My family and I really enjoyed a stay in Suncadia and were thinking about buying, but it seemed a little odd there. I'm glad to find this website to get some of the real info about the place.

I am curious about utilities there. So Suncadia owns the water and sewage treatment centers? How do they set rates for those services and is there anyway to be sure that the systems are reliable?

Chuy spoke several times about the high speed fiber optic cable that is available to all the homesites. I noticed that many of the sites have Dish Network dishes... even the pool! What about all that wonderful fiber optics in the ground?

Thanks for the info.

Here is my third hand understanding of the optic network. The original provider of tv/internet/phone service for Suncadia (ICS Communications) charged super high rates to owners. Consequently, we (and apparently a lot of other owners) chose DirecTv (or Dish) for tv. We did not know of any alternative for internet so we used ICS. For some unknown (maybe political?) and baffling reason, the Lodge decided against using Suncadia's selected partner ICS and went with a satillite provider. (A slap in the face for sure) ICS went out of business with the economy downturn and a company called Atlas assumed the fiber and network infrastructure. Apparently the infrastructure was a mess and ICS did not help Atlas in turning over documentation of the system and so Atlas has had a difficult time getting everyone up and running - I do not believe it is their fault. We have not lost internet service in the transition. Atlas has cheaper rates for internet but I have not checked for the other services and of course Directv made me sign a two-year contract so it is moot.

We have had no complaints with the water/sewage service. The base rates are high (I think - don't quote me - that we pay $80 a month just for connection) especially for our 2 or 3 days per month usage. I assume that the rates are high because they have fewer owners connected and using services than expected at this juncture. You can receive info on rate setting from the Suncadia main office on Bull Frog road.

I recently spoke with Atlas about hooking up my home there and they said that they are in the process of starting their TV service. They have contracted with Dish and are installing 3 commercial dishes in the resort and are going to fee the fiber system with the Dish TV service. The cost seems reasonable at $69/month and you do not have to have a dish in your yard. Apparently in the winter some people have had issues with their own dishes due to snow and ice coverage. the dishes that Atlas is installing have built in heaters and are also pointed directly at 2 different satellites.

So in short, the fiber is in the ground, but there is no TV available until Dec 1st or thereabouts.

You can get updates from suncadianet.com regarding all communication info, but all of it is now active and homes are being activated with TV feed. Here's the latest from Atlas' CEO Ryan on the blog at suncadianet.com :

2009.11.25 23:54:18
Dear Suncadia and Tumble Creek Owners,

We're very pleased to announce that as of last weekend the TV system has been completed and we've begun turning on homes. We also completed the install of the dish heaters that prevent disruption of service due to snow accumulation on the dishes. Chuck Wilk was gracious enough to offer his home as a testing ground for the service allowing us to work out the last major kinks in the network. This week to date we've turned up 6 more homes and are making a big push today and tomorrow morning to complete those scheduled for pre-Thanksgiving installs.

A few final pictures from the install completed last weekend - click here.

If you have not signed up for TV service and wish to do so, please contact Rachel via email \n rachel@atlasnetworks.us This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at our main office at 206-210-5450.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Best Regards,
Ryan

So another gap is closed in services and we can look forward, in my opinion.

PS to Curious in Seattle, join the pioneers that have taken the plunge, you won't be disappointed in the long run with your decision. It has been an exciting journey for us as early adopter owners, even if at times we have had growing pains.

I keep an eye on things out there, but until there is a reliable major investor behind the development I will just enjoy renting for a few weeks in the summer.

Re the sewer/water rates - that's pretty standard - we pay Evergreen Valley Utilities a base fee of about $40-$45 each for sewer and water per month

Pioneers are not supposed to pay elite real estate prices for the privilege of the "exciting journey"

Larry,

I doubt even you would call the current pricing elite, nor was the pricing elite for the folks that bought in 2004.

Last time I checked most pioneers shed a lot of their wealth and blood to settle the west. Not saying they were "supposed" to, but they did none the less. Those looking for a city life in the 1800's sure didn't find it until much later. That would make them "dudes" to the pioneers, oh but the pioneers mostly had all the land by then so they didn't much care.

Sure there are some people dumping lots, they dump stock everyday on Wall Street, someone buys that stock nearly everyday too. Some seeing a lost value and not wishing to risk more loss and the buyers seeing value.

I still see people building around Suncadia and on the Tumble Creek side as well and know of more starts that will begin in Spring, so there are still some that are moving forward with their own personal plans.

I guess its the half full glass vs half empty theory at work. Each is correct, just depends on perspective. No right or wrong.

When lots in Cle Elum are priced at the same level as in Seattle - I'd call those prices elite.

What part of Seattle, Larry? I think your doing the apples and oranges thing comparing Seattle to Cle Elum. Two different enviroments.

As a Suncadia homeowner, I have some experience with utilities. I was directly involved in the building of my home. ICS was not a good provider. Atlas delivered on telephone and internet quickly. They had some issues to iron out for TV. They have done that and my service is excellent at about the same price I pay for all three services in Tacoma. Water and sewer have seemed reasonable. Gas is out of bounds on cost.

No question that Suncadia is a little on the expensive side, but I think I have gotten my money's worth with the infrastructure and amenities that are available. I have been impressed time and again with the competence of Suncadia employees, no matter what their age.

My home is in the rental program which opens up a whole new area of discussion. We pay a good price for the services our house receives between guests and we believe that the housekeepping and engineering staff take good care of our home.

The first hour we spend in the home we call inventory and reorganization. It takes that much time to find out where things have gone and to put them back in the place we planned for them. Some things get broken, some things get lost, and Suncadia has taken care of almost all of that.

My wife and I are very pleased with the investment we have made in Suncadia. We find our neighbors to be thoughtful and caring people. We have not found someone who is not friendly or willing to stop and say hello. We are happy to welcome people to look at our property when we are there and they stop or slow down looking.

I know that some people are not satisfied. I don't know what expectation they had. We looked at Sunriver and thought it was a good place to start from. We think Suncadia is an improvement on something that was good to begin with.