ARTICLES LIBRARY | GRAND COMMUNITIES

Community is not hard to define. It is being a part of something greater than just a single individual or single family. It is moving beyond the sticks and bricks of buildings to living as a group with others in a friendly relationship.

Today, however, the building of community has taken on a new meaning with the addition of two words – planned and lifestyle. In 1965 there were only 500 planned communities in the United States. In 1970 the number had increased to more than 10,000. In 2005 the number had grown to an estimated 205,000 planned or covenant-controlled communities. Today more than 47 million Americans have either first or second (or both) homes in a planned community.

Why this movement to a planned community? The first reason is to protect what is often the single largest investment people make in their lifetime, their home. The second reason is for amenities, activities and a certain lifestyle. In the case of lifestyle communities, residents are attracted to a one-of-a-kind location with attractive amenities such as golf courses, community clubhouses, fishing, boating, marinas and the many winter activities such as skiing and snowshoeing. Grand County is fortunate to be a focal point for lifestyle communities.

Grand Elk Ranch & Club, an exclusive four season club community, has an 18-hole Craig Stadler- designed golf course, and a private slope-side Alpine Club at the base of Winter Park Resort. On the shores of Lake Granby, the Grand Elk Marina and Beach Club has a complete tackle shop and restaurant with pontoon and jet boats available to the public and complimentary to Grand Elk Club Members. Residents of Grand Elk value their privileged access to each of these amenities. “Members Only” events are held on a regular basis to foster community and camaraderie among members. “We have golfing and the marina in the summer and the Alpine Club with ski passes in the winter,” say John and Cindy of Oregon. “It’s really nice to be able to show up with everything organized for us. Everything’s included in our membership.” The Grand Elk Golf Course is also “green,” not only in the color of its greens but in the environmentally responsible practices that created and maintain the links. The golf-course team has created additional acres of wetlands within the golf course and enhanced just under 15 acres of native grasslands on the course property. A closely monitored and computerized irrigation system adjusts to use only as much water as needed. Not only does this conserve water, but it results in the fast, firm playing conditions that golfers want.

Building a community where people engage in activities that encourage relationships, interaction and personal satisfaction, Granby Ranch is a neighborhood in tune with the natural lay of the land. Not too fancy, the homes maintain a strength and ruggedness that matches the great outdoors. All Village homeowners at Granby Ranch receive a Community Club Membership giving them discounts and privileges for the growing list of amenities. Coming soon is the Grange, a fitness facility and outdoor pool. Granby Ranch has 2500 acres of open space for hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Headwaters Golf Course offers couples 9-hole and 18-hole golf nights, the Pepsi Ladies Open, Junior Golf Week, Pepsi Family Golf Day and the Coors Light Twilight Golf Series. SolVista Basin with 33 trails has the only night skiing in Grand County and offers free chairlift rides in the summer from July to Labor Day. Homeowners can reserve tents complete with log furniture, kitchen essentials, beds and family board games at River Camp, an encampment along the Fraser River. A group night at River Camp includes a fly fishing clinic and live music by the campfire.

Because Colorado is world renowned for its trout fishing, two new lifestyle communities feature world-class fly fishing.

Edgewater Cabins and Resort in Granby is the only fly fishing, cabin resort village in the mountains offering what many fishermen dream of – the chance to fish on a river from the deck of their cabin. Designed for such fishing enthusiasts, Edgewater has four stocked trout ponds and private access to a half mile of Gold-Medal catch-and-release fly fishing on the Fraser River. Fly fishing on the Fraser is diverse and provides challenges to seasoned river veterans and safe fishing for young anglers.

On-site, experienced fishing pros offer guided trips and lessons. The resort has a fly shop, fly-tying stations, fly fishing clinics and tournaments. Other resort amenities include a clubhouse, a year-round heated pool and hot tub, game room and mini-spa. An environmentally conscious development, Edgewater has increased the wetland areas and wildlife habitats as well as leaving much of the land in its open-space natural state, which ensures a peaceful vacation experience for both owners and guests. At Edgewater, a mountain river and rolling meadows backing up to the Indian Peaks guarantee fishermen plenty of room for all who want some quiet time spinning their reels.

Orvis-Shorefox, a soon-to-be-built, 1500-acre, fly fishing resort community at the intersection of Hwys 34 and 40, will feature a Justin Leonard 18-hole golf course, an equestrian center, a fishing lodge, eight private lakes, fly fishing guides, fly fishing on the headwaters of the Colorado River and a 25,000-square-foot, Orvis fly fishing store.

One of the quickest ways to meet new people is to pick up the wrong ball on the golf course.