“Mountains, canyons, waterfalls and unusual landforms give life to wide variations of vegetation. Year round recreational opportunities satisfy lovers of fishing, hiking, bicycling, rafting, hot air ballooning, skiing, ice-skating and snowmobiling.”
How have the Pagosa Springs profiles changed between Summer of 2008 and the Winter of 2013-2014?
An excerpt from Book Three in “The Knowledge Path Series” dedicated to helping you find the place of your dreams.
Continuing in the Rocky Mountain states region, let’s explore first what the South Central Colorado (Pagosa Springs ) and then the Southwestern Colorado travel regions have to offer.
You’ll enjoy an extended vacation in four towns that are relatively close together.
Pagosa Springs, 81147;
Durango, 81301 and 81303;
Silverton, 81433; and
We initiated coverage in 2008 and 2009 which gives us a view of the neighborhood evolutions for each like it did for Whitefish, Montana.
You will recall we introduced you to Pagosa Springs already.
“Pagosa Springs … The Colorado You’ve Always Dreamed Of.”
Mountains, canyons, waterfalls and unusual landforms give life to wide variations of vegetation. Year round recreational opportunities satisfy lovers of fishing, hiking, bicycling, rafting, hot air ballooning, skiing, ice-skating and snowmobiling.
Does it meets the quality-of-life criteria for a resort town?
You can say an emphatic “Yes” to three key questions
- Does it offer a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities?
- Do the weather patterns in winter or summer make you want to live there year round, or only on a seasonal basis.
- Does it have potential over the long term to develop into a high appreciation real estate investment while being affordable for mid-life or empty nesters?
Off the beaten path, part of the Four Corners region located in the Colorado Sunbelt, just 35 miles north of the New Mexico border and along the Western slope of the Continental Divide.
“The combination of high desert plateau and Rocky Mountains to the North and East of town creates an unusually mild climate. Pagosa Springs is located in the upper San Juan Basin, surrounded by the nearly 3 million acres of the San Juan National Forest and Weminuche Wilderness Area.”
Two US highways bisect the region – US 550 cuts through the forest along the north / south, while US 160 divides along the east / west axis.
“Covering 1.9 million acres in southwestern Colorado, lies the San Juan National Forest, with elevations in the forest range from 6,800 feet at Junction Creek to 13,000 feet at Wolf Creek near the Continental Divide, and over 14,000 feet at Mount Wilson in the Lizard Head Wilderness.”
For ski enthusiasts, a 23-mile trek brings you to Wolf Creek Ski Area on US 160 at the top of apply named Wolf Creek Pass.
U.S. 84 is a great drive that covers 151 miles between Santa Fe and its western terminus, Pagosa Springs, population: about 1,700.
Pagosa Springs, where everyone says you should try a soak at the Springs Resort.
The nearest commercial airport to Pagosa Springs is the Durango/La Plata County Airport near Durango, which offers commuter air service to the major airports at Denver and Phoenix.
Durango is about 60 miles west of Pagosa Springs on US Highway 160.
The central part of Pagosa Springs, where the hot springs are, is small and easily walkable.
However the outer parts of town are growing quickly, especially the western part where there’s plenty of new residences and big box stores.
Here’s a snapshot first taken in the summer of 2008 describing Pagosa Springs’ more permanent physical profile.
Location At-A-Glance (Summer of 2008)
Region: Western United States, Rocky Mountain Region
State: Colorado
Travel Region: South Central Colorado
County: Archuleta
Town: Pagosa Springs
Real Estate Phase: Innovation Towns
Population Density: Town and Country,
And, the neighborhoods falling within Pagosa’s zip code.
Profile At-A-Glance (Summer 2008)
Zip Code: 81147
Life Stages: Singles, Couples, Midlife, Empty Nests, Seniors
Ages: 20-29, 30-44, 45-65, 65+
Community Neighbors:
09M1T1, Big Fish Small Pond, 45-65, Accumulated Wealth, Landed Gentry
25Y1T1, Country Casuals, 30-44, Couples, Midlife Success, Landed Gentry
56Y3T4, Crossroads Villagers, 20-29, Striving Singles, Rustic Living
Community Neighbors:
45Y3T3, Blue Highways, 20-29, Striving Singles, Middle America
58M4T4, Back Country Folks, 65+ Sustaining Seniors, Rustic Living
How did the neighborhoods evolve?
By the winter of 2013-2014 Pagosa Springs, just like Whitefish, Montana gained two new Wireless Resorter lifestyles to replace the migrating Distant Exurbans WRDE 56Y3T4 – both Maturing Resorts – WRMR: 23Y2T2 and 28M2T2.
Pagosa Springs kept their Premier Resorts WRPR lifestyles over the 5-year period between the summer of 2008 and the winter of 2013-2014 (09M1T1 and 25Y1T1).
But their Distant Exurbans WRDE 56Y3T4 migrated somewhere else.
In fact, across mountain towns, as you’ll discover later, in California (Mammoth), Montana (Whitefish) and Colorado (Durango and Silverton) the younger Distant Exurbans 56Y3T4 Millennials disappeared entirely.
The Rustic Living (T4) lifestyle, Rustic Eagles HCERE 58M4T4 migrated with the flock that took off from Whitefish, Montana.
Later, you’ll discover they landed in Silverton and Vail, Colorado and along US 395 in Lone Pine, California.
So, Pagosa Springs evolved from T4 Rustic Living to a more upscale T2 Town and Country ranking with the second Rural Cowboy HCERC 28M2T2.
Overall Pagosa Springs dropped the two lifestyles ranked lower for affluence and status (86% lower that the most affluent ) 56/66 and 58/66 respectively.
The only less affluent lifestyle remaining is ranked 45/66 (68% lower)- Rural Cowboys — HCERC 45Y3T3.
Like Whitefish, Pagosa Springs added another Wireless Resorter lifestyle – Maturing Resorts – WRMR 23Y2T2.
Which as you’ll see populates many if not most of the resort destinations we’ve explored.
Here’s the most recent profile to determine the degree of fit for you, if you’ve migrated recently from or any other town
Profile At-A-Glance (Winter 2013 – 2014)
Zip Code: 81147
Life Stages: Singles, Couples, Midlife, Empty Nests, Baby Boomers
Ages: 20-29, 25-54, 30-44, 45-65, 55+
Community Neighbors:
09M1T1, Big Fish Small Pond, 45-65, Accumulated Wealth, Landed Gentry
25Y1T1, Country Casuals, 30-44, Couples, Midlife Success, Landed Gentry
23Y2T2 Greenbelt Sports, 25-54, Mainstream Singles, Country Comfort
28M2T2 Traditional Times, 55+, Couples, Empty Nest, Country Comfort
Community Neighbors:
45Y3T3, Blue Highways, 20-29, Striving Singles, Middle America
So, Pagosa Springs slowly evolved into a more Wireless Resorter destination resort with four lifestyles, two remaining in premier resort communities and two new neighbors maturing resort communities.
If you fall within the 20 to 29, 25 to 54, 30 to 44 or 55+ age groups you might love Pagosa Springs.
There you’ll find neighbors who remain single, have found a partner, experience the ups and downs of midlife, and the suddenly empty households as children move out, and of course, age as Baby Boomers.
Should you keep it on your quality-of-life resort bucket list?
Of course the choice is yours, but on your visit keep your eyes open for
“A new look that includes intelligent town planning for increased human interaction; and abundant open space; flexibility in home design; planning for safety; shared facilities; and high-tech communications infrastructure.”
In the meantime, you should search the web for back articles about what really goes on, what life is really like and how it evolved over two 5-year timeframes, 2003 to 2008, and 2009 to 2014.
Or you can profit from the work we’ve already done on your behalf.
Steps:
(23) Focus on resort communities in the western region of the United States with a new look that includes intelligent town planning for increased human interaction; and abundant open space; flexibility in home design; planning for safety; shared facilities; and high-tech communications infrastructure.”