THE PALACE: Salida's Premier Historic Boutique Hotel

Chalk another one up for Salida: The Palace Hotel. Located alongside the banks of the Arkansas River, the newly renovated Palace Hotel offers boutique caliber lodging within footsteps of shopping, dining and fly fishing. Built at the turn of the 20th century by Ambrose Ramsey, the Palace Hotel was originally home to 44 rooms, which have been remodeled, in complete compliance with historic preservation guidelines, into 14 unique suites.

Here, vintage chic meets the modern amenities. A 10 kilowatt rooftop photovoltaic system feeds back into the grid to help offset energy use. Water, waste, and energy management systems have been implemented wherever possible. Rooms are furnished with locally crafted soaps, and you won't find any tiny individual use bottles of shampoo in your bathroom- instead, there's a healthy selection of full size bottles to choose from.

What's more Part of the beauty of historic restoration, is that neither the original labor, nor the original materials, are completely lost or abandoned. On your next visit to Salida, wind your way up the magnificently preserved staircase and into one of these genuinely well-appointed suites. River, Mountains or Park view?

K. Hale Chamblee
Broker Associate
719.221.4637
hale@weshillrealestate.com

Salida, Colorado is Making its Way to the Map

A strange little thing is happening to Salida. Sure, we're an unpretentious, laid back, mountain town. Sure, we offer world class fishing, cycling and mounting biking. Sure, we have some of the best whitewater in the country and a sweet ski area that's a locals hot spot. A large historic downtown, burgeoning art scene, a growing collection of great restaurants, fifteen 14,000 foot peaks, several area hot springs, and an abundance of public land. Not to mention, the grounding influences of cattle ranches, a goat dairy and agriculture.

One thing Salida hasn't really had, however, is a name for itself.

Maybe it is because Salida sits in the shadow of the better-known, higher-elevation, resort towns like Aspen, Vail and Telluride, that it has been slower to arrive on the scene, and on the map, but a strange little thing has been happening. Salida  has been popping up over and over again in the media. Both the May 2012 and June 2012 issues of Outside Magazine, America's leading active-lifestyle and adventure-travel magazine, make mention of Salida area attractions.

In May's, Destinations section dedicated to the National Parks, you'll find, pinned between Bryce Canyon, Utah and Joshua Tree, California - Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado, which is about an hour from Salida.  Set in the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the dunes cover 19,000 acres and rise up to 750 feet, making this a great place to go sand sledding and sandboarding. Curious? Rentals are available at Kristi Mountain Sports in Alamosa, and just like the article says, after you return your board, stop into Alamosa's, San Luis Valley Brewing Company, for a cold one.

June's mention, of the Arkansas River, is a bit more predictable. Every year more than a million people float down the Arkansas River - that's akin to the entire City of San Francisco going whitewater rafting. It's a unique river and a destination for anglers, kayakers, rafters, and whitewater trill seekers. Want to celebrate whitewater, join us for America's Oldest & Boldest Whitewater Festival, FIBArk, June 14-17.

Not only has Salida and the surrounding areas received honorable mention in these last two editions of Outside, it was in the top 5 and the first runner up for Native Eyewear's Locals Only project.  What does this mean? I can only assume it means that Salida is about to take it's rightful place on the map as one of Colorado's most desirable mountain towns. If you'd like to make this your place on the map as well, contact me about the real estate possibilities here in Salida, Colorado.

Hale Chamblee
Broker Associate
719.22.4637
hale@weshlilrealestate.com

Salida is on the Move

Local lender Collegiate Peaks Bank is closing on a loan to Salida Natural Resource Center Development Corp for $4.3 million this week. Construction of the U.S. Forest Service building will commence in May. Infrastructure improvements will include extension of water and sewer to the Vandaveer Ranch and adjacent property. The devleopment corporation board is continuing conversations with Colorado Parks and Wildlife personnel as well as Colorado State University for a satillite campus. These are all welcome additions to our city.

On another subject, the City is negotiating with Union Pacific Railroad to purchase land along the north side of the Arkansas River. The City is proposing the Salida Siding Trail project on the land. Pending grant applications involve Great Outdoors Colorado, Fishing Is Fun, Colorado State Trails, Nestle Waters, Gates Family Foundation, Arkansas River Outfitters Association and Xcel Energy. This trail would make a valuable connection to the Arkansas Hill Trail System already in place.

With all of this positive news, now is the time to look for your own piece of Salida, Colorado real estate.

Salida is once again on the move. A proposed master plan has been submitted for major renovations to Centennial Park and Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center. Salida has always enjoyed the luxury of the hot springs pool. Now, there is a proposed major expansion. It would include an outdoor water park with slide, shallow pools for children and adult soaking pools; new entrance with lobby and new locker rooms; and expanded parking areas. Centennial Park will receive new handicap restrooms, playground equipment and picnic area. The plan also includes a temporary "Christo Visitor's Center" building to be used during the Over the River viewing period. This kind of progress is what makes Salida, Colorado a real community. Expansion of our resource is a smart move for our city.

When you consider the new City Building, the new High School, the expansion of the Sewer Treatment Facility, the expansion of the Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center, new trail system and the Natural Resources Center, Salida has a lot of positive moves in place.

Now is a great time to join this vibrant community. We can't wait to help you find your little piece Salida to call home