Crested Butte Is Home
Explore the fascinating, eclectic, and entertaining people and organizations of Crested Butte, CO- and the entire Gunnison Valley. Find out why Crested Butte Is Home for them, and how they got here. If you love Crested Butte and the mountain lifestyle, this is the podcast for you.
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Ep. 70 Caleb and Morgan Weinberg | ROMP Skis
03/14/2022
Ep. 70 Caleb and Morgan Weinberg | ROMP Skis
If you spend any time skiing Crested Butte Mountain Resort at all, you've almost certainly seen ROMP skis, and probably a lot of them, in the lift lines. Brothers Morgan and Caleb Weinberg grew up in the mountains of New Hampshire doing all the things we love to do here in the Gunnison valley, like mountain biking and skiing. Both of them attended Western Colorado University, and like many Western alum, decided to stay and make a home in Crested Butte. During and shortly after the 2008 recession, they found themselves with a bit more time on their hands and Morgan, a self-described tinkerer, suggested making their own skis. At first, it was just a bit of a hobby and a fun way to play with skis. soon enough, however, it turned into a full-fledged business and ROMP skis was born. In this episode, we talk about the design and construction of a pair of skis, and how purchasing a pair of ROMP skis on a semi-custom basis might be different than any other ski purchase you've likely made. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: As is the case across the country, Crested Butte and Gunnison real estate is seeing substantial price increases along with record low inventory. Take a look at my market reports Learn More:
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Ep. 69 Aaron Blunck | 2X Olympics, Gold Medal X Games
01/27/2021
Ep. 69 Aaron Blunck | 2X Olympics, Gold Medal X Games
Aaron Blunck was born to ski. His grandfather started the ski school here in Crested Butte, his mom was a longtime instructor, his dad loves to ski, and Aaron had to keep up with his big brother somehow, too. By 8 he and his brother were skiing on their own, equipped with cheap radios to call home in case they needed to. Aaron was always into jumps and he pretty quickly started to excel at it, especially in the halfpipe discipline. Before he knew it he was competing in the X Games and Olympics before he'd even gotten out of high school. He went on to win an X Games gold medal, World Championships, and compete in a second Olympics. In this episode, we talked about the entire arc of his ski career, how grateful he is to have grown up in Crested Butte, and where he sees his ski career heading in the future. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Recently, we've seen a lot of commercial properties and development opportunities go under contract in the Crested Butte area. Additionally, I recently listed a Crested butte property with 3 homes and great rental income- . Learn More:
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Ep. 68 Corey Tibljas | Film Production and Firefighting
01/07/2021
Ep. 68 Corey Tibljas | Film Production and Firefighting
Corey Tibljas spent most of his childhood growing up right here in Crested Butte, as one of the first graduating classes at what was then the new Community School. It was there, at the school, that he and his friend Ben Somrak decided to make a ski movie and start their company, Two Plank Productions. Thanks to the help of local film makers Matchstick Productions (see episode 26 Murray Wais), and the local TV station (see episode 46 Noah Wight), they were able to release their film to a packed house at the Center For the Arts. The duo released several more ski movies, before Corey transitioned the company into a more general film production company and Ben moved on to be a local general contractor. Another Two Plank event was "Big Air on Elk", which for several years featured skiers towed on snowmobiles launching "big air" right on Elk Avenue in downtown Crested Butte. It was a favorite event for a lot of people, and he's hoping to bring it back some day. Corey also began volunteer firefighting while he was still a teen. Today, 20 years later, he still fights fires in addition to his Two Plank responsibilities- but now as a full time paid Captain of the Crested Butte Fire Protection District. Not only that, he helps teens that are following his footsteps into firefighting as well. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: In this episode's real estate minute, I discussed the 2021 Crested Butte and Gunnison real estate outlook. For more information, please visit the Learn More:
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Ep. 67 Joe and Shamai Buckel | High Country Wine Making
11/26/2020
Ep. 67 Joe and Shamai Buckel | High Country Wine Making
Shamai Buckel grew up in Southern Colorado as well as Santa Fe, New Mexico and went to Western Colorado University after a powder-filled ski trip to Crested Butte convinced her that this was the place to be. Joe Buckel's journey to the Gunnison valley from Indiana took a little longer, with a short stint in Denver. But they found each other and eventually moved to California wine country to learn more about wine making. There, they discovered "warehouse wineries", and decided that they could do the same thing here. They get their grapes in Palisade (near Grand Junction), but make the wine in Gunnison at their Winery, Buckel Family Wines. We spend a lot of time in this episode talking about how to taste wine (great for someone like me who would like to be "better" at it), how to pair it, and of course how to make wine. And of course, one of the great things about wine is travel, too- so we talked about some of the great places to visit. I hope you enjoy this interview and get a chance to taste their wines, whether at a local liquor store, a local restaurant, or at their winery in Gunnison. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: In this episode's real estate minute, I highlighted the Meridian Lake Neighborhood, located up the Washington Gulch Trailhead near Mount Crested Butte. This beautiful neighborhood with great access to hiking, Long Lake, and more also has amazing views of the ski area. For more information, maps, and all current listings, . Learn More:
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Ep. 66 Lucille Lucas | Dali, Art, Moroccan Craziness and more
11/11/2020
Ep. 66 Lucille Lucas | Dali, Art, Moroccan Craziness and more
Lucille Lucas grew up in New York City, with parents that were deeply immersed in the art world. That meant that she was able to meet artists like Salvador Dali and others, and Lucille began practicing her own art at a young age as well. But a trip across the country proved to her that NYC wasn't her place- the smaller and slower life in the rural West was more her speed. She learned how to ski and backcountry ski when few people were doing it, and also lived in a teepee above Aspen, CO for a winter. Another adventure started at the farmhouse she was living at in Northern California- "Come with us to Morocco, and let us buy a VW bus in your name", they said. Give this one a listen to find out where that story ends up. She also worked at the famous "bathhouse" in Crested Butte, which was a popular spot in the 70's. She is the owner of the Lucille Lucas gallery, specializing in prints- many of which were made by her father. We finish the conversation discussing art in general, as well as the art scene here in the Creative District of Crested Butte. This was one of my favorite interviews so far, so I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: This episode is being released in November of 2020, and the real estate market continues to be incredibly busy (normally this is a slower time of year). Therefore, it remains a great time for sellers, and for buyers, they should be ready to "pull the trigger" if they see something that they like. Contact me, Frank Konsella, at for more information. Learn More:
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Ep. 65 Craig Hall | Crested Butte Heliskiing and Flying to Fight Forest Fires
10/28/2020
Ep. 65 Craig Hall | Crested Butte Heliskiing and Flying to Fight Forest Fires
Craig Hall grew up in the Southeast Colorado town of La Junta, but often visited the Gunnison and Crested Butte area to ski and fish. After graduating with a forestry degree from Colorado State University, Craig headed to Crested Butte to ski. He was part of a small group of skiers that were heading out into the backcountry and started to learn the newly re-discovered telemark turn as the best way to access the mountains surrounding Crested Butte with the gear that was available at the time. A heliskiing company was starting, and Craig was recommended as someone who knew the area. Thus began Craig's career as a heliskiing guide, skiing many of the runs that are popular with today's backcountry skiers. Later, the operation moved to Marble to attract the Aspen market, where his clients included Saudi Sheiks and local drug dealers. After the heliskiing company folded, Craig was able to combine his forestry degree, past experience as a "hot shot" firefighter, and helicopter experience to fight fires from the air, something he still does today. When we recorded this episode in early October 2020, the Cameron Peak fire had not yet exploded into Colorado's largest ever, and the destructive East Troublesome fire had not yet started. When you hear updates on those fires, chances are good that Craig was there, assisting the firefighting efforts from the air. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Are you considering a sale of your home or condo in Crested Butte? A few simple things can really help- like decluttering, repainting, window washing and more. Want to know more? Contact me, Frank Konsella, at Learn More:
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Ep. 64 Jay Prentiss | Mountaineering, Mentoring, and Long-haul Covid
10/14/2020
Ep. 64 Jay Prentiss | Mountaineering, Mentoring, and Long-haul Covid
Jay Prentiss grew up on the East coast, and like many of the other people I've interviewed, his first visit to the Gunnison Valley was as a freshman at Western Colorado University. Already an outdoor athlete, he's taken advantage of all the Crested Butte area offers- climbing, kayaking, skiing, mountain biking and more. One of those passions is mountaineering, which included a trip to North America's highest peak, Denali. It didn't get off to a particularly auspicious start, with the pilot saying "sorry" seconds before hitting the glacier. Another mountaineering trip was cut short by bad weather high on Peru's highest peak, Huascaran. After an unplanned bivouac, Jay and his partner's adventure was just starting when they got off the mountain and then had to navigate an uprising in the country. Jay is also involved in a number of local non-profits, including Gunnison Valley Mentors. That organization pairs youth with mentors to help them grow. Jay previously mentored kids and today, he's on their board of directors. In late February/ early March, Jay was one of many people who caught Covid-19, as the disease quickly spread through Crested Butte and Gunnison. Now 7 months later, he's still suffering from a number of symptoms, from fatigue to a severe shortness of breath on the bad days. He's been travelling to doctors across the country looking for help so he can get back to being the mountain athlete that he's known to be Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: A lack of real estate inventory continues to be a problem for buyers, so if you (or someone you know) are considering selling property in Gunnison or Crested Butte, give me (Frank Konsella) a call. Stay up to date on real estate news in Crested Butte by signing up for my monthly market updates . Learn More:
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Ep. 63 Jake O'Connor | Building a Better Handcycle
09/10/2020
Ep. 63 Jake O'Connor | Building a Better Handcycle
Jake O Connor grew up in Colorado, enjoying the outdoor lifestyle and building houses as he grew older. In his final year at CSU in Fort Collins, Jake suffered a spinal cord injury at a jobsite, but mere months later, he returned and earned his construction management degree. He went on to a successful career, even building a "floating casino" in Kansas City, which we talk about in this episode. Eventually he decided to move to Crested Butte, and not only that, he thought he could improve upon the handcycle designs of the time and build something better. After all, he could build homes, so how hard could it be to weld a few tubes together to make a bike? Hard, obviously- but those were the beginnings of Reactive Adaptations, his handcycle company that now boasts multiple designs and all of them are handbuilt here in Crested Butte. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Local real estate continues to be extremely active, thanks in part to "Zoom buyers"- those that are now working from home permanently, or at least most of the time. That means that someplace like Crested Butte has a lot of appeal versus a city that they no longer need to be tied to. Low inventory continues to be a problem, so if you (or someone you know) are considering selling property in Gunnison or Crested Butte, give me (Frank Konsella) a call. Stay up to date on real estate news in Crested Butte by signing up for my monthly market updates . Learn More:
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Ep. 62 Stevie Kremer | Trailrunning Champion Across the World
07/23/2020
Ep. 62 Stevie Kremer | Trailrunning Champion Across the World
Stevie Kremer was born in Germany, but moved to Connecticut with her family before she was 1 year old. Her life on the CT shore, not far from New York City, was typical- golf, tennis, etc, before heading to Colorado College in Colorado Springs. It was while attending CC that she was introduced to Crested Butte and fell in love with the place, as so many of us do. Once she arrived in Crested Butte after college, she began hiking and realized she could run instead of hiking half the time, so why not run? So she kept running and even ran her first race, Crested Butte's "Cart to Cart". But it was while she was teaching in Italy that she began competing at a high level in mountain trailrunning, and not only that, she started to win races across Europe, where trailrunning is a huge sport. Trailrunning took her to every continent except Antarctica, even though she was working full time as a teacher at the Crested Butte Community School. In the winter, she discovered "skimo" racing, donning lightweight skis and racing up the mountains and winning those races, too. Today, she still races, still works at CBCS, but her focus is now on being a mom. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: July 2020 has been an incredibly busy month in Crested Butte real estate. Low inventory continues to be a problem, so if you (or someone you know) are considering selling property in Gunnison or Crested Butte, give me (Frank Konsella) a call. Stay up to date on real estate news in Crested Butte by signing up for my monthly market updates . Learn More:
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Ep. 61 Kyleena Falzone | Secret Stash, Travel, Philanthropy
07/01/2020
Ep. 61 Kyleena Falzone | Secret Stash, Travel, Philanthropy
Kyleena Falzone is originally from Buffalo, New York. From a young age, she knew she wanted to work in the restaurant business, and that only intensified after a visit with relatives in Sicily, Italy, who owned a restaurant there. For several years, Kyleena would work in restaurants from Vail to the Hamptons, learning as much as she could about the business, and spending off seasons pursuing her other love- traveling to far-off locales like India. So far, she's visited roughly 90 countries across the world. When the time was right, she opened a coffee shop in Western New York, but she was ready for a change and fell in love with Crested Butte and a small restaurant space at the end of Elk Avenue, where she opened the original Secret Stash pizza location. She also runs Bonez in the historic Powerhouse location, and for a short time also had a unique concept in Mount Crested Butte called The Sweet Spot, although that didn't work out quite as planned so we talked about that as an interesting counterpoint to the amazing success she's had at "the Stash". Finally, we talked about what she's been doing during the Corona Virus pandemic. Free food, farmer's markets, delving into social media- Kyleena is one entrepreneur who has not shied away from making changes and keeping her businesses top of mind, while also helping locals at the same time. Her realization that she has a real knack (and voice) for raising money is now leading her to another project- this time a non-profit. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: June 2020 has been an incredibly busy month in Crested Butte real estate. Appraisers and title companies are so busy that it's hard to get an appointment in less than 5 weeks. Low inventory continues to be a problem, so if you (or someone you know) are considering selling property in Gunnison or Crested Butte, give me a call. Stay up to date on real estate news in Crested Butte by signing up for my monthly market updates . Learn More:
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Ep. 60 Derrick Nehrenberg | Mapping Brains, Mapping Trails
06/17/2020
Ep. 60 Derrick Nehrenberg | Mapping Brains, Mapping Trails
Derrick Nehrenberg grew up in 30 different places, although most of them were in the Southeast. After high school, he attended college for a year and sold books in the summer. He was known to drive a bit fast at his summer job, however, and therefore a judge suggested a stint in the military (and yes, it's as good of a story as it sounds). So the military it was- for 5 years. After the military, Derrick went back to college to become a behavioral neuroscientist/geneticist. He was studying mice and traits within those mice, with an ultimate goal of helping people. But he eventually decided that the best way to help people was actually to help them get outside more often. So he traded academia for the trails, and began mapping trails in Colorado. Eventually, he and his partner began developing phone apps for trail systems and that's when the Gunnison/ Crested Butte Tourism Association asked him to not only map all 750+ miles of singletrack in the area, but to also develop a "game" for people to ride or hike all of the trails in the area, which was dubbed Trailquest. To date, five people have completed this challenge. That contest led to other applications, including turn by turn navigation and virtual racing events like the Gunnison Growler, which had to be cancelled (at least in person) in 2020 due to the Corona Virus. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Indications from the first two weeks of June are that the Crested Butte and Gunnison real estate market are recovering from Coronavirus quickly. Pending contracts have nearly doubled and inventory is once again rising (though still low overall). Stay up to date on real estate news in Crested Butte by signing up for my monthly market updates . Learn More:
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Ep. 59 Jenny Stillo | Honduran Olympic Nordic Skier, and Journey of the Camino
06/03/2020
Ep. 59 Jenny Stillo | Honduran Olympic Nordic Skier, and Journey of the Camino
Jenny Stillo grew up in warm sunny Honduras, playing on the beach and studying in both English and Spanish at the American school. For college, she ended up at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, which was trying to attract more international students at the time. Despite the cold weather and cultural shock, Jenny liked the area and stayed after graduation as so many others do, eventually starting a family and working in Crested Butte. She began nordic skiing and it turned out she was good at it, too- placing highly in a regional race series. That's when things got really interesting- Denver TV stations picked up on the story of the Honduran nordic skier, and the next thing Jenny knew, the Honduran Olympic committee asked her to represent the country at the 1992 winter games in Albertville France. Whiile she may not have been a contender at the races against athlete powerhouses like Norway and Sweden, it was (obviously) still an amazing experience and she remains the only winter athlete from Honduras. Recently, she and a friend hiked the 500 mile Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain. She describes this journey as being on par with her Olympic experience. I recently hiked a shorter portion of this same route and confirm that "the Camino" is an incredible adventure. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Real Estate Sales in Crested Butte and Gunnison fell in May 2020 due to the Coronavirus, but June already appears to be on the upswing. Stay up to date on real estate news in Crested Butte by signing up for my monthly market updates . Learn More:
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Ep. 58 Scott Williams | Olympic Field Hockey
05/20/2020
Ep. 58 Scott Williams | Olympic Field Hockey
Scott Williams grew up in a number of places, including Reno, Nevada, where he used to ski. But it was when he was in Southern California during the 1984 summer Olympic games that he was introduced to field hockey, a moment that would change his life. Scott took to the sport quickly and was able to train with some of the best Americans in the sport. Field hockey, for those of you who don't know, is perhaps a bit more like soccer with a stick, than it is to ice hockey. After high school, he went to the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs to further his field hockey goals. He was able to qualify for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, and while the team didn't do as well as they hoped, it was still an amazing experience. Scott was even near the bombing that sadly took place that year, an event which he describes in this interview. We end the conversation talking about what it's like to work from home- something that is new to many people during these Coronavirus times, but something he's been doing for years. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Interest rates remain historically low, which means lower monthly payments, a hedge against inflation, and more buying power. Waiting to buy property may result in higher prices and higher interest rates. Visit for more information or to contact Frank Konsella directly. Learn More:
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Ep. 57 Alan Bernholtz | LA Surf Bum - Mountain Guide - Crested Butte Mayor
05/06/2020
Ep. 57 Alan Bernholtz | LA Surf Bum - Mountain Guide - Crested Butte Mayor
Alan Bernholtz grew up in sunny Los Angeles, California and unsurprisingly took to surfing. Certain aspects of the surf scene didn't appeal to him however, so at 18 he packed up moved to Aspen. But Aspen never felt like the friendly community he was looking for, and a chance visit to Crested Butte convinced Alan to move here. After a few other jobs, Alan eventually began working for Jean Pavillard and Adventures to the Edge guide service. He began guiding on his own in the summer and eventually bought the guide service which was renamed Crested Butte Mountain Guides. He sold that company to some of his guides and then helped Eleven Experience set up their cat skiing operation in Irwin. But what we spoke about a lot in this interview was community. It was that sense of community that led to Alan running for town council and eventually mayor. His guiding focus?- keeping that sense of community in Crested Butte strong, after all, that's what convinced him to move here. Alan is a natural story teller, so this episode flows right along and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. PS- it is marked as "explicit", so keep that in mind when you listen to this episode. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Sales in April 2020 saw a dip, but it wasn't nearly as drastic as one might think given the COVID-19 outbreak. In Gunnison, there have even been bidding wars for new homes. The best way to stay up to date on Gunnison and Crested Butte real estate? Learn More:
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Ep. 56 Arvin Ramgoolam | From Miami to Townie Books owner and writer
04/20/2020
Ep. 56 Arvin Ramgoolam | From Miami to Townie Books owner and writer
Arvin Ramgoolam was born in Trinidad and Tobago- I was fairly certain that those islands are just off the coast of Venezuela, but it took a Google search to confirm it. From there, he emigrated to Miami and yet somehow, he still found his way to Crested Butte (don't worry, it's a good story that you'll hear). An opportunity to open a coffee shop with his then-girlfriend (now wife) Danica led to Rumors Coffee and Tea House. Just a couple of years later, another opportunity arrived and they took over the adjoining bookstore space and named it Townie Books. For a bookworm like Arvin who would often read three books a week, owning a bookstore is a perfect career. But it's more than that, and we talk about the community aspects of owning a coffee/ book store. Finally, Arvin and I talk about the craft of being a writer. He was recently awarded with a fellowship that allows him the freedom to work on his own stories and ideas. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home Podcast- Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Many people are asking me what the local real estate market will do due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The honest answer is that we just don't know yet. Thus far, I have not seen a drop in prices, but we just don't know. The best way to stay up to date on Gunnison and Crested Butte real estate? Learn More:
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Ep. 55 John Norton | CBMR History and Tourism
04/01/2020
Ep. 55 John Norton | CBMR History and Tourism
Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association Executive Director John Norton grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, where he played the "typical" ball sports like football. At Dartmouth College, he met his future wife, an accomplished and avid skier, so he knew he better learn how if he wanted to stick with her. Today, it's one of his favorite things to do, but he's also a jack-of-all-trades, enjoying kayaking, fishing, mountain biking and everything else we enjoy in Crested Butte. After college, John began climbing the corporate ladder in the marketing department at Proctor and Gamble. He may have stayed on that track if an old college friend hadn't offered him a job at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR), in the marketing department there. The early 90's were an exciting time at CBMR, with new lifts like the North Face and High lift, plus innovative efforts to attract new business, like guaranteeing airline seats and "free ski". Later, John spent roughly ten years at the Aspen Skiing Company before being called back to Crested Butte and helping secure the sale of CBMR from the Nortons and Calloways to the Muellers (Triple Peaks). After the Mueller sale, John eventually became the executive director at the local tourism association (TA). The TA has since grown to encompass local entrepreneurial efforts as well. In this episode, we talk about all of this and more, so enjoy this one- Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Like many other places, Crested Butte and Gunnison are experiencing closures due to the Corona virus. Please consider supporting local businesses by purchasing gift certificates, or donating to local charities. Not sure where to donate? . Learn More:
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Ep. 54 Andy Sovick | Ski Guidebook Publisher, Family Traveler, Green Builder
03/18/2020
Ep. 54 Andy Sovick | Ski Guidebook Publisher, Family Traveler, Green Builder
Andy Sovick grew up in the foothills West of Fort Collins, CO. He had dreams of becoming a "mountain man" when he was growing up, but instead attended Fort Lewis college in Durango, where he met his wife. After graduation, he decided to walk back to Fort Collins with skis on his back. His wife was offered a job at the old Crested Butte Academy, which is when he found (and fell in love with) Crested Butte. He worked on a number of green building projects. The green homes that he's describing are something special- if you've been in one, you know they have a special "feel". Andy started a "passion project" to create a visual guidebook of Crested Butte backcountry skiing utilizing aerial photos of the area. The book was so well received that it led to a second book in the Silverton area, and has since become so successful that publishing those guidebooks has become Andy's primary career. We finished out the interview talking about travelling with his family. Along with his wife and 8 year old son, Andy recently traveled throughout South America for several months. If that's something you've dreamed of doing, you might want to check out some of his tips on travel. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Like many other places, Crested Butte and Gunnison are experiencing closures due to the Corona virus. Please consider supporting local businesses by purchasing gift certificates, or donating to local charities. Not sure where to donate? . Learn More:
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Ep. 53 Kent Viles | Making Music and Creating the Dobrato
02/26/2020
Ep. 53 Kent Viles | Making Music and Creating the Dobrato
Kent Viles hails from Muncie, Indiana (amazingly, my second guest from there). He grew up with an ability I've never had- the ability to play musical instruments. Like many of my guests, Kent had a love of skiing and the outdoors despite being far from mountains in the midwest. So when it came time to choose a college, he found Western Colorado University and has been in Gunnison ever since. Kent has been involved with many aspects of the music industry, as former owner of Wildwood Music, a composer for television and film, as well as wiring houses for music in the early days of whole-house audio. But what he's most well known for at this point is a guitar which he developed called the Dobrato. It combines elements of different types of guitars to create it's own highly unique sound. It's been used in a Grammy-winning song, and played by musical titans including Jimmy Buffet and more. In this episode, Kent not only describes the development of the instrument, but also plays a short demonstration! Enjoy! Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Are you searching for property in Crested Butte? Buyer's agents help guide you through the process in ways that listing agents (that are working for the seller) simply won't. I'd love to help- . Learn More: Quotes: In Muncie, there's Ball State University and the fraternities and sororities they'd have [weekend] dance parties, and our band would get booked to play these parties. So I guess I started playing out when I was about 13. We'd stuff all my gear into my mom's car and go by Freddie's house and get his drums and we'd stuff it all into a car. Then we'd tell her come back at nine o'clock and pick us up and she was our roadie. And so it's a real scramble to put this together when the [film] director finally gets you your piece of film that you're going to score to their [movie] -you know, two months late on their deadlines, the budget is completely spent, and they need it yesterday. So in 2008/2009, you know the whole industry with the recession, the construction industry, was of course lacking. And I found I couldn't really sustain a full on company doing audio visual and control systems, because we really needed new holes in the ground. So over many bottles of wine and discussions, Castle Creek Guitars, at least the conception of it, was born. I was playing a resophonic style guitar, and people think of them as dobros. And it's kind of a blue-grassy toned instrument. Well, I had an idea that I'd really like to add a vibrato to it just to add another voice or another color to the palette of what this instrument was producing. A lot of people think of it as a whammy bar. [The Dobrato] So with one motion, I can do vibrato, and a secondary motion, I can pull my B to C sharp, which is the pedal steel move. So now our instrument, not only does it have a very unique voice because of how I wanted to tone out the resophonic guitar, but it also has a vibrato B-bender. That's really never existed before.
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Ep. 52 Ian Billick | Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
02/12/2020
Ep. 52 Ian Billick | Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
Ian Billick grew up in Kansas, but he was also lucky enough to be exposed to the mountains as well. While pursuing a degree in math and science, he received some great career advice and that led him to a profession that would help him spend time outside. And thanks to that, he found Gothic and the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL), where he is the executive director. Ian tells a great story about how RMBL started (you'd never guess the KKK was indirectly involved), and talks about some of the science that is currently happening in Gothic. Another question I asked is "How does RMBL fit in with competing interests like recreation as Crested Butte grows?" His answer makes complete sense. We also talked about the potential involvement that RMBL may have with the "North Parcel", a large plot of land near the Snodgrass trailhead- how it's developed may shape Crested Butte for decades to come. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Mount Crested Butte recently enacted new rules and taxes for short term rentals. Interested in knowing more about them? . Learn More: Quotes: ...And then all of the miners started swarming in the 1870s, so Gothic incorporated as a mining town in 1879. And it filled up to five or 10,000 people, it was one of the main ways in and out of Aspen. Aspen didn't have a train and so they would send mill trains up over East Maroon Pass. [John Johnson] remembered all of these old abandoned mining structures, buildings and cabins up in Gothic. And so he moved the Field Station up [there], just taking over the buildings and he got several other scientists to join with him and setting up the field station 1928. So we're sitting on all of this housing, and it's bad for us financially because it's empty for half the year. All these people would love to have housing. So we're like, well, if we need to do more housing, why not do it in Mount Crested Butte, and then we could work with the ski resort or other employers and then they could use that housing in the winter
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Ep. 51 Yon Iacchio | Sargents: An Overlooked Destination in the Gunnison Valley
01/29/2020
Ep. 51 Yon Iacchio | Sargents: An Overlooked Destination in the Gunnison Valley
Yon Iacchio grew up on the East Coast like so many other residents of the Gunnison Valley. After a little bit of time at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Yon stayed and skied and climbed up and down the front range- even putting up a new climbing route in Venezuela. Recently, Yon and his wife purchased the Tomichi Creek Trading Post in Sargents. Sargents is located on the West side of Monarch Pass. One of the great things about the Gunnison valley is our access to outdoor recreation in three major mountain ranges. Crested Butte is in the Elk Mountains, Lake City is located 45 miles South of Gunnison in the San Juan range, while Sargents and Taylor Park are hubs for adventure in the Sawatch Range. In this episode, Yon and I talk about the recreational opportunities in Sargents- including a free Nordic skiing track that he's been working on. It's a great story involving a partnership between a local ranch owner, a Uranium mine located up Marshall Pass, and the Tomichi Creek Trading Post. Enjoy this episode and check out the Trading Post the next time you're in the area. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: The Crested Butte real estate market has been busy the first month of 2020. Compared to the same time last year, there are far more properties under contract, and a higher dollar volume as well. Is this a sign of how things will be in 2020? Time will tell... Interested in knowing more about the Crested Butte and Gunnison real estate market?- . Learn More:
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Ep. 50 Than Acuff | Soccer Coach, Sports Reporter, and the CBAC
01/15/2020
Ep. 50 Than Acuff | Soccer Coach, Sports Reporter, and the CBAC
Than Acuff grew up on the East coast, skiing and playing soccer before heading West to attend Colorado College in Colorado Springs. He began visiting Crested Butte and like so many of us, knew it was the place for him. As soon as he graduated, he found himself in Crested Butte, working the typical ski bum jobs that so many of us here in Crested Butte started off with. Eventually, however, other opportunities began to present themselves. He was asked to be the soccer coach for the high school team, and was able to lead the Titans to a state championship in 2018. Meanwhile, an "off the cuff" tale of a soccer tournament in Grand Junction led to his job as the long-time sports reporter for the Crested Butte News. In fact, he even helped start the News when it split off from the Crested Butte Chronicle and Pilot, which is a great story as well, which we cover. Finally, Than is the director of the Crested Butte Avalanche Center. He was caught in an avalanche during the 2018-19 winter- thankfully it all went well and it's become a learning experience which he shares on this podcast episode. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: The Crested Butte Community School has long been recognized as one of the top schools in the state, thanks to the involvement of the community. Interested in knowing more about the Crested Butte and Gunnison real estate market?- . Learn More: -Also see Episode 18 with Ben Pritchett
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Ep. 49 Ben Breslauer | The Busiest Person in the World?
01/01/2020
Ep. 49 Ben Breslauer | The Busiest Person in the World?
OK, Ben Breslauer probably isn't the busiest person in the world, but for those of us looking in, it might seem like it. Ben started and continues to run the Crested Butte Burger Company, at the base of the ski area. Additionally, he's the facilities manager for the Club at Crested Butte, with locations in both Mount Crested Butte as well as the golf course in Skyland. For most people, that would be enough. But Ben is also highly involved with local non-profits and public lands committees. He is the president of the G.O.A.T.S (Gunnison Valley OHV Alliance of Trailriders), on the board of directors for the CBAC (Crested Butte Avalanche Center), and a founding committee member for both GPLI (Gunnison Public Lands Initiative) and STOR (Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee). Just writing that sentence made me tired- find out how he finds the time to do all this, why he does it, and still find time to ski, mountain bike, dirtbike and more. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: It's the start of a new year- and a new decade. So I looked back at real estate appreciation in Crested Butte over the past 10/5/3/1 years. Interested in knowing more about the Crested Butte and Gunnison real estate market?- . Learn More: -Also see Episode 16 with Maddie Rehn -Also see Episode 18 with Ben Pritchett
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Ep. 48 Danny Hartigan | Skateboarding, Kayaking, Rock and Roll and Roofs
12/18/2019
Ep. 48 Danny Hartigan | Skateboarding, Kayaking, Rock and Roll and Roofs
Growing up in Boston, Danny Hartigan developed a love of skateboarding as well as snowboarding. He recalls the early days of snowboarding when he had to take a test to prove he should be allowed to snowboard at "ski" areas. Snowboarding brought him west, to Western Colorado University in Gunnison. He continued to skateboard during the summer and perhaps surprisingly, Colorado is home to a thriving skating scene thanks to parks like the ones found in Crested Butte and Gunnison. It's even possible that the Big Mine park (one of the earliest in CO) in Crested Butte will be expanded in the coming years. Next, we moved on to kayaking. The 90's were a time of exploration on the local rivers and Danny talks about his own experiences as well as some of the first descents on creeks like Oh-Be-Joyful and Daisy creek. This is some great history for all you "river rats" out there. Finally, we talked about his rock and roll band- Gun Rack, which you may see in Crested Butte or in Gunnison. And we finish off with roofing, ice dams, and what you can do to keep your roof in good shape in Crested Butte. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends via email, social media, or word of mouth! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Interested in learning more about the ? The Grand Lodge is one of Crested Butte's most affordable condo options and a great rental property. Learn More: if you need to reach Danny about roofing
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Ep. 47 Debra Callihan | Saving Animals in the Gunnison Valley
12/04/2019
Ep. 47 Debra Callihan | Saving Animals in the Gunnison Valley
Debra Callihan has deep roots here in the Gunnison Valley. She was born here while her father was at Western Colorado University, which Debra also attended. Even when her husband was Colorado's Lieutenant Governor, they tried to spend as much time as they could here, rather than in Denver. Don't worry- we don't talk about politics too much, though we did discuss it a little bit. Debra is perhaps most well known for her involvement with local animal rescue groups. She helped keep what is now know as the Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League (GVAWL) going back in the 80's, growing it into the tremendous organization that it is today. Seeing a need for a foster-care approach to animal rescue, she is now heavily involved with Gunnison Underdog Rescue (GUR). GUR has proved to be so successful that they even take in animals from other parts of the state. When it comes to advice for those contemplating adoption, she has several pieces of advice- do your homework, spay or neuter, and "adopt, don't shop". I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends via email, social media, or word of mouth! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Interested in Crested Butte Real Estate for both you and your furry friend? While most condos in the area allow pets for homeowners, a few do not. and I can help you stay away from the ones that don't. Learn More:
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Ep. 46 Noah Wight | Crested Butte Television
11/20/2019
Ep. 46 Noah Wight | Crested Butte Television
Noah Wight is my guest on this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast. Noah spent some of his youth at the hippy hamlet of Ward, located west of Boulder, Colorado, before moving to the East coast. He eventually made his way back to the University of Colorado and eventually Crested Butte. Noah has been the owner of Crested Butte's television station, CBTV10, for many years. Many people will recognize him from his daily weather forecasts for the Gunnison and Crested Butte area. We talk about the logistics of running a TV station, as well as the challenges of making sure his TV station remains available over the airwaves and other methods. Noah injured his spinal cord years ago (while wearing a helmet), and we talk about that accident, making his home accessible, and his return to skiing and other sports since the injury. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends via email, social media, or word of mouth! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Learn More: Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Looking for a Ski In/ Ski Out property in Crested Butte? will provide you with all the information you need, including current listings!
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Ep. 45 Frank Konsella | The Host Is Interviewed
11/08/2019
Ep. 45 Frank Konsella | The Host Is Interviewed
The tables are turned on this week's episode, with Frank Konsella becoming the interviewee rather than the interviewer. We start off talking about where I grew up, in the foothills above Golden, CO. Like many of my guests, I grew up ski racing at Winter Park, so when it came time to find a place to live, I naturally chose somewhere with great skiing- Crested Butte. Skiing has always been a big part of my life, so of course we talk about all the layers of skiing that I've been involved with- from competing in Big Mountain events, to skiing all of Colorado's Fourteeners, to writing a backcountry guidebook along with Brittany Konsella. We finished up the interview talking (not surprisingly) about real estate. So if you've always wanted to know more about me- this is your chance. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends via email, social media, or word of mouth! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Learn More: Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Please sign up for my Crested Butte/ Gunnison
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Ep. 44 Stephanie Ballard | Interiors you can Covet
10/23/2019
Ep. 44 Stephanie Ballard | Interiors you can Covet
Growing up in the midwest, Stephanie Ballard jokingly described her favorite pastime as "picking tar out of potholes with sticks". All kidding aside, she actually had a talent for volleyball and went to school in Charleston, South Carolina. Her dream of being an interior designer was on hold for a little while after college, while she successfully followed other career options. Eventually she made her way to southern California, took a pay cut, and began what she calls an apprenticeship in interior design. Her career got a boost when Hollywood called and she appeared on interior design shows on Bravo and Lifetime television. After meeting her Crested Butte-based fiance in California, she made the move to Crested Butte and now operates Covet Living interiors in a space that she shares with me and my colleagues here at Signature Properties. In this episode we talked a lot about design, what's a trend versus what is timeless, and more. If you have any interest in design and decorating, you will surely enjoy this episode. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends via email, social media, or word of mouth! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Learn More: Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: Thinking about purchasing a property that might need some remodeling and interior design? That can be a great way to go about purchasing property here in Crested Butte.
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Ep. 43 Tanith Martinez | Born to Fly
10/09/2019
Ep. 43 Tanith Martinez | Born to Fly
Tanith Martinez grew up at the Orvis Hot Springs between Ridgway and Ouray, Colorado. On a trip to Alaska, she watched a pilot land a bushplane nearby and decided that's what she wanted to do. After high school, she immediately started working towards getting her pilot's license at Northwest Colorado Community College. By the time she was finishing her undergraduate education at Metro State College of Denver, she was already teaching other aspiring pilots how to fly. After teaching for several years up and down the front range, Tanith and her family made the move to where they really wanted to be: Gunnison. Tanith now has her own plane and continues to teach others how to fly and get their pilot's license. She also offers sightseeing tours, hunting reconnaissance flights, and even real estate tours for larger ranch properties. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Learn More: Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: In this episode, I discussed Buckhorn Ranch, a fly in/fly out community here in Crested Butte. More information including current listings can be found .
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Ep. 42 Eric Larsen | North Pole, South Pole, and Exploring
09/25/2019
Ep. 42 Eric Larsen | North Pole, South Pole, and Exploring
Eric Larsen grew up in Wisconsin, where he loved to be outside and come up with his own adventures in his backyard. That desire to be outside and explore has continued to this day. Eric is a professional explorer, and has led trips to the North Pole, South Pole, Mount Everest, Greenland and more. Eric continues to come up with new ways of exploring. As one example, he's been doing mini "state adventures", where he comes up with a cool adventure in each state. We talk about what goes into planning these big expeditions, as well as the business aspects, like attracting sponsorship money. Here in Crested Butte, his adventures are more straightforward and familiar to many of us- as simple as spending time with his family or riding the 401 trail on his mountain bike. The ability to have an adventure right from his front door is one of the reasons why Eric recently relocated here. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Learn More: Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: In this episode I discuss some of my awesome new listings in the Crested Butte area- all of my listings can be found
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Ep. 41 Wendy Fisher | Big Mountain Freeskier and Olympian
09/11/2019
Ep. 41 Wendy Fisher | Big Mountain Freeskier and Olympian
Wendy Fisher grew up skiing in Northern California with her family and quickly learned to love the sport. She began racing and excelled at it- so much so that she ended up at Burke Mountain Ski Academy in Vermont and the U.S. Ski Team. In 1991 she won the overall title at the U.S National Alpine Championships right here in Crested Butte. The following year, she qualified for the Olympics in Albertville France, though a training run crash kept her from competing. In this episode, we talk about all of those accomplishments, followed by what she thought was going to be a move away from skiing. A series of fortunate events brought her back to competitive skiing in Big Mountain Freeskiing. With newfound freedom, she competed in freeskiing contests, starred in ski movies from Matchstick Productions and Warren Miller, and graced many a magazine cover. Our conversation about her ski career evolution continued- now she's the mother of two skiers and mostly skis as a family. This was a great conversation not just about skiing, but also about competing and mindset- plus why she lives in Crested Butte and how this mountain can challenge and rejuvenate even a professional skier. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Crested Butte is Home podcast- please share this episode with your friends! Please subscribe to Crested Butte is Home on your favorite podcast player and leave a review- and thanks for listening. Learn More: Crested Butte Real Estate Minute: In this episode I discuss the falling sales numbers coupled with rising prices in the Crested Butte area.
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