Situated in a pristine east
west valley with end of the road privacy offering
captivating views of Granite Peak, the Continental Divide
and the Pine River Valley. The beauty of this scenic
mountain ranch is complimented by its tailored improvements,
including a 6,375 sq. ft. main residence overlooking the
meadow and its own private pond. Attractive guest house of
1,735 sq. ft. along with first class ranch facilities that
include a two-story barn, heated machinery building, outdoor
arena, hay barn, and set of corrals. 1,260 total acres, 660
deeded, 600 state lease featuring lush meadows and
tree-covered ponderosa pine forests with over 1,000 feet of
elevation change. Outstanding wildlife including, elk, deer
and a host of other game animals. Currently running a small
cattle and horse operation, Pine Ridge Ranch is the
quintessential ranch retreat in one of the prettiest areas
of Colorado.
(While the pictures in
the tour below change automatically, you can click on any thumbnail below to see that picture.)
Pine Ridge Ranch is just
twenty minutes northeast of Durango, west of the Pine
River and south of Lemon and Vallecito reservoirs.
Access is off US Highway 160, just west of Bayfield via
paved roads except for the last two miles which are
graveled and county maintained. The ranch controls the
access to adjacent BLM land and is within a few short
miles of the two and a half million acre San Juan
National Forest. Durango is one of the most picturesque
and livable places in Colorado, offering most big city
conviences like a new hospital, hotels, shopping,
restaurants, golf courses and a four year college, while
retaining its rural mountain character and charm.
Durango La Plata County Airport has daily commercial air
service to Denver, Albuquerque and Phoenix, with
seasonal service to Houston, along with facilities for
full service general aviation. The ranch is 170 miles
from Grand Junction, 200 miles from Albuquerque and just
over 300 miles from Denver and Colorado Springs.
Durango is well known for its 300 plus days of sunshine
each year. The town is located 6,512 ft. above sea
level, and summer temperatures seldom rise above the
upper 80’s. Autumn offers clear, cool, and dry days full
of vibrant foliage colors, and winter days are crisp and
sunny- with abundant light powder snow. Population of
the La Plata County area that includes Durango and
Bayfield is 44,000.
With end of the road
privacy, the Pine Ridge Ranch is situated in an
east-west valley surrounded by tree covered hills. From
the valley floor at 7,200 ft., the ranch rises to its
highest point at the northwest corner at 8,200 ft. To
the north one can see Granite Peak, east to the
Continental Divide, Missionary Ridge to the west and
south all the way to New Mexico. The ranch consists of
approximately 660 deeded acres and 600 acres State of
Colorado lease all contiguous. The state land is multi
year lease for the benefit of the ranch owner and the
general public has no access. Along the north side, the
ranch controls access into 120 acres of BLM which is
steep, and acts as a buffer to the ranch while making
ideal wildlife habitat. The ranch has over five miles of
internal two track jeep and or horseback trails. As you
enter the ranch you pass through lush meadows, by a
stocked trout fishing pond, (3 ponds total) surrounded
by Ponderosa Pine and Pinion Pine tree covered hills. At
about the center of the ranch up a gentle hillside is
the owners home situated on the north side of the valley
facing south with views east and west and across the
valley. The ranch is fenced into nine pastures for ideal
grazing rotation. There is approximately 60 acres in
sub-irrigated hay meadow putting up 100 tons or 3,000
bales of hay per year. The outlying pastures are fenced
in barb wire with the close in pastures and corrals in a
very handsome wood rail fence. Pine Ridge Ranch is one
of those unique properties that has the right balance of
tree covered hills and rolling meadows for
livestock/wildlife production and scenic/lifestyle
enjoyment.
Architecturally
designed by R. Michael Bell with Interior Design by
Carol Madeen, this 6,375 sq. ft. Colorado mountain
home was built by Martin Smith of Hawkeye
Construction in 2000. The design utilizes
impressive Ponderosa Pine logs as its primary
structural support. The house is cedar and stone
sided with fire retardant shake shingles. Windows
are by Pella with custom Hunter Douglas motorized
window coverings. The home is wired with a smart
house security system. As you approach the house on
a paved driveway, the right fork leads to an
oversized two car garage on the lower level, or
proceed on to the main entry that features an
inviting Porte Cochere with custom front door.
Surrounding the house is extensive landscaping,
automatic sprinkler system, drip irrigation, with
red rock walls, gardens and flagstone walkways and
patios. An expansive covered outdoor living area
(over 750 sq. ft.) provides a spectacular setting
with unobstructed views of the valley and mountains.
This area includes a wood burning river rock
fireplace, which makes it the choice entertainment
spot almost year-round. As you enter the home
through the slate foyer you stroll across an inlaid
wood floor, past the office on the right, 18’X18’
with custom paneling, built in shelving, and large
windows with separate outside door to deck. Further
on is a guest room, 14’X18’ that shares a full
bathroom with the office. The house is very
inviting, with a combination of elegance, alpine
charm yet with a casual feel allowing one to live
and entertain in comfort/luxury and still be able to
stride in with your barn clothes on. Past the guest
room is a powder room off the hallway with classic
tree sink basin and unique design.
Click
on any image below
to expand it to full size.
The great room
measures 28’X32’ with full masonry oversized
fireplace with propane log starter, surrounded by
Arkansas Hackett Stone. The fireplace has custom
iron doors, grate and screen with split log mantle.
There is a built in entertainment center with
bookshelves. Flooring is 6” random oak hardwood and
stone, with glass along the entire south side
looking into the valley.
At the end of the
great room is gourmet kitchen and serving area
23’X19 with custom quarter sawn cabinets with metal
strapping detail by JB Woodworking and stained glass
by Betty Kilpatrick. Countertops are polished
granite with hammered copper backsplash and light
fixtures, Sub Zero appliances, with a Thermador gas
range and double oven. Adjacent pantry there is a
prep sink, dishwasher, laundry chute and dumb waiter
to garage level.
The master suite
features a sleeping area 22’X22’equiped with gas
fireplace, built in armoire with sliders to outside
deck. Spacious 28’X18’ bathroom/closet area with his
and hers sinks, large double shower, large oval tub
and a 14’X17’ exercise/nursery area.
Between kitchen and
great room take the stairs to lower
entertainment/family room 36’X32’, with a full
service bar artistically constructed from half of a
tree, with refrigerator, ice maker, stainless steel
sink, copper countertops and large wine cellar. This
large room is ample for any family entertaining and
is open along the patio side to the upper level.
Built in 1997, this
house consists of 1,735 sq. ft. and is a two level
structure with kitchen, living, dining rooms along
with two bathrooms and a bedroom on the lower level
and an open bunkroom on the upper level. The house
has wide knotty pine and Saltillo floors, river rock
fireplace, with generous use of peeled logs and
tongue and groove aspen ceiling. This “Bunkhouse”
has an open design and provides sleeping
accommodations for ten people.
Horse Barn: The horse
barn is a stained wood sided two story structure
built in 1997, 52’X40’ with a 20 ft. high loft area,
above the main level that will hold 3,000 plus bales
of hay. There are four stalls on the main level,
along with heated bathroom/ medical storage area and
a large tack room.
Machinery Building: This is a 50’X32’ ft. building,
also built in 1997 and is completely insulated and
heated. There is exceptional lighting with high
pressure sodium lights. There are numerous 220
outlets to provide for welding and other heavy
build/repair projects. The two 16 ft. wide by 12 ft.
automatic overhead doors with concrete floors will
accommodate most ranch equipment for maintenance,
repair and storage.
Hay Barn: Built in 1998, this 60’X60’ steel
roofed and sided building provides for storage of up
to 5,000 bales of hay. Built with removable
gates/posts so that it can be opened totally for
ease of access of bale wagons and stacking of hay.
The barn has 22 ft. high eaves to handle bale
stacking with automatic stack bale wagons. One side
of the structure is designed for drive through and
storage of horse/stock trailers.
It is rare not to see
wildlife on the Pine Ridge Ranch because of its
ideal habitat and privacy. Being located on a major
elk migration corridor that leads to and from the
San Juan National forest, Weiminuche Wilderness and
nearby Pine River, the ranch is abundant with elk,
deer, black bear, mountain lion, lynx, bobcat,
coyote, red tail hawks, eagles, wild turkey and a
host of other sporting birds. The ranches own lake
is stocked with trout and fishing is also available
at the Lemon and Vallecito Reservoirs and less than
a mile from the ranch is the legendary Pine, “Los
Pinos” River.
Durango Mountain Resort is a short drive from the
ranch offering downhill skiing during the winter
months. Cross-country skiing and snow-mobiling is
available throughout the area and on the ranch. Wolf
Creek Ski Area, the perennial leader in snowfall
totals is less than an hour away. Silverton
Mountain, considered to be one of the most extreme
ski destinations, is less than 1.5 hours away.
The summer months offer endless opportunities for
riding, hiking, fishing, boating, golfing and
visiting local attractions like the Durango to
Silverton narrow Gauge Railroad, Mesa Verde National
Park and the Four Corners National Monument. Golf
enthusiasts have many opportunities for excellent
play at Dalton Ranch Golf Club, Hillcrest Community
Club, and the private Glacier Club (memberships
available). Pinion Hills in Farmington, NM
(approximately 40 miles) has been rated in the top
of public courses.
Real estate taxes on
the Pine Ridge Ranch for the most current year are
$6,464. Electric is provided by La Plata Electric,
propane by Basin Coop with a buried 1,000 gallon
tank. Telephone service is by Qwest and ATT,
internet service by Frontier, and satellite
television by Direct TV. Water is by well with two
1,000 gallon cisterns, sewage is by septic with
leach field, both main house and guest house. The
ranches 600 acre State of Colorado permit currently
runs through 2014, renewable by the ranch for
consecutive ten year terms. Current yearly annual
lease rate is $1,172.
“Rarely do you find
such a remarkable property as this with its end of
the road privacy, useable and scenic country,
wildlife and custom designed improvements. Pine
Ridge Ranch is both tasteful and practical in one of
the most beautiful areas of Colorado”.
Pine Ridge Ranch is
available for $7,170,000 inclusive of all real estate,
improvements, water rights, and Seller's cooperation to transfer
the state lands permit. Livestock, equipment and some personal
property available for purchase through private treaty with
Seller.
