Silverthorne, Frisco and Keystone Information

Summit County 

Summit County, Colorado is nestled in the heart of the Colorado Rockies and is home to some of the world's best skiing. Surrounded by thousand's of acres of national forest's the resident's of Summit County enjoy the ambiance of the mountain area, yet the convenience to the larger city, Denver, which is only an hour drive from Summit County. 

You will love all that Summit County has to offer you whether you are looking to relocate to our charming area or looking for a home away from home. 

The lifestyle in our area is one that is not rushed, but one that absorbs everything we have to offer. The people, charming café's, boutique's and festivities are something that will have you craving for more of this peaceful lifestyle. 

When you visit Summit County you have access to four world-class ski resorts. Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and Keystone Resort offer thousands of acres of year-round recreation. The Blue River, Snake River and Ten-Mile Creek all feed Summit County's two large reservoirs, Lake Dillon and Green Mountain Reservoir. Enjoy sailing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing and motorized water sports in these Summit County waters.  

Summit County also offers you several challenging golf courses, Keystone Ranch Course, Breckenridge Golf Course, The River Course, Cooper Creek Golf Club, The Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks which are open to the public, and hundreds of miles of trails provide guests and residents access to the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains for hiking, biking, camping and exploring. 

Whether you are looking for information on buying, selling, relocating or vacation property. This site offers you all this and more. 

If you are planning to visit our area or a returning guest, please take a look at my Community page to get a taste of what all is at your fingertips.  

When you are ready to make your move let me know and I will make sure to handle all your real estate needs. 

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Arapahoe Basin 

Breckenridge 

Copper Mountain 

Dillon 

Frisco 

Once a Victorian mining town, historic Frisco is a quaint community with “Old West” character and a mountain lifestyle. Home to just under 3,000 full time residents, Frisco’s ranks double during vacation time (and especially in winter) when holidaymakers arrive. 

Voted one of the “18 Best Ski Towns in North America” by Ski Magazine in 2003, Frisco is home to the Summit County’s best Nordic center and is just minutes drive from seven major ski areas. Thanks to its nearness to the Continental Divide, the Frisco area typically has ideal skiing conditions in winter, with plenty of hard and fast snowstorms and long sunny periods. 

Apart from its world-class winter sports and historic ambience, Frisco has a lot to recommend it. Schools are top notch and a new hospital that opened in December 2006. Interesting and one of a kind shopping is to be had in the pretty “Main Street”, and the thriving tourist industry means that local eateries and entertainment is both top notch and varied. Frisco’s Peninsula Recreation Area has great outdoor facilities, including miles of biking trails, and boats can be rented from the Frisco marina for a great day out on Lake Dillon.  

Location
Historic Frisco is in Summit County, about 75 miles west of Denver. Deep in Rocky Mountains, Frisco sits on the shores of Lake Dillon and is surrounded by the Arapahoe National Forest. Geographically central to other Summit County communities, Frisco is the transport hub for the county’s free Summit Stage bus service.  

Denver is about 75 miles east of Frisco and Boulder about 60 northeast. Aspen is about 78 miles southwest.  

Economy
Thanks to its world famous winter resort location and a ski industry which attracts about 3 million people to the area annually, Frisco has a highly stable and thriving tourism industry. Most of the town business is in some way related to it, with flourishing hospitality, retail, and sports and recreation sectors. Services like health and finance also provide local employment, and real estate businesses are doing very well.

Housing
Thanks to its quaint beauty and superb skiing location, Frisco is currently experiencing a bit of a real estate boom. Property transactions are at an all time high and this trend looks set to continue. Because it is a smaller town than Silverthorne, Frisco has a tighter market.  

Condos start at $260,000, single family homes are at a premium in Frisco. There are also some stunning homes with prices currently start at around $519,000 and rise to over 2 million. 

Recreation
Thanks to its superb Rocky Mountain location and proximity to Lake Dillon, Frisco offers its residents an unparallel degree of recreational opportunities. World-class skiing leads the list, followed by the full range of winter sports and recreation, but there is plenty to do in the summer months too. Hiking, rock climbing, cycling, camping, whitewater rafting and kayaking are enjoyed, as well as some of the best trout fishing in Colorado. 

The Arapahoe National Forest is a stunning wilderness that surrounds most of Frisco, and eight top ski resorts are just minutes away by car, including Arapahoe Basin, Copper Mountain, Keystone and Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek, Loveland and Winter Park. 

The Frisco Nordic Center, the best in Summit County, is found here. The Ten Mile Recreation PAVED Pathway links the entire county and then west to Vail and can be explored on foot, by mountain bike, or on skates or rollerblades in summer and by cross country ski in winter.  

Frisco Parks are generous and the local Historic Park, which has eleven historic buildings from the 1800’s in a park setting, is a fun way for families to explore the mining history of the town. 

The Frisco Bay Marina has moorings to rent and you can also rent canoes and power boats for a day on Lake Dillon. Anglers have plenty of great spots to choose from on the lake and nearby Ten Mile Creek inlet. Youngsters can learn to fish in the stocked pond at Meadow Creek Park. 

Special Attractions/Events
Frisco’s primary attraction is its superb Rocky Mountain location and close proximity to world-class ski resorts, but there are also plenty of great things to do in the town itself.  

The local Frisco Nordic Center is the best cross country center in the county and a great place to increase your skill winter or summer. The yearly Frisco Cup Challenge is held there and the center is also home to the local Two Below Zero sleigh ride company. Two Below Zero provide a truly special winter event—a ride through the mountains on a traditional mule drawn sleigh to a snug forest camp where a superb dinner awaits, complete with live music and cowboy style entertainment. What’s not to love? 

Boats can be moored at or rented from the Frisco Marina for a day of fun on Lake Dillon. Some of the best trout fishing in the state can be had from the lake and neighboring rivers and streams.  

Summer events include Music on Main, Fourth of July, car shows, Founders Day with Old West themed events, and the infamous Colorado Barbecue Challenge. The town is on the route of two important cycle races, the Bicycle Tour of Colorado and Ride the Rockies, and it holds parties in honor of riders during these events. The annual “Fiesta Frisco” celebrates local culture with food, dancing, and music each June and “Oktoberfest” celebrates fall in late September.  

Winter is a lot of fun in Frisco, with holidaymakers adding to the vacation ambience. The town holds a delightful “Old Fashioned Christmas”, and the Governor's Cup is held.
The Frisco Gold Rush, a cross country ski race for all, is Colorado's oldest such event, and increasing numbers of enthusiasts tackle the course each year. The annual Tubbs Romp to Stomp out Breast Cancer snowshoe walk is another popular community event. 

Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places
The original inhabitants of the Frisco region were Ute Indians. The Ute met the first white men when they arrived in the eighteen-forties in search of mountain lakes in which to trap beaver, and by the time the mining boom broke out in the eighteen-seventies they were being driven out of the region.  

Originally built as a stagecoach and rail stop for hopefuls during the mining boom, Frisco was primarily a town of saloons and hotels at first, although the log cabins of miners and their families were quick to follow. Many of these early Victorian buildings still exist in the charming town, and the Frisco Historical Park surrounds many more, including the original chapel, school and several early log cabins. The school now houses a museum of town history. Exhibits include photos of Main Street as it was in its earliest days and a photographic exploration of the Ute Indians and their way of life.  

Skiing helped save the small mountain town from the decline that so many of neighboring mining communities suffered in the nineteen thirties, and today Frisco is one of Colorado’s best resort towns. 

Keystone 

Keystone, at the Continental Divide is one of the state’s top ski resorts, embracing three mountains, the Snake River, and a number of intimate villages. Apart from its world-class skiing and snowboarding facilities, Keystone has award winning five star dining, the region’s largest and best conference center, two championship golf courses, and superb amenities. 

Location
Keystone is in Summit County, Colorado, in the Rocky Mountains near Dillon, Frisco, Silverthorne and Breckenridge. Keystone is about 70 miles west of Denver and 50 miles west of Boulder. Aspen is to the southwest, about 85 miles away.  

Geography/Terrain
Deep in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Keystone follows the Snake River for about 7 miles and encompasses three spectacular mountains, the Dercum Mountain, North Peak and the Outback.  

Local Economy
Keystone is a world-class ski resort with a local economy entirely based around tourism. Ski instructors, hoteliers, restaurant staff, service providers and the like all find ample work at Keystone, which has several up-market villages well equipped with spas, restaurants, retail and financial facilities, day care camps and the like. The year-round population is young and the employment rate extremely high, significantly above the state average.  

Housing
Buyers may purchase homes in these communities, either as investment properties (to rent to vacationers), holiday places or permanent homes. River Run Village is an attractive development with its own performing arts pavilion and mainly consits of condominiums, townhomes and some single family residences. Prices range quite widely in Keystone, from about $109,000 for a studio and into the multi-millions for stand-alone luxury homes. 

Recreation
Thanks to its superb location and ideal climate, Keystone is a recreational paradise. In fact, there really is no shortage of activities to enjoy out of doors. In winter there is world-class skiing of course, and snowboarding, ice skating, sledding, snowshoeing… anything in fact that you can do outside with snow and days and days of bright sunshine.
Summer activity is easily as varied, with two excellent golf courses, horseback riding, four-wheeling, mountain biking, hiking, camping, and picnicking. 

Granted the Silver Medal in the “America’s Best Golf Resorts” award by the readers of Golf Magazine in 2002 and 2004 (courses are rated every 2 years by the magazine) Keystone Resort is a true joy for golfers.  

Keystone Ranch features an architect-designed course in a high-meadow design with sagebrush and native grasses bordering many of the holes. The clubhouse is housed in a historic log homestead; the excellent restaurant specializes in six-course meals served with Western flair. The River Course was voted second best course in Colorado by Colorado Golf Magazine and the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System has granted it a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary”. The course begins by sensitively skirting wetlands and the Snake River before ascending to higher ground. Designed by Hurdzan-Fry, the course has great mountain views at the back and an exciting 200-foot drop at the par-four 16th. 

Special Attractions/Events
Apart from the myriad recreational pursuits available to you in Keystone, its status as a much loved vacation destination means that it is also home to superb five-star restaurants, up-market shopping and exciting nightlife. Did I forget to mention the night skiing that everyone should take advantage of? 

For top dining, you can’t miss the award winning Alpenglow Stube, ranked one of the best on-mountain restaurants in the country by Zagat Guide, but there are lots of great family eateries to choose from. 

River Run village has a wide range of fun events throughout the year, including the superb annual World Music Festival. The Pavilion at River Run hosts a fantastic variety of musical and dramatic events annually, including chamber music, comedy shows, and kids drama camps. 

Interesting Facts
Max and Edna Dercum founded Keystone Resort on November 21, 1970. They wanted it to become a great place for families and friends to meet for wilderness adventures and recreation, and over the years their vision has become reality. While most of the buildings are new on Keystone, the popular Keystone Ranch golf course has its clubhouse in a historic log homestead. 

Silverthorne 

High in Colorado’s stunning Rocky Mountains and at the base of the towering Gore Range, Silverthorne is a special place with Gold Medal fishing on the Blue River, world class golf and Outlet shopping just off Interstate 70, an hour west of Denver. 

Home to about four thousand residents, Silverthorne is a short drive from 7 world-class ski resorts, Arapahoe Basin, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone, Loveland and Winter Park, and three of the nation’s most majestic National forests. The neighbouring Ptarmigan and Eagles Nest wilderness areas are stunning in summer and winter alike, and Lake Dillon provides fishing and boating in the summer and ice fishing in winter. The Blue River winds through Silverthorne and heads north of town to the Green Mountain Reservoir. A beautiful and carefully planned new Riverwalk is being built on its banks. Silverthorne also has lovely parks and nature areas and a state-of-the-art Recreation Center, so it is no surprise that locals like to make the most of the outdoors. 

Summit County’s largest town and its primary retail hub, Silverthorne has a large factory outlet center with over 70 designer brand stores. Good restaurants and affordable family eateries are plentiful.  

Location
Silverthorne is near some of the nation’s most superb ski resorts. Silverthorne is about 65 miles west of Boulder and 100 miles west of Denver. Aspen is about 75 miles to the southwest.  

Geography
Deep in the heart of Colorado’s majestic Rocky Mountains, Silverthorne sits in the center of one of the country’s most beautiful regions and is less than a 15 minute drive from four of its top ski resorts. Residents enjoy an outdoor lifestyle year round, with fishing, hiking, biking and camping in summer and cross country skiing, snowshoeing skating, and snowboarding in winter. The Blue River feeds into and back out of Lake Dillon and is a popular fly fishing spot just below the dam. 

Economy
Thanks to its superb Rocky Mountain location, Silverthorne has a thriving tourism and hospitality industry, and a strong commercial climate provides diversification. The retail hub for the entire Summit County region, Silverthorne has a wide range of retail (The Outlet Shops) and commercial facilities. The local real estate industry is also flourishing, and the town’s Economic Development sector works with local business people to maintain the community’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Housing
Solid and affordable modern housing has given Silverthorne the edge over neighboring communities and the town is currently attracting Summit County’s largest number of home buyers. Houses currently give excellent value for your money and are selling more rapidly than in previous years. Buyers will find that they have a wide range of choices available to them including duplexes, townhomes, condos, single family homes, and land available to those who want to plan and build their own home. Condos and duplexes range in price from about $122,500 to $500,000 and single family dwellings range from about $350,000 to 4.5 million. 

Recreation
Silverthorne is a mountain community with superb recreational facilities and parks, National Forests, world class ski resorts, the Blue River and Dillon Reservoir close at hand.  

Local parks are plentiful and the town landscaping lovely, with flowerboxes all over and beautifully landscaped roads.  

Silverthorne’s recreational center with over 62,000 square feet hosts a wide range of sports and recreational facilities, including kid friendly pools, gyms, cardio equipment, weight rooms, hot tubs and an array of classes and activities. The center’s Kids Korner is more than just a place to leave your little ones while you exercise; fun movement classes are offered for children between 3 and five.  

The Silverthorne Skate Park is right next door as a part of the popular Rainbow Park and its extensive concrete course is exciting and challenging for kids, teenagers and adults alike.  

The local golf club, the Raven at Three Peaks, is a spectacular spot. With mountain views and an exciting Tom Lehman and Hurdzan/Fry designed course that winds its way through pines and aspens, the Raven at Three Peaks makes use of creeks and water hazards in play. It’s not uncommon to spot elk or deer in the surrounding forest, and the local osprey often soar overhead. The Raven at Three Peaks also has superb dining and event facilities. 

Special Attractions/Events
Community events are in tune with the seasons. Winter is a lot of fun, with the annual Swift Skedaddle Great Snowshoe Adventure and other such family events, and spring spirit sees locals getting together to clean up their town each May, just in time for the yearly Mountain Antique Expo, which brings visitors from all over. Summer is a lot of fun, with themed dance parties, outdoor music concerts and sporting events bringing everyone together, and autumn sees community Halloween and Thanksgiving celebrations. 

Silverthorne has Summit County’s best shopping and its factory outlet mall brings bargain hunters from miles around. The town has great family restaurants. 

Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places
Silverthorne was originally built as a temporary camp to house the men who worked on damming the Blue River back in the 1960’s as a means of providing water storage for the rapid growth in Denver and creating what has become Dillon Reservoir. Fortunately someone came to their senses and realized where they were standing — on one of the loveliest spots in Summit County. 

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