Quote:
Originally Posted by Cirrus
But awfully far from Denver. Are any of the ski areas capable of becoming significant cities on their own?
I'm doubtful. Seems like it would have happened already. But maybe. Anybody have thoughts on the possibilities? Vail and Aspen have topography problems, but why aren't there more people in, say, Fraser?
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This is an interesting thought. Barring some unforeseen event of shattering significance, though, I can't imagine a major city rising in Colorado's mountains for at least several generations, and then only through a more mundane, organic growth process that is accompanied (and more than matched) by the same growth in Denver and the Front Range.
Right now Summit County (Dillon/Silverthorne) seems to be the most likely candidate. It's already a hub for at least four, perhaps five, ski areas, and it's bisected by a major interstate. It also has room for sprawl to the north towards Kremmling.
While it doesn't have an airport capable of passenger flights, proposals have popped up from time to time for developing an airport in Park County to serve Summit's skiing interests. Hoosier Pass is already a remarkably easy pass to traverse, and it's easy to imagine some strategic improvements to the more curvy north side of the pass to accommodate increased vehicular traffic.
Fraser, which you mentioned as a possibility, seems less likely, and that's mainly because I think its surrounding geography is a detriment to convenient access.