Tell me about Grand Junction

[jackthewall81]

Hey guys, I'm looking at a mining sales position in Grand Junction. My parents met there 35 something years ago an have told me a little bit about the area. But what should I know? Is it a good place to live? Any insight on gun ranges, events, clubs etc?

Thanks !

[Sawin]

Well, it's the conservative side of the state if nothing else... Landscape is more of high mountain desert than prairies like we have over here.

[brutal]

Avoid the methheads.

[Madeinhb]

Avoid the methheads.

+1 for this

[Danimal]

Summers are hot as hell, but the winters are really mild. Tons of places to shoot everywhere not too far away. Fruita national monument is awesome. Moab is about an hour to an hour and a half away. Has a Cabala's, Sportsman's Warehouse. Yeah there is a drug problem over there. The cooks live out in the desert taking advantage of the additional privacy and use of agricultural chemicals to make the stuff without getting busted. Then they ship the stuff over here, so you will hear about more meth fires and it is a concern if you are buying a house over there.

[MED]

I have family over there. It is a small city and college town. A lot of retail moved in during the energy boom so it is a little easier to get the things you need. Garfield and Mesa Counties were hit pretty hard from the Ritter Rules and the recession. The western slope is a boom and bust kind of place. Be really careful with housing and don't buy high over there or you will lose your shorts. Gas and fuel is a lot more expensive over there. The south side of the interstate along the river is really green (a lot of orchards). The north side of the interstate looks like a nuclear fallout zone. It is a pretty warm dry climate. There are a wealth of places to shoot, fish, camp, wheel, and hunt over there. I would love to work over there when my kid is done with high school.

[Robb]

Keep us posted on what you find and what your experiences are. I've thought I may like to live over there after the kids are out too but know little about it.

[COcz]

Lots of roads with fractions in them. Has most of the amenities of the front range. Decent place to live.

[Mtn.man]

Hot.
Wine country if you like wine. Lots of fruit and veggies, can be grown or bought close by.
Hot
Lots of rednecks, as said druggies.
Hot.
4 wheeling in Mud.
Hot.

[SamuraiCO]

Grand Mesa is awsome and in your backyard. Close to great fishing in CO, Utah and WY.

[jackthewall81]

Pretty good reviews. Thanks for the heads up on the meth cook houses, wouldn't of thought of that. I was also concerned about left over radiation from the 70s mining. I know that's a big deal.

[Ah Pook]

Subscribed.

Been looking at that side of the state too.

[newracer]

If it wasn't for the fact that my kids are near the end of their schooling and I wish to keep them at their current schools, I'd move there in a second.

Lots outdoor opportunities are very close.

The only bad thing I can think of is how hot it is during the summer.

[wctriumph]

Not such a bad place, hot in summer, I could never find a decent steak, local wines are not bad, the Old Town area is nice place to go on a nice evening, no so bad.

[marksjeep]

Greetings,
I moved over to Fruita 5 years ago from Loveland, thought I'd share a bit

- Meth problem everyone is referring to is way overblown, imo. GJ has it's share of drugs and white trash, but no more so than I ever saw living on the front range.
- Housing is still in the dumps here. Slowly coming back, but the market is nowhere near the market over there.
- Outdoor access is fantastic. Jeeping, biking, hiking, hunting, shooting, etc. all in very close proximity. Fishing takes a little more time, but lakes on the Mesa are fantastic.
- Weather - yes, it's hot in summer, but you do get used to it. I would not call winters mild. We have been between 0-15 degree lows all winter until last week. Once an inversion sets into the valley, it stays cold. That's good for hunting out in the desert though. Less snow than front range, and no upslope blizzards to deal with
- One BLM shooting range, and CPW is planning to build a new one at Cameo soon. But you have a ton of public to shoot on.

Hope that helps. I loved living in Loveland, but would never go back after living here for a while. Access to outdoor activities is too good here and no traffic. :D

- Mark

[The Norseman]

Grand Junkyard is what us other west slope residents call it

[PSS]

Has a Cabela's and a Sportsman's Warehouse. Jerry's is a decent private gun store. Only 3.5 hours to Lake Powell.

[crays]

Good move if you want the amenities, and it's in your price range. Don't expect to turn a profit on real estate any time in the near, and not-so-near future. Still bargains to be had, if you have the patience to to shop, and the convenience to wait it out.

If it fits your need, and budget, right now...go for it. I am of the belief that it will be a pay-off in the future. It will cycle high again, but be aware of how high the housing market is there right now.

ETA: Wish I would have bought those 2 houses there, 25 yrs or so ago, when the market was down.

[electronman1729]

Im out there alot with work and its pretty awesome! If i stay over the week end I end up just driving to Moab since not that far away.

[Zach O]

Like others have said, it's rather hot in the summer. That is were my company is out of, but I only go to the office about twice a year, less if I can help it. We though about moving out there till we found out about the HUGE sex offender population. Holy shit. Go to the Mesa county sheriffs web sight and look at the map with offenders. My wife and I said absolutely not with our two little ones. I tried to find the link the map, but the website is not cooperating with me.

[patrick0685]

apparently its grander than mediocre junction but thats just what i have heard no personal knowledge

[jackthewall81]

No little ones yet. Hopefully a few years till that happens. I wonder why sex pred population would be so high?

[Zach O]

No little ones yet. Hopefully a few years till that happens. I wonder why sex pred population would be so high?

While I'm not sure, my boss said when they exit jail in Denver, they usually relocate to Junction via free bus ride you and I pay for. Take that for what its worth..

[BPTactical]

Clifton is the Commerce City of the area, Palisade is nice.
Personally I think I would rather live in Fruita, Delta or Montrose but that's just me. The older I get the more attractive smaller towns are.

[Zach O]

Per capita Mr. trot. Last I checked there were 13 in the county I live in and zero in "my neighborhood".

[D_F]

Just crime and us dumb rednecks over here...

[jackthewall81]

Well they decided my territory should be.... Bakersfield CA! Not quite GJ. But, I will miss the coar15 community. I've learned so much and met some great people! I'm going in behind enemy lines and not looking back!

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

apparently its grander than mediocre junction but thats just what i have heard no personal knowledge

This made me chuckle.




Good luck to you, Jackthewall.

[Irving]

Why aren't you looking back?

[jackthewall81]

Why aren't you looking back?
Because I don't want to miss this beautiful state

[Irving]

Fair enough. Good luck and Godspeed.

[GunsRBadMMMMKay]

Wow, I'd rather take a job with a mining outfit in some frozen high altitude oxygen depleted place with contaminated water and short summers then move to Kommiefornia.............but good luck with your move and your job hope it works out well for you.