Eagle County Soars on EasyLiving Front Range Colorado

Abundance has always been a virtue of Eagle County, Colorado. The fertile lands, brimming rivers and bountiful wildlife naturally made great hunting and fishing grounds for the Ute Indians, and produced bumper crops and lush grazing lands for ranchers. A mining boom fueled housing growth, commerce and transportation countywide, and rooted the area in rich history. As history would have it, World War II–famed 10th Mountain Division ski troopers ultimately opened the door to a wealth of recreation and adventure opportunities that continue to drive copious growth and development here today. Eagle County towns are still making history, embarking on unprecedented urban renewal and new development projects scheduled for 2008 and beyond. Here are just a few you won’t want to miss. Vail The Arrabelle at Vail Square Part of Vail’s Billion Dollar Renewal, The Arrabelle is a new luxury resort in Lionshead, opening in early 2008. This RockResorts property boasts Centre V, a Parisian-inspired brasserie, offering traditional French cuisine, and a signature spa with mountain-inspired treatments. For spectacular views of Vail Mountain, stop by for tea or cocktails on the outdoor veranda or lounge by the rooftop pool during the summer months. Minturn Little Beach Park and Amphitheater The Town of Minturn has begun the process of creating a revitalization plan. Stay tuned for new streetscape, bike and pedestrian paths, recreation plans and more. Meanwhile, check out the new Little Beach Park and Amphitheater and treat the family to a picnic play date by the river. There’s a basketball court, climbing wall, swings, slides and all sorts of other fun playground equipment, family picnic stations with outdoor grills, and many nearby hiking trails. It’s hard to say who will have more fun, the parents or the kids. AVON Main Street and Transportation Hub A new Main Street is part of Avon’s urban renewal plan. In addition, the town will alter its skier shuttle route to incorporate the new riverfront gondola as a key element of its long-term transportation strategy. From Avon Station, skiers can connect directly to Beaver Creek via the Riverfront Express Gondola. EAGLE Broadway Streetscape The award-winning Broadway streetscape renovation project is complete in downtown Eagle. The thriving downtown business district now hosts street fairs, markets, art shows and competitions, holiday festivals and more throughout the year. There are a number of new businesses, restaurants and art galleries coming to town, so allot some time for just wandering around. Eagle Ranch Village You’ll want to include Eagle Ranch Village in your Eagle outing. Well positioned to be the new “entertainment destination down valley,” Eagle Ranch offers a golf course, an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants, a coffee shop, a fitness club, and a new state-of-the art medical center, all in a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood community. GYPSUM Brightwater Club Spring of 2008 will be busy for Gypsum as its premier Brightwater Club launches construction to complete the back nine of its Championship Robert Trent Jones, Jr. 18-hole golf course, Outfitters Post and Golf Center, and completion of infrastructure to over 300 of the 535 home sites. Upon completion, Brightwater Club will also offer 27 acres of trophy trout lakes, over a mile of Gypsum Creek fly fishing, an equestrian facility, health spa and fitness facility, clubhouse, two restaurants, ice skating and cross country skiing, as well as a private Alpine Ski Club and Lounge at the Beaver Creek Lodge in Beaver Creek Village. BASALT Willits Willits is a 150-acre new town currently rising off Highway 82 in Basalt, near El Jebel. Over 140 homes are now occupied and 20 acres of parks and recreational playgrounds are complete. More than 500 more residences are planned outside the Town Center. Designed for 600,000 square feet of working, shopping, living, culture and recreation, the new development offers both mixed use and single use buildings in a downtown setting, modeled after 19th century towns of the Roaring Fork Valley. Some retail shops and signature restaurants are now open and more retail facilities are also on the docket, including a Whole Foods. A performing arts building, government office building, hotel and transit facility are also planned.