Those of us that live here in the Vail Valley are often looking for great places to eat that are fun for the whole family.  And Minturn, CO has a handful of fantastic places that fit the bill.  Kid friendly and reasonably priced, the following places offer something a little different and are worth the trip.

The Minturn Saloon:  A local favorite for generations!  Also famous as a destination after skiing the Minturn Mile!  Don’t miss the margaritas, chips & salsa, and roaring fire after skiing! (970) 827-5954 

Mango’s Mountain Grill:  Although a few miles up the road from Minturn in Red Cliff, Mango’s is worth the trip.  Serving an eclectic menu, Mango’s is fun for everyone (my son especially likes to play w/ the train table upstairs).  Come for food, music, & drinks; Mango’s has it all including a shuttle so you don’t have to drive!  (970) 827-9109

The Minturn Country Club:  In the mood for a steak, chicken or seafood?  Try the Minturn Country Club for something a little different; you get to cook your own steak here!  Come in the off-season for local oriented $1.99 night!  (970) 827-4114

The Turntable Restaurant:  This place will take you back in time, to when Minturn was a train stop and diners were a welcome sight.  (this much is still true)  Well known for its “Boo’s Burrito,” the Turntable has a loyal following of locals and tourists who want something different.   (970) 827-4164

Chilly Willy’s:  Looking for TexMex or great fajitas?  Look no further than Chilly Willy’s, the first place you will see when driving into Minturn from I-70.  A fun atmoshpere with friendly staff, families love eating here and the portions are big.(970) 827-5887

To learn more about Minturn or the Vail Valley, please contact me anytime.

Related Articles:  Minturn, CO. . .A Great Place To Live

Single Family Log Home On The River For Sale In Minturn

Here’s your chance!  1868 Cross Creek is now for sale in Minturn.  This single family log cabin sits right on the Eagle River in Minturn CO.  You can literally fly fish from your back deck! (or just enjoy the river and mountain views!)

River View From 1868 Cross Creek Lane

This home is truly the perfect mountain getaway.  Only 4 miles from the Minturn I-70 exit, it sits just minutes away from both Vail Mountain and Beaver Creek Resort.  Discover all that historic Minturn and the Vail Valley have to offer while living in this peaceful enclave of just 14 log cabins.  All owners are part of the Minturn Racquet & Trout Club, which provides great caretaker services and amenities.   These homes are rarely available for purchase.

Now offered at $1,495,000

1868 Cross Creek Lane

The attention to detail throughout this approximately 2500 square foot home is amazing.  Combining rustic elegance with high-end finishes, this home is truly something special and not to be missed!

Check out Honka homes (click here)  for more information on these European-made high-end log homes

Please call or email me anytime to learn more about this exciting opportunity to own your own piece of the Colorado dream!

Now Available in Minturn!  An absolutely stunning log home on the banks of the Eagle River is now for sale.   1868 Cross Creek Lane is part of the exclusive Minturn Racquet and Trout Club, an enclave of only 14 homes.  Located at the southern edge of Minturn, this is truly Colorado as we hope it to be. . . peaceful and quiet, with stunning mountain and river views!

Minturn Racquet & Trout Club

This Quintessential Mountain Retreat can now be yours.  The 3 bedroom/3.5 bath single family log home has superior finishes thoughout its 3 levels; i.e. hand scraped hickory floors, slab granite counters, Wolf range, Sub Zero refrigerator, wine storage unit, Toto toilets, in-room audio system, and much more.  And as part of the Minturn Racquet & Trout Club, you also have access to the wonderful club amenities; double squash court, outdoor hot tub, outdoor fireplace, steam room, pool table, wood fired pizza oven, and the clubhouse itself with its grand living/entertaining area.

Now offered at $1,495,000!

Call me today for a private tour of this unbelievable log home!

Related Article:  Minturn, CO . . .A Great Place To Live

Fun Restaurants For The Whole Family in Minturn, CO

Few mountain towns exist anymore that have as much character as Minturn, Colorado.  Formerly a train stop in the hard to reach central Rocky Mountains, Minturn has for years been a quaint community of locals and second home owners that value mountain living; just off the beaten path from world class skiing.  Located along scenic byway Highway 24, Minturn is only minutes from Vail Mountain and also only minutes from Beaver Creek Resort. 

An eclectic mix of shops, businesses, restaurants, and residences make up the core of Minturn, with new projects continuing along Main St.  The land south and above Minturn on Battle Mountain was recently annexed into the town, so expect some changes in the near future.  (see future articles about Ginn and the development plans for the area)  Minturn will see significant capital improvements to its infrastructure and community amenties courtesy of the Ginn project.  Long term locals, families, vacationers; just about everyone that lives and spends time in Minturn loves Minturn.

FYI:  The Minturn Mile is an iconic off mtn. ski run that starts off the backside of Vail’s Game Creek Bowl and deposits you on the norhtern end of Minturn.  (Note:  Only expert skiers accompanied by a Minturn Mile veteran should attempt; and don’t poach my line of course!)

Please feel free to call or email me anytime to talk about what makes Minturn such a great place!

Related Article:  Getting to Know the Vail Valley: Minturn & Red Cliff

Fun Restaurants For The Whole Family in Minturn, CO

Minturn, Colorado lot prices continue to rise as Bobby Ginn's promises $160 Million to Minturn

As Bobby Ginn celebrates his victory in gaining the approval of Minturn voters to annex his new ski resort into the Town of Minturn, locals celebrate too.  Bobby Ginn’s promise to provide money for bike trails, school, library, community center and other ammenities to the Town of Minturn has caused the value of Minturn resident’s property to jump in price to almost unheard of values per square foot. 

City lots, 25 feet wide, are over $500,000 and the lots on the outskirts of town, if they can be found, have similar value if they have views of the river, Lionshead, or the national forest. 

Currently there are a few commercial lots along the river as you enter the Town of Minturn, going for about $950,000 to $1,739,000.  There are a few small residential lots with scraper homes on them, average size is about 5,000 square feet, or .12 acres for $450,000 on the outskirts of town, but within walking distance to restaurants. Often you can build a duplex on a very small lot and maximize an investment.  There are a few hidden gems around, however, sellers realize now that it is like cash in the bank.

If you are up to the challenge to remodel a 1838 centruy home with mixed use zoning, near the center of town, you can purchase this home on .13 acres for $745,000, or just start over with a new structure as the town grows.

For information on these and several other properties available in Minturn that are not currently listed, but for sale, contact Teri Lester, Eco-Broker 970-376-0779 or tlester@gatewayland.com

Minturn and Red Cliff give small town Western influence to Vail’s resort community

Located along the banks of the Eagle River just 10 minutes southwest of Vail, the historic town of Minturn has kept its old west personality.  Signs of the town’s former mining and railroad identity abound amongst the shops, galleries and restaurants that line the quaint and personable Main Street.  During the winter Minturn is most known for the Minturn Mile, a backcountry ski run that takes you from Vail Mountain right past the Saloon where the chips and margaritas take the edge off sore ski legs.  In the summer, Minturn vibrates with activity from kayak races, the Minturn Jazz Festival and the Minturn Farmers Market (one of the biggest social scenes in the Valley).  The Turntable restaurant reminds us of what made Minturn a town over a century ago with a miniature train set that runs around the restaurant above the booths.

10 miles past Minturn, Red Cliff is tucked back in the surrounding rock.  With its sheltered location and higher altitude Red Cliff enjoys beautiful privacy and the quiet sounds of nature.  It also gets less sun so it stays colder and holds the snow longer.  On a scenic drive between Vail and Leadville, or to see Camp Hale (where the WWII 10th Mountain Division soldiers trained), stop in Red Cliff at Mangos for fish tacos. 

While Minturn and Red Cliff step slowly towards Vail’s modern day standards of homes, and you can find newer constructed homes, there are just as many older homes with more charm and character than the old trucks sitting in their front yards. 

With Ginn Development Company’s new efforts to build Battle Mountain Resort, a private ski and golf resort on the south side of Minturn, heading towards Red Cliff, more rapid change is in the towns’ futures.  The old houses are being bought up, remodeled or ripped down and re-built.  Whether Ginn Resorts has sped up the process, or if Vail’s New Dawn was bound to spread southwest, Minturn and Red Cliff are on the train to a facelift of their own.

For more information on Minturn, Red Cliff or other Vail Valley real estate contact please call or email me or visit my website below.

Ginn land will become part of town

After almost 3 years of discussion, Minturn Town Councilors approved plans for a private ski resort. 

Town councilors unanimously voted to include 4,300 acres of land owned by the Ginn Development Co. into the town of Minturn. Ginn wants to build 1,700 homes and condos and a private ski resort and golf course south of Minturn.

Despite the Town’s approval, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has not approved Ginn’s plans to clean-up contaminated waste from the former Eagle Mine. Ginn still needs to show that it has explored alternatives for water storage besides depositing water in a dry lake bed south of town called Bolts Lake where wetlands exist.

Ginn also has to determine how to safely relocate contaminated mine waste such as arsenic, lead, zinc, cadmium and copper from the abandoned mining town of Gilman into a pile in Minturn.

Wanting to build employee housing at Gilman and Holmes, Ginn must first make sure the land is safe. It cannot proceed with plans to build several condominium buildings at Bolts Lake, including an up to 195-foot-tall one, until EPA approves the clean-up.

For more information on Ginn’s Battle Mountain project or other Vail Valley real estate contact Karen Gilbert at 970-331-1482 or karen@gatewayland.com

Minturn gives Ginn Development Premilinary OK to Annex New Development

Will Bobby Ginn’s Dream of a Private Ski and Golf Resort on and near Battle Mountain and Minturn come true?

Finally, after 2 and 1/2 years of meetings with local residents, council members, planners and developer representatives, the Ginn Deveopment is making progress on the proposed  development of 1,700 homes, condominiums, private ski resort and golf course south of Minturn.

Last night the Minturn Town Coucil’s vote to give preliminary approval had some reservations attached.  They are concerned on how residents on Ginn’s property would be taxed and how that revenue would be used to make improvements in Minturn, such as a recreation center and bike paths.  What they would like to see is the revenue for improvements to flow to Minturn forever, just in case Ginn’s projections of its tax reventue to the town turned out to be not enough. 

This sounds like some negotiations a divorce settlement would encounter.  Ginn does not want to commit to giving Minturn that money forever, but agreed that Minturn should get a guaranteed amount of revenue for a certain amount of time. 

So what now?  Minturn and Ginn attorneys were told to work out an agreeement before the next Town Council vote on Feb. 27.  There is no guarantee Town council members will vote the same way next week.  Minturn is still looking for some security for its future and some input as to how the Ginn Development will enhance the life of residents living in Minturn.  It may take more time for final approval, however, this vote is one step closer to Bobby Ginn realizing his dream in Minturn. 

At this point the Minturn town council is not giving residents the chance to vote on the annexation.  It would require a refferendum  with signatures from 80 registerd voters to petition a vote. 

The attorneys for both parties are going to be busy this week trying to create that ultimate win-win situation for Minturn and Ginn.

For more information on the Ginn Development in Minturn, contact Teri Lester, Eco-Broker 970-376-0779 or tlester@gatewayland.com

Bobby Ginn brings private skiing to Minturn along with some southern charm

Over the past 3 decades, Bobby Ginn has been busy acquiring, developing and managing residential, resort golf course and mixed-use properties in the southeast and Caribbean. With nearly 40,000 acres currently either in planning or under development, Ginn’s company has complete in-house services of land acquisition, development, architecture and planning, engineering, golf course construction, landscaping and real estate sales and marketing. It’s no wonder it’s one of the fastest growing development companies in the Southeast.

Now he’s coming to our little Valley.

Ginn plans to build a private 1200 acre ski resort, 18 hole golf course and 1,700 homes and condominiums on and around Battle Mountain, just south of Minturn.

Eight ski lifts are planned on Battle Mountain in the Willow, Holy Cross, Rock and Kiln creek drainages. With a vertical drop of more than 2,000 feet, the ski area would have as much terrain as Beaver Creek, not counting Bachelor Gulch and Arrowhead.

Ginn’s 18-hole golf course is proposed to be built on current wetlands south of Minturn and would be designed to hold professional tournaments.Ginn has found a niche with a clientele who’s been to other places that are overcrowed and is ready to get away, to a more peaceful environment. They’re not afraid to spend a little extra cash to be able to enjoy the same activities they could at the busier resorts without the hubabloo.

In Ginn Resorts’ typical style, the new Battle Mountain resort will be casual and lively. Looking for the Four Seasons five-star service?  You won’t find it here. Ginn believes in southern hospitality and what they call “people serving people”.  You’ll find a fine level of exclusivity without upscale pretentiousness, good (not fancy) food, and plenty of activities for the kids.

While some fear any new development and even more fear the unknown, Bobby Ginn is just what this valley needs. As the lines and use of Vail and Beaver Creek Mountains increase, Ginn will build up a beautiful resort that many of us will be dying to ski, in an area that needs a facelift anyway, and if nothing else, maybe he’ll draw some of the crowds off our other mountains.

According to Ginn’s proposal, for $50 a year a Minturn resident would be able purchase a 30 day ski and 15 day golf pass. Who’s ready to move to Minturn now?

For more information on the new Battle Mountain Resort other Vail Valley real estate contact Karen Gilbert at 970-926-6777 or karen@gatewayland.com

Limited Inventory in Minturn, Colorado

The small community of Minturn,CO saw a bit of growth again this year real estate-wise.  The Minturn Townhomes project, located on the northern end of town, accounted for 8 of the 12  residential sales this past winter season. (as noted by the MLS) 

There are currently only 10 active listings in Minturn and Red Cliff, with about 8 properties currently under contract.  Many residents love Minturn, illustrated by the low number of listings.  Also, prices have risen steadily in Minturn, so prospective buyers may not want to pay top dollar for a fixer-upper.

The BIG development that will shape Minturn’s future is still in the works; I’m referring to the Ginn Company’s thousands of acres on Battle Mountain.  It remains to be seen how this 1700 unit plan will affect this community, but be assured it will have a HUGE impact.

To learn more about the Minturn real estate market, please contact Doug Schwartz at (970)926-6777 or at dougs@gatewayland.com

To view all of the active listings in the Vail Valley, please visit www.vailpropertysearch.com