Rocking R - Horse Ranch is the preeminent equestrian property for sale in Boulder County today. The property offers 110± acres, irrigated brome grass hay meadows, sufficient water rights and is conveniently located within twenty minutes of Boulder and less than five minutes from Lyons, Colorado off paved Highway 66. Extensive improvements punctuate this property and include three homes, a 36,400± sq. ft. indoor arena, horse barn, equipment shop, a large hay barn, multiple loafing sheds, two outdoor arenas, supplement agricultural buildings, and miles of piped fencing throughout. Three large, livewater irrigation waterways lined with old-growth cottonwood trees traverse through the property, adding a beautiful aesthetic element. In an area of Colorado nationally recognized for its equestrian influence, the Rocking R - Horse Ranch is a turn-key opportunity.
For serious horsemen, the most important aspects of a well-equipped ranch are location, good grazing land, water and facilities – in that order. In each of these aspects, the Rocking R - Horse Ranch is superb.
The ranch is within easy traveling distance of Front Range equestrian events. Most important, the outstanding veterinary department at Colorado State University in Fort Collins is about a half hour from the ranch. CSU is renowned in the horse community for its innovative breeding programs, including embryo transfer. Its veterinarians are at the forefront of medical advances in treating equine diseases and developing treatment protocols.
Boulder County is home to numerous associations and groups that promote and host a wide range of events from dressage shows to barrel racing. Front Range horse associations fill an active calendar of events, competitions and galas year round. And because the ranch is east of the mountains, getting to these events is easy—no traversing treacherous, windy mountain passes with a trailer in tow. Near the ranch are numerous horseback and multi-purpose trails. Rabbit Mountain Open Space, at the ranch's back door, has miles of trails with excellent footing. Nearby, the Hall Ranch and Heil Ranch Open Spaces, both also owned by Boulder County, offer exciting options for the experienced and casual rider.
Acreage: 110± acres, includes 63± acres of irrigated land
Elevation: 5,071 feet above sea level.
Zoning: Agricultural
Mineral Rights: Seller's ownership of surface and sub-surface minerals is included in the sale
STRUCTURES
Residences:
Equestrian buildings:
Agricultural buildings:
UTILITIES
Electricity: City of Longmont
Natural Gas: Xcel Energy
Domestic water: Wells for livestock use
Public water: Longs Peak Water District
Schools: Longmont, St. Vrain School District
AIR TRAVEL
Commercial aviation: Denver International Airport, 58 miles southeast of the ranch.
General aviation: Vance Brand Airport, Longmont
Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, Broomfield (Denver)
Fort Collins/Loveland Municipal Airport
Boulder Municipal Airport
Online Resources
Boulder County Municipal Airport
Boulder Valley School District
Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport
Boulder County Horse Association
Eldora Mountain Resort
*Some of the outstanding photography was provided by Mark Quentin / StudioQphoto.com. (Contact information is available upon request.)
State-of-the-art equestrian facilities are at the heart of the Rocking R - Horse Ranch. Maintained to exacting standards and equipped for every need or desire, these buildings and arenas are built of the highest-quality materials and designed to satisfy the most demanding riders and trainers.
Indoor Arena
The centerpiece of this equestrian operation is a 36,400± square-foot indoor arena with ten bay doors, an indoor round pen and an electric hot walker. The 280' x 130' metal building has insulated panels inside and out, permanent viewing stands and is heated through six overhead forced-air heaters. The ventilation system includes two industrial fans and ten small fans.
Horse Barn
The horse barn, luxuriously equipped for horses and humans, has seven stalls and seven fenced runs. Each stall has a Nelson electric waterer with a measurement system to monitor intake for each horse. The stalls also have individual cameras, windows, fans, lighting and separate thermostats to regulate in-floor radiant heat. Each stall has a concrete floor with a drain and rubber matting. Awnings over the fenced outdoor runs provide protection for the horses.
The stalls are generously sized at 18' x 20' and designed to minimize conflict between the animals. The stall section of the barn has radiant floor heat while the barn itself has forced-air gas heat.
The building also has an air-conditioned two-room office, a full bath with shower, tack rooms, a large wash bay with rubber matting, a storage room with washer and dryer, and a stainless steel veterinary room, designed and outfitted for maximum sanitation and efficiency. The barn is constructed of wood with partial eight-foot concrete walls and two large bay doors. The barn has a concrete-floored center aisle between the stalls, a water filtration system and two boilers for heating. The barn also is wired for sound with Bose speakers positioned throughout.
Outdoor Arenas
There are two outdoor arenas with pipe and wooden fencing. The larger arena also has a viewing stand. Both the indoor and outdoor arenas have mechanical cows for training cutting horses.
Sheds
Positioned throughout the pastures and ranch are nine loafing sheds, most of which are 24’ x 12’ and include fenced runs and electric waterers. Some are heated, have lighting and two separate stalls enclosed by solid doors. The sheds provide additional options for stabling horses or cattle feeding/grazing. Most loafing sheds are 24’ x 12’.
Equipment Shop
The 8,000± sq. ft. equipment shop is sized and designed to facilitate storage and maintenance of all the machinery required to operate a farm or ranch. The building has an overhead heater, five bays, and a concrete floor in the maintenance area. The equipment storage section of the building has a gravel floor. The facility is also equipped with an air compressor.
Hay Production and Storage
The hay barn is an ample 4,000± square feet with discreet areas for storing shavings and hay.
Throughout the ranch, the fencing is high-quality painted steel pipe covered with wire mesh to protect the horses and maximize ranch security. The two main entrances to the ranch are gated with key code access.
One large residence and two staff houses offer several options for the discerning buyer. Each of the larger properties was once a primary ranch house before adjacent parcels of land were combined to form the current property. The Barn House has been completely remodeled and updated. The property also has ideal building sites for a new main residence.
The Barn House
Originally built as a dairy barn, the barn house has 3,921± finished square feet and a lower-level with a separate entrance. highly original with its distinctive metal gambrel roof, the barn house boasts numerous custom touches. renovations carefully preserved the signature features of the original building, such as exposed beamed ceilings and the third-floor hayloft door, now a hexagonal window. the exterior is clad in wooden siding and stacked stone.
The gourmet kitchen has granite counter tops, custom cabinetry and stainless steel appliances. the lower-level has a sitting room, a large bedroom and full bath. The barn house has four bedrooms and three-and-one-half baths, including the bed and bath. large upper-level decks and lower patios are perfect for enjoying the sunny days and cool summer evenings.
Floors are of hardwood and salmon-colored sandstone from the Lyons quarries, which are known for some of hardest sandstone in the world. Massive, solid wooden interior doors with custom wrought-iron hardware add interest. With its open floor plan and many windows, the home is warm, light-filled and perfect for entertaining.
Staff Housing
The Rocking R - Horse Ranch also has generous staff accommodations. The larger of the houses has 1,956± square feet, two bedrooms, a full bath and a detached garage. The second staff house has 885± square feet on two floors and includes a bedroom, a full bathroom and a detached garage.
It's no accident that Boulder and Longmont regularly make the lists of the most livable and healthiest cities in the United States. The weather is terrific, the outdoor activities are endless, locally sourced organic foods are plentiful and culture, art and music abound. Having the spectacular Rocky Mountain National Park just up the road doesn't hurt either.
Boulder
Home to the University of Colorado, which boasts five Nobel laureates and numerous nationally recognized academic departments, Boulder has been a magnet for learners, seekers, artists, musicians and entrepreneurs for more than a century. With a population of about 100,000 people, the city has the feel of a small town and the amenities and sophistication of a larger city. Scientific and spiritual organizations co-exist in an atmosphere of tolerance and open-minded learning. Naropa University, a secular Buddhist-oriented school founded by Allen Ginsberg and Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, is here. So are the National Institutes of Standards, home to the atomic clock, and the Technology and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
The spectacular Flatirons, mountainous rock formations of conglomerate sandstone, frame Boulder's western edge, beckoning outdoor enthusiasts. The region is rich with hiking, mountain biking and horse trails, as well as sporting activities of every kind. The Pearl Street Mall, a pedestrian avenue of shops and restaurants, pulses with activity throughout the seasons. And perhaps no city in America has more places that sell healthful, organic food and homeopathic remedies.
Over the years, Boulder has been named "best running city;" "thinnest city;" "No. 1 green & clean city;" a Seventeen magazine "Top 10 place for teens;" a Redbook "top ten great cities for working mothers;" a Men's Journal "best overall" city;" and one of Outside magazines "Best Outside Towns."
Lyons - Gateway to the Rockies
Rivers and roadways converge in historic Lyons, the self-named "Double Gateway to the Rockies." More than just a quaint town en route to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, Lyons is a charming and vibrant village with health food stores, homeopathic medicine shops, artists and live music performances. The town's historic district boasts 15 original sandstone buildings, built with rock quarried from the area. The North and South St. Vrain Creeks come together to form the St. Vrain River, a superb stream for fly-fishing, rafting and tubing. St. Vrain Canyon and Button Rock attract rock climbers of all levels, while some of the best mountain biking trails on the Front Range are here, as well. Free live music is a way of life in Lyons where impromptu fiddle sessions are legendary and the annual Planet Bluegrass Musical Festival is a down-home, good time for music lovers of all stripes.
Longmont
Longmont is the practical sister to Boulder's New Age maven and Lyon's arty charmer, but the town is no less loved by its residents, outdoor enthusiasts and business developers. With a population of about 86,000 people, Longmont has grown from an agricultural community to a hub of modern technology with Seagate, DigitalGlobe, Amgen and General Electric's energy control solutions business. A Federal Aviation Administration complex also is located here. The town has comprehensive shopping, good public schools and convenient health care.
Estes Park
The town of Estes Park, nestled at the eastern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park, is one of Colorado's most popular summer tourist destinations. With 6,000 permanent residents, Estes Park has a thriving art and music scene and stellar restaurants. The luxurious Stanley Hotel, a 1909 Edwardian retreat made famous (or infamous) by Stephen King's The Shining, attracts guests from around the world.
Rocky Mountain National Park
The eastern entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is about a half-hour drive from the Rocking R Ranch. Inarguably one of the nation's most spectacular preserved wildernesses, Rocky Mountain National Park encompasses 415 square miles of jagged peaks, alpine meadows, pristine mountain lakes, rivers, streams and abundant wildlife. Trail Ridge Road, which crosses the park, is the highest continuous vehicular road in the United States, running for more than eight miles at 11,000 feet above sea level and peaking at an exhilarating 12,183 feet. The park abounds with wildlife and has numerous campsites and backcountry trails.
Eldora Mountain Resort
"Friends don't let friends drive I-70," or so they say at Eldora Mountain Resort. Just 21 miles west of Boulder in the foothills near Nederland, Eldora Mountain Resort offers great skiing without the hassles of Interstate 70 traffic. The base area is 9,200 feet above sea level with the peak elevation at 10,800 feet above sea level. The resort receives an average of 300 inches of snow a year and also has one of Colorado's best snowmaking systems. Its famously groomed runs range in difficulty from beginner slopes to double black diamond trails.
Meadows and Pastures
Of the 110± acres, approximately 63± acres are irrigated and planted in Brome grass. The meadows produce hay sufficient to feed the owner's stock with excess to sell. Well-maintained gravel ranch roads traverse the property.
Farming Options
Boulder County is home to dozens of organic and natural produce farms and marvelous farmers markets. Grocers in Boulder, Longmont and Lyons sell local produce, providing a ready market for area growers. The fertile soil of the Rocking R – Horse Ranch is suitable for raising seasonable produce and culinary and medicinal herbs, as previous owners have done.
Development Options
The property has no conservation easement and is suitable for a new owner's home, which may be built without removing any of the existing residences.
