Eagle, CO 5 Apartments for Rent

Before being settling on the name Eagle, this Colorado town was previously called "Town of Castle" followed by "Town of McDonald."

Although still a small town, Eagle, Colorado, has seen a significant upswing in its population. As of the year 2000 census, the population was listed as 3,032 people. By 2010, that number had grown to 6,508. Eagle is considered a statutory town, which means it has a mayor and an elected board of trustees. The city was built along the banks of the Eagle River, so the founders didn't get too creative with the name. The town was incorporated in 1905. Eagle is set in the middle of Colorado, deep in the Rocky Mountains. It's surrounded by dozens of national parks and forests, including the White River National Forest and Grand Mesa National Forest. The terrain is so rugged that some nearby mountains have names such as Bellyache Ridge, Savage Peak and Hardscrabble Mountain. (But with well over twenty salons and spas in Eagle, you won't exactly be moving to pure wilderness.) The famed ski resort destinations of Vail and Beaver Creek are only about 30 miles away, but those are small towns as well. For a big city break from alpine paradise, Denver is a two-hour drive east on I-70.

Moving to Eagle

Even I-70 can be difficult to drive on during the Colorado winter, when the roads are icy and snowy, and driving a moving truck on smaller roads through the Rockies could turn into downhill skiing if you're not experienced. Move to Eagle between May and October if possible. The town is the home to the Eagle County Regional Airport, which is the biggest airport in the Vail Valley region, so that could spare you a U-Haul free for all on ice-slicked mountain roads. With many residents living in condos or houses, finding apartments for rent in Eagle can be a bit difficult, so give yourself 4-6 weeks to line a place up before you move there.

What you will need

Gone are the frontier days when all you had to do was claim a piece of land. Of course you also don't have to build a log cabin or know how to skin a buffalo, but to find rental housing, you will need to provide the apartment manager proof of income, a credit report, your rental history and maybe a background check or rental references. Don't forget to get local driver's license and plates as soon as you arrive. Having out of state plates in a small town is just asking for a speeding ticket.

Eagle Neighborhoods and Communities

As small as Eagle is, it doesn't have official neighborhoods. However, it does have a classic small town layout, with a downtown business district, a compact residential area and sprawling suburban streets.

Downtown Eagle: Eagle doesn't have the mega ski resorts that some of it's neighboring towns do, but it does get enough tourists passing through to push up the overall prices of rental apartments, especially in Downtown, which is home to a number of hotels. Living here means you can easily walk to the post office, your bank, cafes such as Yeti's Grind, numerous boutique shops and trendy restaurants. Of course, half of the year you'll probably need a Gore-Tex coat and one of those giant bear-fur Russian hats to keep from freezing on that "easy" two-block stroll. Warm up by sitting in Bonfire Brewing and drinking a locally made craft beer. Downtown is mostly built on a small grid but also runs for a bit along the river.

Central Eagle: Here the streets begin to curve and wind and are lined with trees. It's mostly residential, but there are a few restaurants, including Luigi's Pasta House. If you find yourself missing winter during July, head to the Eagle Pool and Ice Rink to cool off.

South Eagle: The streets get even curvier and more spread apart the further south you go in Eagle. A series of creeks and streams flow through the neighborhood. New homes are popping up beside older ones, slowly turning the countryside into suburbs.

Apartments and Condos in Eagle

Eagle Villas: One of the few apartment complexes in the city, Eagle Villas is located next to Downtown. It's built beside Eagle River, giving residents gorgeous vistas outside their windows and biking and hiking trails that lead straight from the property into nature. When you don't have time for an expedition into the Rockies, the nearby city park gives you nature-lite. They offer two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments with private patios or balconies in all units. The complex provides a picnic and barbecuing area, a coffee bar with Wi-Fi, two laundry rooms, free trash removal and optional garages.

Sylvan Square Condominiums: This is a small condo community that was built in central Eagle in 2008. They have 16 two-bedroom units. The complex is near Brush Creek, Abrams Creek, The Dusty Boot Steakhouse and Saloon and the Capitol Theater cinema.

Eagle Ranch: This community is like a tiny town within the town of Eagle. It has a business district called the Eagle Ranch Village, complete with dining, shopping and spas. You might be able to find a condo or house to rent here, as there are many single family homes, town homes and lofts. There is also a golf course and a fitness center here.

Living in Eagle

Sub-freezing temperatures for half the year don't stop Eagle residents from enjoying the outdoors. Dress like the locals do and you'll stay warm enough to go snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and even ice fishing. In summer, the sunny days are perfect for world class whitewater rafting, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, fly-fishing and camping. The Historic Central Business District in downtown Eagle has a classic American Main Street, where you can city events including bike races, contests, concerts and rodeos are held year round. Even in winter, plays are performed in the Brush Creek Pavilion and hockey games are played at the ice rink. Dining ranges from gourmet Italian food to rustic grills, bakeries, sandwich shops and standard fast-food options. This is Colorado, after all, so the small town of Eagle boasts a big selection of local brews. In addition to the Bonfire Brewery, there is also the 7 Hermits Brewing Company.