It’s called Ski Town USA for a reason. Steamboat Springs has long been a popular alternative to resorts in Vail and Aspen and the outdoor terrain in this northern Colorado mountain town is good enough to have attracted numerous Olympic athletes who call Steamboat home. After all the Steamboat Ski Resort has some 165 trails, including one that is three miles long. Second homeowners have also flocked to Steamboat, snapping up vacation homes in this ski and snowboard mecca. Recent years has brought more real estate development to the area, including the Porches, a community of townhouse residences available in full and fractional ownership shares.

What’s for sale

One-eighth deeded interests in 28 four and five-bedroom grand residences. Prices range from $320,000 to $450,000 for units of up to 5,000 square feet. Exchanges to access other fractional ownership communities are available through the Porches’ affiliation with the Registry Collection. There are also whole ownership homes for sale.

What you get

Fractional owners secure a guaranteed six weeks of use each year, as well as unlimited additional weeks depending on availability. The 28 fractional residences are three story townhouses situated at the base of the mountain in the historic Yampa Valley on a 16.5 acre property—the largest ski-area property in North America. Each unit has been built to reflect the natural surroundings, with large, custom masonry fireplaces in the living rooms and master bedrooms, a pool table, and of course, comfortable and inviting porches.

Members of the Porches’ private residence club can get to town on the community’s free shuttle service around the area. Skiers don’t have to tote their gear back and forth for each vacation since the club gives owners long-term clothing and equipment storage. Another perk? Discounted lift tickets and rentals. There is also the Barn, a building that houses a gym, outdoor heated pool and hot tub, fire-pit and large gas grill, as well as a full business center and children’s game room.

The Helium Report Take

Like other tony Colorado ski towns, the price of entry to Steamboat is high, though not as high, as Aspen or Vail. The Porches is among the higher end of fractional developments in the area. Other options include the Christie Club, Steamboat Grand Resort, and Wildhorse Meadows, a new community in the works that will have a private residence club component. Also on the drawing board is One Steamboat Place from the Timbers Collection. One Steamboat Place is a vacation home development that will have a fractional ownership component as well. Destination club giant Exclusive Resorts plans to have several residences at One Steamboat Place. Other destination clubs already have a presence in town including Private Escapes, Quintess, Ultimate Resort and High Country CLub.

Another consideration is simply getting to Steamboat Springs. The airport does have direct fights from ten cities in the winter, but much of that service is seasonal so reaching the resort at other times of the year may require a stop over and a longer travel day.