| The name "Medicine Bow" has been known to | | | | |
| only a few traditional western fans. It is | | | | Medicine Bow has had a depressed housing |
| the fictional site of a book that is renowned | | | | economy for decades. Where else can you |
| as the "first Western" novel - The Virginian, | | | | purchase a 3 bedroom home in decent shape for |
| by Owen Wister. It has been the setting of | | | | under $100 k? WELL under $100 k. That may |
| three movies based on that novel, but has | | | | change within the next two years though. Even |
| never been the SITE of the actual filming. | | | | the housing of the work crews will present a |
| | | | challenge in a town that usually has only 4-6 |
| Recently, the name of Medicine Bow has been | | | | houses for sale at a time, and where finding |
| bandied about within the government and | | | | a rental is as much a matter of luck as it is |
| alternative energy circles. If you Google | | | | of timing. |
| "Medicine Bow Coal to Diesel", you'll find a | | | | |
| treasure trove of both factual and | | | | Growth within Carbon County in general is |
| speculative information. | | | | already strong. Housing in the surrounding |
| | | | towns is becoming increasingly difficult to |
| DKRW, a relatively new company, is in the | | | | get. The spillover is already affecting the |
| development process for a coal to liquids | | | | 'Bow. If a person had planned to purchase |
| facility which will be located just 10 miles | | | | land low and sell high, the opportunity is |
| from Medicine Bow. The facility will support | | | | already all but gone. The feeding frenzy is |
| a workforce of approximately 300 workers when | | | | already on, and houses that you could not |
| it is fully functioning (numbers vary | | | | give away last year are being priced at twice |
| according to sources, this is the most often | | | | their current value. In a year, they'll get |
| repeated number). Work crews are currently | | | | it. |
| reported as being scheduled to begin | | | | |
| construction in the spring of 2008. | | | | For now, the small and isolated feeling is |
| | | | preserved. And even with growth that doubles |
| The facility will be the first of its kind, | | | | or triples the size of the town, we'll still |
| and represents freedom from foreign oil, as | | | | be considered unbearably small to most |
| well as significant advances on the | | | | people. When you are starting with an |
| environmental front. It is supported not only | | | | optimistic estimation of 300 people, the |
| by regional government, it has widespread | | | | anticipated growth still won't move us beyond |
| support on the national level. Several other | | | | "small" or "rural". Most people in town |
| facilities are planned to be built, based on | | | | really just want to regain a small grocery |
| the success or failure of this one. Coal | | | | store, and it would take doubling or tripling |
| states are watching this one. | | | | the town size to make it feasible. It may no |
| | | | longer be an unrealistic goal. |
| Land prices in Medicine Bow are already | | | | |
| rising. The last round of property taxes | | | | Some of the atmosphere that brings people |
| showed a fairly high increase in tax values | | | | here will undoubtedly be lost. But it would |
| (nearly double for many homes). Of course, | | | | be lost due to stagnation and neglect if the |
| since taxes have been very low here, the | | | | growth does not occur, and loss due to growth |
| increases were not huge by standards | | | | is infinitely preferable to loss due to |
| elsewhere, but they still ruffled a few | | | | attrition. Things will change. But we hope to |
| feathers. | | | | find progress within the change. |