Off subject: Moving to Colorado next year

[Alaskabound2016]

Hey guys. Hope everyone's Wednesday is going well. The wife and I are planning to move to Colorado next year and was curious to know your opinions about a good, safe place to live (planning on making little ones soon). We are moving near Colorado Springs we hope depending on the job situation. We have been looking into the Woodland Park/Cascade area because we definitely want to live where you have more of that 'forest and mountain feel'. We live in SoCal and in the city and we cant stand it. I have done a ton of research into the areas but just want to hear some of your guys opinions. Maybe somebody on the forum lives in these areas?

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Colorado T]

The Woodland Park and Divide area is great country, definitely small town but close enough access to Colorado Springs. There is also Monument and Palmer Lake that is relatively close to the mountains and may have that feel you are looking for.

Good Luck!!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Where are you from in SoCal? I was born and raised in Downey and lived there until I retired 16 years ago.

 

[Alaskabound2016]

Colorado Cowboy, I live in Riverside so not too far from where you were! Needless to say, I am super excited and really looking forward to getting out there asap. I am also a huge Bronco fan since birth so that helps. I think we are pretty set on Woodland Park. Looks really beautiful and we will be taking our 1 year anniversary at the end of the month and staying in the Springs.

 

[gypsumreaper]

I was gonna say sorry Colorado is full, but since ur a broncos fan we will welcome ya to the state. I don't know much about the area down there besides the rodeos I attended down there years ago so I'm not much help. I'm a slopey and try and stick to this side of the state


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[hoshour]

I used to live in Colorado Springs and travel the state for work. I've always liked Woodland Park a lot and it has probably gained a lot more amenities since I was there. Beautiful location. I'd much rather live in WP than Cascade or Monument because you are up in the mountains and that shortens your drive when you head out for the things you might want to do across the state.

If you have to work in the Springs, you'll notice that it gets a whole lot less snow or precip of any kind because it is in the rain shadow of Pikes Peak whereas WP is the side of it. The hill down can get icy.

Living at 8.500 feet also gives you a leg up when you're hiking or hunting in the mountains.

 

[Alaskabound2016]

Awesome! Has anybody travelled from Woodland Park to downtown Colorado Springs? I have read that its about a half hour drive for most but was just wondering how the road was and all that. Just a little worried about the wife driving in snow for the first time and seeing how the drive is, easy or not so easy.

Thanks again for all the help guys!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I too was concerned about my wife driving in the snow and ice here in the winter. First thing was to get rid of our Thunderbird and get her a 4 whd SUV (a Ford Explorer) and some lessons from me on driving it in 4whd. I already had a 4x4 PU. She has done alright, only getting stuck once. We don't get as much snow as the Springs goes, but it still gets plenty cold & icy.

 

[Colorado T]

The drive is pretty easy, 2 lanes both directions and is usually pretty quick. It can get icy since it sits down in the bottom of the valley but it is well maintained. Once you get into Colorado Springs the traffic can back up and they are doing some pretty major road construction at the intersection to I-25.

 

[Alaskabound2016]

Traffic can't be worse than California traffic ���� haha the wife has a Subaru Crosstrek all wheel drive and I have an f150 4x4. I will have to get used to driving in the snow as well. Only done it a few times. Another question is the crime rate around there. Some articles say it's one of the best and safest cities to live in the US and another says the crime rate is horrible! What do you guys think?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

The one piece of advice I have for you both is SLOW Down around the snow and ice.

 

[hoshour]

Traffic can't be worse than California traffic ���� haha the wife has a Subaru Crosstrek all wheel drive and I have an f150 4x4. I will have to get used to driving in the snow as well. Only done it a few times. Another question is the crime rate around there. Some articles say it's one of the best and safest cities to live in the US and another says the crime rate is horrible! What do you guys think?

It's pretty safe. Colorado Springs in dominated by two things - the military and evangelical Christian organizations.

For the military, there is Fort Carson, Peterson AFB, the USAF Academy and NORAD - the group inside Cheyenne Mountain that tracks missiles and such.

Focus on the Family moved to the north side of town I forget how many years ago and they employ a lot of Christians. A lot of other Christian ministries ended up there and call the Springs home, including one of my favorites - Summit Ministries in Manitou Springs, just west of downtown at the start of the road up the hill to WP.

The keys for your wife driving in snow are drive slower, give people room, be light on the brakes and turn the wheel in the direction the back end is skidding, if that happens. The hill from the Springs up to WP can be snowy or icy but it's a good road they keep well plowed and mainly traveled by people who drive it all the time and are used to it. She'll be fine.

 

[Alaskabound2016]

Awesome. That's also one of the reasons we are moving there, we both work on military contracts with the Navy and would like to continue to do so with a base there. Obviously transferring military organizations. We will mainly be looking at houses and scenery but is there any recommendations when we're up there in 2 weeks on where to eat and what to do?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I travel from the 4 corners area to Colorado Springs several times a year for meetings at the Masonic Grand Lodge of Colorado. That area was on my short list for relocation when I retired. It was a little too "citified" for me and as I was retired, I didn't need to work, so we eventually went to a more rural area. I have a friend who lives in Monument and loves it.

 

[Alaskabound2016]

I do like Monument as well as and will keep that option open too. I'll be up there a few days so I plan on visiting pretty much all areas when I'm up there.

Thanks again fellas!

 

[Slugz]

AB2016,

I'll volunteer to be your answer man guide as much as possible. I'm retired Navy 27 years and worked at MDA for a tour ( found the area so nice we stayed) I have multiple friends who live in WP and transit to Shriever, Peterson, Carson daily. As others have said slow is the key. Hwy 24 can get crazy at times.

I live NE of the Springs in Peyton. Went that way cause I needed the extra land and space at a better price. We wanted a 4 day a week small school atmosphere for the kids also to grow up in.

Now that the kids are older I've entertained moving up to WP for the simple reason of better access out west and to hunting grounds. WP still keeps you close to the airport, work modern living but cuts down transit time by 1.5 hours to some places. Lots of good hunting up that way also. We spring turkey hunt in the Pikes NF some years. Half decent success.

I'm at work overseas now so ping me on the forum here or PM me and I can answer all that you need.

Food. Breakfast at Sandy's or Black Bear Diner Lunch at Rudy's BBQ, Front Range BBQ or Bird Dog BBQ. I only eat breakfast and BBQ. Tons of great dinner places for all styles / cuisines. COS is quite the melting pot and has every thing.

16 DAYS TILL the ARCHERY OPENER!!!!!!!!

 

[Alaskabound2016]

That's awesome. Thank you very much for your service as well as the response.

 

[Winchester]

AB2016,

I've lived in Colorado since 2002. I was in the Army for 27 years and have worked at Fort Carson, Peterson, Schriever, and Cheyenne Mountain.

More specifically I live in Cascade. It's a great place, as are Chipita Park and Green Mountain Falls ... all small communities along highway 24 between Colorado Springs and Woodland Park. They are close to the Springs but still in the mountains at about 7,500 feet. Woodland Park is also very nice but further from the Springs. Highway 24 is well maintained but can be tricky in the winter ... and downright inconvenient when someone crashes on it and closes one or both lanes (there's no good way to by-pass around it).

Also, FYI ... there's been some complaining from the Woodland Park residents lately about a college that was built (about 1,000 students) which has made housing difficult to find and begun "over-crowding". I'm not sure it's really that bad but just so you're aware.

Let me know if you have more questions.

 

[CoHiCntry]

If I was you I would avoid WP altogether and head west. Colorado is over crowded no matter where you go but especially bad on the front range. Being from California, it might not bother you though? WP has changed over the years for the worse in my opinion. Wal-Mart was the beginning of the end for what used to be a decent mountain town. We traded the rodeo for Starbucks. It's close enough to C.Springs that everyone wants to live there as an escape but then make it just like where they came from. Convenience's bring more and more people. And more and more people bring the convenience's. Andrew Womak ministries came to town too adding more people to the over crowded town. Driving in town on a summer weekend is a joke! We outgrew our parking lots a long time ago. Sorry to sound so down on it but it's reality on the front range and WP specifically.

 

[Alaskabound2016]

Thanks for the info Winchester!