What's Happening in Ennis Montana?

ENNIS AND MADISON VALLEY “HAPPENINGS”

→ November was a busy month in the Madison Valley and December is coming way too fast! Tomorrow, to be exact!  That means scramble to get everything done for the holidays!

→ Front page news in the Madisonian featured an article about the new Medical Marijuana ordinance in the Town of Ennis that will go into effect on December 5, 2010.  I guess it makes little ‘ole Ennis seem quite progressive.  And if you are interested, you can read the ordinance at http://www.ennismontana.org/. 

→ Thanksgiving always brings quite a few families and visitors to the area.  This year, the wild weather made getting in or out of Ennis quite a challenge.  It made the saying, “There are no Wimps in Montana” even more meaningful. 

→ The Madison Valley Woman’s Club, a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, hosts a big Holiday Bazaar every year on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.  This year was no exception, with over 50 vendors and an overwhelming abundance of handcrafted items for sale.  Brave shoppers came through deep snow to participate.

→This photo was taken from the Veteran's Memorial at the end of Main Street, showing the piles of snow and the snow covered mountains in the Madison range.  It is so beautiful.  The weather is still relatively mild with temperatures in the balmy teens.  And we'd love to be out showing property!

Winter Hits the Madison Valley - Big Time!

Some people feel sorry for us, living up here in the "frozen north" but it's not all bad.  We love the change of the seasons and each one has unique beauty and activities.  Right now the hunters are in "hunter Heaven" with all this snow and cold.  The bad weather brings the animals down out of the mountains so they are easier to find and easier to retrieve.  Many folks are starting to cross country ski in areas of the valley and the snowmobilers are eager to rev up their machines.  There are even hard-core fishermen out on the river!!

Many of the residents turn into snowbirds before the first flake hits the ground, but more of them stay put, right here, all winter.  The town is getting ready for Thanksgiving dinners, the Holiday Bazaar and in early December our annual Christmas Stroll with merchants participating in many creative ways. 

This is a great time to visit Ennis and the Madison Valley to see what our winter is really like.  We actually get very little snow - just inches, not feet.  And it doesn't stay on the ground all winter.  It melts or blows away.  The sun is usually shining so even if it is 20 below 0 and the ice crystals are sparkling in the air, it is still comfortable.  It is a very dry cold so it's better than the bone-chilling cold they have in other areas of the country with higher temperatures.

Once you come out, you will find friendly people, a charming western town and breathtaking beauty.  It is quiet and magestic in the winter with the valley surrounded by snow-capped peaks and topped with blue skies and bright sunshine.

You will also find some great real estate bargains.  Especially in the winter.  Sellers know that our "window of opportunity" for selling is generally from June through October.  So after winter sets in they are even more open to negotiating to make a sale.  There are some amazing bargains in vacant land, such as the 5 acres in Shining Mountains for $39,500.  Lots in this area were selling for over $100,000 just a few years ago, and hard to come by.  Now just take your pick.  Quite a few homes have been drastically reduced already and more deals could be made.  Who knows what 2011 will bring, but we know that this valley will always be special and desirable. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.