

Executive Summary
White River Retreat represents an extraordinary opportunity to own a beautiful stretch of the coveted and tightly-held White River. The property includes an excellent private section of the White, with good holding water and multiple braids to increase the diversity and amount of fishable water. White River Retreat consists of two adjacent lots; one features an exquisitely finished 3,400±-square-foot log home and the second, also with well, provides the opportunity to build an additional home. The 10±-acre property is conveniently located on a well-maintained, paved county road approximately 13 miles from Meeker.
Location
White River Retreat is located in Rio Blanco County, approximately 13 miles southeast of Meeker, Colorado, on paved County Road 8, also known as the Flat Tops Scenic Byway. The property is situated near the center of the beautiful upper White River Valley, midway between Meeker and the headwaters in the White River National Forest. The White River drains approximately 3,770 square miles of the western slope of the Flat Tops Mountain Range.
Meeker, with a population of about 2,400, is the county seat of Rio Blanco County and has retained its culture as a true western town still primarily influenced by agriculture and recreation. The resort communities of Steamboat Springs, Aspen, Vail and Beaver Creek are all within a 1˝-to 2-hour drive.
The nearest commercial air service is available at Hayden, approximately 80 miles from the property. There is also commercial air service available in Grand Junction, which is approximately 115 miles southwest of the ranch. Meeker also boasts a 6,500-foot paved jet-capable strip only minutes from White River Retreat.
Locale
White River Retreat is located in a scenic mountain valley that is home to a number of large recreational ranches. The few ranches that have come up for sale in recent years have commanded increasing premiums and have gone into the hands of wealthy individuals and families whose primary motivation for purchase and ownership has been to protect and enjoy their properties.
The White River Valley has become one of the most sought-after valleys in Colorado because of its physical beauty, wildlife populations, and high quality fly-fishing.
Meeker is an attractive mountain town that offers a full complement of services from restaurants and motels, to banks, grocery stores, and other essential services. It remains a town with a strong agricultural base that has embraced the additional recreational activities in the area without losing its character. It has a unique charm and is quite unlike many of the other nearby towns and cities in that respect.
The White River Valley is a large drainage originating in the mountainous areas to the east, south and north of the property, known as the Flat Tops. From Meeker the White River flows west to the Green River, which is one of the major tributaries of the Colorado River system. The Flat Tops are home to some of the premier big game hunting in the state. Numerous lakes and streams are found among the Flat Tops providing excellent fishing opportunities. Most of the Flat Tops lie within White River National Forest as does the Flat Tops Wilderness Area.
The White River boasts some of the best fly fishing in the state, both on the mainstem and its tributaries. Some of Colorado’s finest fly fishing lodges, resorts and clubs are located in this valley. The White River Valley is blessed by being somewhat remote from both Denver and the well-known resort areas of Vail and Aspen. It has been discovered, however, by a few discreet individuals who are well-known in the worlds of international sports and finance.
Climate
White River Retreat boasts an attractive year-round climate. The summers are moderate with cool nights and the winters, while cold at times, are not subject to the very heavy snowfalls that the upper part of the White River Valley receives. It is an area that one can access and enjoy every month of the year. The property is located at approximately 6,700 feet above sea level and is mostly flat to gently sloping.
General Description
The property is bordered by the paved Flat Tops Scenic Byway (County Road 8) on one side and the White River on the other. There is year-round direct access off the road to both lots. The White River flows through the long dimension of the property for more than 1,000 feet. Due to numerous braids in the river, the shoreline itself totals approximately 3,000 feet.
It is the river that truly sets this property apart, providing excellent private fishing opportunities.
This is a privately owned stretch of the White River and the White is not a floating river. The property features good holding water and multiple braids to increase the diversity and amount of fishable water. There are a number of individual riffles, runs, pools, islands and channel confluences. The unique configuration of the river here creates the opportunity to fish multiple settings ranging from an intimate 20- foot wide braid to a deep pool with the full flow of the river.
The balance of the property is riparian area and a large grass meadow. There are a variety of trees including a beautiful grove of mature cottonwoods on Lot 2.
Improvements
Overlooking the river on Lot 1 is an exquisitely finished log home. The 3,400+/- square foot, three-story home features 2 full kitchens, 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. It was recently remodeled and upgraded with very high-quality finishes. A large porch and wrap-around deck areas overlook the river and meadow. The home is accessed directly off the county road through a beautiful custom gate.
Acreage
10± Acreage Breakdown
White River Retreat consists of two adjacent parcels of land totaling 9.723 acres: Lot 1 is 4.684 acres and Lot 2 is 5.039 acres.
Broker Comments
While the White River Retreat is a small property in terms of acreage, it is not short on features. This represents an extraordinary opportunity to own deeded frontage on the coveted and tightly-held White River, with excellent and diverse private fishing and tremendous recreational opportunities throughout the area. Possessing two legal lots provides flexibility and the beautiful home could serve as a family retreat or become a guest house with the construction of another home on the second lot.
Mineral Rights
There are no mineral rights included with the sale of the real property.
Recreational Considerations
The White River Valley is blessed with a complete inventory of Colorado wildlife and year-round recreational opportunities. It was in the upper White River Valley where Arthur C. Carhart first developed the concept of designating large areas of our most pristine national forests as “Wilderness Areas.” He was determined that these unique treasures be saved from development.
The White River offers some of Colorado’s finest fishing as well as best fishing experience. While there are a number of comparable rivers in terms of fish counts, a large part of what makes the White great is that the river sees relatively little pressure. Since it is a 4-hour drive from the Denver metropolitan area and not near the popular resort towns, the White does not receive nearly the angling activity as that found on the South Platte, Blue, Colorado, Yampa, Eagle, Gunnison, Frying Pan or Roaring Fork Rivers. In addition, a number of ranches along the White have made significant enhancements to the river, further increasing the number and size of fish in the river.
Approximately seven miles upstream of the property, the north and south forks of the White converge to form a gorgeous medium-gradient freestone river that travels through a broad valley of ranchlands. Rainbows, cutthroats and browns are all common in the White River. Average fish caught are in the 14-to 18-inch range, and there are large numbers of fish over 20 inches. The White features an incredible spring-caddis hatch and excellent dry fly-fishing throughout the summer and fall months. The river stays open most of the winter with good nymph and streamer fishing.
Wildlife in the surrounding area is abundant and healthy. This region is well-known for high populations of elk and mule deer. The White River elk herd is the largest herd in the world. In addition, black bear, mountain lion and numerous other species are often sighted. The property is located less than one mile from the 9,325-acre Oak Ridge State Wildlife Area which includes Lake Avery. Convenient access to White River National Forest, Flat Tops Wilderness Area and Trappers Lake provides further recreational opportunities such as horseback riding, hiking and camping in the warmer months and snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter.
Water Rights
The property includes two permitted wells, one on each lot. Both wells produce good water and strong flows. There are no irrigated areas, however, an irrigation ditch flows through it and naturally sub-irrigates the meadows between it and the river.
Additional Services
MANAGEMENT SERVICES – Hall and Hall’s Management Division has a very clear mission – To represent the owner and to ensure that his or her experience is a positive one. Services are customized to suit the owner’s needs. They often begin with the recruiting and hiring of a suitable ranch manager or caretaker and are followed by the development of a management or operating plan along with appropriate budgets. Ongoing services include bill paying, ranch oversight, and consulting services as needed. Even the most sophisticated and experienced ranch owners appreciate the value of a management firm representing them and providing advice on local area practices and costs. Wes Oja and Jerome Chvilicek at (406) 656-7500 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (406) 656-7500 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (406) 656-7500 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (406) 656-7500 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or Randy Clavel at (303) 861-8282 are available to describe and discuss these services in detail and welcome your call.
RESOURCE ENHANCEMENT SERVICES – Increasingly the value of a ranch is measured by the quality of each and every one of its resources. Coincidentally the enhancement of a ranch’s resources also increases the pleasure that one derives from the ownership of a ranch. Our management services have included the assessment of everything from wildlife habitat to bird habitat to water resources and fisheries and the subsequent oversight of the process involved with the enhancement of these resources. Wes Oja or Jerome Chvilicek at (406) 656-7500 are available to describe and discuss these services in detail and welcome your call.
SPECIALIZED LENDING - Over the past 59 years Hall and Hall has created a legacy by efficiently providing capital to the intermountain west. In addition to traditional farm and ranch loans, we specialize in understanding the unique aspects of placing loans on ranches where value may be influenced by recreational features, location and improvements and repayment may come from outside sources. Our extensive experience and strong relationships with our lenders allows us to quickly tell you whether we can provide the required financing.
Competitive Pricing ● Flexible Terms ● Efficient Processing
In-House Appraisals ● Common Sense Underwriting
Dave Roddy ● (406) 656-7500
Mike Hall, Judy Chirila, or Randy Clavel ● (303) 861-8282
Monte Lyons ● (806) 698-6882
Email Broker - Brian Smith Return to Top | Return to List
Hall and Hall is acting as a Seller’s Agent and will cooperate with other agents acting as a Transaction Broker or Buyer Agent only.
NOTICE: Offering is subject to errors, omissions, prior sale, change or withdrawal without notice, and approval of purchase by owner. Information regarding land classifications, acreages, carrying capacities, potential profits, etc., are intended only as general guidelines and have been provided by sources deemed reliable, but whose accuracy we cannot guarantee. Prospective buyers should verify all information to their satisfaction. Prospective buyers should also be aware that the photographs in this brochure may have been digitally enhanced.
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