A change of scene. The San Miguel Mountains, from Lizard Head on the far left, to Sunshine, to 14'er Wilson Peak on the far right. Hiding behind are 14'ers, El Diente and Mount Wilson. Been there; done those; lived to tell. Today, however, we will play it safe, be content with a leisurely stroll around Telluride and view them from afar.
Bobbie and I drove over to Telluride last weekend in a misguided effort to hook up with Zionsville, Indiana friends John Q. and Joalenn. Turns out they were hiking Bear Creek, and missed our calls and email warnings.
Like Lovely Ouray, Telluride is located in a boxed canyon... but that's about where the similarities end. Building lots in Ouray start around 100 k; building lots in Telluride start at 1 million. You can't touch a Telluride Victorian for less than 2 to 3 million, and if its been restored you can add 5 million to that.
We were discussing those cost-of-living differentials yesterday with John and Joalenn over lunch at the Buen Tiempo Mexican food restaurant here in Ouray. After a week in T-Town, they finally came to their senses and moved camp to the Amphitheater Campground... amidst prowling bears and falling trees. Joalenn mentioned that she read in Telluride's "Watch" newspaper classifieds that a "Grandfathered" fireplace permit was for sale (the town banned installation of wood burning stoves and fireplaces over a decade ago to reduce the unsightly winter haze). Take a guess what the going price is for a "Grandfathered" fireplace permit these days. Nope, higher... higher... higher! Yep, $75,000 dollars! You see, it's another world over there... movie stars, swimming pools, limousines... you know, Jet Setters. Why I'm surprised they even let white-trash real people like us into town anymore... except to clean up after them.
If I sound a little sardonic it's because I worked for the rich and famous in T-town once upon a time... for several years. It's the only place I know where the hardware store had a bouncer to enforce the dress code.
If you are just a millionaire, you can't afford to live in Telluride. Nope, you gotta be a multi millionaire to rub elbows with Oprah and Tom C. Joalenn remarked that the real estate listings in the window of Sotheby's had no prices. I told her that Telluride is one of those places where, if you have to ask how much, you can't afford it.
So, here's a few photos from our stroll around Telluride. It reminded me a lot of our stroll through Aspen last year with Suzanne.
Lovely Ouray lies a mere five "crow-fly" miles over those mountains in the above photo. What a difference that makes.
Very nice but IMHO no house is worth that much $ anywhere.
ReplyDeleteGive our regards to John and JoAllen. We enjoyed our hikes together last year.
ReplyDeleteYes, we were shocked by the Telluride real estate prices. A bit out of our league! Guess they need all those real estate taxes to pay for the gondola :-)
This seems to be the future of all the best places. Wonder how that gentrification of parts of the US will affect full timers.
ReplyDeleteThat's what the party of "trickle down economics" want; get rid of the middle-class and they get all the best places in America for themselves and the low in come folks can handle their house keeping, chauffeuring and gardening jobs.
ReplyDeleteHere in California we have a homeless problem, a housing shortage & crumbling infrastructures while places like Telluride sit picture card perfect with many homes only occupied a few weeks out of the year & a free gondola system to shuttle the wealthy few up & down a mountain (if they should feel the need to stoop that low.).
The natives are getting restless though and the revolution won't be too many years away.
Will have no problem Kissing That Sky Goodby when the time comes.
Just keep posting
& Stay Thirsty
D&A
Doug, I was considered "the help" when I worked there, with a few exceptions... not all rich people are assholes, thank god. The tax-base pockets are deep... everything flowered and manicured, with a few "tasteful" old tumbledown relics from harder times. It gives them a glimpse into the past, where they wouldn't last a week. :)
Deletemark
The one thing that always hits me in Telluride is how crowded the houses are together. For that much money, I would like a little more space! Hope to see John and Joellen before they skedaddle out of Ouray.
ReplyDeleteI think there is a one day overlap... maybe we'll have a get together at our Mine Shack!!!
Deletemark
The houses in your photos are "in town". And although they ARE expensive, that's not where "O" and Mr. Cruise live, as you know. The real wealthy live up above in Mountain Village and elsewhere. True story...I used to finance two young bucks who made it big in California real estate. They bought lots in Telluride's Mountain Village. Their first house was on a culture de sac up there. They sold the 5000 sq. ft. home to a "celebrity" as a guest house. We stayed in it before they bought it. That's OUR claim to fame. BTW, I hear Mr. Cruise has sold out of Telluride AND Beverly Hills.
ReplyDeleteWell...at least the lift ride is free there...we had to pay to take the Silver Queen in Mt. crested Butte!
ReplyDelete:)
ReplyDeleteNice homey looking houses in T-Town at "not-so-homey" prices.
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