The slow and steady cultural and economic shifts underway in mountain communities were amplified coming out of the pandemic as new residents arrived, tourists flocked, real estate prices soared and local workers scrambled for housing. 

A new survey of 4,000 people in Eagle, Grand, Pitkin, Routt and Summit counties quantifies communities in flux as full-time residents — both renters and homeowners — part-time residents, elected officials and second homeowners adjust to resort economies that are shifting away from a sole reliance on tourists. 

The community survey commissioned by the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments and the Colorado Association of Ski Towns — and conducted by a group of veteran tourism economy pulse-takers known as the Insights Collective — is a benchmark that measures sentiment around the social, political, economic and cultural changes happening in mountain towns. And it delivers a tool for policymakers to craft regulations and measure progress as communities infuse resident concerns into economies that have traditionally revolved around tourist dollars. 

“We are trying to find that balance between diverse interest groups in the community and recognizing the voice of the community within the tourism economy,” said Insights Collective member Chris Cares, a founding partner and managing director of RRC Associates, which has been measuring and researching resort communities for more than 40 years. 

Read more from Jason Blevins at ColoradoSun.com