Bought a home in St George..

[COcheesehead]

Originally Posted by Strannik33

Just curious, what's the attraction there? I've been there once and wasn't particularly impressed. It's very cold in winter and vary hot in summer. . . Prices are low for a reason.
https://weatherspark.com/y/2380/Aver...tes-Year-Round

It’s a natural paradise and close to so many things. Housing prices aren’t cheap, so that says something.

[Celesteren]

Originally Posted by NC_Cpl

We're considering St. G too, but I'm finding precious little info on any 55+ Active Adult communities there, which we are interested in since we will be coming in cold (no friends or family there). We don't want to just drop ourselves into any old neighborhood since we've had little success meeting others our age in conventional neighborhoods. We'd prefer to be embedded with others in the 50-70 age range which these specific communities offer. Toll Bros was supposed to break ground there but it seems still on the drawing board. Any suggestions or is St. G lacking in this type of development?

My husband and I moved to St. George last June. We did look at one 55+ community, SunRiver, but ended up not moving there. (Long story as to why.) Check them out and see if that's what you're looking for.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by COcheesehead

It’s a natural paradise and close to so many things. Housing prices aren’t cheap, so that says something.

In what respect is St. George a paradise? Other threads about it here, have cautioned against growing crime. I'd love to hear about the "paradise" aspect of it.

[irman]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

In what respect is St. George a paradise? Other threads about it here, have cautioned against growing crime. I'd love to hear about the "paradise" aspect of it.

Hmmm... Ruth, did you forget that right next to paradise, hell is located?
Only a simple fence separates the two!
This reminds me of the story where somebody broke that fence for whatever reason. Hell got mad and told Paradise to fix it, else they would sue them! Paradise wrote back and notified Hell that Paradise would immediately fix the fence since Paradise did not have any lawyers to fight the suit...

[kavm]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

In what respect is St. George a paradise? Other threads about it here, have cautioned against growing crime. I'd love to hear about the "paradise" aspect of it.

The paradise aspect escapes me, but I am not a resident. Summers are too hot for my taste. When we last visited, the culinary options were limited to chain restaurants. If I were staying in such a hot climate (and I am not signing up for that), I'd move across the border to NV and avoid the income tax.

But this is an outsiders perspective who did not find the town attractive in a couple of short visits. It must be attractive to some.

[COcheesehead]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

In what respect is St. George a paradise? Other threads about it here, have cautioned against growing crime. I'd love to hear about the "paradise" aspect of it.

You left out the word “natural”, it changes the meaning of my post considerably. Your question also makes me realize you likely have never been there. Red Mountain, Snow Canyon, Zion, slot canyons galore, petroglyphs trails right in town, They have the most developed series of bike paths I have seen. A natural paradise.

As to the above post above about only chain restaurants, you must not have tried too hard. Xetava Gardens, Painted Pony are excellent local options. There are a few others we enjoy, but I’ll let folks discover those on their own.

[forsheamountain]

My dad told me a story that his great great grandfather had argued with Brigham Young and was banished to Washington County. Since hearing that story I've always thought of that area as being Brigham Young's penal colony.

[markg91359]

Originally Posted by Strannik33

Just curious, what's the attraction there? I've been there once and wasn't particularly impressed. It's very cold in winter and vary hot in summer. . . Prices are low for a reason.
https://weatherspark.com/y/2380/Aver...tes-Year-Round

Its about sixty miles from Zion National Park. Ivins, where I have my retirement home, is a suburb of St. George and is located right next to Snow Canyon State Park. Its a little over 100 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park. It is about 120 miles from the Grand Canyon. At different places in the greater community you can find Indian petroglyphs and trails to interesting overlooks. For those who want other forms of recreation, its about 100 miles from Las Vegas. I don't know where you get the idea it is very cold in the winter. It is the warmest place in Utah during the winter. I won't deny that snow occasionally falls in the winter, but if it does it generally melts within hours. Its hot in the summer, but its a tolerable dry heat not that nasty humid heat you get in southern states.

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

In what respect is St. George a paradise? Other threads about it here, have cautioned against growing crime. I'd love to hear about the "paradise" aspect of it.

Crime may be growing, but its very low in St. George. Most people have only one lock on their door. I discussed the crime issue with a deputy in the Washington County Sheriff's office. He really could not identify an area in the community that he thought had high crime. The population has grown a great deal in the last 10-15 years some increase in crime--particularly property crime--is inevitable. It would be true of anywhere in the country. If I didn't call the area "paradise" I would call it pretty nice. It is surrounded by national parks, state parks, and numerous recreational opportunities. There is an outdoor theater known as the Tuacahn Theater near Snow Canyon State Park. The theater is in a perfect red rock setting. In the summer, mist is sprayed onto theater goers to keep them nice and cool.

Originally Posted by kavm

The paradise aspect escapes me, but I am not a resident. Summers are too hot for my taste. When we last visited, the culinary options were limited to chain restaurants. If I were staying in such a hot climate (and I am not signing up for that), I'd move across the border to NV and avoid the income tax.

But this is an outsiders perspective who did not find the town attractive in a couple of short visits. It must be attractive to some.

There are locally owned brew pubs, specialty restaurants at places like Kayenta, and local favorites like the Hungry Bear Diner. I'm leaving others out simply because I cannot remember a name. I could point you to locally owned high quality Mexican restaurants and barbeque restaurants. I would agree that chain restaurants predominate, but its incorrect to not give local restaurants their due.

Originally Posted by forsheamountain

My dad told me a story that his great great grandfather had argued with Brigham Young and was banished to Washington County. Since hearing that story I've always thought of that area as being Brigham Young's penal colony.

Brigham Young is supposed to have sent his most hardcore firebrand followers to St. George because of the rough living conditions. It may have had something to do with the Mountain Meadows Massacre in 1857.

[WildWestDude]

Originally Posted by NC_Cpl

We're considering St. G too, but I'm finding precious little info on any 55+ Active Adult communities there, which we are interested in since we will be coming in cold (no friends or family there). We don't want to just drop ourselves into any old neighborhood since we've had little success meeting others our age in conventional neighborhoods. We'd prefer to be embedded with others in the 50-70 age range which these specific communities offer. Toll Bros was supposed to break ground there but it seems still on the drawing board. Any suggestions or is St. G lacking in this type of development?

FYI, nearby Mesquite NV has a big Del Web community. I know it is not UT but on the other hand you're close enough and there's not income tax.

[forsheamountain]

Hardcore firebrands. I like it!