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Here are many features of the
Leadville / Twin Lakes area that will be of interest to anyone wishing
to relocate. You will also want to visit our real
estate sponsors.
- Scenery
- Totally awesome! Whether you are looking
to the City of Leadville, the Village
of Twin Lakes or the rural areas of Lake County, you will find
the area to have incomparable vistas. Colorado’s two highest
peaks, Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive, which are snowcapped year-round,
are visible from almost everywhere in the county. Leadville, Colorado
sits in a high mountain valley at the lofty elevation of 10,430 feet
and while the mountains are visible, the town is not “smothered”
in the mountains. All of the major roads in the county have been designed
as part of our nation’s scenic and historic byway system.
Take a look at our photo album
 !
- Climate
- Everyone thinks that living in a mountain
community with snow on the ground for 8-9 months must be difficult.
Truth is, it’s different but not difficult. The Leadville/Twin
Lakes Colorado area sees about 310 days of sunshine each year. Snow
does come early--generally on the ground to stay by October 31 and
doesn’t completely leave until early to mid-May--totaling about
250 inches each season. Most of the snowfall occurs in the evening
hours giving way to a beautiful morning!
Summer is gorgeous with peak wildflower season occurring around the
4th of July. Summer temperatures seldom reach 80 degrees and very
few buildings have any type of air conditioning! Starting in early
September, the golden colors of the turning Aspen trees abound and
reach their peak toward the end of the month....September and October
are two of the prettiest months in the area. Our mountain air is always
fresh and crisp--no pollution of any type here!
No, the town never gets snowed in. In fact, about 50% of our population
drives “over the mountain” to either Vail or Breckenridge
to work each day. Therefore, our roads are exceptionally well-maintained
year-round. As long as you don’t decide to get out in the middle
of a snow storm (which generally occur in the evening), getting around
is not a problem....even for “flatlanders”. And, even though
Leadville is North America’s highest incorporated city and surrounded
by mountains, the highways are not the hair-pin turn, white-knuckle
experience that you might
expect.
- Life
Style
- Leadville and Twin Lakes Colorado are mountain
communities whose people treasure their quality of life. Over 75%
of the county is public land offering a wide-variety of outdoor recreation
year-round. Leadville is a National Historic Landmark District and
Twin Lakes is a National Historic Site. Leadville’s district
is 70 square blocks including an active downtown district containing
over 50 historic structures. Twin Lakes is a very quaint village,
complete to dirt street, near the actual lakes of Twin Lakes.
Tourism is a major contributor to the local economy, however the area
strives to maintain its “real town” atmosphere. Yes, there
are a few t-shirt shops, however the pharmacist owns and operates
the drug store on the main street and the only barber in town is just
down the street from the drug store. The townsfolk welcome visitors
and newcomers openly, however the town has not been “redesigned”
to be a glitzy, tourist town. You can be as involved or as alone as
you wish.
Community events are plentiful...ranging
from the extreme sporting events like the Leadville Trail 100 Race
Across the Sky Ultramarathon to North America’s highest marathon,
the Mosquito Marathon...to the annual Boom Days Celebration featuring
pack burro races and mining events... to the Old Fashioned Christmas
and Victorian Home Tour.
Twin Lakes, Colorado is 25 miles southwest of Leadville. Leadville
is 103 miles southwest of Denver (1-1/2 hour driving time). While
both communities are rural in nature, Leadville offers most services...grocery
stores, gas stations, hospital, college, etc. Access to Interstate
70 is 24 miles north of Leadville. Vail and Breckenridge are approximately
a 45 minute drive. Buena Vista, to the south, is 35 miles from Leadville.
In the summer, Twin Lakes is less than an hour from Aspen over the
beautiful Independence Pass (closed
in winter).
- Recreation
- With most of the land in the county being
public, recreational opportunities abound
both winter and summer.
Hiking, fishing,
mountain biking, climbing,
camping, four-wheeling,
alpine and snowcat skiing,
snow shoeing, snowmobiling,
and rafting....anything you
wish to do outdoors is available within the county. And, so far, it’s
not crowded! Ski Cooper, just 10 miles northwest of Leadville,
Colorado, is known for being a great family
ski hill.
- Shopping
- From antiques to car tires, most items are
locally available. But, if you think you absolutely must have a “mall
fix” , one of the state’s largest outlet malls is a short
35 minute drive away in Silverthorne. Wal-Mart (bite your tongue!)
is about 30 minutes away in Frisco or a little over an hour away in
Salida. Denver is close enough that driving down in the morning and
returning the same day is routine.
Leadville and Twin Lakes Colorado both offer unique shops for leisurely
browsing. Vail, Breckenridge and Aspen all offer upscale shopping
opportunities.
- Culture
- Take a quick look at our calendar
of events.....national folk artist Jim Salestrom on the Healy
House lawn for July 4th, the Cowboy Poetry Gathering on the Courthouse
Lawn, the Crystal Comedy Company live melodrama in the Old Church
Performing Arts Center, Baby Doe one-woman drama, pipe bands for the
St. Patrick’s Practice Parade...the list is endless. And, if
you aren’t busy enough in Leadville, the Betty Ford Amphitheater
and all the international programming in the Vail Valley is just 45
minutes away and Denver is only 1-1/2 hours!
- Great
Schools
- Leadville, Colorado is home to the nationally
recognized, School of the 21st Century, The Center offering outstanding
daycare for extended hours. Lake County Independent School District
is the K-12 system operating a elementary school (grades 1-3); Intermediate
School (grades 4-8) and High School (grades 9-12). Colorado Mountain
College, a nine-county community college district, has a residential
campus in Leadville offering internationally recognized programming.
The High Mountain Institute offers a “Rocky Mountain Semester”
for high school juniors seeking personal and community growth through
interaction with the natural world. Lake County is also home to the
largest Colorado Outward Bound
Campus.
- Commerce
- Businesses start
in or relocate to the area because of the quality of life available
here. Most businesses are small and owner-operated. The area is ideal
for tele-commuters who desire the slower pace of a smaller community.
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