Meeker, a recreation-rich, rural community, is friendly to remote work
Mountains peer over Meeker, a former agricultural community in the White River Valley, about 50 miles from Craig. “Buyers who come to Meeker are looking for a slower pace of life where you don’t have to lock your doors at night, and you know your neighbors. I have had buyers comment that it feels like they’ve gone back in time 50 years,” says John Strate, a local broker associate at Streamline Realty with over 4 years of experience. “Change happens slowly in Meeker, which is part of its appeal. For being a small, rural community, it has a lot to offer. Our schools are ranked among the top in the state. Our parks are top-notch, and visitors love them. We have fiber run throughout Meeker; this makes our community very appealing to remote workers.”
Parks, recreation by the river and on Bureau of Land Management land
Playgrounds, picnic pavilions and various athletic fields comprise Town Park, Paintbrush Park and Sanderson Hills Park. Meeker Recreation Center is nearby and has an indoor pool. “Historically, Meeker has drawn in fishermen and hikers who enjoy the White River and the surrounding Flattops Wilderness Area. More recently, off-highway vehicle (OHV) tourism has become a large draw with the marketing and development of the hundreds of miles of trails we have in the valley,” Strate says. Phillip & Dorcas Jensen Memorial Park in northern Meeker has 7 miles of non-motorized trails and is an access point to the Bureau of Land Management area. “Fall leads into hunting season, which has always been the favorite of locals and visitors. Winter is a slower season for Meeker. Snowmobiling is a big draw. We have some ice fishing at Lake Avery and Rio Blanco Lake.”
Wildfires are a regional concern, as many forests surround this high desert area.
Gridded streets of older homes and subdivisions with newer homes
Many single-family homes were built along gridded streets between the early 1900s and 1980 in Meeker’s southern and central regions. Architecture includes minimal traditional and ranch-style homes with similar price ranges of about $230,000 to $380,000. “We have a shortage of new construction,” Strate says. “We always tell our buyers that anything built after 2000 is new. A lack of new inventory is one of the larger obstacles for growth in our community. The price to build and the availability of contractors remain a struggle for our market.”
In northern Meeker, many contemporary and New Traditional homes were built from 1980 through the early 2010s near ranch-style homes in subdivisions. Contemporary homes have many windows, providing expansive views of the surrounding mountains. Their price range is $360,000 to $800,000, and the New Traditionals go from $420,000 to $620,000. Condos are also in the area and range from approximately $100,000 to $130,000.
The CAP Index Crime Score in Meeker is a 2 out of 10, lower when compared to the national average of 4.
Bulk buying in Craig and downtown Meeker’s local shops and restaurants
Watt’s Ranch Market is the nearby option for weekly groceries, and most bulk shopping can be done outside of town in areas such as Craig, which has a Walmart. “Meeker has a vibrant downtown that we take a lot of pride in. Wendll's is a must-stop for a cup of coffee and a breakfast burrito. The historic Meeker Cafe, which is connected to the Meeker Hotel, has a great hamburger, and visitors enjoy seeing the mounts,” Strate says, referring to the cafe’s hunting lodge-like décor.
Downtown’s Market Street has Backcountry Outpost, a local outdoor sports equipment store.
Meeker schools and high school sports programs
Meeker Elementary School, which earns an A-minus grade from Niche, as well as Barone Middle School, which also receives an A-minus, and the B-minus-rated Meeker High School make up the Meeker School District. Meeker High has various sports programs to tryout for, including volleyball and cross country.
Highway connections to Craig, Grand Junction and airports
Colorado Highway 13, locally known as “Market Street,” connects the community to Craig in the northeast and Interstate 70 in the South. Grand Junction is about 120 miles away when driving CO-13 and I-70. Meeker may be isolated from larger cities, but medical providers are nearby at the Pioneers Medical Center. Meeker Airport is also close; however, air travel is restricted to small private planes. The airport also supports firefighting services. The Yampa Valley Regional Airport is within a 70-mile drive and has direct flights to the Denver International Airport, which provides many direct flights to worldwide destinations.
