Sailing Association (ASA) sailing school, offers captained sailing tours, and rents pontoon boats, sailboats and runabouts.   

Along with a quality recreational experience, the improved Dillon Marina is home to the Tiki Bar for appetizers and drinks and The Island Grill, which features dining with tremendous views.  Heading into autumn, the concerts and festivals are less frequent but the ambience is wonderful.  The Frisco Marina also rents pontoon boats, sailboats, canoes, and kayaks—and offers a tour of the shoreline.

The Dillon Recreational Bike Path and the Summit County Bike Trail pass along the lake, feeding into bike trails that connect the communities of Summit County.  Between the two towns, a six-mile bike ride along the lake’s shores is a perfect refresher.  Hike the Frisco Peninsula or up to old Dillon Reservoir.  Ride a bike to one of the towns and take the Lake Dillon Water Taxi back.  Charter service offers evening excursions and hosts corporate outings and family reunions.  What a great way to spend an Indian summer.

Contact Jonna Beardsley at (970) 453-2200 or (800) 774-7970 for friendly professional real-estate assistance.

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With the relocation of the Independence SuperChair on Peak 7 and other changes at Breckenridge Ski Resort comes the construction of fabulous new ski-in/ski-out real estate in Breckenridge.  From these new Breckenridge properties, families appreciate the convenience to activities both on the ski slopes and in the historic Victorian Town of Breckenridge. 

The Peak 7 SuperChair is next to Breckenridge vacation homes in Crystal Peak Lodge.  Breckenridge luxury real estate at the centerpiece of the new Peak 8 village is One Ski Hill Place, a RockResorts.  Then, at the base of Peak 9 the convenient Water House on Main Street offers beautiful Breckenridge CO homes in the midst of all the action–starting under $1M.

Crystal Peak Lodge understandably sold out during pre-sales, and we anticipate some units on the re-sale market in fall 2008.  Named after the nearby Crystal Peak south of Peak 10, the Lodge features stunning views of the natural alpine surroundings.  Rich interiors complement the comfortable mountain architecture created with wrought iron, heavy timbers, and moss rock.  Wood paneling and luxurious fabrics lend a Western element.  The Crystal Peak Lodge offers an owners’ lounge and game room, ski and boot storage, a fitness room, outdoor hot tubs, underground parking, owner’s closets and much more. 

One Ski Hill Place, designed with high ceilings, natural wood and stone, stunning fireplaces, and fantastic views, features 250 to 300 homes ranging from studios to four-bedroom units.  Offering a variety of lodging, dining, and entertainment with a skiers’ plaza, on-site ski school, childcare, a great room, media room, fitness center, massage rooms, aquatics center, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, sauna, steam room, outdoor fireplace, conference center, heated underground parking, the casually elegant accommodations are crowned by a lavish RockResorts spa.

Water House on Main Street blends into a hilly, tree-lined preserve next to the Illinois Creek and nearby pond for ice skating.  The spacious and comfortable design allows plenty of light and contemporary interior appointments including professional gourmet kitchens with custom cabinetry and slab granite counters, and European soaking tubs.  A heated outdoor pool, seven hot tubs, a fitness facility, locker rooms, movie room, ski valet, private owners’ lounge overlooking Maggie Pond, underground parking, and other amenities embellish any vacation or gathering.

This resort is nestled in the national forest about two hours west of Denver International Airport on Interstate 70.  Call Jonna Beardsley of Breckenridge Associates at (970) 453-2200 or (800) 774-7970 for friendly and professional real-estate assistance.

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For 15 years, patrons and residents of Summit County, Colorado homes flocked to world-class performances at the Breckenridge Riverwalk Center, a fanciful 774-seat white tent.  Events from symphonies to theater dramatically enchanted audiences in the iconic tent that finally needed to be replaced.  Today, after a spirited fund-raising campaign, the new award-winning performing arts center offers a more permanent, heated shelter for events held on cool summer nights.

Events held at the Riverwalk Center rank up there with the ski amenities in Breckenridge as reasons why people choose Breckenridge real estate for their resort vacation properties.  All generations—from babes to retirees—find fulfilling pastimes, making second homes in Breckenridge popular for long-standing family retreat properties.  The Riverwalk Center is a summer focal point for relaxing evenings.

The Riverwalk Center is nestled in the heart of the historic Town, a part of the Blue River Restoration Project begun in 1992.  Before 1992, the area was surrounded by piles of rock created by dredge gold mining a hundred years before.  The Project restored the native landscape, developed a Blue River Walkway, and the Riverwalk Center, offering perfect settings for picnics and special events along the banks of the Blue River.

Unveiling the new Riverwalk Center, the proud Town and local community worked together to raise the necessary funds.  Breckenridge Associates Real Estate encouraged clients and friends to contribute, raising more than $250,000 for the cause.  The Town asked for $700,000 in private donations and then pitched in $3M.  Future funds will be used to improve special enhancements such as the sound system.

To transform the tent into a more permanent facility, a roof and walls were erected over the existing amphitheater structure.  Today, both patrons and performers experience improved acoustics, temperature control, and lighting control.  In addition, the new design includes six oversized glass doors that open to the natural surroundings and accommodating overflow. 

The facility is available for seasonal events and some winter events.  It is the site of the Town Party, classical performances by the National Repertory Orchestra (NRO), and the Breckenridge Music Festival Orchestra (BMF), the Blue River Series, Fourth of July concerts and activities, jazz concerts, rock concerts, dance troupes, the kids’ concert series, weddings, and more.

From Interstate 70, take Exit 203 (Frisco) and go south on Highway 9 for 10 miles.  Before the roundabout, take the ramp right (west) onto Park Avenue.  After passing Ski Hill Road, turn left (east) onto Washington Avenue.  See the Riverwalk Tiger Dredge parking lot on the right.

Call Jonna Beardsley of Breckenridge Associates at (970) 453-2200 or (800) 774-7970 for friendly and professional real-estate assistance.

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Winding down the summer with the fresh breezes across Lake Dillon, Colorado real estate, here are some ideas for last-ditch summer fun.  Coming right up tomorrow on August 24, 2008, is the Dillon Bike Criterium where cyclists of all ages will be competing in challenging events right near some inviting downtown real estate in Dillon that we can show.  Although rustic cabins at one time put a roof over the head of settlers, today’s Dillon CO real estate features upscale condominiums and small well-planned neighborhoods.

Also coming up is the End of Summer Concert & Celebration that will be held at the Dillon Amphitheater on Saturday, August 30.  The Lake Dillon Foundation for the Performing Arts presents its Sunset at the Summit concerts all summer featuring a variety of music from jazz to rock.  The final 2008 performance will be held on August 30 at 7:00 p.m. at the Dillon Amphitheater.

This year in July the vibrant Town celebrated its 125th Happy Birthday with a spectacular extravaganza.  The Town of Dillon incorporated in 1883 at the site of a trading post, mirrored today by the Friday Farmers’ Markets that offer a beautiful venue for mingling with the Town’s 3,000 residents (5,200 during peak season).  These are social gatherings for residents of Summit County homes and feature the freshest produce, handmade pastas, breads, pastries, preserves, and more.  The Dillon Farmers’ Market is one of the best anywhere in the high country.  Held on Buffalo Street in the parking lot at the Dillon Amphitheater on Fridays since June 13, the last two opportunities for 2008 are August 29 and September 5 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

The flexible Town moved three times from its original location at a stage stop.  First, it moved closer to the railroad.  Then, it moved to a location between the Blue River, the Ten Mile River, and the Snake River.  And, finally, when the Denver Water Board determined to create a reservoir at this second location to service the growing metropolitan area with water, residents once again picked up and moved to the shoreline of the new reservoir.

And it has only looked back to celebrate.  Now a full-service community, the community offers splendid views, an abundance of water and recreational activities, and proximity to several world-class ski resorts and resort activities.  For friendly and professional real-estate assistance in the resort areas of the Rocky Mountains, contact Jonna Beardsley of Breckenridge Associates at (970) 453-2200 or (800) 774-7970.

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Recent resort changes and some fantastic new luxury real estate developments at Breckenridge Ski Resort have made investing in Breckenridge, Colorado properties irresistible to the refined buyer. New ski-in/ski-out Breckenridge real estate on Peaks 7 and 8, and at Shock Hill are fetching over $1300 a square foot—still less than luxury properties in Aspen and Vail.

Pre-sales and sales at One Ski Hill Place, The Shock Hill Lodge & Spa, Crystal Peak Lodge, and Grand Lodge pre-sales indicate that the demand for luxury vacation real estate in Summit County is not letting up, regardless of the overall U.S. market.

As Vail Resorts, the owner of Breckenridge Ski Resort, pours millions of dollars into upgrading the ski areas, the new owners of these Breckenridge vacation homes will be enjoying several resort upgrades. Plans are in the works to add a new lift and 450 acres of terrain including 67 acres of clear-cut below the timberline. Another 285 acres will open up above the timberline and will be served by ski lifts. The new terrain includes intermediate, advanced-intermediate, and expert ski runs. Additionally, the Resort proposed to construct a top terminal ski patrol and a warming hut as well as a bottom terminal with facilities for food and beverages. As we speak, Ski Hill Road is being moved to a new location at the base of Peak 7.

As the new developments open, it is expected that the BreckConnect gondola, with a capacity of 3,000 people per hour, will start night and weekend operations. That alone will significantly reduce the need for vehicular traffic to the bases at Peak 7 and Peak 8. BreckConnect passes along the Cucumber Gulch Preserve and features spectacular views of the Ten Mile Range and the Continental Divide.

Scheduled to open for 2009-2010, One Ski Hill Place is Vail Resorts 90-unit development at the base of Peak 8 with price tags ranging from $963 to $1,385 a square foot. Crystal Peak Lodge and Grand Lodge sold out during pre-sales and are being constructed. At the midway station of the new BreckConnect Gondola, the one hundred most expensive condominiums yet are being sold for $3.8 million and feature views of Pristine Villaggio as well as the Resort.

Surrounded by national forests, properties in the resort will serve as wonderful family getaways with winter and summer recreation and resort amenities right outside the door. What more could you ask for? For more specific information and expert real estate assistance, contact Jonna Beardsley of Breckenridge Associates at (970) 453-2200.

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Real estate investors in Summit County—in Breckenridge, Keystone, Dillon, Frisco, Silverthorne, and the environs: Put on a positive attitude! There are plenty of solid opportunities in the resort markets, even though headlines continue to spill out grime tales through the nation. Remember the Law of Attraction? A positive attitude of success will move mountains and may even move you to Breckenridge CO real estate and the Ten Mile Range where you’ll revel not only in the views of the Continental Divide but you’ll be able to conquer it.

Write down the vision of your Summit County real estate investment. Concentrate. Keep alert. Take Action. And, as you steer your ship right through the narrow straits of the market, stay calm. Remember your vision, especially when the high waves are lapping at your feet.

Like the stock market, there is a profit to be made in today’s real estate market. Although our resort area has been spared the dramatic difficulties and deterioration of home values that some urban areas are seeing, our market has been adjusting itself little by little.

For one thing, the lenders have tightened their standards. However, most of our property owners own other properties and do not have a poor credit history. Sub-prime loans were generally extended to those with lower credit and/or insufficient down payment. The boon to our investors right now is the temporary increase in the government-backed loan packages, which is based on our high property values.

Another element of today’s investment market springs from the careful lending process. There are not as many creative loan packages available. But, buyers who take a methodical approach will be able to find a product that suits their needs.

Then, we have fewer qualified buyers shopping. This creates a piggyback effect as some people are trying to sell a property elsewhere before they buy here. And, it can also mean that sellers will need to steer into the curve to help out the buyers who do want to purchase property in the Rocky Mountains. A little give on both sides will help the market to continue to chug along.

As unexpected things come up, investors will find that it is best to be pre-approved. Being ready to make an offer, a buyer can move quickly when the right property comes available for the right price. And that can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Market fluctuation is like the sine wave, regularly going up and down over time. There are some great deals to be had during this cycle for those who keep their eye on the goal. Jonna Beardsley of Breckenridge Associates offers professional real-estate assistance in the resort areas of the Rocky Mountains. She can be reached at (970) 453-2200 or (800) 774-7970.

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Rest assured that when you choose Breckenridge, Colorado vacation real estate, it will be a wonderful family retreat. Year by year, residents of Breckenridge homes, business owners, and the Town of Breckenridge are creatively developing fun, enriching, and adventurous activities for children and youth of all ages.

For starters, we’ll mention activities that are available for residents and guests at Breckenridge CO real estate through the Breckenridge Recreation Center, the Breckenridge Arts District, the Stephen C. West Ice Arena, Breckenridge Ski Resort Ski & ride School, Breckenridge Public skateboard Park, Mountain Top Children’s Museum, and Downstairs at Eric’s Arcade. Some activities and programs run year round and others are seasonal. There are also recreational activities for older children such as fabulous bike trails that connect the resort towns, festivals with activities for children, junior golf opportunities, and a free shuttle to cart the young ones around to activities in other communities.

The Breckenridge Recreation Center is a great place to get acquainted with your options. All year long the Rec Center offers Toddler Programs that include acting, movement, art, and computer classes. During select times, the Center offers Bearly Big Childcare. On Saturday nights, the facility offers parents a couple of hours to go out while the children enjoy rock climbing, gym games, art, and swimming. The Indoor Rock Climbing Wall is reserved during certain times for the children and the Center also offers junior climbing camps. Then, for real rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking and the likes, there are Adventure Camps. The Nature Series Programs are weekly hikes, presentations, and camps. Specialty camps for skateboarding, lacrosse, and rugby are also available. Adults will also find plenty of activities at the Center!

The Breckenridge Arts District offers workshops all year round. Some of the modalities include clay, creating musical instruments, wacky textile wardrobe workshops, handmade paper creation, and learning about famous artists.

At the Stephen C. West Ice Arena, there are daily hockey classes for children under 6 and Ice-Hockey Camps and Learn-to-Skate Classes for all ages along with public skating. The Breckenridge Ski and Ride School offers supervised lessons and fun-filled adventures, some adapted from the Rocky Mountain Park and Pipe Camp. The Public Skateboard Park features rails, ramps, and jumps.

The Mountain Top Children’s Museum offers learning experiences for younger children through exhibits entitled, “Winter Wonders,” and “Where the Wild Things Are.” And the youth like to drop into Downstairs at Eric’s Arcade on Main Street for arcade games and socializing.

Call Jonna Beardsley of Breckenridge Associates at (970) 453-2200 or (800) 774-7970 for friendly and professional real-estate assistance in Summit and Park counties.

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