Telluride, Colorado

It is hard to believe that Telluride ski resort has only been in existence since 1972. Telluride is rated in the top 10 ski resorts in North American, but you wouldn't guess that by the lack of crowds on the slopes; lift lines didn't exist except on rare occasions. It is Colorado's best kept secret and any resident will tell you that they would like to keep it that way, thank you very much.

Beverage stop

On the slopes, Telluride, CO

It is not the easiest resort to journey to, but once you get there, a car is not needed for there are free buses that loops around the town on a frequent basis and also a free gondola offered to the public from 7am to 12 midnight between Telluride and Mountain Village. It is just as easy to walk the entire town of Telluride. And if you do step that big toe of yours off the sidewalk taking aim for crossing the street, you can expect the slow moving vehicles to stop and allow you to cross. A walk around town will provide you with places of interest by these plaques describing former brothels, dance halls, saloons, theatre, etc.

The super great thing about the town of Telluride is that you won't find any chain restaurants/stores except for a Starbucks in the Mountain Village, the purpose built town on the other side of the the mountain from Telluride. Another great thing about Telluride is the lack of crime. Our friends rented ski equipment and were told by the rental shop to put the skis and boots out on the porch for pickup, saying that they might pick them up that evening, or the next morning. The next morning? In fact, the skis were still there in the morning. George and I were sitting outside a coffee shop one morning and a resident placed her expensive phone and wallet on a table and walked inside the shop, for what seemed like ten minutes. I am confident that she felt safe leaving her belongings on that table, it was no accident. Oh where, oh where else, can we find a community like this.

Telluride's origin began with native Americans of the Ute Indian tribe using the area as summer hunting grounds. However, once gold, silver, and other precious metals where discovered in the 1870's, agreements were made with the Ute tribe, which displaced them to Southwest Colorado.

Miner's cabin - Telluride, CO - 1916
Photo of photo taken at the Telluride Court House

Mining transformed the town, and by the turn of the century its population swelled to 5,000 residents. A railroad was built to augment the mining efforts and connect Telluride with the rest of the world. Today you can find 350 miles of mining tunnels in the Telluride Mountains. It was the first city in the world to have electric streetlights. Incidentally, the infamous Butch Cassidy's outlaw career started in Telluride, after robbing his very first bank of $24,000.

Telluride's booming economy ended when the price of silver plummeted, along with the start of WWI, and the Great Depression, and thus the population dipped to just a few hundred people.

I thought this photo was interesting because of the bear in the photo, a camera shy bear.
Photo of photo taken at the Telluride Court House. 

Thanks to the ski industry, Telluride was resurrected to what it is today. A quiet, laid back town, offering great skiing, pricey real estate, and beautiful surroundings. Telluride sits in a box canyon that wraps a 180 degree stunning panorama of the mountains.

On Main Street in Telluride

During our shuttle ride from the airport, our driver told us about a Quentin Tarantino movie that was being shot in a nearby ranch. So everyday we were on celebrity watch. Our last night in Telluride we spotted Kurt Russell and Walton Goggins in a restaurant. Kurt had a full beard that was apropos for the movie,  Hateful Eight, a post-Civil War western. He kindly gave me his autograph.

Kurt Russel autograph

The skiing was very good, but we have to say the snowfall in western North American, thus far, has been below average levels. I think we experienced the ski mountain at its worse, as one resident mentioned. Our skis did take a beating on the exposed rocks and debris. But we could never complain about the abundance of clear blue, sunshine days and warm temperatures, which always makes for a happy skier, despite the shortage of snow.

Here are some photos:

Telluride, CO

At a French Restaurant on the mountain.
Do any of our French friends recognize the glassware?

Mountain Village

View from our condo

These big tire bikes are very popular in Telluride

Court House - Telluride, CO

George has taken a new profession,
can you guess what it is?

View from the slopes

Our compadres, Sue, Gary, and George

Selfie

Telluride, CO

Artifacts from the mining industry - Telluride, CO

There are many cute homes like this and the photo below. I wouldn't be surprised if
they cost more than a million dollars especially if they are historic structures.

Telluride, CO

Telluride, CO