The Rogers Mountain Ranch

In the spring of 1870, six years before Colorado earned its statehood, Joseph Rogers and his brother, products of Maine & Southeastern Canada, drove 300 head of cattle to the South Park range four miles West of the town of Howbart set up camp and founded their ranch which grew to over 12,000 acres. Today, at the foot of hulking Thirtynine Mile Mountain, which is the southern sentinel to the entirety of South Park, rests the ranch born from the early effort of those western pioneers. Approximately two hours from Colorado’s two most populous cities and their international airports, the ranch consists of approximately1,250 acres. Approximately two hours from Denver, one hour and thirty minutes from Colorado Springs and about an hour to the world class ski resort of and ski town of Breckenridge the ranch is very well located for those seeking twelve months of adventure. The crown jewel of Rogers Mountain Ranch is its approximate 10,000 square foot fully custom, off-grid rock and timber lodge. Actress Goldie Hawn and actor Kurt Russell constructed the lodge in the late 90’s. Under current ownership since 2010 it has been meticulously and routinely maintained by onsite ranch management. In addition to properly caring for the lodge, the current owners have implemented robust improvements to its wind tower and solar array, power storage systems, internal electrical systems and recently replaced the generator that supplies backup power. The lodge has also seen a host of interior renovations. The lodge itself has been valued significantly below its replacement cost in this offering. It rests at 9,000 feet in altitude and nearly every room features one of South Park’s rarest views: the entirety of the west elevation of Pikes Peak standing guard at 14,115 with the six-mile long Elevenmile Canyon Reservoir and its granite rock formations in the foreground. Pikes Peak is one of Colorado’s ever famous “14ers”. Enjoy daybreak over breakfast on any part of the lodge’s 3,200 square feet of stamped concrete decks served by a wood burning fireplace. If resting in the luxury of the lodge through morning is your preference, you will not be disappointed by sunset on the same deck offering Pikes Peak cloaked in delicate shades of pink and blue as the dramatic thunderheads from an afternoon shower gone past are ablaze in sunset orange. On the interior of the lodge you’ll be engulfed by two story soaring ceilings featuring hand hewn beam construction in the great room. The glass and glazing work will surround you as you take in the views from the dining room, chef inspired kitchen and sitting room. The great room is flanked by two wood burning fire places with rock chimneys climbing from floor to ceiling. Overlooking the great room is a balcony to the upstairs workplace outfitted for your productivity needs. Back on the main floor and adjacent to the grand foyer and main entrance is the master suite featuring the same views of Pikes Peak, a gas fireplace serving the bedroom and the spa. Topped with the vaulted log ceiling and wrapped in custom tile work the spa features a water closet, jetted tub, shower, his and her closets and a beauty counter with multiple wash basins. The entirety of the lower floor of the lodge walks out to the east. And five of the six suites on this floor take advantage of a direct walk out to the stamped concrete patio. All of the suites feature bathrooms and surround a lower floor entertainment room with billiards and table games and movie viewing area all served by a gas hearth and wet bar. You will not lack for capacity in the lodge. With seven bedrooms, eight baths and a powder room capacity is comfortably rated between 20-24 people and everyone will take advantage of the luxury the lodge affords in all seasons whether that season offers the comfort of the summer breezes in the summer or majestic beauty of winter on the ranch while enjoying the warmth of the in floor heat system and five fireplaces in the winter. Remnants of the homesteaders remain on the ranch at its headquarters below the main lodge at the head of the hay pastures on the banks of Pruden Creek. There are late 1800's and early 1900's log structures here. Including the original Rogers Ranch House "Soddy" which is ready for restoration. In addition, there are two early 1900's barns, a horse barn and a milking barn which have been restored to serviceable condition along with log rail corrals. Headquarters features functional and renovated improvements including the two-story home housing the ranch managers and it is detached artist studio wrapped in French doors featuring a sleeping loft. All the structures are served with a sperate wind and solar system. And the entirety of headquarters is filled with aspen trees and features a pond stocked with trout. Views of the Mosquito Range to the west, Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir and Pikes Peak can all be enjoyed from Headquarters. Living here is like living in a post card. Speaking of ponds, there are a total of eleven ponds on RMR. Pruden, Union and the Balm of Gilead Creeks drain the ranch and fill its ponds. Anglers and non-anglers alike will delight by the trout stocked in six of the ponds on the ranch. The fishing on the ranch is remarkable. If additional angling pursuits are desired, fly fishing on the “Dream Stream”, a Gold Medal designated stretch of the South Platte River which runs between Spinney Mountain and Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoirs can be enjoyed as it is only a ten-minute drive from the ranch. Laiden with aquatic insects and other aquatic biomass from Spinney Mountain Reservoir which supports trout and salmon you will quickly understand from where its nickname is earned. Still water anglers will also delight with over 171,000 acre feet of reservoirs and their professional outfitters and marinas that surround the ranch. The boat ramp to the largest of the three reservoirs is mere minutes from the ranch. Additionally, Confluence Land Company’s strategic partner, Freestone Aquatics, has identified creek development opportunities on Pruden Creek. An opportunity for oxbow development on the creek exists for a value-add opportunity. Due to its size and agricultural status, RMR is eligible for Colorado’s Landowner Preference Program (the “LPP”). RMR has historically received a couple of Elk vouchers, a couple of Mule Deer vouchers and occasionally an Antelope tag. The ranch falls entirely within Game Unit 58 which is a draw only unit for elk as compared to other surrounding units which are over the counter units which increases the value of the vouchers the ranch receives through the LPP. The ranch is a fine respite for big game due to its size and abundance of water resources. Herds of elk call the area and the sunny slopes of the ranch home in late season rifle and are often seen watering themselves on the ponds in earlier seasons such as archery and muzzleloader seasons. Mule deer are ever present and Boone and Crockett antelope find themselves in the upland pastures of the ranch. The ranch has received almost no pressure from big game hunters since 2010. LPP vouchers are also eligible for hunting tags outside of the borders of the ranch on over 25,000 acres of Pike National Forest and BLM lands. Both are contiguous are the ranch. RMR offers big game sportsman a head start on public hunters into these lands- one of the highly coveted aspects of private land in Colorado. Train your bows, rifles and pistols on the ranch’s shooting range. Earthen berms have been created for your target sport needs. Close in pistol stands are just as functional as the long-range rifle range and the shooting clay range. RMR’s combination of sporting pursuits make this a complete opportunity within close proximity to the conveniences the two largest metro areas in Colorado. RMR supports 50-60 AUM of livestock from May thru October annually and produces an average of 1,250 square bales of fine quality native grass hay. This kind of production is very high for this intermontane grassland basin and speaks to the water assets of the ranch. A lease with a local rancher keeps real estate property taxes low here and through such a relationship the historical values of the ranch and its western ranching heritage preserved 150 years after they begun. Those values are respected and honored through the South Park National Heritage Area. A designation this 2,000 square mile received from the federal government in 2009 and which is shared with only 55 others in the Unites States. The designation provides financial support from the Federal Government without creating additional public land. Such support is used to preserve the values of the area and create tourism. Please navigate to confluenceland.com for complete details, photos, book and video.