Can anyone tell me anything about Ft. Carson, Colorado?
 

Well, I was trying to get stationed in Korea next, but my silly branch manager won't send me there, even though with my particular job my main mission is in that country. However, she offered me a few other places, most of which suck, but Ft. Carson was one of them. I went to Colorado once for a few days as a teenager, and enjoyed it then, but outside of that I know nothing about the state, or that entire section of the country for that matter.

Does anyone on here live in or near that area? Or failing that, just familiar with the area? It'll sure be a big change from Hawaii, that's for sure.

Fort Carson is a big part of Colorado Springs. You're about 1-1.5 hours from Denver, about the same from some nice skiing at Monarch, most likely.

I've always Colorado Springs was kind of lacking an "Identity" as a city, but "Slow 'n Rusty" or "KarlKarrera" might be able to tell you something more helpful.

When I went to Colorado years ago, I went to Colorado springs. It was only for 2-3 days, and I was skiing for most of that time, so I didn't get to see any other parts of it, but it was definitely beautiful. With Denver being fairly close, there should be plenty of stuff to do.

Do they salt the roads in Colorado? I guess this means I'll need to eventually invest in some winter rims/tires.

Don't know what you want to know, but I can answer here (or Slow n Rusty could) or you could PM us.
Briefly, Great town! 200,000 or so, wonderful weather, generally nice people, high elevation (6810' at my mailbox). Mtn. biking, 4 wheelers, fishing, hunting, skiing, hiking, race tracks, nice mtn. roads, low utilities, good night spots, restaurants, generally good schools, knowledgeable P-car nut's, (not me, but Slow n Rusty is one of several). Overall it's big but not to big. Lot's of military, Ft. Carson, Schriver Air Force Base, Peterson Field Air Force Base, NORAD, and United States Air Force Academy. I'm pretty happy here and a good place to raise a family. As someone else has said.....Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right....... My .02

Karl
88 Targa

Colorado is beautiful, well, most parts. Ft. Carson is on the SW side of the "Springs". It's near the Broadmoor hotel, Cheyenne Mtn zoo, Manitou Springs and Garden of the Gods are close as well. Downtown Springs is pretty nice and there are some decent places to eat and play. You can be to skiing in 1.5 hours, and really good skiing is 2 hours. I lived in Monument, which is just North of the Springs. It was a great experience. Winters are not too bad, but there will be some big storms a couple times per year. There is an Evangelical presence in the Springs due to Focus on the Family, Compassion Int'l, etc. being there. Pikes Peak is a blast and you can go watch the "Race to the Clouds".

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice. Race tracks, Pikes Peak, sounds like I'm going to really enjoy it. You guys have done great informing me, I just kinda wanted a rough generalization of the place since I know practically nothing about the area. Anything will be better than the ridiculous humidity out here!

I hear there are some local musicians in the Denver area. I like CO, and am planning my next trip to fall down the mountains:D

Nice! I'm a musician myself, once I finish recording some vocal tracks I'll finally have my official demo album complete. Who knows, when I get up there maybe I can start up a band again or something. For the record, I should be arriving in Colorado around July/August of 2009.

Let me know which one, I can probably show you a shorter path...............:D

Merry Christmas
Karl
88 targa

I live less than 15 minutes from Fort Carson. The 'Springs is actually just under 500,000 people (hard to believe eh Karl?). There is lots to do here as everyone has chimed in, and I mean lots of year round out door activities, which to me is VERY appealing.

The winters are very mild and I drive my 911 and my old Datsuns all year round, the roads are mostly sanded not salted like the MN, NY, MI, PA etc etc, which is great for car guys. Cars in CO simply do NOT rust, the climate is known as arid so it is very dry and very gentle on our cars. You actually see tumble weed blowing across the roads all the time, which is a funny but true image..LOL!

I actually call Colorado Springs the desert in the sky.

Colorado Springs is really a bed room family type community, if you are used to the hustle, the bussle, and the social life of the big cities then this will be an adjustment, but as previously stated, Denver is about 60minutes away. And I LOVE Denver! Great city...period.

The Springs has lots of cool gear heads surprisingly and more 911 owners than you think, which is also ultra cool.

One thing that is important to me, is that I feel safe here and anywhere that you can go and feel safe, you can call that place "home".

I highly recommend the Springs. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Hope this helps.
My best - Yasin

That's really important to me also. Glad to hear! I'm really looking forwards to going there!

Do cars have to be emissions tested in Colorado?

You'll have to get the car tested just ONCE, when you register and get a plate. You can get a "collector vehicle" plate for any car 25 years or older, and it is exempt from testing after the first time.

Regular cars are every other year.

Do they still have testing in Denver? Down in El Paso County they totally repealed the emissions testing. I did the collector plates for my 911 and paid like 125 bucks for 5 years of registration.

You guys are making me 'home' sick.

So I guess I'll keep my old exhaust stuff and scrounge up a cat from somewhere so I can pass that one test. Thanks for the heads up there.

You can borrow mine if you want, but to be honest, after they pop the front trunk and don't find an engine in there, they get kind of flummoxed and blow off the visual inspection. If you think you can pass the sniff without the cat, just go for it.

Welcome to CO. If you need an SC exhaust I keep one together for spot emission checks. Even if you have collector plates the roadside screening vans can flag you. Bastards.

+1 That sums it up nicely. If you like out-door stuff this is the place too. I think Colorado Springs was in the top 10 places to live this last time around.

Cars in El Paso County, which is the county that Colorado Springs resides in, do NOT require emissions or annual vehicle inspection checks whatsoever, this was effective Jan. 1 2008 (12months ago). So again, no worries there, either..big smile :)

When you move here, you will have to schedule only one quick check with the Colorado DOT \ State Troopers - this is VIN Verification (makes sure the car is not stolen etc) and is a free service, and takes about 10-15minutes. Ironically this is done only in one location a few minutes away from Fort Carson.

Yasin

crap..the place sounds wonderful. i would go!

homeboy, what do you do?

what do home prices look like in the area? juscurious.