Crested Butte

Crested Butte is a town of about 1,500 people and before the white folk settled East River Valley the Utes used the area in the summer months. This beautiful valley was settled by trappers, then coal and silver miners then ranchers. Today the real estate is more fairly priced than other ski towns and the beauty and views are unique and isolated even for Colorado.

The ski resort is great and there is also a lot of backcountry skiiing in the area. The town has chill character and there are festivals and fun things to do year round. There are so many trails, hikes, camping and mountain biking possibilities in the area. The average income is about $40,000 so around the Colorado average.

I have been to Crested Butte on many occasions and have never been disappointed. I went to college in nearby Gunnison and we would often ride our bikes to Crested Butte in the warmer months and go hang out at some of the bars in the colder months. The town itself has a small population, around 1,400, but during the winter months when the slopes are open the town accommodates many more people. The actual people who live in Crested Butte are very nice and laid back as you would expect from a small mountain town. It's gorgeous here with incredible views all around and the town itself is very charming. Main street looks as if it hasn't changed in many years with the old buildings a mixture of colors, shapes, and sizes looking like they are from the Victorian era. The shops have a wide variety of things visitors may need to specialty shops.

Crested Butte began as a mining town back in the 1880s as it was rich in coal. After the silver mines had all been closed Crested Butte remained one of the last surviving mining towns because of the coal and coke it produced. Coke is a product of the burn off when getting the impurities out of coal and is used in steel production. The coke was shipped to Pueblo for many years to help keep their production of steel up. As coal was being used less frequently due to other energy sources the mining of coal was no longer needed as much. Also, Pueblo steel companies found cheaper coke closer to home and eventually in 1952 the mines closed.

The median home price in Crested Butte is $599,000. There are a lot of vacation homes here for the rich and famous (think Tom Cruise) and the prices reflect it. There are smaller homes which can be purchased for much less, but many of the homes are well into the millions. This secluded get away town definitely has money in it.

Crested Butte is a great place for anyone who is an outdoor enthusiast. In addition to skiing and snowboarding there are great mountain biking trails, hiking, wildlife viewing, rock climbing, fishing, white water rafting, and more.

For people who live in Crested Butte year round, the schools in this small town are excellent. On average they rate a 9 on a scale of 1-10 for state standards when tested. Parents report feeling as if their children are attending a private school instead of a public one and most are overwhelmingly happy with the teachers and administration.

I would highly recommend this small mountain town for anyone who likes living away from the hustle and bustle of city life. If you are an outdoor enthusiast and can afford to live here, this is definitely the place for you. Friendly townspeople who take pride in their community make up the core of this winter mecca and are not only welcoming but genuine. If you can't afford to live here, I still suggest a nice long weekend visit (or more) to take in the tranquil beauty and charm of this small town.