George Nettles, Denver CO – In any discussion of Denver luxury homes, condos and townhomes we discuss things like the square footage, rooms, floor plan, great views, security and of course prices. About two years ago, my wife and I spent some time in the oldest Colorado luxury condominium development extent. First off, the views were just jaw dropping incredible, so that may have been part of their success. Energy efficient? Oh yeah – correct orientation for no direct sun in the summer and full sun in the winter. Secure, perhaps gated is not the correct word, but impregnable seems to fit, very safe. We felt the living and bedrooms were a bit small and in some of them, one had to climb up to a window to go down in the house, but the counters and floors were nice pinkish sandstone. The community spaces were superb and had round heated enclosures for men that were set in the ground for hanging out and talking politics and religion (just kidding). The marketing was very good with catchy names like Spruce Tree House, Balcony House, Cliff Palace, Square Tower House and Long House, all done in what is called “Puebloan” style. I asked about buying one, but they are so popular, that apparently none ever come on the market.
Geared to the Young Professionals!
We both felt that coming home with an armload of groceries or a deer would be difficult for entering the homes but the living accommodations would be worth it. The whole complex had an attractive name, “Mesa Verde,” Spanish for ‘Green Table,’ which may be a bit euphemistic, as it was pretty dry and not much green except for the Pinon Pines, Rabbitbush and the Sagebrush.
Sometimes A Long Way Up or Down!
Of course, I am pulling your leg with Mesa Verde and the two and half days we spent there was a wonderful and unforgettable get away. We learned so much about the Anasazi people, including the name, which is Navajo for “enemy of our ancestors” and is now more appropriate to call them Ancient Puebloans, as they are the ancestors of the Pueblo, Hopi and Zuni Native American Tribes. They started building these cliff dwellings about 1190 AD and suddenly left in about 1300 AD. Why they did is one of the great mysteries in archaeology! Drought, Famine, War, Subprime loans??
Eating your lunch (corn on the cob) at the job site? Just put it in the wall!
Staying at Far View Lodge in the DARK!!
We stayed in one of the ‘cabinettes’ in Far View Village in the park and I want to tell you this place is so dark at night that can’t see your hands in front of you but can you see the Milky Way brilliantly. If you haven’t had a Navaho Taco before, made with Navajo Fry Bread, you are in for a taste delight, and it is a regular menu item at the Far View Terrace Restaurant, located just a quarter mile from Far View Lodge. We climbed up and down a bazillion ladders to the dwellings (crawled through one tunnel), walked miles over the canyon trails and ached all over, so the Navajo Tacos and a drink (or two) at the end of the day was most welcome!
All this to tell you that there is a contest going on right now (4/12/2012) at Mesa Verde that you may want to enter. Follow this Mesa Verde link Win or not, a Mesa Verde trip is such a wonderful experience, that you should go, a trip of a life time….and it is only about 50 miles SW from Durango, so you could visit there and ride the 110+ old narrow gauge Durango & Silverton Scenic Railroad as well!
*George Nettles is an Associate Broker with Brokers Guild Cherry Creek in Denver, CO. He is the founder of www.LuxuryHomesInDenver.com and Denver’s Luxury Home Team. He can be reached at 303-981-7282 or [email protected]
