People who bought real estate in Jackson, Wyoming during the 1970s and 1980s are dancing today. That’s because this southern Yellowstone National Park gateway community has seen real estate prices skyrocket twenty-fold or more as some of the wealthiest people in the country bought real estate in the area. The same goes for Aspen, Vail, Park City, and many other Rocky Mountain Resort locations.

Red Lodge, Montana Real Estate is relatively undiscovered

The charming mining-era Victorian town of Red Lodge, Montana may be the kind of real estate investment that Jackson, Vail, Aspen, and Park City once were. Butch Cassidy once tried to rob the bank there and Calamity Jane spent her nights at the Pollard Hotel. Red Lodge Mountain is the local ski resort with over 2,000 feet of vertical drop. The Beartooth Pass rises to just over 11,000 feet and boasts some of the best spring skiing in the country. Red Lodge Mountain was recently purchased by JMA Associates of San Francisco. They have significant capital improvement plans that include many elevator upgrades and more snowmaking capacity.

This Montana town is in a major real estate renaissance as most other resorts in the US are struggling to overcome a “post-boom hangover.” For example, a new $ 25 million hospital begins construction in 2008, a new $ 9 million high school has already begun, a new Red Lodge Ales brewery and Sam’s Tap Room begin construction in the summer of 2008. Additionally, many other commercial and residential developments are well advanced.

Red Lodge borders the million-acre Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness that contains Montana’s 43 mountain peaks over 12,000 feet. It is a mecca for backpacking, rock climbing, skiing, mountain biking, kite surfing, snowmobiling, and high mountain lake fishing.

Red Lodge has the least expensive resort real estate in the Rocky Mountains

When asked why Red Lodge real estate is so cheap, architect Don McLaughlin says, “That’s a good question and a question that we don’t think will be asked for many more years as we expect prices to go up.” . McLaughlin is a member of the Montana Real Estate Development Team at The Spiers at Red Lodge. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Red Lodge National Historic District in the early 1980s by chronicling all of the city’s historic structures with his wife Betsy.

The attraction with a small mountain town like Red Lodge is complex, like fine wine, from its authentic center to the multitude of recreational opportunities. The city is an eclectic mix of artists, former US Senate chiefs of staff, authors, and a host of interesting world travelers who reside together in this quaint town. It’s not unusual here for people you don’t even know to greet you, reinforcing the friendly nature of the city.

Red Lodge offers fun in the sun every day … well almost!

Montana is known as ‘Big Sky Country’ and that sky is full of sun to enjoy landscapes and outdoor activities. Red Lodge boasts nearly 300 days of sunshine a year as a result of being on the eastern front of the Rocky Mountain Range. So residents have more enjoyable days to devote to their favorite activities:

  1. Driving “America’s Most Scenic Highway” – At least that’s what journalist Charles Kuralt called the famous Beartooth Pass, which sits just 12 miles south of the city and climbs from 5,800 feet to just over 11,000 feet. This road also appeared in the movie, The Horse Whisperer.
  2. Dining out: More restaurants and bars per capita than any other city in Montana.
  3. Visit Yellowstone National Park – One of the world’s greatest wonders is just an hour away.
  4. Alpine Skiing: Red Lodge Mountain offers over 2,000 feet of vertical drop.
  5. Cross Country Skiing: The Beartooth Pass rises to just over 11,000 feet and offers some of the best spring skis in the country.
  6. Whitewater Rafting: The Stillwater River, 30 minutes west, is a popular summer activity.
  7. Hiking and Backpacking – The area’s trails provide tremendous opportunities for all ages and skill levels.
  8. Fly Fishing – The Stillwater River, Clark’s Fork, Rock Creek, Willow Creek, and the Shoshone River are guaranteed to please. The world famous Bighorn River is just a 90 minute drive away and offers some of the best trout fisheries in tail water dams in all of Montana.
  9. Mountain Biking – Cyclists will have a blast on the Silver Run Trail (10 minutes out of town), the Meteetsee Trail (south of town), the Palisades Trail, or on one of the many trails at Red Lodge Mountain Resort.
  10. Golf – Get out your clubs and shoot an 18-hole round at the Red Lodge Country Club. This course challenges everyone with its water hazards while taking their breath away with the spectacular scenery.
  11. Special Events: Red Lodge hosts the annual 4th of July rodeo, a mid-July Harley Rodeo rally, the US National Ski Joring Championships, The Festival of Nations (a multicultural event), Shakespeare in the parks, the peaks to the prairies triathlon, a very popular Christmas ride, the annual Fat Tire Frenzy and a long list of other events.

If you haven’t yet visited Red Lodge and researched the incredible real estate opportunities in this “last best place” in the Northern Rocky Mountains, then it’s time to get in your car and check it out!

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