Tag Archives: second homes

Right across from The Four Seasons Residence Club in beautiful Vail, Colorado, are the homes of Ross Perot, Jr. And Sr., right next to each other! (Ross Jr.’s is to the right of this picture, Ross Perot Sr. to the left.)

Just back from a great weekend jaunt to Vail after attending NAREE in Denver. Lots to tell you. We may have to worry about hail and tornadoes in Dallas, but some poor Colorado residents are dealing with at least eight  scary forest fires that have burned thousands of acres of forest lands and are now threatening (and destroying) some vacation homes and tourist spots. Some major state highways were closed in southern Colorado. Passengers told me of seeing smoke from about a half-dozen fires across the state, some threatening places like Estes Park, home of the Stanley Hotel, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and even Boulder. And we saw the firefighters stopping in Georgetown, Colo. With the bone-dry, Texas-type weather conditions — Denver  is enjoying 100 degree plus temps — the whole state is under a fire ban. Some people were telling me the fires could have started because some residents are trying to rid the state of the annoying bark beetle that is killing off the tall lodgepole pine pine trees and markedly affecting the appearance of the usually lush, green mountainsides. The pest is thinning out the pretty pines with dying trees leaving piles of dead wood poles, the wood some say completely useless. Others, like our fly fishing guide, told me you can use the wood for furniture after it dries out and the beetles depart. Just don’t build houses with it! Local journalists told me the beetle is caused by global warming, as the critters thrive and reproduce in warmer climates. Do the beetles fuel the fires? Good question. The director of bark beetle operations in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest says people are alarmed by the timber loss: 

Read more on Vail Vacation Homes of the Dallas Rich & Famous… These Homes Aren’t Burning, Thank God…