Perry Ranch

Steamboat Springs, Colorado
$16,000,000- SOLD!

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Perry Ranch is located just one mile north of Steamboat Springs in a secluded pastoral valley known as Strawberry Park. This is truly a “best of both worlds” location; extremely convenient access to town and views overlooking Strawberry Park and the Steamboat Ski Resort, yet just far enough off the county road for suprising privacy.

The ranch is accessed directly off paved Routt County Road 36 (RCR 36), which traverses through Strawberry Park, connecting the town with Strawberry Park Hot Springs at the top of the valley. Downtown Steamboat Springs is literally one mile south of the ranch on the RCR 36. The Steamboat Springs Airport (Bob Adams Field) is located just one and a quarter mile due west of the property, less than 10 minutes by vehicle. The Yampa Valley Regional Airport is approximately 30 minutes west of the ranch.

Strawberry Park has traditionally been Steamboat’s most exclusive address. Its large acreage properties, beautiful scenery, and secluded yet convenient setting have made it one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the Steamboat area. The neighborhood takes its name from the strawberries that were grown there in the early 1900’s. Strawberry Park is home to the Lowell Whiteman School, a private college preparatory school, as well as the Perry Mansfield Performing Arts School & Camp which is the oldest performing arts school and camp in the country and is adjacent to the ranch.

The broad Strawberry Park valley is horseshoe shaped, opening to the south where the town lies. The RCR 36 travels north to the end of the valley where the famous Strawberry Park Hot Springs sits surrounded by Routt National Forest. Forming the east boundary of the valley are the mountains of the Park Range and the Continental Divide. Forest Road 60 (Buffalo Pass Road) provides access to the National Forest and Mount Zirkel Wilderness and serves as a popular scenic drive. The west boundary of the valley is formed by Copper Ridge where the ranch is situated on its southeast slope. There are no public roads along the west side of Strawberry Park and no roads cross over Copper Ridge. The developed areas of town are either south of Strawberry Park or on the other side of Copper Ridge and have little impact on the ranch.

With elevations ranging from approximately 6,920 to 7,643 feet, Perry Ranch exhibits the attractive characteristics of the Colorado mountain climate – warm sunny days with low humidity and cool nights. Average summer temperatures are in the upper 70’s and low 80’s, with lows in the 40’s and 50’s. Winter typically means temperatures ranging from the teens at night to 30’s during the day. Snow will accumulate during the winter months, though the valley traditionally receives quite a bit less than the surrounding mountain ranges.

Turning west off RCR 36, at approximately the center of Strawberry Park, the ranch is entered by descending into the secluded Soda Creek Valley with the majority of the ranch rising up across the creek. The ranch’s terrain is predominantly gently rolling hills with a few steeper ridges and some flatter meadows. Vegetation on the hillsides is primarily healthy aspen groves, interspersed with mountain oaks, conifers and grassy meadows. The riparian area along Soda Creek on the eastern edge of the ranch is primarily home to large evergreens, cottonwoods and willows.

The ranch has several interior roads and trails that provide good access to the various areas of the ranch. There are a surprising number of secluded home sites, each with exceptional views of the valley and surrounding mountains.

Soda Creek flows through the ranch for a little less than a mile. Soda Creek is categorized as a rushing mountain stream. It is a medium gradient and tends to run clear and cold. The streambed consists of small-to medium-size cobble and it averages about 20 feet in width. The headwaters are just a few miles upstream of the ranch on the Continental Divide. In its current natural state, Soda Creek is home to healthy, naturally reproducing wild fish, mostly brook trout with an occasional cutthroat.

These fish do not grow to large proportions, but are aggressive feeders that are a thrill to stalk and catch. The ranch also has a number of ponds that could be enhanced to support fish.

The varied topography of the ranch makes it remarkably scenic. The gently undulating slopes provide just enough relief to create viewsheds over the trees below. Neighboring properties to the north and south of the ranch exhibit steeper terrain and lack the southern facing aspect of much of the Perry Ranch. This aspect provides highly aesthetic views of the ski area, Park Range and downtown Steamboat Springs. Conversely, the property is easily viewed from the ski area, town or center of Strawberry Park. The ranch and surrounding mountains are breathtaking throughout the year, regardless of season.

The location, habitat and low human impact nature of the ranch attract a variety of wildlife. The grasses, protective cover vegetation and water in particular draw elk, mule deer and grouse. Black bear and mountain lion are seldom seen but exist in the area as well. The gentle topography of the ranch makes it relatively easy to hunt. Mule deer are resident and elk are found in abundance during the fall migration. The many aspen and oaks make for stunning scenery in the fall, whether big game hunting or watching wildlife.

RANCH HISTORY
Perry Ranch has long been one of Steamboat’s historic land holdings. Its legacy dates back to the early 1900’s when a young Marjorie Perry rode west over the Continental Divide and settled in Steamboat Springs. A self-described “social outlaw” unbound by convention, Marjorie lived with an unbridled enthusiasm for horses, hunting and outdoor adventure. She was an avid skier at a time when most considered the activity nothing more than a mode of transportation. In 1913 Marjorie met Carl Howelsen, who introduced ski-jumping to Colorado and helped found the annual Steamboat Winter Carnival. Both Majorie and Carl, were later inducted into the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame.

In 1905, Marjorie graduated from Smith College, and soon after returned to Steamboat Springs. Marjorie’s younger sister, Charlotte, also attended Smith College, where she met Portia Mansfield, and in 1913, the two women founded the Perry-Mansfield School of Theater and Dance. The school has become the oldest continuously operating performing arts school and camp in the nation.

For 12 summers, Marjorie was the head of the riding program at Perry-Mansfield, and in 1930, she purchased the 470-acre preserve adjacent to the school. She continued living her adventurous life on the land, building a log cabin, barns and outbuildings, some of which remain on the ranch to this day. As time went on, this iconic cowgirl, skier, rancher and writer lived her life to the fullest. Marjorie skied on her eight-foot wooden skis until 1968, and passed away a year later.

CONSERVATION AND INVESTMENT POTENTIAL

Perry Ranch is not currently party to a conservation easement, however, the ranch’s scenic values and wildlife habitat combined with its tremendous development potential make it an excellent candidate for a future conservation easement. The current owners recently considered a conservation easement, but chose to allow the new owners the choice of how and when to preserve this exceptional property. To help prove out the development value of the ranch, the current owners designed an attractive subdivision plan yielding 11 very private lots ranging in size from 35 to 50 acres, all with great views and all with convenient access to town. The market value for such select lots indicates a significant developable value for the ranch, which likely translates into a high conservation value if the ranch were conserved in lieu of subdivision. Please contact the listing broker to further discuss the potential of this ranch.

470±

The ranch consists of 470± deeded contiguous acres.

Seller will convey any and all owned minerals.

A multitude of recreational opportunities are available within the boundaries of Perry Ranch as well as in the immediate vicinity. The proximity of the ranch to the ski area, town, Yampa River, Routt National Forest and Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area make it very convenient to take advantage of the abundant nearby recreational opportunities.

The Perry Ranch is one of the owners (157.5 shares) of the Woodchuck Ditch Company and owns the entire Perry Ditch in the amount of 1.0 cfs. Please contact the listing broker for more detailed information.

Property taxes for the ranch for the 2007 tax year were $254.24.

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 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