Lori Smith Estes Park Real Estate - LiveInEstesPark.com

After some blustery days last week. We are having some gorgeous sunny weather. Come on up and enjoy it.

OK, about the sales. Some recent tidbits of national business news from the week that helps me sleep at night. Just a highlight though, these numbers can give me a headache.
After analysts were projecting that new home sales would fall again, September posted an almost 5% gain. Since August sales were at an 11 year low, hopefully this means the market is making a gain upward. Unemployment claims fell by 8,000 last week too. Nationally the median price of homes rose 2.5% from August numbers too. These recent announcements coupled with the reasonable interest rates gives Realtors cause for hope of a return to more normal market conditions. The feds are anxious to keep things moving along and may cut the federal funds rate before the month is over.

The Estes Park year-to-date total sales volume is up from last year by 8%. And IMO it’s a Buyer’s Market. Estes is a hard market to buy into especially when you are coming here from the Midwest. I personally think there are a lot of bargains out there.

Have a great week!

Dining in Estes Park is always an interesting experience. Anyone recognize this wall? It is at the Dunraven Inn on Spur 66 on your way to the YMCA. This restaurant is a piece of Estes Park history. Approximately $13,000 line the walls at this cozy Italian eatery.

We didn’t know it was Homecoming until we got to the restaurant so it was a busy night for them. The hostess informed us of a 45 minute wait, but we went ahead and reserved a table anyway. We drove around for half an hour and returned to wait for our table. We read the walls while we waited and watched the fish in their aquarium. I don’t know how long ago it started, but there are dollars bill stapled to every available surface. The walls, and ceilings are completely covered with money that has been personalized with names, dates and personal messages about celebrations held in this restaurant. It was fun to read about birthdays, anniversary and vacations through the years from visitors to Estes Park. We were seated in a nook of four seating areas on the SW corner of the building. I felt I needed to get the flashlight from my purse to read the menu. Our waitress was friendly and very attentive. Once you are given the menu and the wine list there is no doubt that the food is going to wonderful. Honestly, the wine list is larger than the menu. Alan had the Prime Rib and I had Fettucini Alfredo with chicken. We had these great house salads that were Italian style with black olives, Parmesan cheese and tomatoes. The salad dressing was homemade. I think we had Creamy Garlic. I was stuffed after only my salad and some bread. Alan ordered an appetizer of potato skins, which is like a meal in itself. They are served with a cheese sauce on half and then a meat sauce on the others. He was so full, he had his salad boxed up for him. We had more fun reading the dollar bills on the walls while we waited on our food. When the waitress brought out our food I couldn’t believe the size of the portions. My entree was served on a bed of spinach fettuccine on a plate at least 12″ in diameter. Alan’s was just the same. Our food was fresh and prepared with great care. It tasted wonderful. I insisted on getting half of mine in a to-go box because I wanted to still have room to sample something off their dessert menu. A woman at the table next to us ordered a Mudslide, so I had to try one too instead of a dessert. Our waitress gave us just the right amount of service, not too much & not too little. At some point, she found out we were locals and it was our first time in the restaurant. Next thing you know we had a set of drinks from the owner. I can’t remember what they were called, but it was a chilled lemon-flavored liquor-YUM!. Our experience was just top-notch all the way around. The food, service and atmosphere were remarkable. When you are visiting here or if you live here full-time this is a must try dining experience. We forgot to leave a dollar, so I guess we have to eat there again soon.

There is nothing more beautiful than newly fallen snow! Nothing!! Here is the view off my deck on Monday.

Unfortunately, I had to cover floor time that morning so I couldn’t enjoy our first snow of the year. I just grabbed my camera on my way out and drove to work with my windows open and heated seat on (of course). Here are some pics from my drive. The views were terrible.

After work yesterday I had to drive by a house and saw a huge herd of elk. This guy was digging or something with his antlers and grass was flying everywhere. He finally plopped down in the hole as I drove away. The next elk I saw had rolled in mud and he was totally covered. That will surely attract the ladies.

Have a great day!

Lori

I promise soon I will post about Estes Park real estate again. People keep asking me how sales are here. The market is picking up here again. So far, the sold numbers are up from last year in volume and number of units sold. I haven’t analyzed it further than that, but I will. Now onto hiking, it’s why I moved here. I saw a sign the other day, it read “Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life”. Very well said!!

I was worried about missing the aspens so I played hooky on October 1st. It was incredibly windy that day so I decided to hike in Wild Basin of Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado. Wanting a long hike I decided on Bluebird Lake, it is 6.3 miles to the lake. It really is a summer hike, but I didn’t realize that until I was underway. The aspens as you follow the trail were spectacular. I even was lucky enough to wear short sleeves for a while. I was trying to keep a good pace because I didn’t get to the TH until 10:50. I needed to be back by 5pm. There was light snow in the shady areas past Ouzel Falls, but I didn’t expect it as I went higher. I loved this hike except for the burn area, after the trail splits to Bluebird it seems to go on forever. I personally think it is depressing, but the grasses were flourishing in fall colors. I am sure the flowers are plentiful in the summer. The last 1.5 miles seemed like 3 or 4 miles. I loved the dense forest, but it was kind of creepy. I really expected the lake around every corner. I had to scramble on wet snowy rock towards the end too. Most of my concern was hiking alone and this far out. I never saw another hiker past where the trail splits to Ouzel Lake or Bluebird Lake. When I finally crested the hill and saw the lake I couldn’t stand up straight because the wind would push me over. I walked kind of bent-over to a large boulder to snap some photos and eat my lunch. It was 2:00 and I was starving. Freezing cold winds weren’t conducive to a relaxing meal so I just started back with my PB&J. I hustled back jogging when I could. As the sun dips in Wild Basin in gets cold quick. I stopped and talked to a few hikers on my way back and spotted a couple of deer. Which is really surprising because the joke is that we see more wildlife in our backyard than in RMNP. By the last mile I was limping terribly and couldn’t wait to get to my car. As I entered the Estes Valley my phone starting buzzing. Apparently, Alan and the girls were the only people I told that I was hiking. My office was about to report me missing. Always tell someone where you are going. I leave a note in my car where it’s easily read through the window. Here are some photos of the Ouzel Fire burn area, some really pretty aspens, and a blustery Bluebird Lake. More photos here. Have a great week!

Lori