Today, Crested Butte may very well be Colorado's last, and possibly best, Boom Town. Good and bad times are no strangers to Colorado mountain communities, and over the years this small town has seen its' share of both.
Crested Butte, or CB as the locals call it, was incorporated in 1880 and experienced its first prosperous growth spurt as Colorado's leading mountain coal mining operation. Crested Butte real estate investors became rich. Coal was king until 1954 when the mines played out and eventually closed. Hard economic times hit...but not for long. In 1961, Crested Butte, and its sibling, Mt. Crested Butte, hit real pay dirt...snow! The combination of snow, gravity, and trails cut through the forest on the area's closest mountain, proved to be the perfect combination...Mt. Crested Butte Ski Resort was born. Times were good again. Of course, gravity is available all year around up here, and bikers and hikers take great advantage of Newton's discovery during the summer, too. Quite frankly, it's a toss up as to which season is most enjoyable here in CB...you will have to be the judge.   
Here's a secret that locals have known for years...Crested Butte is a great place to live and own property. In the 60's, the town experienced a Boom of a different kind...real estate. And those that got in on the ground floor were extremely happy they did. In fact, through the lean years that are cyclic in mountain towns, it was real estate that held its value when all else failed. Those that missed out buying property at the upswing of prosperous times (the Boom), soon found prices out of reach in the market by waiting. Alas, hindsight is 20/20. But hopefully, potential property owners can learn from the past, and buy when values are somewhat depressed...as in today's market. It's no secret that today's economy has possibly hit bottom. But that means it is on its' way up...that cyclical thing again. So when is the best time to buy? Right now, when sellers are motivated, inventory is plentiful and prices are lower than anytime in recent history. No one can predict when the economy will completely recover (although some say they can), but history has taught us that it will recover...and it will recover in CB with style.
Missed opportunities are just that...missed. In 2004 when CBMR sold their skiing operations to Triple Peaks LLC, an East Coast Ski Company, real estate values jumped 35% overnight, and in some cases more. It was a buying frenzy. No other mountain community in Colorado saw increases that high and that fast. While property values have recently dropped from those levels, it is certain that a base has been established and real estate is poised for another comeback...probably not as dramatic, but it will come back.  Recently CNL stepped in and added a strong financial resource to the ski resort.
Don't be another "missed opportunity" statistic. Crested Butte will certainly once again become a Boom Town, and you can be part of it.
Contact me for properties and real estate in Crested Butte, Mt Crested Butte and surrounding area, including single family homes, ski chalets, vacant land, golf course homes, townhomes and condos in Crested Butte.  Or, search listings to match your needs at my website.