Colorado
Cortez,
$3,900,000
46± Acres
MCELMO CREEK GUEST RANCH
INTRODUCTION
McElmo Creek Guest Ranch, situated in the breathtaking landscape near Cortez, Colorado, is a unique retreat that seamlessly blends adventure, relaxation, and cultural exploration. This working guest ranch is set against the backdrop of the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, a region renowned for its rich archaeological significance and stunning natural beauty.
Guests at the ranch can choose from a variety of accommodations, including charming cabins and a spacious lodge, all designed to provide a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Each thoughtfully decorated lodging option features rustic touches that reflect the region’s heritage while offering modern amenities for comfort.
The ranch serves as a gateway to a myriad of outdoor activities. Hiking and biking enthusiasts can explore numerous trails that wind through the monument, leading to ancient rock art, cliff dwellings, and breathtaking vistas. After a long hike, many guests will relax in the beautiful foilage of a nearby vineyard, sipping on a locally produced red, white, or rose!
In addition to outdoor pursuits, McElmo Creek Guest Ranch emphasizes sustainability and community engagement. The ranch hosts workshops and educational programs that delve into local ecology, archaeology, and traditional crafts, providing guests a deeper appreciation for the region.
Evenings can be spent around a crackling campfire, where stargazing becomes an enchanting experience, thanks to the minimal light pollution in the area. Guests are also encouraged to interact with the ranch’s animals.
The McElmo Creek Guest Ranch has been featured in numerous magazine articles and on film. The time has come for the Guest Ranch to find its next stewart. The current owners will continue to live nearby and are committed to helping the new owners successfully transition. 1
McElmo Creek Guest Ranch | Cortez, Colorado
QUICK FACTS
• 46± acres
• 5 rental units
• Water rights
• Irrigated fields
• Live creek
• Ag buildings
• Canyon of the Ancients and Mesa Verde National Monuments
• Established guest ranch
• Orchard
• Hay production
McElmo Creek Guest Ranch | Cortez, Colorado
ACREAGE
• 46± deeded acres
The McElmo Creek Guest Ranch is located predominately in fertile creek bottom land. The hayfields are very productive, and a small orchard provides a variety of fruit. Large cottonwood trees line the creek banks and are vibrant in color during early fall. This idyllic setting is framed by canyon walls once inhabited by the Anasazi people.
McElmo Creek Guest Ranch | Cortez, Colorado
SCENIC VISTAS
The drive to the Guest Ranch winds through the red rock sandstone walls of McElmo Canyon. Rising above is dramatic Sleeping Ute Mountain, complete with its own legend and serving as the watershed for McElmo Canyon. Vistas are beautiful and meaningful in this cradle of an ancient civilization.
www.fayranches.com | 800.238.8616 | info@fayranches.com
McElmo Creek Guest Ranch | Cortez, Colorado
IMPROVEMENTS
The McElmo Creek Guest Ranch has five rental units, ranging from single-bedroom cabins to the ranch house, which can accommodate many guests. The structures have been carefully and tastefully restored and remodeled to reflect the area’s history and the owners’ personal histories. Each accommodation unit is unique. Additionally, there are several agricultural buildings for equipment storage and animal husbandry.
McElmo Creek Guest Ranch | Cortez, Colorado
McElmo Creek Guest Ranch | Cortez, Colorado
RECREATION
Guests of the McElmo Creek Guest Ranch enjoy numerous hiking and mountain biking opportunities in the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument and other nearby destinations. World-class flyfishing on the Dolores River is less than an hour from the property. Many guests enjoy staying at the ranch and recreating with the Navajo Churro sheep, cattle, and chickens.
CLIMATE
The weather near McElmo Creek Guest Ranch is characterized by its high desert climate, offering warm summers and cool winters. During the summer, temperatures can soar into the 80s and 90s, with plenty of sunshine and occasional afternoon thunderstorms that bring brief but intense rain. In contrast, winters are crisp, with daytime highs often in the 30s and 40s, and snow can blanket the region, especially in the nearby mountains. The area enjoys clear blue skies most of the year, making it a beautiful location for outdoor activities.
Climate charts courtesy of https://www.city-data.com/city/Cortez-Colorado.html
McElmo Creek Guest Ranch | Cortez, Colorado
INCOME OPPORTUNITY
The ranch offers an excellent income stream through vacation and nightly rentals. The current owners grow a superior hay crop and have also developed a specialty meat business, selling at local farmer’s markets. The ranch makes a perfect destination for corporate outings, destination weddings, family reunions, educational seminars, and many other special events. It has also hosted film shoots, music events, and Native American ceremonies.
www.fayranches.com | 800.238.8616 | info@fayranches.com
McElmo Creek Guest Ranch | Cortez, Colorado
AREA HISTORY
The McElmo Creek Guest Ranch lies next to the Canyon of the Ancients and Mesa Verde National Monuments, which are two significant archaeological sites located in the Four Corners region, showcasing the rich history of the Ancestral Puebloans. Canyon of the Ancients, established as a national monument in 2000, features over 6,000 recorded archaeological sites, including dwellings, petroglyphs, and ceremonial structures, reflecting its ancient inhabitants’ intricate social and spiritual lives. Mesa Verde, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its well-preserved cliff dwellings, such as the famous Cliff Palace, which offer a glimpse into the architectural ingenuity and adaptability of the Ancestral Puebloans. Both sites serve as vital reminders of the region’s prehistoric cultures and their deep connection to the land, drawing visitors and researchers alike to explore and appreciate their historical significance.
Mesa Verde National Monument
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES
In addition to the Canyon of the Ancients and Mesa Verde National Monuments, there are many fascinating destinations within a short drive of the Guest Ranch. Hovenweep National Monument features centuries-old stonework and is a lightly visited park. Canyonlands, Bears Ears, Moab, Arches National Monument, and several other destinations are within an hour to threehour drive. Telluride is only a two-hour drive, and the nearby Dolores River offers excellent fly fishing. There is so much to see and do in the area, and the McElmo Creek Guest Ranch is a perfect vacation headquarters.
Canyonlands National Park
Canyon of the Ancients | photo credit Bob Wick, BLM
Bears Ears National Monument | photo credit Bob Wick BLM
McElmo Creek Guest Ranch | Cortez, Colorado
LOCATION
The McElmo Creek Guest Ranch is located 17 miles west of Cortez, Colorado, in the fertile McElmo Creek Canyon, which has been inhabited and farmed for centuries by our Native American ancestors. Cortez is located in the iconic Four Corners area where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah share a common corner. The Guest Ranch is close to several National Monuments, including Canyon of the Ancients, Mesa Verde, Bears Ears, and Hovenweep. Within two to three hours, Moab and Telluride are easily accessible, and there are numerous national monuments in Utah.
AIRPORT SERVICES
Cortez, Colorado, has several nearby airports:
• Cortez Municipal Airport (CEZ) lies about 24 minutes away and offers general aviation services and commercial flights.
• Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO), about 80 miles northeast, features more extensive service with airlines like American and United, connecting to major cities. It also accommodates private aircraft.
• Telluride Regional Airport (TEX) is just over two hours northwest and serves commercial and private flights, especially busy in winter for skiers.
19 McElmo Creek Guest Ranch | Cortez, Colorado
McElmo Creek Guest Ranch | Cortez, Colorado
MINERAL RIGHTS
All mineral rights appurtenant to the property and owned by the seller will convey to the buyer at closing. Mineral rights are not guaranteed. It is suggested that the buyer conduct a mineral search with a title company.
WATER RIGHTS
The ranch enjoys good water rights, which allows irrigation and cultivation of a great hay crop each year.
CONSERVATION | STEWARDSHIP
Each of us at Fay loves the land and wants to see it remain a productive agricultural ground and a quality fish and wildlife habitat. Through promoting thoughtful land stewardship, Fay has guided owners toward a legacy of conserving wide-open spaces, enhancing and creating fisheries and wildlife habitats, and implementing sustainable agricultural operations. Fay is proud to say that since our company began in 1992, our clients’ conservation ethics and land-use practices have significantly enhanced our work landscape. 22 www.fayranches.com | 800.238.8616 | info@fayranches.com
McElmo Creek Guest Ranch | Cortez, Colorado
SUMMARY
If you are looking for an opportunity to own a unique income-producing property, look no further. The McElmo Creek Guest Ranch is an extraordinary place where you can farm, host, adventure, create, and share a rural lifestyle with your friends, family, and paying guests. The property provides a canvas on which you can paint your rural dream life. The current owners own other unique rental units nearby. They would welcome the opportunity to cooperate with the new McElmo Creek Guest Ranch owners to accommodate overflow situations with either property. Their expertise and knowledge of the property provide a backstop for future guest ranch business owners. We welcome you to take a look and start a conversation about the McElmo Creek Guest Ranch today!
McElmo Creek Guest Ranch | Cortez, Colorado
Please contact Jim Vidamour at (719) 890-4590 | jvidamour@fayranches.com to schedule a showing. This is an exclusive listing. An agent from Fay must be present at all showings, unless otherwise noted or other arrangements are made. To view other properties, fly fishing properties, and sporting ranches that we have listed, please visit our web page at www.fayranches.com.
$3,900,000 Cash
Conventional Financing 1031 Exchange
Offer is subject to errors, omissions, prior sale, change or withdrawal without notice, and approval of purchase by owner. Information regarding land classification, carrying capacities, maps, etc., is intended only as a general guideline and has been provided by the owners and other sources deemed reliable, but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Prospective purchasers are encouraged to research the information to their own satisfaction.
| 800.238.8616 | info@fayranches.com
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