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CULTURE | ADVENTURE | STYLE

JULY/AUGUST 2010

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Colorado’s Newest Casino RESORT Spa

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placesto What to Know When Buying a Mile High Designing a City – Architectural Trends

Luxurious Golf Living Living a Sustainable Ranch Life

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Best Places to Live B y A m y S pa g n ola a n d J aso n K e r kma n s

Photo courtesy of Panache Partners, City by Design Denver

Denver Life is proud to present its 3rd annual special interest feature—Best Places to Live. Offering advice from local real estate experts, find out what you need to know about the area’s current real estate trends and discover Denver’s hottest hoods, best schools, buying/selling statistics and how to maximize your dollar in today’s market. We also get up close and personal with three amazing architects who discuss their feelings on the styles of design that define our city’s stylish vibe in residential architecture. For those who are drawn to the allure of luxurious golf course living, check out our list of exclusive, private golf course communities. And buyers with a desire to spread out a bit more will find plenty of options to purchase a piece of true Western living with the ever-growing trend of sustainable ranch communities throughout Colorado. Want to learn more? This comprehensive guide presents a smart perspective on local residential real estate for those considering a change of address. And logon to denverlifemagazine.com for an extensive list of the city’s exciting urban communities as well as a list of large master-planned communities surrounding Denver. You’ll see firsthand, plenty of reasons why Denver is THE best place to live!

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Denver Digs B y A m y S pa g n ola

Web Savvy

Check out these online real estate resources: thebetterhomesearch.com trulia.com Denver.AutomatedHomeFinder.com JustListed.com HomesinColorado.com LifestyleDenver.com

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Metro Denver has been listed as one of the top national cities to watch for burgeoning real estate inventory; it has all the characteristics of having a sustainable and improving market.

Listed as number five of 20 cities ranked in a closely watched Home Price index (S&P Case Shiller), the Denver area housing market showed an overall gain of 3.6 percent in a period ending in February of this year, while the Denver-Aurora area ranked a low 49 out of 206 metropolitan statistical areas in foreclosures as tracked by RealtyTrac a company based in Irvine, California.

Denver’s unemployment rate is still lower than the nation’s and even as the tax-credit opportunity expires, Denver has enough zest to create new solutions to encourage buyers. Builders are unlikely to reduce home prices by $8,000 but instead will likely add incentives like thousands in upgrades to homes to keep potential homebuyers interested.

Denver’s home prices have risen an average of approximately 25 percent and overall, Denver’s housing market has kept up with inflation or performed better than the inflation rate.

trends

Denver Life spoke with two local real estate experts who offer further insight into the Denver real estate market and the most up-and-coming Mile High hot spots. Take a look at their answers to our questions…

Real Estate Expert

Julie Woodle, moved to Denver in 1993 and currently resides in West Washington Park. She works as a Broker Associate for one of Denver’s most notable real estate agencies, PorchLight Real Estate Group.

Woodle believes there are some key considerations before making a real estate purchase. She says to really consider one’s personal financial situation before buying, “(Buyers) need to know in advance how much they can and want to afford and also how long they anticipate living in a new home.”

DL: The Most Popular Places to buy in Denver?

Woodle:“I would say, based on the buyers I have been currently working with; LoHi, Washington Park (East & West), Platt Park and Colfax Terrace.”

DL: Besides home price, what are other major considerations for buyer’s right now?

Woodle: “Buyers with children are concerned with being in a good school district, having more square footage and having parents and children’s bedrooms all on the same level.

Buyers in general want a smart floor plan (most like the open floor plans), being able to walk to parks, shops and restaurants and easy access to public transportation is a plus!”

DL: How can buyers maximize their dollar when making a real estate purchase in today’s market?

Woodle: “Buy low and sell high and location, location, location! I would say buyers who are up for a ‘total or mid-flip’ will discover a return on their investment. My definition of ‘mid-flip’ is a house that is updated but perhaps

The Experts

the best places to live

Julie Woodle Porchlight Group 303.733.5335 juliewoodle@yahoo.com porchlightgroup.com Jackie Garcia, CRS, GRI, ABR RE/MAX 303.257.7788 garciajackie@earthlink.net milehighdreamteam.com

Buyer Aware We asked our real estate experts for their opinion on the best school districts in the Denver area. This is what they had to say…

“I believe it is a personal decision as to what constitutes a “good school” but I would say I have heard that Cherry Creek Schools are good, East, Slavens, Bromwell, Steck, Denver’s School of Science & Technology, and the International School.”

—Julie Woodle “Setting private schools aside, Douglas County and Cherry Creek schools are still leaders in our area. However, I hear from many clients that the Denver Public Schools AP programs do very well.”

—Jackie Garcia

Recommended Resources from Julie Woodle “The PorchLight web site is a great resource for buyers and sellers. We have a service called “Sherlock Homes” which provides via email listings directly to the clients so they can gauge the market and see all the homes that match their search criteria,” explains Woodle. porchlightgroup.com PorchLight also just launched a cool new web site called PorchLight Resources. It’s a great tool for referrals on everything home related. Referrals from alarm companies to landscapers and plumbers just to name a few. porchlightresources.com “I always tell my buyers when they find a home they like to check out the WalkScore web site so they can see everything around the house and how walkable it is,” adds Woodle. walkscore.com

Recommended Resources from Jackie Garcia “Realtor.com has many resources or links to other Real Estate Resources, and Recolorado.com is a local home search web site that does not require a login or sign-up,” says Garcia.

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Denver’s Digits

A statistical look at Denver’s real estate market according to Trulia.com (trulia.com/real_estate/ Denver-Colorado) Average Listing Price Week ending May 12, 2010 $411,133 Median Sales Price (02/10-04/10) $184,700 6,818 Homes for Sale 7,644 Homes Recently Sold 4,533 Foreclosures Average Price Per Square Footage $181 Number of Sales 2,588 Most Popular Neighborhoods Average Listing Price Week ending May 12, 2010 Cherry Creek $1,053,674 -1.1% Highland $453,879 +0.4% Stapleton $369,966 +0.1% Green Valley Ranch $183,908 -0.6% Congress Park $370,546 0.0% Movers & Shakers Average Listing Price Week ending May 12, 2010

Gateway $244,472 -44.7% Auraria $530,156 +10.7% Elyria Swansea $98,768 -9.3% Globeville $101,484 +8.1% Goldsmith $152,268 -7.7% *Average price per square foot for Denver CO was $181, an increase of 13.1% compared to the same period last year. The median sales price for homes in Denver CO for Feb 10 to Apr 10 was $184,700 based on 2,588 home sales.

Compared to the same period one year ago, the median home sales price increased 22.9%, or $34,450, and the number of home sales decreased 4.1%.

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just needs a kitchen, bath or basement remodel, otherwise is it move-in ready (and in a great location)!”

Real Estate Expert

Jackie Garcia specializes in selling luxury homes; she’s the Director of the Luxury Home Division for RE/MAX Professionals. She ranks in the top one percent nationally for all real estate agents nationwide for productivity.

Her listings have been featured on the front page of the Denver Post, and she has been featured in Broker Associate Magazine as a “Featured Top Agent.”

In terms of major considerations for buyers, Garcia says it’s crucial to find the right “team” to work with, including the right real estate agent, lender, tax consultant, financial consultant, lawyer and home inspector. She recommends that buyers interview all the professional service persons they intend to hire.

She says the right reasons for buyers to consider entering the market include low housing prices and mortgage rates and that buyers “even in this market, can find great deals with lower prices or concession.”

DL: The Most Popular Places to buy in Denver?

Garcia: “Responding by the numbers for Denver proper, Denver Southeast is very strong in Single Family combined with Condominiums/ Townhomes; however, surprisingly Denver Northeast has outdone the Southeast in Single Family Home Sales. I’m sure this has been highly effected by the Home Buyer’s Tax Credit and pricing. In addition, Downtown Denver, which is a very small area comparatively, had over 200 Condominium/Townhomes sales in the last year.

In the Denver Metro areas, Aurora is broken into two parts by the MLS and those two parts are responsible for almost 4,000 Single Family homes sales last year. Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock and Douglas County have had very strong sales over the last year. Thornton, Northglenn & Westminster together were also very strong. I think many Denver residents tend to overlook our metro areas in their fast-paced daily life and as a result,

many are not aware of the amount of home you can get for your dollar in our great outlying areas.”

DL: Besides home price, what are other major considerations for buyers right now?

Garcia: “Learning the difference between foreclosures, short sales and bank-owned.

Here’s the process: 1) Call and ask a Real Estate Agent about the differences.

2) Each one can have a varied and/ or dramatic buying-time associated with it.

3) Know your buying-time window, the Short Sale process may not be for you. Many people do not have the patience and take personal offense to long waiting periods. The system seems to be improving, but there is still a lack of open, constant and clear information from the banks in this process.

4) Always contemplate your current conveniences you love and make a comparison list for your new location.

5) Concessions in today’s market can compensate for the missed Tax Credit program, and may have better and shorter-term results. Programrelated tax credits will not be realized until next year’s tax season, and seller concessions to buyers occur and are realized at closing time.

6) Buyers wanting to fix up their property should look into the FHA Rehabilitation Loan Program (203K Loan). It can provide fix-up funds that are escrowed at closing to finance the work progress as completed by a licensed professional contractor.”

DL: How can buyers maximize their dollar when making a real estate purchase in today’s market?

Garcia: “Sweat equity is still one of the biggest gain potentials on dollar value. However, the buying process occurs at many different levels. While some clients determine whether the extra basement bedroom or bathroom will add value to their home, other clients are working with their financial planners and attorneys to determine whether they should use their portfolio or cash to buy their next home or investment.”

architecture

B y A m y S pa g n ola

the (mile)High Life:

the best places to live

Architecture in Denver The Mile High City is home to both historic and modern architecture and boasts more than 300 designated historical landmarks and historical districts including LoDo, Capitol Hill and Country Club. Denver is where old meets new. There are traditional multistory mansions, vestiges of the late 1800’s and the gold and silver boom, including Victorian homes like the Molly Brown House, alongside the likes of lofts like the 23-story Glass House (that sits on 17th and Bassett streets in the heart of Riverfront Park) which is an ode to modern living as it’s comprised of glass and steel with dramatic views of downtown.

And while downtown Denver may be getting a futuristic facelift, these three architects have more to say about Denver’s ever-evolving art and architecture scene.

(according to the Rocky Mountain News) 1. Sage Building 16th and Welton 2. Taxi I and II 3457 Ringsby Court 3. 16th Street Mall Downtown Commercial Area 4. The Red House 1702 Wazee St. 5. The Blue Bear Colorado Convention Center 6. MCA Denver 1485 Delgany St. 7. Hamilton Building Broadway and Bannock 8. Glasshouse 17th and Bassett Streets 9. Pura Vida Fitness and Spa 2955 E. 1st Ave 10. One Lincoln Park 100 E. 20th Avenue DENVERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

Photo courtesy of Panache Partners, City by Design Denver

Top 10 Denver Architectural Marvels

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These prominent Denver architects share their thoughts on what it means to design and dwell in Denver.

The Architects

Kelly Davis, AIA OZ Architecture Kelly Davis, the Managing Principal of OZ Architecture (the largest architecture firm in the Denver and Front Range Region and one of the 50 largest architectural firms in the United States) views Denver’s architecture scene as one that’s evolving. He says, “Denver has become more knowledgeable about global trends in architecture and we are seeing that in many of the new projects.”

Davis, who has 20 years experience and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kansas, explains Denver’s blossoming in terms of a growing sense of sophisticated style and an almost universal environmental stewardship. He says, “Our regional

appreciation for our natural landscape and resources has demanded that projects in Denver and the Front Range incorporate advanced environmentally sustainable solutions.”

What does Davis expect for the future of Denver? “I think Denver will continue to gain respect nationally and internationally for the balance of our natural and built environments and the lifestyles they enable. We will continue to see smarter land use, more compact urban development and more sophisticated design solutions.

At OZ, we are excited to be a part of this ongoing process to make Denver one of the ‘best places to live’,” says Davis.

his firm creates custom homes or renovations on existing homes. Of the architecture scene in Denver, Rudolph says, “These are exciting times to be practicing architecture in the Denver area. Whether you consider yourself a classicist, a modernist or a preservationist, the Denver market has something for everyone.” He goes on to say, “The juxtaposition of these varying styles, both downtown and in our residential neighborhoods, provide for a vibrant urban experience.”

Josh Rudolph Rudolph Architects LLC A third generation architect, Josh Rudolph studied architecture at Princeton University. In New York he became a lead designer under the tutelage of his father and grandfather, and decided to move to Colorado in 2006 and today

Architecture Online

The Denver Architectural Foundation exists to increase public awareness and appreciation for architecture through education, participation and advocacy for excellence. Check it out at denverarchitecture.org

Designing Denver Kelly Davis

OZ Architecture 303.861.5704 | ozarch.com Josh Rudolph

Rudolph Architects LLC 303.482.1530 | rudolpharchitects.com Rodney J. Kazenske

Colorado Master Builders and Architects 303.455.8416 | cmbarch.com

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Rudolph believes the Denver homeowner is savvy and sophisticated and sees the housing market being resuscitated by the lifestyle Denver has to offer, “We are seeing signs of an improving market in Denver and across the country. Renovation projects have been steady, and custom home projects are picking up steam. Homeowners are more conservative in their approach to home design. New homes are tending to be smaller, but folks want to get more out of less space. The appeal of Denver’s sunny climate, vibrant downtown, easy access to our Rocky Mountain playground and wonderful cultural opportunities make it an exceptional place to live.”

Rodney J. Kazenske Colorado Master Builders and Architects (CMBA) An architect and partner at Colorado Master Builders, Rodney J. Kazenske has a Masters degree in

architecture from Montana State University and is a licensed architect in Colorado. Established in 1990, CMBA is a collection of tool and construction junkies who just happen to complete many residential architecture projects.

Kazenske believes architecture is seeing an increased focus on urban design and development, and that it provides the ideal opportunity for experimentation.

In addition, Kazenske also views green or sustainable design at the forefront of the architecture scene and hopes that it becomes the norm rather than the exception in all styles of architectural development.

Concerning the Denver architecture scene, he says, “It’s a very dynamic time to be in architecture and in Denver in particular right

now. The public’s interest and highly publicized push for sustainable design, energy conservation, and general environmental awareness has really spurred a flood of developing technologies in the construction industry.” Kazenske goes on to say, “Denver is also going through some major changes with the adoption of the new ‘Blueprint Denver’ plan.

Increasing urban densities, creating sustainable, walkable, and vibrant urban neighborhoods along with expanding mass transit corridors will begin to change how we design our communities and how we live, creating new opportunities in architecture.”

Fascinated by the diverse architectural fabric of the Denver area? Order a copy of City By Design Denver—a beautiful hardcover coffee table book published

by Panache Partners—that captures the essence of the city’s brilliantly complex urban and suburban landscapes. Featuring more than 200 vibrant photographs of architectural projects from leading local firms as well as an insightful foreword by Mayor John Hickenlooper, the 288-page book will intrigue both casual and avid architectural enthusiasts. $40. panache.com

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Photo courtesy of Panache Partners, City by Design Denver

Denver’s Diversity

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B y J aso n K e r kma n s

Greenside Denver’s golfing history is as renowned as it is aged. While a list of local tournament winners includes Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Phil Mickelson and Greg Norman, among others, we are also home to the oldest country club west of the Mississippi, the Denver Country Club. But, a new chapter is being written at a few residential golf communities along the Front Range. With the economy hitting the golf real estate industry like Tiger Woods hits a three-wood, now is the time to find your spot on the green.

Ravenna (Littleton) 720.956.1600 ravennagolf.com Sure, it’s a golf club community, but the members at Ravenna become quick studies on all that they can enjoy at their club. While the community here is limited to 243 single-family custom-home building sites starting 68 DENVER LIFE

at $350,000 (completed semicustom homes start at $1.2 million) there seem to be far more than 243 activities available at Ravenna. In essence, at any one time, any one family might have any one of those activities to themselves; all thanks to the comprehensive concierge program at the Littleton-based club.

The Ravenna concierge has done everything from planning wedding receptions for members, group trips to the Porsche Sport Driving School and individual art-focused excursions to Santa Fe, New Mexico. It’s almost as if the one thing the concierge can’t do is hit a three-iron for you.

Fortunately, Ravenna is also home to 46,500 square feet of practice space at its Jay Morrish-designed golf course, along with a staff of professionals to help you swing right.

Member’s Bounce: One should not live on golf alone…no matter how tempting it is to spend all your

days on the Jay Morrish-designed course at Ravenna. Fortunately for the members here, the club borders the South Platte River where hungry trout await and Ravenna is already hosting monthly winemaker dinners.

With the completion of the Casting Club cabin and Vinters club facility, both fishermen and vinophiles will have even more temptations pulling them off the course.

Cherry Creek Country Club (Denver) 303.597.0300 cherrycreekcountryclub.com Set between the Highline Canal (the oldest trail in Denver’s greenbelt) and Cherry Creek Trail, the members and homeowners at the Cherry Creek Country Club have easy access—by car, foot and bike—to the heart of the metro area. But, considering the setting within the club gates, it’s amazing they ever want to leave. Designed as its own European-style village,

GOLF

the best places to live

living

was a work of renovation by Jack Nicklaus. The course might as well have been new though; at the hands of Nicklaus, it was made noticeably more difficult.

Castle Pines Village (Castle Rock) 303.660.8800 castlepinesvillage.com For the past 20 years, Colorado’s modern golfing reputation has been grown in Douglas County. More specifically, it was planted on the two golf courses within the renowned community of Castle Pines Village.

While Jack Nicklaus is credited with designing both courses—one at Castle Pines Golf Club and the other at The Country Club at Castle Pines—and they also share a common geography, these two private courses are distinctly their own. The Country Club course is often referred to as one of the best residential courses in the state, with a focus on enjoyment for all. Meanwhile,

the course at Castle Pines Golf Club is world-renowned for the challenge it presents, thanks in part to the publicity it received during the 21 years it hosted the PGA Tour’s International tournament. But off the course, all residents here enjoy a list of amenities that includes: an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and sand volleyball at the Canyon Club; a lap pool and twoacre man-made lake at the Lake Fitness Center; a zero-entry pool, pavilion, field and observation deck at the new Summit Club; and miles of hard and soft trails for walking, running and biking. Of all the residential homes on Castle Pines’ 2,800-acres, only 50 custom home sites (starting in the high-$400,000s and averaging one acre in size) remain, and there are just five new homes (starting at $2 million) on the market at this time. Given the way the village, the courses and all of the homes blend into the rocky bluffs and ponderosas that fill the hills of Castle DENVERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

Photo courtesy of Padera

the Cherry Creek Country Club community is made up of 63 turn-key Manor Homes in The Village (starting in the mid-$500,000s), 42 singlefamily homes situated inside the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course routing (starting in the high-$800,000s) and 91 custom Estate Homes that all back the course (starting at $2.4 million).

But as impressive as the homes are, and as striking as Nicklaus’s work was on the golf course, it is the clubhouse, spa, fitness center and, especially, the water feature in and around The Village that make Cherry Creek unique. Oh, and downtown Denver is less than 10 miles away in case you do decide to leave.

Member’s Bounce: When it opened in 2003, the Cherry Creek Country Club was the first private golf country club to open in 20 years in the Denver metro area despite the fact that its golf course, which was originally designed in the 1960s,

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More to Explore

Not looking to move, but still interested in joining? Most private Colorado golf clubs in the Denver area are independent of any residential community. And, like the four highlighted above, even those that are tied to a community allow outside members to join.

Colorado Golf Club (Parker) 303.840.0090 | coloradogolfclub.com Glenmoor Country Club (Cherry Hills Village) 303.781.3000 | glenmoorcc.org Cherry Hills Country Club (Cherry Hills Village) 303.350.5200 | chcc.com Red Rocks Country Club(Morrison) 303.697.4438 redrockscountryclub.org Green Gables Country Club (Denver) 303.985.4433 | greengablescc.org Bear Creek Golf Club (Denver) 303.980.8700 | bearcreekgolfclub.net Pinehurst Country Club (Denver) 303.985.1551 pinehurstcountryclub.com Columbine Country Club (Littleton) 303.794.2674 columbinecountryclub.org Denver Country Club (Denver) 303.733.2441 | denvercc.net Perry Park Country Club (Larkspur) 303.681.3305 | perryparkcc.com Lake Valley Golf Club (Niwot) 303.444.2114 | lakevalley.com

The Pinery Country Club (Parker) 303.841.2060 | thepinerycc.com Plum Creek Golf and Country Club (Castle Rock) 303.688.2611 plumcreekgolfandcc.net

Photo courtesy of CASTLE PINES VILLAGE

Hiwan Golf Club (Evergreen) 303.674.5151 | hiwan.com

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Pines, it’s no wonder Colorado’s best golf continues to grow here.

Member’s Bounce: Sure, The International tournament helped spread the word, but the course at Castle Pines Golf Club was famous long before the PGA Tour showed up, and will continue to be famous now that the tour is gone. Consistently ranked as the No.1 course in the state, this Jack Nicklaus-design is also ranked as the 29th best course in the U.S. by Golf Digest.

Pradera (Parker) 720.851.9900 praderacolorado.com With each home at Pradera either located on the Jim Engh-designed golf course or with a view of it, it must be tempting for members here to spend their free time relaxing at home. But even the best of views of the Front Range aren’t enough to keep the members from gathering at the expansive clubhouse, or more specifically, on its impressive deck.

This synthesis of souls is not just secluded to the clubhouse either, there’s something about the laidback lifestyle throughout Pradera that brings everyone together.

The uncomplicated ethos almost eschews the typical country club model as young and

old alike laugh and enjoy life, whether at the 3,100-squarefoot community center, the pool, on the basketball/inline hockey court, the two soccer/lacrosse fields, the baseball/softball field and, of course, on the course. With Engh’s mix of traditional Irish golf design with more modern elements like the water features on holes 9 and 18, the golf course is anything but the typical Colorado parkland style. And with four different residential options available—singlefamily homes, golf villas starting at $400,000, semi-custom homes starting at $500,000 and custom homes starting at $900,000— Pradera’s community experience is anything but typical as well.

Member’s Bounce: Colorado’s course maestro, Jim Engh, not only graduated from Colorado State University but also has done some of his best work here. As the only designer to win Golf Digest’s Architect of the Year award for three consecutive years (four years overall), Engh is one of the industry’s most dynamic and influential personalities.

ranch

the best places to live

B y J aso n K e r kma n s

Out

Ranching Finding a Colorado homestead amid the

mountains and surrounded by the great wide open is not only possible, it’s still very much viable. You just have to know what direction to point your horse.

share opportunities though, a few developers have harnessed the appeal of open space, choosing to leave the majority of acreage in their highly valuable communities empty…aside from the occasional horse and its rider of course.

Maytag Mountain Ranch Location: Hillside (approximately three hours from Denver) 800.363.9856 maytagmountainranch.com Acreage: 27 parcels spread across 2,953 acres Open Space: 2,890 acres Offering: 100-acre homesteads start at $895,000 In the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Russ and Jeannie Maytag had been ranching for more than 30 years. But when it came time to discuss retirement, neither was ready to leave the land. Instead, they decided to open

Photo courtesy of marabou

The smell of brushed sage underhoof, the creak of a latigo pulling against the saddle rings and the stiff exhale of your horse as he gets accustomed to your weight and you become accustomed to his gait; the potential for experiencing times like that have been reason enough for many a city-dweller, both from within the state and around the world, to come looking for land in the mountains, plains and foothills of Colorado.

But while there is no arguing that the outdoor and ranching heritage here has long been one of Colorado’s greatest attractions, it can also be said that the allure of such a life is so great that those wishing to possess it dare to ruin the very thing they seek by overcrowding the land they came looking for. Among all of the condo developments and time-

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the gates to their 3,000-acre USDA certified-organic cowboy paradise by selling 27 homesteads to anyone looking for a retirement, vacation, full-time or investment property on a sustainable cattle ranch.

It isn’t just 100-acre parcels that are being sold either. Each homestead owner is also a 1/27th owner of the ranch itself (which includes a herd of 300 grass-finished cattle, a free-range egg production and a permaculture garden with 70 different varieties of fruit trees). And annual profits from the sale of Maytag Mountain Ranch beef get deposited into the ranch’s homeowners’ association budget.

Retiring or having a vacation home at Maytag Mountain means, like Russ and Jeannie, you can play cowboy when you want—either on your own horse or on one of the ranch’s—but, of course, you don’t have to. As Russ says, “You can use the ranch as a retreat, or if you want to brand calves, that opportunity is there as well. What we’ve tried to do is create a working ranch without the work.”

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Marabou Location: Steamboat Springs (approximately three hours from Denver) 970.879.7919 | marabouranch.com Acreage: 62 parcels spread across 1,700 acres Open Space: 1,350 acres Offering: Five-to-seven-acre homesteads start at $2.8-million Jeff Temple, the developer of Marabou in Steamboat Springs, is quick to apply what he learns. From his roots as an NCAA All-American skier to co-founding Spyder Skiwear, from his more than 15 years developing luxury residential communities in the mountains of Colorado to the ranching preservation community Marabou, the Steamboat native seems to continually improve upon what he’s already done.

Now, it’s hard to imagine what he could do next to surpass this 1,700acre development on the banks of the Elk River.

At the heart of Marabou is the more than 1,300 acres of open space partially devoted to the raising of cattle and hay, and partially devoted to

the active pursuits of the eventual 62 ranch owners and their families. And whether you choose to pursue 18-inchplus browns in the Elk or a stray calf on the range, Marabou’s team of Master Guides (which includes Olympians like Nelson Carmichael and Todd Lodwick) is available to enhance any experience. “Our idea was to make each homestead feel like you were on your own private ranch,” Temple says, “and we’ve left some of the best places on the ranch, along the river and on top of the highest overlook, as open space for everyone. But when you do want some expert guidance, a massage at the spa or just a nice theater to watch a movie in, we’ve got that too.”

Wilder on the Taylor Location: Almont (approximately four hours and 15 minutes from Denver) 970.349.9899 | wildercolorado.com Acreage: 26 parcels spread across 2,000 acres Open Space: 1,920 acres Offering: 35-acre homesteads start at $2.9 million

When your second-home neighborhood consists of more than two million acres of national forest land and six miles of the Taylor River running through your fences, it might be easy to forget just where that first home is located. Such is the draw of the 2,000-acre Wilder on the Taylor. Recently, this centuryold ranch was home to just cattle and cowboys, but now 26 families of fly-fishing, mountain biking, elk hunting and, of course, horseback riding enthusiasts will be joining them. There is even some of the state’s best rock climbing alongside the ranch’s Taylor River Road.

Being close to Crested Butte, Wilder on the Taylor also provides easy access to skiing in the winter, but it’s the summer that still shines brightest.

Whether it’s cutting the Wilder herd with some of the on-site wranglers or leading your horse over one of the many trails that cross the 96,000 acres of land in the Spring Creek area, each experience you have in the saddle

will certainly be unique. When you’re out of the saddle, there’s the ranch’s private stretch of the Taylor River and the rainbow and brown trout that call it home that await your cast. And this year, five finished homesteads fronting the Taylor River will be available at the Wilder on the Taylor Founders rate. It’s enough to make you want to call your other house, the second home.

Adam’s Rib Ranch Location: Eagle (approximately two hours and 15 minutes from Denver) 888.760.2326 | adamsribranch.com Acreage: 99 parcels spread across 1,600 acres Open Space: 1,100 acres (approx.)

Offering: Four-to-10-acre homesteads start at $900,000 Inside the 40,000-square-foot golf clubhouse at Adam’s Mountain Country Club and throughout the fairways on its Tom Weiskopf-designed course, it is clear that golf is rightfully king. But, off the turf and out of the club, an endless number of outdoor

opportunities exist for homeowners at Adam’s Rib Ranch to experience the country—from fishing along the three and a half miles of newly enhanced Brush Creek streambed to horseback riding over the 522 acres that will become home to the community’s equestrian center.

The ranch is located just minutes from Eagle/Vail Airport and runs a private limousine service to the airport or ski areas for the owners, but it is standing on the course or in the river while being surrounded by thousands of acres of state and national forest land that provides the greatest luxury.

When they’re not riding, putting or casting, Adam’s Rib owners also can relax in the on-site spa. Of course, the ease at which owners here can begin to relax is bolstered by the fact that the entire development to this point has been paid for and remains debt free.

Not a bad life indeed.

Photo courtesy of maytaG mountain ranch

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