Colin Flaherty's blog

We repeat the old joke – now at the expense of Forbes Magazine: How do you make a small fortune in Aspen real estate?

Start with a large fortune.

There is no other way to explain the recent Forbes article alternatively headlined “Why Aspen Prices Holding Up” or “Why Prices Are Up in Aspen.”

No. No. No. No. No.

People who want to stop the beetles from destroying the forests of Aspen first have to fight a pest even bigger and more obnoxious. More determined. Maybe even smarter: Environmentalists.

So let’s start with a reality check:

1) Enviros are crazy.

2) Enviros in and out of Aspen are controlling what happens to the beetles.

Aspen would be a pretty cool place if everybody (else) would just leave. That’s the message loud and clear that an increasing number of public and private personalities are delivering all over Pitkin county.

The reverse mortgage for Aspen area seniors is back. This time without all the questions about titles and proceeds and payments and inheritances that made this loan go away in the first place.

Some bears are born famous. Others achieve fame. And some have fame thrust upon them.

And when the history of Aspen bears is written many years from now, surely no bear will have as much world-wide attention thrust upon it, however briefly, as the 800-pound bronze bear created by Steven Bennett, purchased by Arnold Schwarzenegger, sold at Aspen’s Royal Street Fine Art gallery, and now sitting in front of the governor’s office in Sacramento.

After nine years as the official environmental guru to the Aspen Ski Company, Auden Schendler made a startling discovery: Most of what he was doing was wrong – or ineffectual.

He even wrote a book, talking about his disappointment from “the trenches” with bio-diesel fuels and low energy light bulbs. And even other environmentalists.

Turns out they are toxic – and not too bright. The light bulbs, that is.