Welcome to The Florida River Ranch. Every so often as a ranch broker you are privileged to come across a very special, one of a kind, unique legacy ranch property that takes your breath away. This is the ranch that checks all the boxes with no expense spared. The Florida River Ranch sits on 63 +/- acres with direct access to 550 +/- acres of BLM land. The Florida River flows through the ranch running along the length of the property.
Land
The Florida River Ranch sits on 63 acre +/- with direct access to over 550 acres of BLM land, and just 10 min from downtown Durango, CO, yet you feel miles away from town. The Florida River flows through the entire ranch, the river was completely restored, creating several waterfalls features. The river offers adjudicated water rights directly from the river, which in itself is a very rare and lucky find. I have only seen that ability two other time in my 17 year career. The ranch also features F9 water rights from the Harrison Patterson ditch with 1.94 CFS, which is ample water that keeps the 12 large pastures green and healthy. The water is absolute gold and worth millions. Each pasture has loafing sheds for all year shelter for turnouts. This property also is hay producing 3000+/- bales of hay with 2-3 cuts per year. The pastures were well planned and built with solid metal pipe fencing (440) to last with over 250K spent just on the fencing alone. The ranch also features a custom pond with a beautiful waterfall feature thats deep (10 feet) for endless recreation for the family to enjoy. There are 3 wells on the ranch which again is extremely rare for CO, so if you choose to build another home, its ready to build. All the pastures have automatic water wheels, cannons for simple watering and management. The ranch has an array of mature fruit trees including, apple, plum, sweet asian pear and apricot trees. The river is lined with big beautiful cottonwood and aspen trees that produce the most mesmerizing fall colors and also great shade for reading your favorite book while listening to the peaceful sounds of the river which really has to be seen and heard to be appreciated. Along the river is a long walking trail for those early crisp morning walks with the dogs. One of the best features is a private direct access that takes you directly to BLM (over 550 acres) for getting on the horses, or bikes so you may ride or hike as long as you want directly from the ranch, giving the ranch a much much larger feel. Again everything about this ranch is VERY unique and must be seen to be appreciated on how truly special it is. It also has several opportunities for generous income for those looking for something special. Call to find out more…this one is truly a one of a kind!
Improvements
Ever thought you would own a true piece of the old west? Originally homesteaded in 1883. “The Florida River Ranch” has a long and rich history. It seems to me that the homesteaders always chose the locations to settle because they desired good soil, good water, and protection from the elements. For these reasons, I can understand why they selected this special spot. The ultimate custom log home, one of the best ever created by master craftsman Aaron Taylor. The home is 4948 sqft 6 bedrooms, 6.5 baths (all with AC) and is a master work of construction situated in a prime area. The bespoke home is surrounded by aspen trees , and the aromas of nature, and it is situated directly on the beautiful Florida River. Just off the master suit is a fenced in yard for the family dogs (convenient). Your friends will be amazed that you have both an indoor custom kitchen and an outdoor custom kitchen, which will provide some of the best entertaining experiences. With vaulted ceilings, granite countertops, top-of-the-line equipment, hand crafted cabinets with the majority of the wood coming off the ranch, there is also an unique bar to serve everyone’s favorite beverage, the main kitchen opens to the living room area. Every piece of furniture that will be sold with the property has been specially built to match the home, to the best of its ability. With big glass doors in the main area all over looking the river with plantation screens and automatic push of a button draw down shades. Everything in the house is voice or phone controlled, this makes the home a smart home, with every feature of the home can be controlled from anywhere in the world., with a push of a button. The home boast 2 sizable gas and wood burning river rock fire places. One rock at at time Montana Grizzly Stone was use to create the floors. The home offers heated shower floors as well as radiant heated flooring to keep your feet toasty. The cathedral ceiling features a massive, exquisitely crafted elk antler chandelier. The home features a second story with a bedroom and bathroom of its own, cherry wood stairs with meticulous attention to detail, and handcrafted iron handrails. In the main living room there is a large fully equipped granite bar perfect for entertaining. Walking out your living room onto the back deck opens up your outdoor living area which features a outdoor cowboy kitchen, complete with a refrigerator, custom built in Kalamozoo BBQ grill, and a full oven, truly amazing. At the far end of the room is a massive wood burning river rock fire place, and a hidden TV buried above it. With ample outdoor seating for all those family gatherings, watching games and grilling great food. The outdoor kitchen features draw down canvas curtains for easy year round use. Additionally, there’s an incredible custom built pig roaster in the back with a grill big enough to hold 100 burgers. There is a vast wooden dance floor in the rear beside the river which is great for parties or weddings. The entire ranch is equipped with a military grade generator that can run on its own subsurface propane tank in the case of a power outage, as well as independently controlled flood lights, (power stays on!) The ranch has two enormous custom barns, with the main barn having a custom 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment over it, and is now rented out for $295 per night and is constantly full. Guests that do bring their horses can ride the ranch and the 550 plus acres while enjoying the river. The barn features 4 foaling stalls that are well padded for the protection of your babies, and both barns are heated in the winter and 4 large fans to cool them in the mild summers, also an automatic fly spray system. There is 14 stalls (18 total) all with their own sand turn outs, rubber floors, heated outdoor water troughs, full cameras in each stall, all controlled by central 4 software from your phone, so nice to be able to check on the horses anytime of the day or night. All the concrete around the barns is heated as well as heated walkways so you and your horses don’t slip and fall, very smart. Plus a heated insulated loafing shed barn. The floors in both barns are rubber. You have a full on demand hot water washing station (indoors), great big laundry room and bath, full tack room plus a barn managers office. These are some of the finest barns I have ever seen, absolutely five star accommodations for your prized horses. There is a Priefert Panel Walker so you can work the horses anytime you like, again with a push of a button and no expense was spared. The ranch also has a full fenced arena with a nice viewing deck for having horse shows, training or cowboy events and is large enough for roping, and of course a great round pen with deep sand. The sportsman in the family can enjoy their very own shooting range out back. This incredible ranch is being sold 100% turn key with all its custom made furniture and also all the ranch equipment, this will be a separate transaction and a separate purchase from the Ranch.
Recreation
If horses are your world then “Florida River Ranch” is exactly what you are looking for and is truly one of a kind. Full horse arena with CowTrac, viewing deck, deep soft sand round pen, Priefert hot walker, 11 pastures, plus a river pasture that the horses love with automatic water troughs and loafing sheds. Endless riding on your horses on the 550 plus acres of BLM land that you have direct legal access to. I just don’t even seen that feature at all. If you like the water there is the beautiful Florida River flowing through Ranch. You have great big pond that the kids would have endless fun swimming in and jumping off the waterfall. You even have your own shooting range with multiple moving targets. A frisbee golf area (kids would love it). All of this is just minutes from town but you would never know it while on the ranch, you feel miles away from town. This literally is your own park.
Agriculture
The ranch will produce 3000 +/- squares bales of great grass hay, with 2/3 cuts per year. All the haying equipment you need will transfer with the sale. Mostly all John Deers, and the owner has done meticulous maintenance on all the equipment and has been logged.
Water/Mineral Rights & Natural Resources
F9 water rights, 1.94 CFS. Also adjudicate water rights out of the Florida River (very rare). With 50 acre – foot from the Lemon project water. This is ABSOLUTE gold in Colorado today and worth millions.
General Operations
Weddings could be a HUGE income producer as the ranch is as beautiful as ever and especially if you are all about horses, the river and having a large enough area for hundred plus people. Plenty of room for dancing on the outdoor dance floor, and laughing and just good fun, and creates those lasting memories.
Horse breeding, training, boarding anything to do with horses is ready on day one.
The 2 bedroom, 2 bath custom guest apartment over the main barn on VRBO receives $295 dollars per night and is constantly booked as guest can bring their horses, which is such a big need here, or it could be use for long term rental, or Ranch Manager.
Graduation parties.
Paint ball, Shooting range
Retreat center, Recovery, Rehab center
The ranch has a great ranch manager and he is a heck of a good horseman, and would consider staying on or consulting. He knows his horses and livestock, and crops, and can do anything the ranch requires.
Horse shows, Breeding, Training, anything you can think of with horses the ranch is ready on day one to accommodate everyones wish.
History
The ranch was originally homesteaded in 1883. It always seems to me the homesteaders always wanted a good protected location, good water, good soil, good hunting and fishing, so it is easy to see why they choose this special spot.
Location
The location of the ranch is absolutely perfect, 7 min to hospital and gym, 12 min to downtown Durango, 15 min to the airport, 9 min to Wal-Mart, and only 45 min to Purgatory for world class skiing, location, location, location, just perfect!