The growing mountain community of Eagle
Surrounded by the Rocky Mountains and sitting along the flow of its namesake river, Eagle is a rapidly growing community attracting residents for its outdoor recreation, new housing and semi-rural atmosphere. Its proximity to employment centers such as Vail and Beaver Creek and seemingly limitless nature areas make it a central point for work and play. “I think the biggest appeal is the quality of life. I say, if you’re living in the Rockies, you’re doing okay,” says Larry Pardee, Eagle's town manager. “Eagle is just outside the resort areas, so it’s a very stable, family-oriented community year-round. We don’t have the tourism fluctuation. And we have such a mix of people; some are young and just starting families, and others are choosing to live their twilight years out here.”
An endless wealth of outdoor recreation, from kayaking to mountain biking
The community's location at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, next to the Eagle River and nearby Glenwood Canyon, makes it a hot spot for outdoor recreation. Within the area are several parks, many maintained by Mountain Recreation, including the Eagle Pool & Ice Rink. “The public pool is new for us; it has six lanes, a big area for the kids and waterslides. The whole community has been really excited about it,” Pardee says. “Hundreds of miles of trails run from Eagle into the White River National Forest. You can kayak and tube on the Eagle River, and mountain biking is huge here.” Rock climbing areas and BMX tracks surround Eagle, and white-water rafting is popular at nearby Glenwood Canyon. Eagle Ranch Golf Club, open to the public, offers rolling landscaping as an Arnold Palmer Signature Design Course.
Diverse architecture and upcoming housing developments
Architecture in Eagle is highly varied, from modern townhouses to log cabins and sleek, contemporary custom homes. “We are seeing an uptick in new construction, which is exciting, with some spectacular builds,” says Brooke Gagnon, a Realtor with Keller Williams Mountain Properties. “Fortunately, we are also seeing a blend of affordable housing opportunities and local initiatives that are helping families make homeownership attainable.” Areas like Eagle Ranch, a 1,900-acre master-planned community, are still actively building and keeping the local market moving quickly. According to Pardee, the town council has approved several new development permits for the years to come. The median sales price for single-family homes in Eagle is around $1.8 million.
Academic planning and career support in local schools
The community is part of the Eagle County School District. The youngest students start at Bush Creek or Eagle Valley elementary schools, which earn B and B-minus grades from Niche, respectively. From there, students can move on to Eagle Valley Middle School, which receives an A-minus, before heading to B-rated Eagle Valley High School. Starting in sixth grade and continuing to high school graduation, Eagle Valley middle and high school faculty can assist students with an Individual Career and Academic Plan, called an ICAP, which helps align coursework and curriculum to potential career interests and goals.
Exploring the local businesses of Broadway Street and finding nearby essentials
With some of the oldest buildings in Eagle River Valley, historic downtown Eagle is full of locally owned and operated shops, art galleries and restaurants flanking Broadway Street. Patrons line up in the morning for espresso at Red Canyon Café, browse the clothes in Antlers and Rosé, and meet friends for burgers and beer at Brush Creek Saloon. Eagle’s north side includes gas stations, chain restaurants and City Market, the area's largest grocery store. The Community Market, a nonprofit organization that fights food insecurity in Eagle River Valley, has a storefront with fresh produce, meat and dairy products in nearby Gypsum.
Scenic commuting and catching flights from Eagle County Regional Airport
Stretching from Utah to Nebraska, Route 6 runs through the heart of Eagle, parallel to Interstate 70. “Our ‘traffic’ means a herd of elk or school-age kids on e-bikes. Commuting around here means beautiful views, and I’d take it over city traffic any day,” Gagnon says. While small, the Eagle County Regional Airport has a few commercial airlines that fly nonstop to select destinations, such as New York and Los Angeles. A main bus stop is on Route 6, part of a countywide route operated by the Eagle Valley Transportation Authority.
Year-round events and activities in Eagle
Eagle has a packed event calendar year-round, from hosting state championship mountain biking races to ShowDown Town, a summer concert series occurring every Thursday at Eagle Town Park. "The Eagle County Fair and Rodeo is a sold-out event each summer; it's a total must-see and just a great time," Gagnon says. "There's always free concerts around town, yoga by the river, things like that."
