Ula Meadows

• 178.2 acres in Custer County, a five minute drive from the scenic town of Westcliffe, Colorado
• Breathtaking panoramic views of the beautiful Sangre de Christo Range
• Prime grazing land includes both dry land and irrigated pasture that could easily be converted to native hay

• Significant water rights in Ula (U-lay) Ditch
• The backdrop to Ula Meadows is forever protected by adjacent properties covered by conservation easements
• Fully deeded access to County roads on both sides of property
• Commercial air service is an hour and a half drive to Colorado Springs, CO

A unique conservation acquisition opportunity, the beautifully situated 178.2 acre Ula (U-lay) Meadows sits right in the heart of Colorado’s renowned Wet Mountain Valley. Forever assured its historic rural setting, the meadows property abuts the 10,000-acre Wet Mountain Valley Ranchland Preserve, a complex of six historic working ranches covered with Conservation Easements held by the Colorado Cattlemen’s Land Trust and the San Isabel Land Protection Trust. Located not five minutes west of the scenic town of Westcliffe, this beautiful mountain property is well watered and offers prime grazing land with both irrigated and upland pasture. The property controls an interest in the Ula (U-lay) ditch, assuring healthy pastures as well as perennial flows for the majestic cottonwood gallery that grows through the heart of this scenic gem.

Improvements

There are no improvements on the ranch, but Custer County zoning allows for as many as five (5) building sites on the property.  The meadows enjoy deeded legal access on two sides by full-service county roads. With a small set of working pens, including a permitted well and stock tank, the property has actively served as summer pasture for as long as anyone can remember. The land is perimeter and interior fenced and generally serviced by two-track ranch roads.

Location

Ula Meadows is a five minutes drive west from the beautiful town of Westcliffe, in Custer County, CO.  The majestic Sangre de Christo Range looms just one mile to the west.

Locale

Westcliffe, CO (Pop. 450) is home to several great restaurants, a grocery store, hardware, motels, movie theater, bowling alley, and most other major services. Pueblo, CO, with all services including hospital, big box retail and many hotels and restaurants, is only a short hour’s drive from the ranch. Colorado Springs Municipal Airport with non-stop service to more than 11 major U.S. cities is an hour and a half drive from Westcliffe.

Climate

• Rainfall (in.): 14.4
• Snowfall (in.): 49.4
• Precipitation Days: 82
• Sunny Days: 283
• Avg. July High: 85°
• Avg. Jan High: 42°

Recreation

Recreation opportunities abound in the Wet Mountain Valley with hundreds of miles of the San Isabel National Forest and BLM lands in nearly all directions.  There are countless trailheads for hiking, horseback riding, cross country skiing, ATV and snowmobile access.  Hunting and fishing are abundant both on an off the property; Dewesse Reservoir is a mile east of the ranch; the Arkansas River and the world famous Royal Gorge are a half an hour away and are renowned for the excellent fishing, thrilling white water rafting, and incredible scenery. The Great Sand Dunes National Park is an hour and a half drive from the ranch on the west side of the Sangre de Christo range over what many argue is one of Colorado’s most scenic highways. Ula Meadows is also just a short hour’s drive from the world famous Monarch Mountain ski area.

Wildlife Attributes

The property sits in the unique transition zone between the forested slopes of the Sangre de Christo mountains and the verdant wetlands of the valley bottom, so a wide variety of terrestrial and aviary species utilize Ula Meadows as essential year-round and seasonal habitat. Antelope, mule deer, and elk are often seen grazing the property, and a number of upland bird species reside in the grasses during the warmer parts of the year.

Ranch Operations

Once part of the historic San Isabel Ranch, Ula Meadows has been under the current ownership for the past twenty-two years and actively run as summer pasture for cattle for generations. The combination of irrigated and upland pastures support as many as 30 pairs (30 AUMs) through an average summer grazing season.

Water Rights

Ula Meadows controls rights in the Ula Ditch, a well-maintained irrigation channel flowing through the heart of the property that delivers water to 40 acres of irrigated pasture, providing vibrant riparian habitat and beautiful vegetative cover to the land. The irrigated pasture was once harvested seasonally for hay and could easily be converted back to production again.

Conservation Buyers Welcome

While not currently covered by a conservation easement, this property could be an obvious addition to the Wet Mountain Valley Ranchland Preservation Preserve. Protected to the north by the conservation easements on the six adjacent ranches, the owner of Ula Meadows is forever assured the rural historic setting of the property. Zoned with five buildable lots, Ula Meadows affords discerning buyers an excellent investment opportunity as a limited development conservation commitment. The San Isabel Land Protection Trust would eagerly discuss any number of conservation planning scenarios for the property that could be financially advantageous for the right buyer.