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Rarely do you find a ranch property with all of the special attributes located near a highly desirable destination resort. With privacy that is virtually impossible to duplicate and only fifteen minutes from the popular winter/summer resort of Steamboat Springs, Big Creek Ranch encompasses 4,300 acres and is nestled in its own valley with 70% of the perimeter boundary on National Forest. Big Creek flows through the ranch for four miles providing excellent fishing for rainbow and brook trout. The terrain ranges from dense stands of mixed forest to open grass-covered parks with multiple elevation changes from some of the most beautiful alpine scenery in the state. Wildlife is abundant on the ranch and includes elk, mule deer, bear, bobcat, mountain lion, fox, a rare moose sighting, and a variety of raptors, waterfowl and other bird species. Completing this fabulous ranch is a modern, western-style 11,000 square foot lodge with five additional houses, four utility buildings and a historic, 100 year-old barn.
Big Creek Ranch provides all of the improvements necessary for living and entertaining in luxurious comfort. The centerpiece of the ranch is the 11,000 square foot, three-level lodge with custom woodwork and cabinets throughout by Rich Tucker of Rustic Woodworks, a world-renowned custom cabinet and furniture maker. The residence features a living room bar, six master bedroom suites, eight full baths and one half bath, two bunk rooms for children, a formal cherry-paneled den with a secret door into a working gun room, large gourmet kitchen with a smoker/BBQ ensemble (accessible from inside the kitchen as well as from the scenic outside terrace), formal dining area, great room, entertainment/media room, exercise room, 10’ x 20’ climate-controlled wine cellar, sizeable conference room and much more. Designed in a beautiful mountain western architecture with plenty of log and stone accents, some travertine flooring, dramatic ceilings and lots of windows and outside decks to allow for abundant light and offer incredible views in all directions.
The private driveway leads to an inviting, hand-carved, timber Porte Cochere built on site by the well-known log craftsman, Paul Stoll, who also hand-carved the home’s stairs and log railings. From the driveway at the front of the residence, you cross a small creek and enter through the large, hand-carved doorway. The home is completely landscaped from the well-positioned decks and cozy fire-pit area. There are three wood burning fireplaces located in the master bedroom, great room and den, built by an old school mason in classic, rustic solid-stone style. The back staircase leads to the wine cellar, workout room and hot-tub terrace. Big Creek Ranch is easily accessible year-round. The ranch has a comfortable 2,000+ sq.ft. manager’s home with 4 bedrooms and 3 ˝ baths located at the ranch entrance and five small houses/cabins, four utility buildings, and a classic 100 year-old barn.
Location in the resort community of Steamboat Springs is one of the many advantages of Big Creek Ranch. The property has 70% of its boundary on Routt National Forest and is only 2 miles west of the 159,000+ acre Mount Zirkel Wilderness. Mount Zirkel Wilderness is one of the five originally designated Colorado wilderness areas which runs along the Continental Divide for 36 miles and has over 155 miles of trails and ranges in elevation from 7,000 – 12,000+ feet. There is equally as much national forest with several mountain ranges and numerous rivers and high mountain lakes. Steamboat Springs is one of the most popular resort towns in Colorado and features all of the big city conveniences including hotels/resorts/spas, restaurants, hospital and medical facilities, shopping, golf courses, theater/festivals, and convention/meeting centers in a very charming mountain environment. With five Nordic ski areas within a 30-mile radius, in addition to back country trails within the 1,126,346 acres of Routt National Forest, Steamboat Springs is considered the Nordic center of the Rockies and is a recreation paradise providing endless four-season enjoyment.
While Big Creek Ranch has been used for family enjoyment, its close proximity to town, views, privacy and live water provides an owner a variety of options. The ranch offers a much greater development environment than many of the development projects that have been successfully done in the Steamboat area. The front 1,858 acres has a conservation easement on it with the Yampa Valley Land Trust. This protects the front door of the ranch, and, while it does limit development, it does permit six new single family residences. The balance of the ranch, approximately 2,442 acres, has no restrictions and would allow division into smaller parcels into as many as 69 parcels of 35 acres, or some combination of open space and clustered home sites. As another alternative, there are great potential tax benefits available from the donation of a second conservation easement on the remaining acreage.
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