Unless you’ve been living under a rock this past week (in which case, have you seen any Geodudes?), you’ve probably encountered armies of enterprising individuals equipped with smartphones and augmented reality game Pokémon Go.
The new app, which is on track to surpass Twitter in terms of daily active users (at least among the U.S. Android population), sends players out into the real world to capture Pokémon—often adorable “monsters” that possess a range of eclectic abilities.
The game features 151 different Poké creatures, ranging from Water to Flying to Psychic, with many points in-between. Players will want to amass a wide range of Pokémon, not just for bragging rights, but to battle other users and advance in the game.
And therein lies the rub—early research by players, as well as statements by the game developers, indicates that the variety of Pokémon available for players to catch is tied heavily to location and climate. Players living in Las Vegas are likely overrun by Fire type Pokémon like Ponyta, due to its desert proximity, but may be struggling to find a Water type, like Psyduck.
To that end, and in consultation with the fine research of the people at iMore and The Sylph Road, we have found three available Pokémon mansions — luxury properties located in or near diverse climates that should provide a bountiful range of Pokémon while remaining close to home.
Vail, Colorado
Price: $9.299 million Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 6
Is there a state with a more diverse climate than Colorado? Plains in the north, deserts in the south and a breathtaking mountain range running throughout.
From this multi-family home, in the internationally recognized ski town of Vail, you should experience a slice of Colorado’s climatic diversity, at least when it comes to Pokémon hunting. The property overlooks a pond, which should provide easy access to Water types and backs up to a forest, which should have your Grass and Bug type Pokémons covered. Furthermore, the home’s proximity to Vail Village should aid in the capture of Ground, Normal and Poison types, and who knows—come winter, Vail may be a hub of the coveted Ice types.
Santa Barbara, California
Price: $25 million Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 6.5
Player conjecture has postulated that California may be a wealth of Pokémon types given the multiple climates the Golden State encompasses.
This post-modern property in Santa Barbara may put that theory to the test. While you probably won’t be able to catch Water types while lounging by the property’s pool, you should be able to snag both Water and Fire types along the home’s 204-foot ocean frontage, accessible by a private beach path, since it offers both sand and sea. Some evidence has also suggested that the game’s higher level psychic creatures (a must for any fan) prefer beach environments.
If you aren’t finding enough Grass or Bug types in the property’s “expansive and manicured gardens” it’s just a short drive to the Santa Barbara Gardens or Rattlesnake Canyon, where hunting may be more fruitful.
Brooklyn, New York
Price: $11 million Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 5
With 24-hour transportation, a vibrant park system and tons of Pokémon Go players, New York is a hunter’s paradise.
This Park Slope property, a paradise unto itself, is the perfect home for the Poké player with an eye on investment. Located on Prospect Park West, mere steps from Prospect Park, the "grand gilded era limestone mansion” should offer players all the Pokémon commonly found in urban environments (Normal, Bug, Poison, Ghost, Fighting), as well as the Pokémon often found in parks (Grass, Ground, Water). And for those itching for a Fire type, it’s just a short subway ride to Coney Island’s beaches.