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Estes Park, Colorado
Dramatic Mountain Scenery, a Casual Western Lifestyle, Safe Neighborhoods and Abundant Outdoor Recreation are Reasons Why Retirees Choose Picturesque Estes Park, Colorado
Cost of Living: Above the National Average
In north central Colorado where the air is crisp and the skies are cobalt blue, Estes Park (population 6,000) is a picturesque mountain town snuggled along the Big Thompson River. It sits amid jaw-dropping scenery at the eastern entrance to 266,000-acre Rocky Mountain National Park, a majestic landscape where rivers rage and mountain peaks soar to 14,000 feet. A busy tourist destination in the summer, Estes Park is a relatively quiet place during the rest of the year, and a good number of retirees live here (in fact, nearly 50% of the population is age 45 or better). They enjoy a slightly funky, outdoor lifestyle and laid-back and Western character.
In general, the population leans to the left politically, and 30% of locals have an undergraduate or graduate degree. The crime rate is well below the national average and the cost of living is well above the national average. This pimarily because Estes Park is cute, touristy and rather isolated.
Estes Park is roughly 90 minutes north of Denver and is reached via a well-maintained two lane highway that winds through breathtaking mountain terrain (there is no air access). The town sits in an alpine valley, and its main street, which leads to Rocky Mountain National Park, is lined from end to end with gift shops, ice cream parlors, cafes, antique boutiques, rock shops, candy stores, mountain gear retailers and art galleries. It is a very crowded place during the summer and early fall.
Once off this main drag, though, Estes is quaint and charming, with cute shops and delicious restaurants tucked along narrow side streets. There are several delightful parks along the river where residents picnic and soak up mountain sunshine. Pretty Lake Estes also provides a spot for fishing.
Anyone who has seen the classic Stephen King movie The Shining is at least familiar with the most prominent landmark in town, the white, historic, Edwardian-style Stanley Hotel, which is percded atop a hill and impossible to ignore. Also not to be ignored are the herds of elk who venture into town from the surrounding hills during mating season each September and October. Visitors come to watch the male elk declare their love for the females with bugling that begins deep and resonant, only to become a high pitched squeal before ending in a succession of grunts. It is sight and sound not easily forgotten.
This is definitely a small town, and shopping is somewhat limited. For groceries, it is pretty much Country Market or Safeway. Some very good restaurants serve everything from Mexican dishes to big game. Locals also enjoy top-notch art galleries, wineries, movie houses and historical museums.
Estes Park, Colorado
There are several festivals each year, including the Scottish Festival in September and the Elk Fest in October. The annual Art Walk each May lets residents stroll through 18 different art galleries, and the Jazz Fest, also in May, brings nationally known musicians to this high altitude oasis.
A free shuttle runs during the summer months, but otherwise there is no public transportation (but much of Estes can be reached on foot). The city offers several free parking lots near downtown for those who want to drive to the center of things and then walk.
The Estes Valley Public Library has an interlibrary loan program, free wifi, public access computers, a book club, a discussion club, art shows, homebound book delivery and a volunteer program.
Estes especially beckons to those who love the outdoors and healthy living. Living in the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park provides residents a picture postcard playground for backcountry fishing, camping, hiking, cross country skiing, bicycling, horseback riding, mountain climbing and bird watching. The Park is home to snowcapped peaks and abundant wildlife, including bighorn sheep and mule deer (and is not a good place to get lost).
Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous road in the United States, starts just inside the Park and is breathtaking. It travels over the Continental Divide, through alpine meadows, around turquoise lakes and along heart-stopping cliffs. Tall poles outline the two lane road so that it can be found in the winter because when winter arrives at 12,000 feet, it can come with a vengeance (Trail Ridge is only open to the public in the summer). Back down in town at 7,522 feet, golfers love the thin air and enjoy 27 holes on two separate courses with mountain backdrops and the occasional elk.
The Estes Park Medical Facility has 23 beds and is a Level IV adult trauma center. It has 24-hour emergency department, 24-hour ambulance service and emergency air transport. Seventy-two percent of patients would recommend the hospital to a friend, which is above the national average. For military retirees, the nearest VA outpatient clinic is in Fort Collins, 25 miles south, and the closest VA hospital is in Denver, 65 miles south.
The Estes Park Senior Center overlooks the lake and provides a number of activities each month, including art classes, tai chi lessons, card games, fitness classes and potluck dinners. Speakers give talks on topics such as seniors' legal rights, health issues, historical events, Medicare issues and how to maintain balance in one's everyday life. Trips are planned to Denver museums, Colorado Rockies' baseball games, the theater and historic sites. Congregate noon meals are served for a reasonable price, and Meals on Wheels is active.
Estes summers are short, and temperatures are in the 70s, 80s and low-90s. It is usually cooler in the surrounding high country. Winters bring temperatures in the teens, 20s and 30s but also plenty of sunshine. Precipitation primarily comes in the form of snow, and February and March are the whitest months with 6 to 12 inches of snow each.
There are a few issues to keep in mind if considering retirement in Estes Park. The elevation might be an issue for some people, and the winters are certainly not everyone's cup of tea. The town can feel isolated in the winter, and the summer brims with tourists (and their cars).
Still, everyone seems to love Estes, with its amazing scenery and relaxed lifestyle. Whether strolling through art galleries or hiking in the back country with wildlife always nearby, Estes Park retirees know they have found a great retirement spot in this charming high altitude Colorado hamlet.
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