Hey folks,
As many of you know, Sky High was our baby for many many years. Then due to the ever expanding summer program there, the scouts basically forced us to use their 5 star camp Magic Sky. With the amenities came the headaches because their director constantly found ways to find things wrong and fine us a few times, taking away and increasing our security deposit each time. Then the scouts decided to significantly raise our rental price because of this as well. We were no longer considered "friends of the scouts" discount bracket.
I felt the time was quickly upon us to try to find our own site or be without a campsite to play our game upon. (Luckily I did too, for the scouts sent us a letter after our May game letting us know that we are no longer welcomed on scout property. Apparently, someone left Duct tape residue of a letter "W" and someone carved into the wood, "Bob was here." We paid another fine in May which I didn't tell you all about since it didn't matter at that point any more.)
I pressured myself into finding a site ASAP. I met with my realtor last year in September, I think, to start looking for a place. We went to what seems to be around 20-25 places before we found our current site. I was getting impatient, desperate, time was running short, and honestly, we didn't get the loan amount we were hoping for (which also limited our choices).
We closed at the end of January and began building our site up. With certain concerns springing up here and there, I talked to many people about what we were doing and if it was ok, spoke with all the neighbors, made a bunch of phone calls, looked up codes, etc. "as long as you're not collecting sales tax, you're fine." "It's an at home business. You're fine." "I had my motorcycle friends over all the time and we drank, partied, and shot our guns all day long. You're fine." "It's your 30 acres to do whatever you want on. You're fine." "As long as you don't have daily traffic coming and going to your house, you're fine." Things seemed fine and we ran our beautiful game. Well. Things are not fine and I am an emotional wreck right now.
We saw some grumblings on Slack last week after I posted about the private roads here and we decided to make an appointment with Teller County's Planning Dept. As of 10am today, my world came tumbling down. As it turns out, my meeting that I arranged with them was a convenience because they also had 6 registered complaints against us and wrote us a cease and desist letter anyway.
What really hurts is that one of the six complaints came from one of our very own larpers. I can't imagine what I could have done to upset that person, but apparently, I did and they added their complaint into the mix of my distant neighbors who live 1-3 miles away. (My immediate neighbors enjoyed seeing our game from their houses.)
I failed to do my due diligence and research. I should have hired a real estate lawyer, but I didn't. There are many people who I could blame, but I only have myself to blame at this point and it's killing me.
Since 10am this morning, I have been beating myself up over the should'ves and could'ves. This was my dream and my baby and I have sunk thousands of dollars into this, along with blood, sweat, and tears, and I have failed you all.
As of this writing the August game is cancelled. Please stop paying on paypal.
I will refund your August payment immediately to those who have already paid.
For those who donated to the road repair: I will keep your GS in the system and I will refund your money. I'm not giving them a dime at this point.
We are in the process of arranging a meeting with a real estate lawyer to see what our options are. Apparently, you can have a dog kennel, a day care, and an adult day care in our zone, and mobile homes and guest houses, but you can't have porto johns or 30 cars on your property, or have 50 friends over once a month to play a game.
I want to be honest and forthcoming with you all and give you scenarios as they played out today.
Best case scenario- Lawyer does something miraculous and we move on. (Not likely from what I discussed today)
Worst case scenario - All games in 2018 are canceled and I sell my house and pay back Mike Paxton, Chris Glascock, Chris Fernandez, and Leora. We have sunk every penny we own into this dream and have debt to show on top of it, but I will make that right.
For those who paid for storage here for their gear, I will pay you back as well. I am not looking to screw anyone in our amazing community. You will just have to be patient and give me some time.
Middle scenario? - I find a last minute shitty camp site for Sep-Nov. If that's even possible.
I am so terribly sorry to have let you all down. I feel so awful and terrible inside. If you feel the need to vent your frustration and anger at me here on the forums or in private, please be gentle. I am not doing well.
I will keep you updated as I learn more.
with deepest apologies,
Jesse
As many of you know, Sky High was our baby for many many years. Then due to the ever expanding summer program there, the scouts basically forced us to use their 5 star camp Magic Sky. With the amenities came the headaches because their director constantly found ways to find things wrong and fine us a few times, taking away and increasing our security deposit each time. Then the scouts decided to significantly raise our rental price because of this as well. We were no longer considered "friends of the scouts" discount bracket.
I felt the time was quickly upon us to try to find our own site or be without a campsite to play our game upon. (Luckily I did too, for the scouts sent us a letter after our May game letting us know that we are no longer welcomed on scout property. Apparently, someone left Duct tape residue of a letter "W" and someone carved into the wood, "Bob was here." We paid another fine in May which I didn't tell you all about since it didn't matter at that point any more.)
I pressured myself into finding a site ASAP. I met with my realtor last year in September, I think, to start looking for a place. We went to what seems to be around 20-25 places before we found our current site. I was getting impatient, desperate, time was running short, and honestly, we didn't get the loan amount we were hoping for (which also limited our choices).
We closed at the end of January and began building our site up. With certain concerns springing up here and there, I talked to many people about what we were doing and if it was ok, spoke with all the neighbors, made a bunch of phone calls, looked up codes, etc. "as long as you're not collecting sales tax, you're fine." "It's an at home business. You're fine." "I had my motorcycle friends over all the time and we drank, partied, and shot our guns all day long. You're fine." "It's your 30 acres to do whatever you want on. You're fine." "As long as you don't have daily traffic coming and going to your house, you're fine." Things seemed fine and we ran our beautiful game. Well. Things are not fine and I am an emotional wreck right now.
We saw some grumblings on Slack last week after I posted about the private roads here and we decided to make an appointment with Teller County's Planning Dept. As of 10am today, my world came tumbling down. As it turns out, my meeting that I arranged with them was a convenience because they also had 6 registered complaints against us and wrote us a cease and desist letter anyway.
What really hurts is that one of the six complaints came from one of our very own larpers. I can't imagine what I could have done to upset that person, but apparently, I did and they added their complaint into the mix of my distant neighbors who live 1-3 miles away. (My immediate neighbors enjoyed seeing our game from their houses.)
I failed to do my due diligence and research. I should have hired a real estate lawyer, but I didn't. There are many people who I could blame, but I only have myself to blame at this point and it's killing me.
Since 10am this morning, I have been beating myself up over the should'ves and could'ves. This was my dream and my baby and I have sunk thousands of dollars into this, along with blood, sweat, and tears, and I have failed you all.
As of this writing the August game is cancelled. Please stop paying on paypal.
I will refund your August payment immediately to those who have already paid.
For those who donated to the road repair: I will keep your GS in the system and I will refund your money. I'm not giving them a dime at this point.
We are in the process of arranging a meeting with a real estate lawyer to see what our options are. Apparently, you can have a dog kennel, a day care, and an adult day care in our zone, and mobile homes and guest houses, but you can't have porto johns or 30 cars on your property, or have 50 friends over once a month to play a game.
I want to be honest and forthcoming with you all and give you scenarios as they played out today.
Best case scenario- Lawyer does something miraculous and we move on. (Not likely from what I discussed today)
Worst case scenario - All games in 2018 are canceled and I sell my house and pay back Mike Paxton, Chris Glascock, Chris Fernandez, and Leora. We have sunk every penny we own into this dream and have debt to show on top of it, but I will make that right.
For those who paid for storage here for their gear, I will pay you back as well. I am not looking to screw anyone in our amazing community. You will just have to be patient and give me some time.
Middle scenario? - I find a last minute shitty camp site for Sep-Nov. If that's even possible.
I am so terribly sorry to have let you all down. I feel so awful and terrible inside. If you feel the need to vent your frustration and anger at me here on the forums or in private, please be gentle. I am not doing well.
I will keep you updated as I learn more.
with deepest apologies,
Jesse