Parachute & Battlement Mesa | Garfield County

Parachute and Battlement Mesa are two communities on the Western Slope that offer reasonable real estate for sale and a wealth of outdoor activities amid beautifully stunning scenery. There are homes of all sizes, from smaller residences with two or three bedrooms to larger homes that have five bedrooms or more.

Parachute is north of Interstate 70 at Exit 75 and is a home rule municipality with a population of about 1,100 residents. While many communities in the Rockies have grown over the past decade, Parachute's population has remained basically the same. Parachute is just northwest of the mighty Colorado River. It is joined in the area by Parachute Creek. Both rivers provide amazing fishing. The municipality is about 40 miles from Glenwood Springs and about 45 miles from Grand Junction.

Parachute is a working-class town where the median income is under $40,000 per year. Many of the homes in Parachute are occupied by families who live and work in the community. There are few vacation homes and second homes, but the town is a thriving tourism destination - offering hunting, horseback riding, rafting and biking. The surrounding mountains have a few guest ranches where visitors can go to experience authentic Western living in the Rocky Mountains.

Although a smaller community, there are a few nice shops and restaurants in Parachute. The many attractions of Grand Junction and Glenwood Springs are less than an hour's drive from Parachute. So, it's easy to live a relaxed mountain lifestyle in a smaller community but still be close to larger towns for a broader range of services.

Battlement Mesa is an upscale residential community on a high plateau just south of Interstate 70. The planned community has a fantastic golf course - Battlement Mesa Golf Club. The 18-hole championship course has been ranked as one of the Best Courses in America by Golf Digest.

The Parachute and Battlement Mesa communities were first established when oil was discovered there. Today, much of the land surrounding the communities remains devoted to cattle ranching.

Neighborhood Highlights

• The Parachute downtown core is from North Battlement Parkway to the east to Diamond Avenue out west. Old Highway 6 (West 1st Street) runs east-west, parallel to the interstate, and is the town's main street. A good amount of homes are on the west end, along streets like Watson Street, Avenue 1, Avenue 3, Evans Avenue, Yarrow CIrcle, Columbine Drive, Meadow Drive, and Alpine Lane.

• The other main collection of homes in Parachute is east of Parachute Avenue, along stside streets like Fisher Avenue, Railroad Avenue, Pioneer Avenue, Green Street, And East 1st Street through 4th Street. Homes here are within walking distance to restaurants and some services.

• There are a few homes that are south of the interstate but north of the Colorado River. Homes just off Cardinal Way on streets like Van Horn Lane, Creek Street, Yampa Avenue and Anvil Lane are near Grand Valley High School and a few parks.

• Homes in Battlement Mesa are primarily along North Battlement Parkway or off Morrisania Mesa Road to the east. South and west of the interstate are additional new homes off of Stone Quarry Road that are a bit removed from town. Stone Quarry Road extends far west into more rural territory.