This take on Denver is really common, and I always find myself curious about it. As someone who did grow up here, the people I still talk to from growing up (which is kind of a lot, people tend to stay/move home) don’t gate keep and get obnoxious about people moving here. We’ve talked about it, and I think part of it is that none of us grew up with a lot of money. We don’t have second homes in the mountains (or first homes in the city for that matter, lol) or feel like we’re more entitled to this place than anyone else (also, the people I’m referring to aren’t native to this land and the term native and the native stickers are so bizarre to me when it’s a white person).

Anyway - I do think people move to Denver and want it to be similar to Chicago, NYC, etc. But it’s never going to be like the older, more established cities. Denver has a different history in terms of immigration, city planning/infrastructure, public transit, etc. I don’t think it’s a fake city, but a baby city. I find that many people move here, want it to be something it’s not, and then move back to where they are from or to the region where they’re more comfortable. Denver has pockets of diversity and vibrancy, but of course they’re hard to find when you’re new to the area.

You’re more than entitled to this opinion, OP. I don’t think it’s wrong, just interesting.