Brian became a ranch partner with Hall and Hall in 2005 when he opened our northwest Colorado office. Originally from the Midwest, Brian strongly supports saving our agricultural heritage. In 1996, he received a master’s degree from the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business and has specialized in high-value real estate since then. Brian holds real estate licenses in Colorado and several neighboring states. An avid sportsman, he is an active member of numerous conservation organizations and promotes wildlife and aquatic habitat protection and enhancement. Brian enjoys the good life in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where he lives with his wife and two daughters.
Highlighted by a stunning mountain landscape and truly exceptional improvements, Elk Island Ranch is one of Colorado’s finest sporting ranches. Encompassing 6,343± completely private and contiguous acres, the raw land has been meticulously improved and equipped into a four-season recreational playground of the highest order. Featuring private ski slopes, excellent big game hunting and trout fishing, miles of riding trails and roads, and a massive sledding hill, the ranch is a magnet for multi-generational usage. An enviable location near several ski resort areas and less than 10 minutes from a real town with jet strip makes the ranch easy to access and enjoy.
The compelling landscape is complemented by fully-furnished luxurious accommodations, including a magnificent mountain lodge with jaw-dropping views, saloon for entertaining, ski and hunting chalet, and huge shop stocked up with recreational vehicles and gear. As an added benefit, the ranch enjoys exclusive access to neighboring Grand River Ranch amenities including an equestrian center, sporting clays course, lodging and fine dining venues, fishing reservoir, and 1.5 miles of excellent tailwater trout fishing.
High caliber improvements add an element to Elk Island Ranch that is often missing in the category of large-acreage Colorado mountain ranches. This extraordinary collection of custom buildings is impressive, distinctive, and timeless. Each one is well designed and executed utilizing the finest materials and craftsmanship, with nothing overlooked. Compound that with the luxury of year-round staff, and the result is an extraordinary mountain getaway for personalized enjoyment any day of the year. Of further significance is the fact that virtually all furnishings, décor, equipment, vehicles, and recreational gear are included with the sale.
TAKE A PHOTO TOUR OF THE LODGE
The Lodge
At the stunning Lodge, rustic elegance is on full display. The 16,000± square foot masterpiece lives like a five-star resort, custom crafted with impeccable attention to detail. Featuring a modern execution of “Parkitecture” styling, the home incorporates natural log and stone materials and design elements reminiscent of historic National Park lodges. Greeted by a striking two-story timbered porte-cochère adorned with a dramatic spiral elk antler chandelier, guests immediately appreciate that this is no ordinary mountain home. Inside, the custom 5 bed/12 bath home is a work of art, designed around family gatherings and offering the highest level of comfort. A massive three-story log staircase anchors the center of the home, and soaring stone fireplaces frame a wall of windows overlooking the Colorado River valley and jagged mountain peaks. The home is equally well suited for a quiet weekend getaway, or for hosting family and friends.
Lodge highlights include: 5 spacious suites and 12 exquisite baths; elevator service to all levels; gourmet William Ohs kitchen with stone countertops, Viking appliances and attached catering kitchen; hand-scraped walnut flooring throughout; heated and cooled four-season porch; main level hand-carved black walnut bar; generous upper level master suite with his-and-her baths, steam shower, and walk-in closets; comfortable guest rooms, all en suite with walk-in closets; lower level walk-out family room and home theater with gas fireplace and custom bar; poker room and billiard area, exercise room, playroom, and two guest suites with stone patio access; incredible outdoor oasis areas featuring expansive wrap-around deck, hot tub, fireplace and fire pits; outdoor kid’s playhouse; and lushly landscaped grounds.
Nevada House Saloon
Designed for memorable entertaining, the adjacent Nevada House Saloon can accommodate gatherings of more than 100 guests. This well-appointed 10,500± square foot facility features a custom Wallace and Heinz bar, fully equipped catering kitchen, dance floor with entertainment stage, gaming tables, upper level camp-style sleeping, and a giant showroom for historic ranch vehicles and collection of trophy game mounts. Special touches like in-floor heating, men’s and women’s bathrooms with dual showers, a covered porch, and quintessential log frame construction add to the appeal. Connecting the Lodge and Nevada House Saloon is an outdoor courtyard with recirculating stream and stone footpath.
Outpost Chalet
Nestled in the towering conifers at the crest of a scenic knoll, the tasteful Outpost Chalet serves as a base camp for year-round activities. Although ski-out access to the private slopes is the main attraction, the Chalet is also perfect for hunting expeditions or as the destination for horse rides. It comes replete with Douglas Fir rough sawn floors throughout, a sizable living area with wood-burning fireplace, granite kitchen with custom barn wood cabinetry, and king-size guest quarters with 3/4 bath. A generous loft sleeps four comfortably with two sets of bunk beds, while the four-season wrap-around porch invites guests to partake in the surrounding natural splendor.
Ranch Shop
A huge 14,400± square foot heated and insulated shop is used to store all the equipment and gear used on the ranch. The shop has five oversized garage doors, and concrete floors with wood shop, half bath, mechanical service area with hoist, and expansive vehicle, equipment, and toy storage. A framed and finished area features a convenient locker room, outfitting room, kitchen, break room, and 3/4 bath. Above that a fully carpeted, lighted, and heated loft with mechanical hoist adds versatility. Directly outside the Eagle Span steel building is a pad which can be transformed into a wintertime ice rink and nestled in the trees just beyond that is a giant paintball course.
Ranch Infrastructure
The supporting infrastructure of the ranch is befitting of such an impeccable property. The primary roads on the ranch are all graveled, and are maintained with a large stockpile of material on-site. Power lines serving the ranch have all been buried and the junction boxes are kept out of sight in unique historical remnant structures. A back-up safety generator is in place, but is rarely used. A productive well and oversized water storage tanks ensure plentiful water supply, even when hosting guests. Additionally, connectivity on the ranch is better than most, with a commercial high-speed wireless internet tower located on-site, and cellular reception available nearly everywhere.
Personal Property
Elk Island Ranch is outfitted with a wide array of valuable personal property, along with an entire fleet of vehicles used to maintain and enjoy the property, and all of it is included in the offering price. These items include quality furnishings and décor in all the buildings, equipment including the plow truck, snowcats, tractor and skid steer, vehicles including trucks, UTVs, ATVs, dirt bikes and snowmobiles, and recreational gear such as hunting clothing, fishing rods, sleds and helmets. Other than a limited number of items such as family photos and personal game mounts, the ranch is being sold fully stocked and operational. A complete list of inclusions/exclusions will be provided at the appropriate time. Not only does the addition of these items contribute significant value to the offering, the fact that all the selecting, purchasing and set-up has already been done means the next owner can enjoy the ranch immediately.
Masterfully crafted into a magnet for visits by friends and family, Elk Island Ranch offers a wide variety of recreational activities and attractions throughout the year. Notwithstanding the easy access to many of the nearby Colorado summer and winter recreation areas, there is truly no need to leave the ranch to find things to do.
Wildlife
The diverse habitat and rich grasses of the ranch attract an abundance of wildlife. Whether viewing or hunting, it is unusual not to run into elk, mule deer and pronghorn antelope on the ranch. Trophy caliber bulls and bucks are encountered every year. Smaller mammals and raptors also flourish in this private wildlife sanctuary.
Fishing
There are a variety of excellent stillwater and live-water angling opportunities for the ranch owner and guests. Large enough for float fishing from wooden boats or canoes, 24-acre Jones Reservoir and 4-acre Island Lake are both great trout fisheries. The main attraction for wade fishing is the blue-ribbon tailwater trout stream. Located below the Wolford Mountain Reservoir dam, this enhanced 1.5 mile stretch of river is fed year-round by the cool and clear flows upon which trout thrive.
Trails
An extensive network of over 30 miles of roads and trails is used for motorized and non-motorized recreation including horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, UTV and dirt bike rides, or simply strolling through the wildflowers.
Winter
Winter is one of the most active seasons at the ranch, with on-site downhill skiing and snowboarding on a total of 11 private ski runs, Nordic skiing and snowmobiling on over 30 miles of groomed trails, and epic sledding on the breathtaking 2,400-foot groomed sledding hill.
Grand River Ranch Amenities
Completing the best of all worlds theme of Elk Island Ranch is its full access to the renowned amenities of Grand River Ranch (GRR). The limited number of members of this exclusive club enjoy the following facilities and venues, which are all located adjacent to Elk Island Ranch:
The GRR amenities are the perfect complement to the 6,343± private deeded acres of Elk Island Ranch – available for use at any time, while keeping it simple and easy, without the need for any caretaking duties. The GRR lodge is a popular option for enjoying chef-prepared dining, and its guest rooms and associated cabins can provide accommodations for Elk Island Ranch overflow guests.
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