Manitou Springs: Would you live there?

I have just received a job offer close to Manitou Springs. I currently live in Asheville, NC, which I think most would agree is a "hip and happening" medium sized city. It's fun, but probably cooler than I need a city to be to meet my needs. The job in Manitou is great, so based solely on the quality of life one would expect to find living in Manitou, would you live there?

I will let someone more knowledgeable comment on the climbing scene. I will say that there is an incredible caving scene a few minutes from downtown Manitou Spring. The owners of 'Cave of the winds' allow cavers to explore and cave in the many other caves the canyon.

I live in Manitou and really like it, although the summer tourists can get tiring. Hiking/biking trails are super accessible and not too crowded unless youre doing the incline. Nearby climbing is so so but South platte, eleven mile, and shelf are only a hour away.

Thanks for the replies. I should probably mention that I've previously lived in Colorado. I am primarily interested in what the town of Manitou is like culturally, socially, etc. Thanks again.

Nearby Colorado Springs has a reputation as "the City of wide streets and narrow minds"

Manitou Springs, by contrast, has very narrow streets.

Manitou is the liberal enclave of the springs area. Pretty much where hippies and liberals go to escape from Colorado Springs. I'm not sure I would call it a hip/happening place compared to Ashville. Most front range climbers from Denver/Boulder consider the area closer to purgatory. Personally I don't mind the laid back vibe and lower cost of living vs. Denver/Boulder area

As another Manitou resident, I would second Erik's comments. It's liberal compared to Colorado Springs. It is small -- you may like that or not. On the other hand, it's basically attached to Colorado Springs, so it feels like being part of a mid-sized city.

Overall, I like it a lot. (Though the tourists and, more importantly, the street performers do get tiresome in the summer.)

And, local climbing isn't my favorite, but the stuff in the 45-90 minute range is great. Elevenmile is 45 minutes door-to-crag for us.

Narrow streets, no parking, lousy drivers,crowded in the summer, tourist trap, not as cheap as it used to be. I grew up in Colo. Spgs. and never, ever, ever wanted to live in Manitou. Guess I'm biased.

If the job is in Manitou I would live downtown C-Springs. The old north end is very eclectic and close to downtown where the majority of "nigh life" is at....Bring a girl too

Ron Pivo wrote:Nearby Colorado Springs has a reputation as "the City of wide streets and narrow minds"

Code for "their minds are narrow in a conservative way rather than narrow in a liberal way like ours"

Colorado Springs is a military town - Cheyenne Mountain, Air Force Academy, Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force base, etc., so it tends to be conservative. It also has a significant Christian population. However, compared to more northerly front range cities where I've lived they don't knock on your door to the same extent. I've found that the service you get here when in restaurants or stores is way more attentive and respectful than you get up north. I would think this is similar to areas in North Carolina.

I live in Old Colorado City, 5 min. from Manitou Springs. Manitou Springs is really a tourist town and it shuts down at night except for a few spots. Very much like Estes Park. But it is in a beautiful setting but also prone to flooding near the river.

As others have said, it is really close to the best year round climbing in Colorado. Red Rocks and Garden of the Gods are 5 min away. Many areas are less than an hour away - Shelf Road, Elevenmile canyon, Turkey rocks, etc. So if you like to climb, there isn't a better place in Colorado.

No matter where you live, if you respect and take advantage of what it has to offer, life will be good.

I currently live behind the shops in Manitou Springs. I'll tell you it is a pretty cool little city there's always some sort of event happening. A few cool climbing spots as well. Some downsides are the tourism in the summer. It sucks everyone seems to forget how to walk and drive it's a pain just driving home. At the end of the day when the shops close though it's very peaceful and there are great views of the mountains. There are also some amazing hikes such as Iron and Red Mountain as well as the infamous Incline. Some people would consider homelessness a problem but they really don't bother anyone and overall it is a very safe and interesting place to live.