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Durango Mountain Resort Breaks Ground on Purgatory Lodge,
a Private Residence and Fractional Ownership Resort
in Durango, Colorado
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Part of 20-year $100 million Environmentally Sensitive Master Plan
Durango, CO � March 20, 2007 - Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort has announced the groundbreaking launch of Purgatory Lodge, a three-phase, $100 million project that will reconstruct and revitalize Purgatory Village, its lodging and the resort�s base area. Phase I is a $35 million, 130,000 square-foot slopeside development, featuring new upscale resort amenities and services, commercial space and lodging units. Situated just feet from the Village Express 6-pack chairlift, Phase I units will provide an unmatched ski-in/ski-out location for guests when it is completed in Fall 2008. 
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The resort�s ambitious project coincides with national attention on the picturesque town known for its natural beauty, charming locals and outstanding recreation offerings.

Oprah�s rave �I love this place!� on national television has brought striking Durango, Colorado, prominent attention. Durango was then listed by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the top 20 ski resorts in the U.S., dubbed the place �Smart Money is Buying Real Estate Now� by the Robb Report, and named one of the nation�s Top 12 distinctive historic destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

�We are being discovered by the world and we are ready to take on the challenge of being a world-class family destination and a desirable place to own a second home or fractional equity timeshare,� reports Gary Derck, CEO of Durango Mountain Resort (DMR). 

�We have an outstanding array of lodging offerings, perfect for families and groups,� commented Hank Thiess, President of Durango Mountain Resort. �DMR is fortunate to have such loyal enthusiasts and a warm, welcoming staff eager to share the area�s history and recreational pursuits.�

�More than 100 years ago, the lure of gold and silver attracted the earliest prospectors to Durango," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in making the announcement. �Today, visitors come to this unspoiled mountain town because Durango had the good sense to hang on to what makes it so special. The result is a vibrant community that offers travelers an ideal retreat."

What makes this small resort town so special? Natural beauty is certainly a part of it, as well as an extraordinary high quality of life with world-class dining, medical care, recreation and abundant activities for families and children. But it is the people who live here who make the town unique, and make visitors feel so welcome to the community.

Oprah, as well as the reporters for publications that recently lauded Durango, and visitors from around the region all notice that Durango�s warm, welcoming locals truly love where they live, and the majority seeks to attract visitors and eagerly share the beauty of their home. In addition to the accolades it has recently captured, Durango is top on most travelers� list of the friendliest towns to visit.

�Our town really is unique. Our locals relish the chance to give visitors the inside scoop on our favorite restaurants, trails and things to do,� enthuses Doug Lyon, Durango resident who will serve as Durango�s Mayor Pro Tem in 2008. �It�s as though our pleasure in this wonderful place is increased by sharing it.�

�Durango�s entire community values what we have and is passionately committed to preserving the environment and the �real mountain town culture� that makes Durango unique,� Derck adds.  

In sync with this mindset, Durango Mountain Resort is developing a gradually growing, environmentally sensitive 25-year Master Plan. Each of the six villages in the Master Plan includes conservation easements ensuring perpetual protection and beauty. Expansion and enhancements to the resort�s amenities are underway in conjunction with an array of carefully crafted family homes and retreats, always with a watchful eye on Mother Nature. 

Durango Mountain Resort real estate is unique for many reasons. It is still a great value compared to any mountain resort in the West. The views are jaw-dropping. There is something for almost every individual�s and family�s interests. 

For those who choose to invest in a permanent getaway at DMR and want the best slopeside location but want to pay only for what they actually use, DMR has both a private residence club and fractional equity interests in the new Purgatory Lodge which is being built right at the base of the lifts.

�When Phase I of Purgatory Lodge is complete, DMR will be one of the highest quality, hassle-free and fun experiences for families in the resort industry,� predicts Derck. The developments at DMR are notable for quality use of natural stone, slate and native woods, and their emphasis on serving the needs of families with children and older adults coming to live and play in Durango�s beautiful San Juan Mountain�s wonderland. 

The Animas River cuts through the area�s red rock, sandstone and purple mountain terrain and embraces the town itself. The river draws rafting and kayak aficionados and anglers seeking trout in its gold-medal waters. It is no wonder that the area is family travel Mecca for visitors of all ages and interests.

Durango�s natural beauty and historical interest combine in the town�s proximity to Mesa Verde National Park, the nation's largest archeological preserve known for its Native American Cliff Dwellings, and because the town is home to one of the world�s few remaining steam trains. The Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge runs up to the mining town of Silverton, passing by the slopes of Durango Mountain Resort en route. 

It is no wonder that an increasing number of families are choosing to make Durango their second home. The opportunity to own at Purgatory Lodge is highly popular, confirms Derck.  

More than one third of Purgatory Lodge fractional condominiums and The Pinnacle�s private residence memberships have already been subscribed. �They are being snapped up rapidly because of the value offered by preconstruction prices,� says Derck.

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Contact:


Sharon Lemon
970-769-0510
[email protected]
www.durangomountainresort.com

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Also See: The Whiteface Lodge Resort and Spa Acquired by T-Rex Capital, The Lake Placid, NY Resort Will be the Flagship Property of T-Rex Capital's High-End Private Residence Club / January 2007
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