Vagabond Ranch is situated in a tight valley at the southern end of the Never Summer Range below Cascade Mountain near the Continental Divide. The property includes a mixture of open grassy meadows, lush riparian corridors surrounding four creeks (two year-round and two seasonal), as well as densely forested hillsides primarily consisting of lodgepole pine and aspen. The ranch is characterized by its seclusion and mountain views as well as its impeccable location in proximity to Grand Lake, a plethora of open wilderness, trail systems, Rocky Mountain National Park and infinite outdoor recreation.
Improvements
Vagabond Ranch includes historic improvements dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. Through most of the 20th century the ranch was operated as a guest ranch or summer camp, and many of the older buildings reflect this usage. There are two main homes, a dining hall, six camp cabins, and other support structures. A summary and further details of each structure is below:
Ranch House
- 3,096 square feet finished
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Built in 1955 (updated early 1990s)
- Log frame, log siding, metal roof
- 2 story (low ceiling upper level)
- Mostly wood interior walls
- Wood/tile/carpet flooring
- Wood fireplace/stove and propane heat
Cascade Guest House
- 2,424 square feet finished living area (main level with partial loft)
- Built in 1991
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Walk-out finished basement garage/workshop
- Carpet/tile interior flooring
- Wood frame, log siding, metal roof
- Wood stove/fireplace & propane heat
- Detached 1,008 square foot garage
- Concrete floor, wood siding, metal roof #10
- Heated and insulated
- 3 overhead garage doors
Overlook Cabin
- 1,920 square feet
- 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms
- Built in 1974
- Wood flooring and interior walls, concrete
- Wood stove & propane heat
- Log frame, log siding, metal roof
- 2 story (finished upper level, unfinished wood storage lower level)
Dining Hall
- 6,708 square feet
- Built in 1940
- Log frame, log siding, metal roof
- Concrete floor on lower level, log interior walls
- Partial 2 story layout
- Partial low ceiling on main level
- Commercial kitchen area not updated and not up to code
- Outdated with several structural issues
Parkview Cabin – Historical
- 648 square feet finished
- Originally built in 1890s – 1920s
- Log frame, log siding, metal roof
- Wood & laminate flooring and interior walls
- Fireplace/Stove
- Some updates and preservation work
- Electricity (no water/waste utilities)
Wranglers Cabin – Historical
- 416 square feet finished
- Originally built in 1890s (preservation updates)
- Log frame, log siding, metal roof
- Old wood floors over dirt floor
- No electricity or water/waste utilities
Homestead Cabin – Historical
- Originally known as the Hill Cabin
- 440 square feet
- Built in 1940s
- Log frame, log siding, metal roof
- Old wood flooring over dirt floor
- Fireplace, no electricity or water/waste utilities
Riverview Cabin – Historical
- 120 square feet
- Built in 1940s
- Log frame, log siding, metal roof
- Concrete floor, updated windows and log chinking
- Wood stove, no electricity or water/waste utilities
Trappers Cabin – Historical
- Built in early 1900s
- Old, dilapidated cabin structure
Gravel Cabin / Shop & Generator Shed
- 1,456 square feet
- Built in 1975
- Concrete/wood flooring, metal roof
- Shop, inverters, generators, batteries
Pump House
- 16’ x 16’ (with covered porch overhang on side)
- Concrete floor, wood siding, metal roof
- Houses 2,500-gallon water tank storage and filter system
Tractor Shed
- Built in 2018
- Concrete floor, wood siding, metal roof
- Lean-to type shed
Corral/Loafing Shed
- 736 square foot lean-to type shed
- Dirt floor, wood siding, metal roof
- Some surrounding older wood corrals
- Structural issues
Gazebo
- Wood structure near the creek
Utilities
Off-grid infrastructure consists of a modern solar voltaic system with 48 large batteries and sixteen solar panels. The ranch also has three propane-powered Cummins generators that come to life automatically when the batteries need charging and the solar panels are unable to satisfy electrical demand. Five 1,000-gallon propane tanks provide fuel for heating, and a 300 ft deep domestic freshwater well provides 13 GPM of flow. Sewer service is provided by buried septic.
History
Beginning with its sacred significance as part of the Ute Indian Tribe’s territory, Vagabond Ranch is steeped in Rocky Mountain legacy. The confluence of Willow and Bill Creeks is a sacred site for the Native tribe who still return today with permission from the owner to conduct spiritual ceremonies. Around the turn of the century, the property was originally homesteaded by the superintendent of an old and now abandoned Gilsonite mine. A number of the ranch cabins were constructed to accommodate his family and other mine workers. Later, Vagabond was operated as an early guest ranch. By the 1950s Vagabond Ranch was owned and operated by Charlie Pavek as a camp retreat for youngsters from the east coast. Mr. Pavek restored much of the original camp cabins and improved infrastructure with the help of the campers who were affectionately known as Ranchers. Campers helped lay the foundation of local stones for what is now the main Ranch house. Later in its existence Vagabond shifted to more of a private family ownership and management, with preservation of the property’s long legacy at the forefront.
Location
Vagabond Ranch is located in Grand County, about two miles south of the Jackson County line. The property lies 10 miles as the crow flies west northwest of Grand Lake and 24 road miles north of Granby. The ranch lies east of Highway 125, just a few miles south of Willow Creek Pass which provides entry into North Park, Colorado. The ranch is about 2.5 hours from Denver. Nearby airports supporting private aircraft are located about 45 minutes away in Granby (KGNB, 5000 ft runway, FBO) and 1 hour away in Kremmling (20V, 5,540 ft runway, FBO).
Locale
Grand County is associated with Lake Granby, the largest natural lake in Colorado, a longtime recreational mountain haven of the central Rockies, and home to cultural amenities with tourism at its core. Much of Grand County is enveloped by the Arapaho National Forest and is known as the western entry to Rocky Mountain National Park. The area is also known for being relatively accessible from Denver, its suburbs, and other Front Range communities. The Upper Fraser River Valley, located to the south of Lake Granby, is home to Winter Park Ski Resort, a number of high-end golf courses, and luxury destination developments. Northern Grand County is home to the headwaters of the Colorado River and is more sparsely populated. Most of the private landscape is held in the hands of historic ranching families or private trophy recreational ranch owners. The current resident population in Grand County is around 15,000.
Climate
Summer climate is pleasant and mild with average high temperatures in the mid-70s and nighttime lows in the 40s. Winter can be extreme but also beautiful with 100-200 inches of snowfall and average highs in the 30s and lows in the single digits.