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Rocking R - Orchard House

$1,200,000 Longmont, CO 3± Deeded Acres

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Overview

Executive Summary

The Orchard House at Rocking R is a perfect small-acreage getaway, second home or retirement opportunity. Conveniently located within minutes of Boulder, Lyons and Longmont, the property offers private access off Highway 66. The home is surrounded by mature cottonwood trees, two irrigation canals, an apple orchard, and a very private location.

Offered in cooperation with Colorado Landmark, Realtors.

Just the Facts

  • 3.033± acres
  • 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
  • The Orchard House: 4,415 finished sq. ft., 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 4 fireplaces, finished basement, detached 3-car garage, patios, decks
  • Apple orchard
  • Meandering waterways lined by mature cottonwoods and willows

General Description

The Orchard House at Rocking R is the perfect small-acreage retreat. The main residence is easily accessible yet located in a very private and secluded area, surrounded by old growth cottonwood trees and an apple orchard. Abundant water rights for the size of the property are traversed by two irrigation waterways providing irrigation water and aesthetic water features. Conveniently located, the Orchard House is a perfect second home or weekend getaway. 

Broker's Comments

Rocking R - Orchard House presents an opportunity to acquire a property within twenty-five minutes of Boulder. This area is nationally recognized for its abundance of horses per capita and diverse equine culture. This property has two creek-size irrigation canals lined with massive cottonwood trees, and an easily accessible location.

Locale

Location

Just 25 minutes north of the city of Boulder, the Rocking R - Orchard Ranch lies between Highway 66 and the Rabbit Mountain Open Space with its hundreds of acres of protected lands and miles of hiking and riding trails. Located about 12 miles west of Interstate 25, the ranch is easily accessible year round. Less than ten minutes from the shopping, schools, hospitals and restaurants of Longmont and just five minutes from the quaint stores and restaurants of Lyons, the Rocking R – Orchard House is convenient to all the amenities of the city and still very much in the country, surrounded by farms and ranches. Estes Park and the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park are just a half-hour's drive from the ranch.  Boulder County has two municipal airports, including the Lance Brand Municipal Airport near Longmont. The Denver International Airport is about 60 miles from the ranch via I-25 and the E-470 Tollway. Denver itself is equally close, with driving time less than an hour.

Locale

In northern Boulder County, the undulating grasslands of the Great Plains roll to a stop against the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The branches of the St. Vrain River converge and flow through the canyon, traveling south and east from the mountains, carrying pure snow melt and healthy trout. The soil is rich, the cottonwoods large and the wild grasses a dozen different hues. In the distance, Longs Peak juts above the purple frill of lower mountains to punctuate the western sky. Here, at 5,017 feet above sea level, the mysteries of the prairie meet the majesty of the mountains, and the wondrous natures of two very different worlds combine in a mix that is both exotic and familiar. Here you will find The Rocking R – Orchard House, a property that, like its surroundings, is complex, nuanced and sublime.

Climate

Boulder County enjoys some of Colorado's most inviting weather with an average of 245 sunny days a year and year-round low humidity. The average high temperature in July, the hottest month, is 86 degrees while the January average low is 17 degrees. Though nighttime temperatures can dip below zero in winter, extended periods of extreme cold are not common. The area receives about 18 inches of rainfall and 77 inches of snow a year. Unlike the higher elevations, the snow rarely accumulates to significant depths.

Property Details

Acreage (Deeded & Leased)

Deeded Acres:
Total Leased Acres:
Total Acres:

Additional Information

UTILITIES
Electricity: City of Longmont
Natural Gas: Xcel Energy 
Domestic water: Left Hand Water Tap
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 Open Space

Boulder County

Boulder County Weather

Boulder County Municipal Airport

Boulder Daily Camera

Boulder Valley School District

Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport

Boulder County Horse Association

Town of Lyons

City of Longmont

Rocky Mountain National Park

Eldora Mountain Resort

* Some of the outstanding photography was provided by Mark Quentin / StudioQphoto.com.  (Contact information is available upon request.)

Improvements

The Orchard House 
Nestled in the trees near an apple orchard, this brick ranch-style home has 4,415± finished square feet. Two irrigation waterways, lined with old growth cottonwood trees, flow around and past the property.

Solid and well built, the Orchard House has an open floor plan, four fireplaces, a three-car detached garage and gracious outdoor areas for entertaining. The kitchen has been updated with granite counters and stainless appliances.  The finished basement has a large family room, a fireplace, recessed ceiling lighting, a bedroom and bath. There are three bedrooms and three baths on the main floor for a total of four bedrooms and four baths. Decks, patios and a large stone fireplace invite family and guests alike to linger long after sunset.

Mineral Rights

The owner's full share of the mineral rights conveys with the property.

Recreational Amenities

Recreational Considerations

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.