As the "new kid on the block", I am constantly asked, "so, what brought you to Steamboat"?  Sometimes I have to laugh because this question is most often asked by those who, just like me, moved here from somewhere else for the same obvious reasons.  Seriously, I lift up my hands towards the beautiful valley and mountains that surround us (it doesn't matter where I happen to be, the view is always breathtaking) and say "this is what brought me here"!

My first trip to Steamboat Springs was in the early 90's over a St. Patrick's Day holiday, with a couple of my flight attendant friends.  My next visit to Steamboat was several years later, on Thanksgiving of 2002.  My husband and I, along with my sister and her husband, won a trip to Steamboat Springs at a Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Fundraiser in Houston, TX.  That trip changed everything, although I did not know it at the time.

In 2002, I was the Broker/Owner of Texas Riviera Properties in Rockport, Texas and my husband owned and operated a printing company (what a great combination- what Broker wouldn't LOVE to have their very own printing company!!) We had an absolutely fabulous week and towards the end,  worn out from skiing,  I decided to check out the local real estate market.  I stumbled across The Grand on Mt. Werner and I was very impressed. When my sister and her husband got back to the house that day, I casually mentioned that I had taken a tour  of The Grand and that they should go check it out too.  So the next day, we did and then we headed back to Texas, loaded with information and lots to think about.

The four of us came back that summer, in August, specifically to take a closer look at The Grand.  We flew into Denver and drove from there into Steamboat Springs.  What a beautiful drive!  That was the first time I had been to Colorado in the summer and I found that I actually preferred the summers over winter.  The climate is perfect , the landscape is stunning with the trees, colorful array of blooming flowers and the flowing rivers everywhere.  I was hooked!  To make the long story short, we bought a share unit at The Grand and we would be back in a couple of months for Christmas!

The Christmas of 2003 was truly magical.  My first "White Christmas" and it was everything I had imagined it would be.  We had a full house and ran into several other families from Texas that we knew, and ended up spending a lot of time with, that week.  That week flew by and I hated for it to end.  We came back for another week of skiing in the Spring of 2004 and then for a week of summer fun in early August.  My stepdaughter, Marisa, came with us on that trip, along with my sister's daughters and their friends- 5 teenage girls!!  But, oh, what fun!  I tell you all of this, because this is literally how we came to find ourselves living in Steamboat  Springs.  With each visit, it got harder to leave.  When we were back in Texas, I found myself daydreaming of Steamboat and surfing the internet for a "fix". 

Then it happened.  My husband & I spent Thanksgiving 2004 here in Steamboat Springs with Marisa and my husband's parents.  I did my usual drive around town to check out the local real estate market and as I was driving through downtown, drinking my Starbucks, I came upon the high school.  And it hit me.  Not only did I want to move to Steamboat Springs as soon as we could, but I wanted to start a family and raise the kids here.  At that time, John and I didn't have any children together and Marisa lived with her mother in Florida.  I was terrified of having kids (the whole pregnancy and delivery thing) and not sure if I would be a good mother (I'm a workaholic).   But, on that day and at that time, it was all so clear- I didn't have a doubt in my mind.  In August of 2005, John and I welcomed our son, Hayden, into this world (you do the math, once I make up my mind to do something- it's done!)  On a side note, I loved being pregnant and I am a GREAT mother!

I sold Texas Riviera Propeties to Coldwell Banker, John packed up the printing company and we put some of our property on the market.   Once we had a deal on the real estate, we headed up to Colorado.  We ended up moving here in January of 2006.  So, that's my story in a nutshell.  Probably a lot like your story in many ways.  I joined Prudential Steamboat Realty in May of 2006 and I am so proud to be associated with such a wonderful company!  Although I have been in the Real Estate business for over 14 years, I am somewhat new to the area.  The people and resources at this company have allowed me to "come up to speed" very quickly and learn this market in a short period of time. It's comforting for me and for my clients to know that I have this wonderful team behind me.

This is getting to be a little longer than I had planned, so I will end for today. Hopefully this has answered the question of who I am and how I got here.  I will fill in more details in the days to come.  For now, I am off to hold an Open House- it's another picture perfect day in Steamboat Springs!

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO- Improvements valued at more than $7 million will be made to the Steamboat Ski Area for the 2006/2007 season. These on-mountain improvement projects are designed to enhance a variety of facilities, services and programs across the resort and improve the overall resort experience.  A key focus of this investment is lift, trail and snow making enhancements to the popular Sunshine Bowl area.

"Steamboat Ski Area and the larger community are poised for a great season in 2006/07 when you match these capital improvement plans with the resorts industry leading guest service, family and on-mountain programs," stated Chris Diamond, president of the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation.

The Sunshine project includes the replacement of the Sunshine triple chairlift with a high-speed detachable quad chairlift, a new trail and expanded snow making coverage.  Other significant trail projects planned for the Rendezvous Saddle area.  Nearly $1 million will be spent renovating popular cafeterias at the Thunderhead and Rendezvous Saddle lodges as well as more than a half a million dollars on grooming equipment including a new winch cat and specialty superpipe equipment.

The other big changes for next winter's guests will be the expanded  air service and an $18 million, 22,000 square-foot terminal addition to the Yampa Valley Regional Airport, funded largely by federal and county funds. "The 2006/07 on-mountain improvements, coupled with what is a vastly improved guest experience at the Steamboat/Hayden Airport, will mean significantly enhanced vacation experience for the majority  of our guests," said Andy Wirth, vice president of sales and marketing.

Sunshine Express High-Speed Quad Chairlift Powered By Solar/Wind Energy- Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation is installing a Leitner-Poma of America high-speed quad chairlift replacing the Sunshine fixed grip triple chairlift.  The Sunshine Express will significantly reduce travel time from 11 minutes to 5.5 minutes. Sunshine Express will have a vertical rise of 1,400 feet, a slope length of 5,500 feet, and a top speed of 1,000 ft./min.  The new lift is expected to be ready to carry its first riders in early to mid December.

As a part of its long-standing commitment to the environment, Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation will purchase renewable energy certificates to offset the electricity needed for the new Sunshine Express lift.  Steamboat  is purchasing renewable energy certificates from 3 Phases Energy Services to ensure the delivery of clean, natural power to the "grid", thereby displacing an equivalent amount of energy that otherwise would have been created by non-renewable sources.  Under the energy certificates, the Sunshine Express will operate on a combination of wind and solar power.

Sunshine Bowl Trail and Snow making Enhancements-  The new trail will bypass the steep upper section of Tomahawk and traverses back to High Noon and Rendezvous Saddle area.  In addition, the resort will re-grade the popular beginner trail, Broadway, to improve its width and decrease its steepness.  Snow making will be extended to cover the new trail plus upper sections of Tomahawk and High Noon trails. New trail signage and family terrain features are also included. "The Sunshine area has always been a fantastic, family-friendly, intermediate cruising area, which anchors our position as the number one family resort in the west," said Doug Allen, vice president- mountain operation for the resort. "Now with the  addition of a high-speed quad, new trail and kid-friendly features, we plan to set the bar even higher and will debut a redesigned contemporary area of the mountain perfect for families."

Thunderhead & Rendezvous Food Courts will receive $1 million in renovations of the food outlets, which include a complete facelift, redesign and improved flow under the direction of design firm Three Dimensional Services (3DS).

What an exciting time for Steamboat Springs!