Open Box Z Ranch

With nearly 3/4 of a mile of both sides of the renowned Troublesome Creek, Open Box Z Ranch offers exceptional private fishing only two hours away from Denver in Grand County, Colorado. There is a recently remodeled/updated 2,800 square foot home on the property with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. The property enjoys exceptional water rights, with the ability to construct ponds, improve stream/fish habitat, and irrigate approximately 100 acres. Excellent elk and mule deer hunting opportunities exist on both the deeded ground and millions of acres of BLM, state, and National Forest land surrounding the property.

Open Box Z Ranch is located along 3/4 miles of Troublesome Creek, a renowned trout fishery flowing north to south from the Flat Top Range to its convergence with the Colorado River 12 miles south of the ranch and 3.5 miles east of Kremmling, Colorado. The creek is lined by beautiful mature cottonwoods and lush irrigated meadows along the entire stretch through the property. In addition to the Troublesome fishing, there are several ponds on the property that have been stocked in the past and could easily be restocked.

Improvements

Open Box Z ranch features 2 homes. The main home is a 2,800 square foot recently remodeled two-story home with 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. There is also a historic refurbished cabin on the property with 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom (without toilet or running water). The property is perimeter and pasture fenced.

Locale

Open Box Z Ranch lies in the Colorado’s central mountains about 15 minutes northeast of Kremmling, which has restaurants, groceries, and lodging. Major ski resort towns of Steamboat Springs, Vail, Breckenridge and Winter Park are all within an hour’s drive from the ranch.

Climate

• Average annual precipitation: 50.0 inches
• Average January temperatures: High 45°, Low 10°
• Average July temperatures: High 85°, Low 52°
• Days of sunshine per year: 300+

Fishing

Seasoned Colorado fly-fishermen are well aware that the Troublesome is one of the state’s finest fisheries. Browns and Rainbows in excess of 20” live here. Open Box Z has over .75 miles of both sides of the Troublesome, with diverse natural trout-friendly water features which could be even further enhanced thanks to the abundant senior water rights the property possesses. Private, highly productive live-water fisheries within 2 hours of Denver are practically non-existent. In addition to the terrific live-water stream fishing, there are several ponds on the property which have been stocked in the past and are ideally suited for stocking.

Hunting

The Middle Park area of central Colorado is known for producing trophy mule deer in the 180”+ range and the largest elk herd in the state.  Elk and deer frequent the property and the million + acres of surrounding public lands.  It is not uncommon to see hundreds of elk on the hillsides surrounding the ranch and on the property itself. The irrigated meadows on the property attract deer, elk, and moose year-round.

Conservation Value

Open Box Z lies in an undeveloped pastoral valley which embodies the values of the old west – working ranches which have heretofore experienced little development thanks largely to multi-generational, prideful working ranchers who are not easily impressed or influenced by dollar signs and enterprising developers. This valley is unspoiled and un-developed; and to that end, the ranch would be an ideal candidate for a conservation easement.