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Affordable mountain real estate
and a world of outdoor fun and excitement Red Lodge, a small town of less than 2,500 and known primarily
as a gateway community to Yellowstone National Park, has been described as a "rollicking frontier town where fistfights
and gunfights were common," and labeled by some observers as a scaled-down version of Park City, Utah, where, instead
of luxury vehicles, designer ski outfits and hyper inflated housing prices, the transportation of choice is Subaru Outbacks
or four-wheel-drive pickup trucks. And even though pricey condos and golf course properties are being developed, home prices
are still reasonable, especially when compared to the real estate markets of fashionable ski resorts like Park City or nearby
Jackson Hole.
Nestled at the base of
the Beartooth Mountains, Red Lodge still retains the character and atmosphere of a quintessential western town with a historic
and architecturally unique downtown area, but today the saloons and bars that were here when the town was frequented by Wild
Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane have been replaced by shops, a brew pub and restaurants.
Absent the crowds and congestion
of big city life, Red Lodge retains a warmth and hospitality that appeals to both summer tourists and winter snow enthusiasts.
With an elevation of 5,500 feet, summers in Red Lodge are fairly mild and rather short, extending from early June
to mid-September. Those who live here find the four-season perfect for a year round calendar of outdoor activities, whether
it be hiking mountain trails and camping along trout-filled streams in the summer or heading to the slopes for downhill and
cross country skiing in the winter months.
And with the 11,000 feet high Beartooth Mountains
just outside
your front door and the vast wilderness
of Yellowstone National Park just two hours away, there is certainly enough outdoor
adventure for even the most ardent nature lover. In fact, National Geographic Adventure magazine recently cited Red Lodge
as one the great adventure towns in the Rockies, and Outdoor Magazine calls it one of the 30 best places in the U.S. to live
and play. Clearly, Red Lodge may not be the
ideal retirement spot for everyone, but for anyone searching for a place to retire in the mountains, this small, hospitable
village offers a distinct and appealing choice and is an affordable place to retire with much to discover.
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