Tag Archive for: Chipeta Golf Course

55+ Communities in Grand Junction

House Hunting When You Are 55+

I was doing an Open House in a new construction single family home geared towards older adults. The neighborhood had a Homeowners Association (HOA) to take care of all the exterior maintenance like yard services. No community center or other facilities. The model I was in was a spacious one-level home with three bedrooms on the main level and a two-car garage.

I had a 62-year-old gentleman strike up a memorable conversation with me. He explained that he has a boat, a motorcycle, two cars, and he and his wife like to ride bikes. He wondered how he’d be able to all his toys in this narrow two-stall garage. He asked, “Why don’t these builders understand that just because we want a home with no exterior maintenance, that doesn’t mean we sit home all day. We need room for our “stuff” as well as a simpler lifestyle as we get older.”

I fully understood where he was coming from. There are national builders, like D.R. Horton that build 55+ communities where you own your own single-family home and they include amenities like a club house, pickleball courts, workout room, and community eating and entertaining spaces. Over my career I have helped several clients build homes in communities like these. Be warned though. These robust communities also come with high monthly fees. You may, or may not, want all of that. I haven’t found housing available in 55+ Communities in Grand Junction that are like this. Where you own a single-family home. Until now…

What if you just want a single-family home with low maintenance?

What if you envision your retirement years enjoying the active lifestyle that attracts so many to this region of Colorado?

Chipeta Hallows

Good news! BOA Builders is building a 55+ Community in Grand Junction! Technically it’s in Orchard Mesa just east of the Chipeta Golf Course. This new development broke ground in June 2025. It is an Epcon Community. You can learn more about this option by visiting the Epcon website.

Epcon describes it this way…

“Discover Chipeta Hollows, an exclusive neighborhood designed for those who seek a vibrant, active, and low-maintenance lifestyle. Built by BOA Builders, known for their commitment to quality craftsmanship, energy efficiency, and sustainable living, Chipeta Hollows redefines a lifestyle of living in Grand Junction, CO. Chipeta Hallows community offers resort-style amenities to enhance your daily life. Enjoy the beautifully designed clubhouse, perfect for social gatherings, fitness activities, and relaxation. Stay active with a pickleball court, a sparkling pool, and scenic walking trails, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of Western Colorado. For pet lovers, the dog park and dog wash station ensure that your furry companions feel just as at home as you do.”

Buyer Representation

If Chipeta Hallows (or any new development) sounds like a place you’d like to live, contact me before you call or go visit so I can explain to you your right to buyer representation before you contact the builder or developer. This is very important. If you contact them first, you may forfeit your right to be represented. The real estate agent or “sales rep” in open houses and builder models represent the seller or the builder, not the buyer. When I represent buyers, I always put their interests first. Agents representing the seller are obligated to put the seller’s interest first, not the buyers. Call/text me at 612-306-9558 if you have any questions about representation in Colorado. Real Estate Representation laws and rules vary by state.

Homeowner Association (HOA) Fees

Let’s talk about low maintenance and HOA fees. In Minnesota, HOA fees were much higher than here in Grand Junction because they had to include snow removal and lawn maintenance services. In northern and eastern states there can be lots of grass to mow and shrubs to trim on a regular basis. Many snowfalls over 2” that require shoveling or plowing (again and again) and you have to treat the roads and sidewalks with salt or sand to get rid of the ice.

Luckily, here in sunny Grand Junction, there aren’t many plowable snow events, maybe a slight accumulation of snow 2-3 times a winter which is usually melted by the end of the day. And being in the desert, the landscaping is already drought tolerant and full of low maintenance plants like cactus and beautiful rose bushes that start blooming in late April or early May. Less maintenance means less fees. Plus, our property taxes are very low here. So don’t be too scared when you see monthly HOA fees, they aren’t that bad here.

Single-Family Homes

The Grand Valley is “the home of 3/2 housing” meaning three bedrooms and two-bathroom ramblers or ranch style homes are commonly called one-level living in other parts of the country. Hardly any homes have basements, and if they do, they aren’t musty because we have very low humidity and low rainfall in the Grand Valley.

Most properties have a two-car garage, sometimes a three-car. Many neighborhoods allow homeowners to add sheds and additional garages to their property. More rural properties have larger lot sizes and less restrictions and they are just 5-10 minutes from downtown.

Low maintenance single family homes are easy to find too. Metal roofs are very popular and last much longer than asphalt roofing materials. Plus, without a lot of snow, our roofs don’t experience a lot of freeze/thaw, so they last longer.

Because our water comes from the snowmelt and springs on the Grand Mesa, we don’t need extra equipment like water softeners and water treatment systems. Our water is delicious right out of the tap. It’s award winning actually. Read my post about the Grand Junction Water Supply to learn more.

And then there’s housing product like this…

55+ Communities in Grand Junction

You can easily Google “55+ Communities in Grand Junction CO” to get a list. There are zero in Palisade and one in Fruita called Village at Country Creek. Grand Junction lists about a dozen. Some offer both independent living and assisted living options for those that need care. Even though they say 55+, it feels like most of these communities are suited for those who are later in their retirement years or for anyone needing assistance.

Village Cooperative of Grand Junction
The Fountains of Hilltop
The Cottages of Hilltop
La Villa Grande Care Center
The Retreat at Harbor Cove
Larchwood Inns
Ratekin Tower Apartments
The Lodge at Grand Junction
Aspen Ridge Alzheimer’s Special Care Center
La Villa Grande Care Center
Grand Villa Assisted Living
The Commons of Hilltop
Cappella of Grand Junction
Solstice Senior Living at Mesa View

Moving to Grand Junction

So, what does all this mean? It means that Grand Junction has lots of options for 55+ housing that isn’t strictly classified for people in or nearing retirement. I haven’t even touched on the golf course communities. You can learn more about those by reading my post called More Than Redlands Mesa Golf Courses.

I have helped dozens of clients 55 and older find their next place to call home. What I’m saying is, the best place to live might not be in the state you live in now. Speaking of best place to live, Grand Junction won an award for that too being named the “Best Place to Retire” from Kiplinger Magazine. I reference it in my post called Why Choose to Retire in Grand Junction.

If you are looking for low maintenance living in a warmer climate without a lot of fuss, consider retiring or semi-retiring in Grand Junction.

Check out my related post called Retire in Grand Junction: Your Grandkids and Kids Will Thank You. It explains why living in an area that serves all ages can be critical to enticing your family to come visit you!

Call/text me at 612-306-9558 if you are coming into town and want to connect. I’d be happy to show you around Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade. Learn more on my Get Started page.

Paul Aspelin sitting on a bench in Crawford State Park in front of the Crawford Reservoir

Photo from our day trip to Crawford State Park

PAUL ASPELIN, your Grand Junction Relocation Expert
REALTOR®, GRI, SRES®, CNE
Connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email.
Serving Mesa County and the Grand Valley in Colorado.

Move to Grand Junction, we’ve been waiting for you!

by Paul Aspelin, REALTOR

Fruita, Grand Junction, Local or Nearby Attractions

More Than Redlands Mesa Golf Course in Grand Junction CO

More than the Redlands Mesa Golf Course in Grand Junction CO

I know that “Redlands Mesa Golf Course” is the second most popular search term on the Internet for golf courses in Grand Junction CO. But there are several more that deserve exploration and a tee time reservation.

Redlands Mesa Golf Course

Redlands Mesa Golf Course photo taken from above on a trail from Redlands 360 neighborhood

While it’s commonly called Redlands Mesa Golf Course its official name is the Golf Club at Redlands Mesa. Either way, it was voted the #1 Golf Course in Colorado by several sources. It’s located in the area commonly known as “the Redlands” by the locals. You can read my post about the Redlands community that sits at the base of the Colorado National Monument and offers the new Redlands 360 planned community development. Mesa County Residents (with ID) will receive a 30% Discount on greens fee rates!

Course description from their website…

“Perhaps Golf Digest sums up the course best, ‘Positioned beneath the slopes of jagged buttes south of Grand Junction, Colorado, in the shadow of the towering pink and red sandstone face of the Colorado National Monument, Redlands Mesa is like playing golf along the bottom of the Grand Canyon, with a couple of sojourns to the Garden of the Gods thrown in.’ The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa is a spectacular course that occasionally overwhelms the senses in its grandeur. Over one-third of our 500 acres is part of our sprawling, world-class golf course. You’ll discover stunning, dramatic vistas throughout, as well as 11 elevated tees and 37 bunkers. Our unique hole shaping ensures challenges for all skill levels on this championship-grade course.”

Even if you don’t golf, from experience I recommend you go to the club house Ocotillo Restaurant + Bar that’s perched over the course for a delicious iced tea, lemonade, cocktail or ice cold brew. The views are outstanding as well as the food. Schedule a meetup there just for fun! Of course, the course is top-notch as well. Watch for golf carts as you drive through this beautiful golf community. Golfweek and USA Today readers voted Redlands Mesa as the BEST Golf Course in Colorado! World-class golf that’s scenic, fun, and challenging. They offer clinics and lessons, multiple leagues, tournaments and offer a great venue for weddings and parties of all kinds. You can learn about membership, rates, book a tee time and more on their website https://redlandsmesa.com.

Tiara Rado Golf Course

The city of Grand Junction operates two local golf courses, 18-hole Tiara Rado and the 9-hole Lincoln Park Golf Course. Tiara Rado is in the Redlands area as well, right at the base of the Monument.

“The Tiara Rado golf course is challenging for golfers at all levels, with four tee locations, numerous water hazards, and a short but naughty moat hole. It has an 18-acre practice area, golf cars, pull carts, lessons, rental clubs, and a full-service pro shop. Tee times may be made seven days in advance by calling (970) 254-3830.”

Visit this joint website to book a tee time and learn more about both city golf courses.

Lincoln Park Golf Course

The most searched for golf course in Grand Junction is the Lincoln Park Golf Course just off North Ave. near the Grand Junction VA Medical Center and Stocker Stadium. This city golf course location offers a wonderful walkable 9-hole course to test your golf skills, with smooth-rolling, subtle breaking greens. Lincoln Park Golf Course has six sets of tees. They have a full-service pro shop as well as a snack bar. Lincoln Park also offers golf carts and pull carts for rent. Appointments are available for PGA Professional lessons. You can book your tee time online at the website above. Carts may not be allowed during winter months.

Chipeta Golf Course

The Chipeta Golf Course encourages golfers to “enjoy golf again.” On their website they describe it as “an 18-hole, executive course (par 59) with picturesque views of the Grand Mesa, Bookcliffs, Uncompahgre Plateau and the Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction, Colorado.” It’s a well-maintained course that welcomes golfers of all skill levels. They have leagues and lots of golf events throughout the year. They have season passes and a rewards program. You can book a lesson and your tee time on their website https://www.chipetagolf.com.

Bookcliff Country Club

Yes, there is a Grand Junction golf country club, Bookcliff Country Club, a country club with casual character. And where “Bookcliff” is spelled as one word, unlike the series of desert mountains and cliffs that make up the mountain range itself, that name appears as two words, Book Cliffs, on official maps. Strange, I know. But not as strange as our fractional street names, don’t get me started on that!

Bookcliff Country Club is the only full-service private club on the Western Slope. They provide outstanding facilities, programs, services and family-oriented activities of a typical country club. You can golf, play pickleball or tennis, workout in the fitness center and then relax in the spa or swimming complex before you enjoy a meal on one of their clubhouse decks.

“Bookcliff Country Club offers an 18-hole championship, par 71 golf course, originally designed by Henry Hughes, that wanders through a parkland setting with beautiful views of Western Slope’s Bookcliff Mountain Range and Colorado’s largest flat top mountain, The Mesa; also home to our closest ski resort. Thanks to our multiple neighboring mountain ranges the Grand Valley and Bookcliff Country Club are blessed with a minimal annual snow fall and on average we can offer golf amenities year round.” Woohoo, golf year-round!

The average play time for a round of 18 holes for a foursome is around 3.5 to 4 hours. Pull and electric golf carts are available for rent, but the use of a cart is not mandatory as the course’s parkland design appeals to the golfer who enjoys walking. The country club is near the Grand Junction Airport off Horizon Drive near G Road. Learn more about tournaments, leagues and membership on their website https://www.bookcliffcc.com/Home

Last, but certainly not least…

Adobe Creek National Golf Course in Fruita

Adobe Creek National is on 18 ½ Road near I-70 between Grand Junction and Fruita, technically in Fruita. Described on their website as “Three Nines set among breathtaking views! The Grand Valley’s only 27 Holes Golf Course with the Colorado National Monument in the backdrop.” They offer lessons, leagues, and events and “encourage you to enjoy the game of golf – with friends, over a beverage, with laughs and stories.” Adobe Creek National Golf Course offers year-round golf on three different nine-hole courses – The Mesa, The Monument, and The Desert.

Their website offers Daily Deals when you book your tee time online at https://www.adobecreekgolf.com. You can also join their Green Bucks Club to earn money back when you pay to golf. The course is a wonderful venue for weddings and all sorts of events and parties.

Adobe Creek National Golf Course specializes in creating fun golf outings of any size. They can create outing packages with various challenges like longest putt, longest drive, etc.

Golf in Palisade

No, I didn’t leave out Palisade. The closest regulation golf course to Palisade is the Chipeta Golf Course, it’s also near Orchard Mesa. If you want to golf in Palisade, you can try out the Riverbend Disc Golf Course located along the scenic Colorado River in Riverbend Park. Grand Junction has multiple disc golf courses to discover and enjoy.

Year-Round Golfing in Grand Junction

In case you haven’t heard the common phrase marketers use when describing the Grand Valley, it’s this… “You can ski in the morning and golf in the afternoon.” And I can tell you, that’s a true statement. Granted golfing in January can be chilly, but the strength of the sun here warms you as you hit the links on our mostly sunny days. Some area golf courses require you to walk during the months of December-February vs riding in a cart. I have a post about the Grand Junction weather with average monthly temperatures that you might also find interesting to read.

So, if you like to golf, or you have friends who might visit that like to golf, take your pick from these fine golf courses in Grand Junction and Fruita. The views and the experiences are spectacular. And if you’d like to live in a golf course community like the Redlands or others, let me know and I can set up a search of MLS listings in that area that meets your criteria. I focus on Grand Junction Real Estate as well as properties in Fruita, Palisade, Loma, Mack, Orchard Mesa, and even on the Grand Mesa!

Why you might want to Retire in Grand Junction – Your Grandkids Will Thank You!