Pass Creek Ranch

This is one of the most coveted river valleys in Colorado with world-class fly fishing and spectacular panoramic views of the Gore Range all within 20 miles of skiing and 80 miles of Denver. Bordering the White River National Forest for 3 miles, the Pass Creek Ranch offers exclusive Blue River frontage, lush irrigated fields, and exquisite improvements.

Several photographs of Pass Creek Ranch are taken by Camera Head Media.

Main House

The 5,741 sqft 3-story main home at Pass Creek Ranch includes 5 bedrooms and 7 baths. It sits at the northern end of the property at the end of a private driveway just 100 yards away from the east bank of the Blue River. The home affords panoramic views of the Gore Range, while just steps away from the river. The area around the home is professionally landscaped with mature Aspens, Blue Spruce, and flowers.

Built in 1996 and recently renovated, this post and beam home was designed by noted Vail architects, Snowdon and Hopkins. The home honors the valley that surrounds the property. As you move through the home you will come across personalized details including the Peter Fillerup lighting fixtures, a piece of wood from the original homestead used as the hearth on the kitchen fireplace, and a custom ceramic inlay by John Glick.

The main entrance opens up to the great room offering Gore Range and Blue River views with 30-foot floor-to-ceiling double pane windows and a hand-crafted river rock fireplace. The main floor is also home to massive outdoor deck space, a dining room, two bedrooms, and a spacious kitchen with marble countertops, professional-grade appliances, a fireplace, and a large kitchen island. The kitchen also has large windows and sliding glass doors that access the large deck.

The upper floor offers the private master suite with access to a steam shower, Jacuzzi bath, office space/loft/studio, and personal balcony.

The lower walk-out floor is perfect for guests or the younger members of the family. It includes two bedrooms at the north wing, a mudroom, a laundry room, a two-car garage, and a living room that opens up to the back lawn with direct access to the Blue River.

The improvements were designed to preserve the beauty of the land by having underground utilities and materials that complement the mountain landscape.

At Headquarters

Manager’s Home

A one-story 1,930 sq. ft. 3 bedrooms, 2 bath manager’s home was built in 1950 and updated in 1999 for the current manager. The home runs on a domestic well, a wood-burning stove, and has a septic system.

Rental Home: Red Roof House

A third home on the property is 1,687 sq. ft. with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths and was built in 1998. The home is used as a rental, but can be used for guests.

Ranch Operation Improvements

The property is also home to numerous ranch improvements including:

• Horse Barn (currently leased to boarders)
• Barn/Shop
• Equipment Shed
• Hay Barn
• Corrals
• Outbuildings
• Former stagecoach driver bunkhouse

Other Facts

• Taxes: $11,409/Year
• Annual Operational Income: $165,000
• Underground power lines on the grid
• Domestic wells
• Septic systems for each home

Location

The ranch is spectacularly located at the confluence of the Blue River and Pass Creek at the foot of historic Ute Peak. Situated in a bucolic agricultural setting in an area that locals refer to as the “Lower Blue” portion of Summit County, the ranch includes a wide variety of agricultural, wildlife, and recreational resources, and commands unparalleled views of the majestic Gore Range across the valley to the west.

Locale

An easy hour from the metro front range, Summit County is Denver’s premier weekend mountain community. Home to four world-class ski areas, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone Resort, and Arapahoe Basin, and offering the full spectrum of activities and resources one would expect of better-known luxury resorts. With access to a wide variety of hotels, restaurants, and both big box as well as boutique retail shopping, Summit County has much to offer almost any visitor with a diverse mix of service levels and types across the spectrum.

In addition, the destination ski resorts of Vail and Beaver Creek are less than an hour away.

Arts and entertainment are a year-round endeavor with a number of music festivals scheduled at numerous venues including the four ski areas, the Dillon Amphitheater and the newly completed Lake Dillon Theater Company.

For such a diverse, growing, and active community, there is Centura Health’s St Anthony Summit Medical Center; a highly rated regional health provider, Level III trauma center serviced by Flight for Life Colorado and nationally recognized in patient satisfaction.

History

Originally home to seasonal bands of Ute and Arapaho Native Americans, Summit County was initially settled under the early gold booms of the late 1850s and 60s and the historic discoveries in Breckenridge, Montezuma, and the Golden Horseshoe mining districts. The first homestead of the ranch was settled in 1885 by traveling Scanndanavians.

As the boomtowns turned bust and economic interests looked toward long-term sustainability, the County shifted in the 1950s to recreation and tourism industries and entered into a period of sustained growth and development. The ski industry and summertime resort development led the way to the robust economy enjoyed in the region to this day.

Climate

• Summer High/Low: 74°/39°
• Winter High/Low: 32°/1°
• Annual Precipitation: 14.58” Rain /108” inches of snow

Given its remarkable location, the ranch enjoys a host of year-round activities accessible directly from/on the property. Backcountry skiing, snowmobiling, boating/floating, horseback riding, hiking, and access to miles of USFS and County maintained trails, Pass Creek Ranch is a recreational paradise. With upwards of a mile of Blue River frontage, USFS wilderness study area backdrop, and a diversity of habitat types including montane, sub-alpine forests, upland sage grassland, and riparian valley bottoms, the ranch is a sportsperson’s paradise.

Hunting

Though not actively/commercially hunted by the current landowner, the hunting ranch is a superb location for the active sportsman. Located in GMU 37, the ranch is home to elk, mule deer and whitetail, moose, antelope, and a host of forest predators and wildlife including black bear, mountain lion, coyote, mink, otter, and beaver. The area is generally recognized as an easy draw and OTC (Over the Counter) unit with landowner preference tags variously available depending on the year (recently 4th season buck tags).

Fishing

The Blue River is a well-known trout fishery. The immediate section flowing thru the ranch has been enhanced with a number of improved rock drops and deep holding water making it one of the premier private locations on the entire Blue River. In addition to the remarkable fly water on the ranch, there is excellent fishing to be had in nearby Green Mountain, Dillon, and Wolford Mt. Reservoirs, all with lake trout, pike, and seasonal kokanee runs.

Recreation

Backcountry skiing, snowmobiling, boating/floating, horseback riding, ORVing, hiking, and access to miles of USFS and County maintained trails, Pass Creek Ranch is a recreational paradise.

Horses

The ranch operates a small but profitable and popular horse boarding facility and equestrian service which provides horse owners and riders access to the backcountry trails and ranch facilities, including an outdoor riding arena and Gymkhana training stations.

Ranch Operations

Pass Creek Ranch is a self-sustaining operational ranch. The current owners produce hay and alfalfa, offer boarding to the surrounding neighbors, graze cattle, and generate income through a rental home on the property.

Water Rights

Owners at Pass Creek Ranch will have substantial water rights to use for operational purposes. In addition to deeded rights dating back to 1885 on the property, the owner of Pass Creek Ranch also leases water rights with the Bureau of Reclamation off of the Blue River. A full description of these rights will be provided to those who inquire.

Conservation Value

The property is unencumbered by a conservation easement and a prime candidate for the next owner. Pass Creek Ranch abuts a neighboring conservation easement to the west with an easement held by American Farmland Trust, Inc. There are designated wildlife migration corridors on the property, bald and golden eagles, and known Sage Grouse leks on the property as well.

In addition to potential easement value, the property also abuts sections of the National Forest as a part of the CORE Act. This Act will protect National Forest land adjacent to Pass Creek Ranch to the east by establishing the new Williams Fork Mountains Wilderness and Ute Pass Wilderness. Also, lands northwest of the proposed wilderness near Green Mountain Reservoir would be the Williams Fork Wildlife Conservation Area, protecting imperiled sage-grouse habitat and some of the best game hunting in the state.

Investment Value

It is rare to find a ranch of this size with its host of attributes located so close to Denver and multiple world-class ski resorts. Most of the adjoining large ranches in Colorado are already within conservation easements and with White River National Forest and wilderness areas in close proximity, the supply of private ranchlands is further reduced. This valley will continue to be a sought-after region of the Rocky Mountain West.