| Winding your way West on Highway 50, past | | | | Arrowhead and meet with Cathy who shows me |
| Gunnison and the Blue Mesa Reservoir, you come | | | | several acres currently for sale. I can't believe |
| across a sign indicating Alpine Plateau Road, | | | | how affordable this place is, and decide to buy an |
| Arrowhead Inn at mile marker 123. Out of | | | | acre so I won't have to wonder where I'm going |
| curiosity, you turn South and meander up a dirt | | | | to park my RV each time I go out riding. She |
| road 5 miles to the top of the mountain. Eureka! | | | | says that I can park my RV and leave it here for |
| You've seen a stream with brookies, beaver | | | | the summer. Then I can come up each weekend |
| ponds and aspen trees taller than you've imagined | | | | with groceries and stay however long I want to. |
| possible in Colorado on your way up this magical | | | | This saves gas in the RV and gives me |
| canyon. Deer, beavers, marmots, bluejays and | | | | opportunities to have guests come from town to |
| chipmunks accompany you along the way and | | | | visit too. |
| when you reach the top, you swear you're on | | | | I also found out that there are homes up here |
| top of the world, literally! | | | | ranging from about $250,000 small cabins to million |
| A very neat sign made of logs upended in the | | | | dollar homes, so it's a diverse community of folks. |
| ground says "Arrowhead", announcing the | | | | The lot I finally decide on is on Hazel Lake Drive, |
| community's name in a rustic manner. You see a | | | | and my driveway winds back into the trees so |
| bed and breakfast called The Inn at Arrowhead | | | | I'm not visible from the road. Talk about private! |
| and stop in to see what the nature of this | | | | The utilities are underground, so there are no |
| wonderland could be. Yes, they tell you, the lots | | | | telephone poles anywhere, it's very pristine. 60' tall |
| (acres) are available to purchase and you can | | | | aspen and spruce are heavy and provide shade |
| camp or RV on them from approximately May | | | | along with the privacy. You can have a campfire if |
| through October when the snow starts and you | | | | you get your fire pit approved by the Volunteer |
| must vacate the mountain for the winter. But | | | | Fire Department and Security, so marshmallows |
| wait! There are full time residents here who found | | | | all around for the kids! |
| a way to stay all year around, snowmobiling in to | | | | I can't believe how affordable the HOA fees are, |
| their homes on the roads, as if that were the | | | | only $33.00 per month, and the taxes are very |
| normal thing to do. Sled your groceries in, sled | | | | reasonable too. I read online that mountain |
| your trash out, simple enough. Wow, it's very | | | | property is holding it's value now, unlike the |
| neat up here, I see trout stocked lakes to fish in, | | | | property in towns, so that's a good thing too. |
| BLM land a mile away for 4 wheeling, hunting in | | | | So if you can see yourself getting away from the |
| Areas 66-67, hiking, biking, privacy galore! There | | | | hustle and bustle of life, whether it's in retirement |
| are supposedly over 200 homes here, but I can't | | | | or on weekends, Arrowhead can be just the |
| see them for the trees. The circular acreages are | | | | place for you to own your own mountain |
| unique, each with a center pin and common | | | | property. You can camp on it occasionally, RV all |
| ground between them. | | | | summer long, or use it for a future homesite, you |
| Huh! If this sounds ingenious and unique, it is. | | | | won't be sorry you found and bought an acre at |
| Never again or before have these circular | | | | Arrowhead. I suggest you call Cathy at Columbine |
| acreages been developed. | | | | Realty at Arrowhead and explore the possibilities. |
| I drive around the mountain and am stopped by a | | | | Oh, and another thing, she set me up with |
| Security Guard who patrols the mountain for the | | | | financing at the local bank. All I had to have is |
| Association, whether it's summer or winter. They | | | | 30% down and I make payments every month. |
| just want to make sure I'm a guest of a resident | | | | That keeps it affordable for everyone! |
| and let me pass when I tell them I'm going to a | | | | Her phone # is 970-862-8224 and her website is: |
| realtor's office to investigate this mountain. I | | | | Happy camping! |
| make my way to Columbine Realty at | | | | |