Early Snow Slams Summit

WE HAVE SNOW!

In the last couple of days, mother nature has bestowed over two feet of snow in most of Summit County. As a result, Keystone Ski Area is going to open a week early (November 3), and Keystone spokeswoman Amy Kemp says "Looking back, it appears to be a record" adding that "ideal snowmaking conditions have also helped prep the mountain for the big day" according to an article in the October 27th Summit Daily News.

At Breckenridge, avalanche control work was conducted at the ski area where two feet of snow fell overnight.

In another article, it was reported that for the first time in five years, the Summit County Schools were closed due to the thick blanket of snow covering the county. School superintendent Millie Hamner was quoted as saying "Today, Mother Nature threw us a curve ball".

This all bodes well for the real estate market" says Susan Gunnin, author of this blog. "To a great extent, ski area real estate values, are a function of the quality and quantity of skiing in the same way that beachfront properties are a function of great water-related recreation. The better the skiing, the more valuable ski area property becomes".

To learn more about this phenomenon, check out Susan's web site or email her.

Vail Resorts reports record year

In a Summit Daily News article by Nicole Formosa on October 6, 2006, it was reported that Vail's CEO, Rob Katz, attributed the record year (Vail's fiscal year ends July 31) to early season snowfall and on-mountain improvements.

Vail Resorts owns Keystone and Breckenridge in Summit County, as well as Vail and Beaver Creek in Eagle County, Colorado and Heavenly Ski Resort in California.

FYE net income was $45.8 million, an increase of 97.8% over 2005. Mountain revenue increased 14.7% while lodging revenue fell 20.6%, mostly due to the sale of three hotels. The notable increase in mountain revenue can be attributed to a 5.9% increase in skier visits, and a 6.4% increase in lift ticket prices.

Breckenridge, the 2nd most visited ski resort in the U.S, saw a 10.1% increase in skier visites, the largest among Vail's 5 ski resorts.

Katz touted Vail's upcoming Peaks of Breckenridge real estate development, which plans 450 high-end residential units and 75,000 square feet of skier services at the base of Peaks 7 and 8. He expects the development, which is still in planning stages, to be one of the best properties in the resort because of its ski-in/out access to the mountain and its quick connection to downtown Breckenridge via the new gondola. Sales of the first phase of the Peaks of Breckenridge are scheduled to begin this coming ski season, and they will be priced "at the top end" of where properties sell in Breckenridge.

As blogged earlier, the new gondola "BreckConnect" is scheduled for a Christmas, 2006 opening.

To learn more about Breckenridge real estate possibilities, email Susan Gunnin, or check out her web site.

Live longer in Breckenridge!!

Want to live longer? Move to Breckenridge, Colorado.

In a Summit Daily News article by Allen Best, on October 2, 2006, the question "Is it somehow healthier to live in Summit County? was answered "YES" by a new study by Harvard University.

Summit County, along with six other counties located along the Continental Divide in Colorado lead the nation in longest average life expectancy -- 81.3 years.

After some discussion, it was uncertain exactly why living at high altitude increased one's life expectancy. The study analyzed national data from 1980 to 1999. Perhaps mountain people are more active, eat better and generally don't smoke. Perhas it's because people who live at higher elevations have stronger lungs and hearts.

Susan Gunnin, author of this blog, thinks it probably has to do with living sourrounded by such sheer beauty. "It's got to help, anyway" she said.

To learn more about life in Breckenridge, go to Susan's web site.