GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Fortune Ranch is a study in topographical
diversity, from lush irrigated hay meadows and riparian land to high
mountain pastures and alpine forests. The ranch is comprised of eight
individual parcels, three of which are connected by State lease land, or BLM
and National Forest land. The Headquarters, Lower Higby and Cottonsack
parcels are in very close proximity to each other. The most distant large
parcel is approximately five miles from the headquarters. All of the
improvements and irrigated ground as well as cattle working facilities are
on the headquarters and Lower Higby parcels. There are three hunting /
fishing cabins in remote mountain locations.
The Huerfano Valley is an agricultural community
made up of various size ranches and farms ranging from 160 acres to one of
about 70,000 acres. Volunteer fire and ambulance service is available in
Gardner. Other services, shopping and medical facilities are available in
Walsenburg and / or Pueblo.
A Phase One Environmental Site Assessment has
been done on the ranch. The conclusion of the inspector is that “there were
no recognized environmental conditions discovered and no environmental
impact that would relate to this property.” As a result “no further action
was recommended.”
LOCATION
The 14,035 deeded acre Fortune Ranch is located
on the eastern slope of the majestic Sangre De Cristo Mountain Range in the
beautiful Huerfano Valley. Mt. Blanca (“A fourteener”) can be viewed from
most parts of the ranch. The Sand Dunes National Park is three miles by
horseback from the western border of the ranch by way of Mosca Pass, and the
views are spectacular.
The ranch can be reached several different ways.
From Colorado Springs go south on I-25 to Pueblo where you will go west on
Highway 50 through Canon City to Texas Creek. A good portion of this route
will be through the scenic Arkansas River Canyon. At Texas Creek turn south
on Highway 69 through the Wet Mountain Valley and the charming little town
of Westcliffe to Gardner, then west 13 miles on County Road 550 to the ranch
headquarters. A second option from Highway 50 is to go through the town of
Florence, just east of Canon City, to the town of Wetmore. From here you
will take Highway 96 over the Wet Mountains to Westcliffe, then proceed
south on Highway 69.
If you prefer to use I-25 from Colorado Springs
or Santa Fe take the northernmost exit to Walsenburg, proceed west 25 miles
on Highway 69 to Gardner. From Gardner continue west 13-miles on County Road
550 to the ranch headquarters. From the ranch Pueblo is 80 miles, Colorado
Springs is 120 miles, Denver is 175 miles, all to the north, and Santa Fe,
New Mexico is 260 miles south.
The nearest commercial airport is Colorado
Springs which is served by a number of major airlines and can handle any
size private aircraft. The Silver West Airport, conveniently located between
Gardner and Westcliffe, abut 30 miles north or the ranch, has a 7000 feet
runway that is 40 feet wide at an elevation 0f 8,290, and can handle most
private jet aircraft.
ACREAGE / TERRAIN / PARCEL
The National Forest lease is on approximately
13,000 acres which borders the ranch on the south and the west. Total deeded
and leased acreage for the ranch is 34,155 acres.
Red Wing Headquarters and Lower Higby are made
up of lush irrigated meadows and pasture land, riparian and wetland areas.
The Huerfano River runs through both of these parcels of the ranch for an
estimated 2-1/2 miles and there are two ponds on each of the parcels. It’s
estimated that there are approximately 500 acres of irrigated land on the
Red Wing Headquarters and about 450 acres on the Lower Higby.
Martin, Mosca, Huerfano and South Huerfano
parcels have vast high mountain pastures and alpine lands covered with
spruce, pine and aspen trees. The ranch has three water storage reservoirs
which are located in these upper areas of the ranch. These parcels border,
or partially border the San Isabel National Forest and the Sangre de Cristo
Wilderness Area. The Great Sand Dunes National Park is about three miles
west of the Mosca parcel.
Muddy and Cottonsack parcels are at lower
elevation and are mostly flat to rolling dry-land pasture with some
expansive meadows and sparse to dense areas of Pinion pine.
Views from almost the entire ranch are quite
spectacular and include several 14,000' peaks in the majestic Sangre de
Cristo Mountains, including Mt.Blanca to the southwest.
IMPROVEMENTS
Headquarters: The Huerfano River meanders
through this portion of the ranch for about
1-1/2 miles offering good fishing possibilities.
Note: With some modifications and improvements to the stream the quality of
fishing could be greatly enhanced.
Cattle working and shipping facilities are
located here and include: ten working / holding pens, a 10,000 lb. scale and
loading chutes. The calving shed /barn has a hay storage area, electricity,
telephone and tack room. In addition, there is a large loafing shed and a
multiple-bay equipment storage facility. These facilities are in fair to
good condition.
The residence on this parcel is a modest older
two-story adobe with four bedrooms and one bath. Water is provided by a
well, heat and appliances are propane.
Lower Higby: The Huerfano River runs through
this part of the ranch for about one mile. The historic house with
two-foot-thick walls has three bedrooms and one and a-half baths. The house
has been remodeled inside, with a state-of-the-art kitchen being the focal
point. The appliances, which are all new, include: a sub-zero freezer and
refrigerator, Hobart commercial dishwasher, Dacor oven and a Dacor six
burner range with double brick-lined ovens. A large tiled island has two
warming drawers. The house is adobe with one and a-half to two foot thick
walls. There is a dog shower in the rear mudroom. Water is provided by a
well, heat and appliances are propane.
Other improvements include: a barn, which is a
120' x 30' metal building with a veterinary room, six stalls and an open
riding arena. The metal machine shop / equipment building 100' x 50' has a
concrete floor, 14' high door and is partially insulated. The six-car metal
garage has a concrete floor and is insulated.
WATER RIGHTS
The ranch holds extensive water rights for
irrigation purposes and storage rights in three reservoirs. Please contact
Listing Broker for a complete list of these rights.
MINERAL RIGHTS
Price to include all mineral rights owned by the
seller.
WILDLIFE & RECREATION
The Huerfano Valley is rich in wildlife. Elk are
abundant and can be found predominantly in the upper reaches of the ranch
during the warmer months and on the lower part of the ranch in colder
months. Deer and some antelope can be found mostly in the lower elevations.
Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep, bear, mountain lion, coyote and bobcat are
also inhabitants of the ranch.
There are three remote cabins which have been
used as hunting / fishing cabins, and as “cow camps.” The cabin on the
Huerfano parcel is near the headwaters area of the Huerfano River and is one
of the more favored fishing areas. The storage reservoirs have been stocked
with German Brown and Rainbow trout.
CARRYING CAPACITY
The historical carrying capacity of
the ranch, including all leased lands and grazing allotments, is
approximately 700 animal units (AU’s). This figure is based on the average
“normal” year and will fluctuate according to management and precipitation.
The current owners, in the interest of preserving abundant high quality
grazing for both cattle and wildlife, have chosen to reduce the number of
AU’s to approximately two hundred and fifty. This number will be increased
based on forage conditions.
BROKER’S COMMENTS
Seldom does a ranch of this magnitude come
available in this day and age, as there aren’t many left. Numerous large
ranches have been taken out of production and divided into smaller parcels.
The Fortune Ranch has so many desirable
attributes it’s hard to know where to begin itemizing them. The climate in
southern Colorado and the Huerfano Valley is moderate--summers are not too
hot and the winters are not harsh. Colorado in general has over 300 days a
year of sunshine. The air is clean and fresh.
The views, both on the ranch and of the
surrounding mountains, are quite spectacular and they’re constantly
changing. For wildlife viewers and hunters alike the ranch is a paradise.
For those looking to slow the pace down, this is where you can do it.
This is a real “cowboy outfit.” Cattle are
herded to their summer pastures on horseback, not trucked, a step back in
time.
PRICE
$19,500,000 Cash or
terms acceptable to Seller. Seller may wish to complete an IRS code 1031 Tax
Deferred Exchange.
SHOWINGS
Shown by appointment only. A minimum 48-hour
advance notice is absolutely required. Please contact Sellers Exclusive
Listing Brokers to schedule a showing, or for further information.
