Sparwood/Elkford area

mighty1000 · Jun 12, 2018

Who on here is from the Sparwood/Elkford area. I’m thinking about moving to the area for work and would like to get a idea of what it’s like down there before I commit to it.

Thanks in advance :beer:

LUCKY 7 · Jun 12, 2018

sent you a pm

ferniesnow · Jun 12, 2018

Funny that this comes up again. 5 years ago, I went through this with "bopper" (now throttleop photography on here) and as a young fellow recently married, he thoroughly enjoys it.

We've lived in Elkford for 18 years. There is a phobia about Elkford being at the end of the road but it is just like a lot of other smaller communities. It is a quiet town with no major traffic congestion, no major highway noise, and very close to the outdoors which makes it very picturesque. Great town services with regards to garbage collection, snow removal, and town cleanliness. Arena, great indoor pool, and a curling rink. Hunting, fishing, ATV, snowmobiles, and hiking are all readily available. Schools, a dentist, doctors, a medical clinic, with a population of about 3000. People have summer residences on Lake Koocanusa for boating and summer activities. Larger centres for extra shopping in Lethbridge (less tax and better shopping) than Cranbrook. If you want more info, just send a PM with specific questions.

Here is a link for some more information: http://www.elkford.ca

retiredpop · Jun 12, 2018

How are property taxes?

ferniesnow · Jun 12, 2018

retiredpop said:
How are property taxes?

Taxes are reasonable for residents but for vacation homes they are a little steep. We have 0.67 acres with a 2049 sq.ft. house with full basement. Two out buildings (a 32'x12' covered wood shed and a 22'x26' heated shop) and our taxes are $2825 plus water and sewer at $500/year. A resident not eligible for the grant would pay $3870 plus $500 for water and sewer. our taxes are lower than the Crowsnest, Fernie and Sparwood.

LUCKY 7 · Jun 12, 2018

last week I paid our taxes and with the grant its just over 1600. typical 1110 sq.ft house, 24x26 heated garage, carport, basement finished sitting on a corner lot. water/sewer and garbage is $1100. if your over 65 the taxes are alot less. streets are cleaned 3-5 times every summer and snow is cleared every time it snows. the bad is you CANNOT ride your sled in town. Trust me it can get pricey if you get caught

mighty1000 · Jun 12, 2018

What’s it like for daily groceries, is their a decent selection of stores to shop from or are you limited and got to get used to making big runs to like lethbridge once every couple weeks to stock up?

LBZ · Jun 12, 2018

LUCKY 7 said:
last week I paid our taxes and with the grant its just over 1600. typical 1110 sq.ft house, 24x26 heated garage, carport, basement finished sitting on a corner lot. water/sewer and garbage is $1100. if your over 65 the taxes are alot less. streets are cleaned 3-5 times every summer and snow is cleared every time it snows. the bad is you CANNOT ride your sled in town. Trust me it can get pricey if you get caught

Really? I see guys fueling up right at the gas stations all winter and the trail signs all have pics of atv's and sleds on them so I assumed one was good to go to ride from their house. I know I did-the whole 60 yards to the nearest trail.

LBZ · Jun 12, 2018

mighty1000 said:
What’s it like for daily groceries, is their a decent selection of stores to shop from or are you limited and got to get used to making big runs to like lethbridge once every couple weeks to stock up?

There's a general store that has a full deli, meat department and bakery and save on in sparwood. Or 40min to fernie for independant and a couple other grocery stories, lordco, crappy tire and the like.

LUCKY 7 · Jun 13, 2018

Elkford you can ride in town Sparwood you cannot. I did 2 winters ago after a huge storm and was followed home by bylaw guy. He threatened to seize my sled and started to write up a $160 ticket. I talked him out of it and was able to keep my sled. I know I should not of sledded so much in town but it was 2-3 feet of virgin snow and was having a blast.

LBZ said:
Really? I see guys fueling up right at the gas stations all winter and the trail signs all have pics of atv's and sleds on them so I assumed one was good to go to ride from their house. I know I did-the whole 60 yards to the nearest trail.

ferniesnow · Jun 13, 2018

Both towns have excellent grocery shopping. Elkford has no hardware store, whereas Sparwood has a hardware store and a larger medical centre. Neither have car dealerships and Fernie is the closest with Ford, Chrysler, and GM. A small ski hill operates in Elkford and there is an international ski resort in Fernie (open in the summer with mountain bike amenities). Lucky 7 is correct in that there are motorized trails (summer and winter) in Elkford.

I guess something to think about is where will you be working? If you work at Fording or Greenhills, Elkford saves a commute (other than the bus ride to the mine). If it is at Line Creek, either Elkford or Sparwood is the same commute. If it is Elkview, Sparwood is the better choice regarding the commute.

LUCKY 7 · Jun 13, 2018

sparwood to Fernie is 20 minute drive and yes there is more in Fernie. If your a younger person Fernie is the choice place to live but is more costly than Sparwood.For around 300 grand you can get a nice house in Sparwood, fernie would be around 550 grand or more.

LBZ said:
There's a general store that has a full deli, meat department and bakery and save on in sparwood. Or 40min to fernie for independant and a couple other grocery stories, lordco, crappy tire and the like.

TylerG · Jun 13, 2018

LUCKY 7 said:
sparwood to Fernie is 20 minute drive and yes there is more in Fernie. If your a younger person Fernie is the choice place to live but is more costly than Sparwood.For around 300 grand you can get a nice house in Sparwood, fernie would be around 550 grand or more.

Randy will buy you a house down there Lenard, but you have to switch to Polaris........

LUCKY 7 · Jun 13, 2018

Swtching to Polaris is the right move to do if you want to hang out with the cool kids!!!! hahahahaha . EI doesn't pay that great so no I won't buy him a house

TylerG said:
Randy will buy you a house down there Lenard, but you have to switch to Polaris........

ferniesnow · Jun 13, 2018

LUCKY 7 said:
Swtching to Polaris is the right move to do if you want to hang out with the cool kids!!!! hahahahaha

LBZ · Jun 13, 2018

LUCKY 7 said:
Elkford you can ride in town Sparwood you cannot. I did 2 winters ago after a huge storm and was followed home by bylaw guy. He threatened to seize my sled and started to write up a $160 ticket. I talked him out of it and was able to keep my sled. I know I should not of sledded so much in town but it was 2-3 feet of virgin snow and was having a blast.

I didn't realize you were talking about sparwood. Sorry

mighty1000 · Jun 13, 2018

Thanks guys, info on both areas is great, I haven’t figured out which one yet.

mighty1000 · Jun 13, 2018

TylerG said:
Randy will buy you a house down there Lenard, but you have to switch to Polaris........

But I got a new alpha kitty coming!!! Can I still play ? Lol &#55357;&#56834;

LUCKY 7 · Jun 13, 2018

okay but only if don't beat up my 800 and you buy breakfast hahahaha

mighty1000 said:
But I got a new alpha kitty coming!!! Can I still play ? Lol &#55357;&#56834;

Sparwood/Elkford area

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