Thursday, August 25, 2005
Hiking with Alden last night up the Mad Creek Trail
Last night Alden, Woody and I went hiking up the Mad Creek trail which is about 6 miles up CR 129 in the Elk River Valley. Alden continues to amaze me with how much faster he gets better at things and his endurance increases. He cruized up the trail with me no problem, checked out every little detail (and identified quite a few) on the way and before we know we had gone nearly a mile. I thought we had better turn around so we headed back. He didn't have a nap that day fell asleep for the short drive up and Ihad to wake him up for the hike. What a great place to bring up a kid and be a Daddy! I am truly lucky.
Steamboat Springs Winter Olympics Sendoff
We are fortunate to have such a great Olympic tradition in Steamboat and this is a good way to keep that Olympic spirit alive for the town in addition to the athletes. Not quite as good as a few medals but community support over time is what makes the programs that produce those medals possible. More importantly local Steamboat kids get to live the Olympic Dream and participate in the same programs from a young age if their goals are the Olympics or just improving themselves as an athlete and a person.
Selected quotes from the Steamboat Pilot:
Olympic-sized send-off planned By Christine Metz Wednesday, August 24, 2005
A bitter cold February night with a crowd of 5,000 people huddled near the Routt County Courthouse lawn, warmed by the spirit of a community that came together to celebrate and send off its finest athletes. The lighting of an 18-foot caldron, which would burn continuously for a month until every athlete returned home from the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.
Four years ago, the community's send-off celebration for its 16 Olympians became a magical moment in Steamboat history. Now, Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. wants to replicate that night for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. To do so could cost $68,000. The $68,000 price tag includes a musical act on a full stage on Lincoln Avenue, a laser light show and fireworks and an estimated $12,000 to fuel the caldron's flame with natural gas throughout the Olympic Games.
Ski Corp. has selected Jan. 28 as the date for the celebration. Wirth said it will be three days after the U.S. Olympics team is named and before athletes will begin traveling to Italy. Wirth estimates 20 athletes who call Steamboat home have the potential of competing in the 2006 Winter Olympics. Wirth said they use the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club designation to calculate Winter Olympians from Steamboat -- basically those who train and live here or have trained and lived here for extended periods of time.
Full story at the Steamboat Pilot
Selected quotes from the Steamboat Pilot:
Olympic-sized send-off planned By Christine Metz Wednesday, August 24, 2005
A bitter cold February night with a crowd of 5,000 people huddled near the Routt County Courthouse lawn, warmed by the spirit of a community that came together to celebrate and send off its finest athletes. The lighting of an 18-foot caldron, which would burn continuously for a month until every athlete returned home from the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.
Four years ago, the community's send-off celebration for its 16 Olympians became a magical moment in Steamboat history. Now, Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. wants to replicate that night for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. To do so could cost $68,000. The $68,000 price tag includes a musical act on a full stage on Lincoln Avenue, a laser light show and fireworks and an estimated $12,000 to fuel the caldron's flame with natural gas throughout the Olympic Games.
Ski Corp. has selected Jan. 28 as the date for the celebration. Wirth said it will be three days after the U.S. Olympics team is named and before athletes will begin traveling to Italy. Wirth estimates 20 athletes who call Steamboat home have the potential of competing in the 2006 Winter Olympics. Wirth said they use the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club designation to calculate Winter Olympians from Steamboat -- basically those who train and live here or have trained and lived here for extended periods of time.
Full story at the Steamboat Pilot
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Milkshake with Alden at Johnny B's
Last night Alden and I met friends to play at the park and then stopped by Johnny B. Goods for one of his favorite things about Steamboat, an old fashioned milkshake (dinner too but it is all about the milkshake in his book). They had some good music going so Alden started grooving and quickly attracted the attention of most people in hte restaurant. I'm not sure where he got his moves but I'm confident it wasn't from me. If you ever want a fun diversion for kids of any age Johnny B. Good's Diner on Lincoln Avenue is a great choice.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Winter is on it's way
Don't get me wrong. I love winter in Steamboat more than any other season. But no matter how much I revel in the signs that it is coming or speculate what a good winter it could be based on how much rain we have been getting I don't want to give up a single day of summer or fall to make it come sooner. Well maybe a couple but not too many. Every season in Steamboat is special to me so it is hard to get me out of here most of the year. I love to travel and always have but there is so much to do here I just don't get that wanderlust as often anymore. Maybe its just that it doesn't lead me outside the Yampa valley as much anymore.
We have been getting pretty regular rains for about 4 weeks now. Both the frequency and amount of precipitation is like nothing we have seen in several years so more thana few people are talking about what this winter could hold for us if mother nature keeps delivering the goods. It appears that the local skiers are not the only ones sensing this. Check out the following quotes from Tom Ross for the story...
Selected quotes from Tom Ross's excellent article on the change of seasons:
Last call for summer: Ptarmigan already pturning color high on ptundra Monday, August 22, 2005
We hiked about as high into the Mount Zirkel Wilderness as a soul can hike during the weekend, hoping to find a snowdrift for the dog to roll in. What we found was even better. Oh, to be sure, we found beacoup snow. There were big drifts with streams bursting right out of them. And there was a massive avalanche runout where the snow was deep and firm even in the middle of an August afternoon. The snow that lingered from twin avalanches must have measured 250 yards in length, and we felt certain it would persist long enough to to be buried by the first snows of the new season.
And isn't that what matters? The new season? Aren't we due for a big winter of no less than 375 inches of snow? Well, I have good news to report brothers and sisters. Call it a favorable omen. High above 11,000 feet there is a sign of a big winter to come.
The ptarmigan already have begun to change their plumage from mottled brown to snowy white. I'm thinkin' they must be getting ready. We had hiked up past the Slavonia mining ruins Sunday morning into the spectacular Alpine bowl that lies beneath Red Dirt Pass. The snow drifts that dot the landscape represent the headwaters of the Elk River. The meadows along the way to Red Dirt Pass are putting on as fine a late summer wildflower display as we've ever seen. There were blossoming penstemon, harebells, bluebells, paintbrush and larkspur. There were blossoms that weren't familiar to us, like rosecrown and Parry primrose. There was even a delicate little blossom called bistort that reminded me of a snowball -- oops, there I go again.
From the mining camp at 10,000 feet, the trail gains 2,180 feet of elevation in 2.5 miles on the way to the summit of Mount Zirkel. And as we climbed, it was as if we were walking back in time in terms of the species of wildflowers that continue to blossom.
We climbed a fair distance above Red Dirt Pass where we glimpsed Gilpin Lake far below us, and wondered at the expanse of big Agnes. On the way down, we were picking our way through rocky tundra when six large birds exploded out of the low vegetation 15 feet in front of us. As they scattered, I immediately recognized them as ptarmigan. Their heads, backs and the tops of the wings were mottled gray and brown -- perfect camouflage in the rocky tundra. However, their breasts and the underside of their tail feathers already had begun the seasonal transition to the camouflage they would need in winter.
It's only August folks, and already the creatures of the high country are preparing for a big winter. How about you?
We have been getting pretty regular rains for about 4 weeks now. Both the frequency and amount of precipitation is like nothing we have seen in several years so more thana few people are talking about what this winter could hold for us if mother nature keeps delivering the goods. It appears that the local skiers are not the only ones sensing this. Check out the following quotes from Tom Ross for the story...
Selected quotes from Tom Ross's excellent article on the change of seasons:
Last call for summer: Ptarmigan already pturning color high on ptundra Monday, August 22, 2005
We hiked about as high into the Mount Zirkel Wilderness as a soul can hike during the weekend, hoping to find a snowdrift for the dog to roll in. What we found was even better. Oh, to be sure, we found beacoup snow. There were big drifts with streams bursting right out of them. And there was a massive avalanche runout where the snow was deep and firm even in the middle of an August afternoon. The snow that lingered from twin avalanches must have measured 250 yards in length, and we felt certain it would persist long enough to to be buried by the first snows of the new season.
And isn't that what matters? The new season? Aren't we due for a big winter of no less than 375 inches of snow? Well, I have good news to report brothers and sisters. Call it a favorable omen. High above 11,000 feet there is a sign of a big winter to come.
The ptarmigan already have begun to change their plumage from mottled brown to snowy white. I'm thinkin' they must be getting ready. We had hiked up past the Slavonia mining ruins Sunday morning into the spectacular Alpine bowl that lies beneath Red Dirt Pass. The snow drifts that dot the landscape represent the headwaters of the Elk River. The meadows along the way to Red Dirt Pass are putting on as fine a late summer wildflower display as we've ever seen. There were blossoming penstemon, harebells, bluebells, paintbrush and larkspur. There were blossoms that weren't familiar to us, like rosecrown and Parry primrose. There was even a delicate little blossom called bistort that reminded me of a snowball -- oops, there I go again.
From the mining camp at 10,000 feet, the trail gains 2,180 feet of elevation in 2.5 miles on the way to the summit of Mount Zirkel. And as we climbed, it was as if we were walking back in time in terms of the species of wildflowers that continue to blossom.
We climbed a fair distance above Red Dirt Pass where we glimpsed Gilpin Lake far below us, and wondered at the expanse of big Agnes. On the way down, we were picking our way through rocky tundra when six large birds exploded out of the low vegetation 15 feet in front of us. As they scattered, I immediately recognized them as ptarmigan. Their heads, backs and the tops of the wings were mottled gray and brown -- perfect camouflage in the rocky tundra. However, their breasts and the underside of their tail feathers already had begun the seasonal transition to the camouflage they would need in winter.
It's only August folks, and already the creatures of the high country are preparing for a big winter. How about you?
Monday, August 22, 2005
Horseback Riding and putting up the hay in Steamboat
Alden saddled up with Daddy for his first horseback ride out at our friends the Hartleys. Dave & I saddled up the horse and then I rode around the back of their house. We obviously hadn't planned this because Wendy already had him in his jammies but Alden was excited to see the horse and seemed ready for some adventure. Wendy handed him up to me and we rode around around their yard and then the big pasture. I said yea hah once and Alden took it from there yelling it with glee and riding Toots like he was a rodeo cowboy. It was and incredible place to ride with a direct view of the Steamboat Ski area and the Yampa Valley. Toot is a great horse that I have ridden on and off for about 18 years so I trusted him completely with Alden.
Before our big ride I helped my friends Dave and Katherine load and store a couple large truckloads hay bales from his fields. Slinging 70 pound hay bales up high on a truck and then stacking them in the barn is not easy work but it is very satisfying and makes for a good nights sleep afterwards. I've gotten out anouther day since then and hopefully I can get in a few more evenings to help them out and get the workout that comes along with it for free.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Steamboat Springs City Council discusses public gondola to ski area base
The discussion on the Wildhorse to one Steamboat Place gondola continues. In my opinion this would be practical way to keep a lot of traffic off of the upper base area in Steamboat and a big wow factor amenity for visitors to the ski area year round. It would be a much better experience than getting on a bus and bring some additional cachet and thus visitors to the base area all year long. If the goal is to create a year round scene up on the mountain a gondola would be a big help in addition to the base area updates that are in hte planning stages. We'll see what happens...
Selected quotes from the Steamboat Pilot and Today:
Proposed people-mover would be ‘visionary' investment By Tom Ross Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Is Steamboat Springs ready to invest in a multimillion dollar public/private gondola at the base of Steamboat Ski Area? "This is visionary," Council President Paul Strong said. "But sometimes we're not ready for that vision. It would take shuttle vans and cars off our roads.
The gondola came up during a preliminary discussion about Wildhorse Meadows, a luxury residential subdivision that would create 300 to 375 residential units on 47 acres near the base of the ski area. No vote was taken about the fate of the project. The gondola would deliver people from a public plaza to be built just east of the ski area's remote parking lot. The gondola would end at the proposed One Steamboat Place luxury condominium project adjacent to the ski area gondola.
Wildhorse spokesman Whitney Ward told the council he was prepared to take one of two approaches to building the gondola. The first approach would be a lower-capacity gondola that would cost about $1.5 million. It would be a private gondola available to people staying in Wildhorse Meadows.
Ward's development group obtained a private easement for the gondola when it purchased its real estate from American Skiing Company. Ward said he also is willing to build a much more robust public gondola with the financial participation of Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. and the city. It would be available to skiers and snowboarders heading to the gondola that takes snow riders to Thunderhead.
Public funding would come from the city's newly created urban renewal authority, which captures an increment of property tax growth for public improvements near the base of the ski area. Ward said he has calculated that without taking One Steamboat Place (for which he also is a principal) into account, Wildhorse Meadows could generate $14 million in bondable tax increment financing.
Ward told the council that he thinks that if his project is to be included within the boundaries of the URA, it must be the recipient of some of the public improvements that are funded. "I think there's a good public discussion to have about whether that's an appropriate use of funds," Ward said.
Councilwoman Kathy Connell sounded intrigued with the effect the people mover gondola could have in the future. "We really do have a window of opportunity that's larger than our own perspectives," Connell said. "Is this a way we can condense some of our transportation? Do we like the idea of getting more people on foot?"
Councilman Loui Antonucci said the community needs to take a broader look at circulation patterns near the base of Mount Werner. He said it's difficult to gauge how many pedestrians would cross Mount Werner Road, for example, to reach the gondola. He added that he thinks the complexity of the task might lead Ward and his partners to opt for the less expensive private gondola.
Ward promised council members he would have a better understanding of American Skiing Company's interest in the gondola when he returns to seek a development permit for Wildhorse Meadows.
Selected quotes from the Steamboat Pilot and Today:
Proposed people-mover would be ‘visionary' investment By Tom Ross Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Is Steamboat Springs ready to invest in a multimillion dollar public/private gondola at the base of Steamboat Ski Area? "This is visionary," Council President Paul Strong said. "But sometimes we're not ready for that vision. It would take shuttle vans and cars off our roads.
The gondola came up during a preliminary discussion about Wildhorse Meadows, a luxury residential subdivision that would create 300 to 375 residential units on 47 acres near the base of the ski area. No vote was taken about the fate of the project. The gondola would deliver people from a public plaza to be built just east of the ski area's remote parking lot. The gondola would end at the proposed One Steamboat Place luxury condominium project adjacent to the ski area gondola.
Wildhorse spokesman Whitney Ward told the council he was prepared to take one of two approaches to building the gondola. The first approach would be a lower-capacity gondola that would cost about $1.5 million. It would be a private gondola available to people staying in Wildhorse Meadows.
Ward's development group obtained a private easement for the gondola when it purchased its real estate from American Skiing Company. Ward said he also is willing to build a much more robust public gondola with the financial participation of Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. and the city. It would be available to skiers and snowboarders heading to the gondola that takes snow riders to Thunderhead.
Public funding would come from the city's newly created urban renewal authority, which captures an increment of property tax growth for public improvements near the base of the ski area. Ward said he has calculated that without taking One Steamboat Place (for which he also is a principal) into account, Wildhorse Meadows could generate $14 million in bondable tax increment financing.
Ward told the council that he thinks that if his project is to be included within the boundaries of the URA, it must be the recipient of some of the public improvements that are funded. "I think there's a good public discussion to have about whether that's an appropriate use of funds," Ward said.
Councilwoman Kathy Connell sounded intrigued with the effect the people mover gondola could have in the future. "We really do have a window of opportunity that's larger than our own perspectives," Connell said. "Is this a way we can condense some of our transportation? Do we like the idea of getting more people on foot?"
Councilman Loui Antonucci said the community needs to take a broader look at circulation patterns near the base of Mount Werner. He said it's difficult to gauge how many pedestrians would cross Mount Werner Road, for example, to reach the gondola. He added that he thinks the complexity of the task might lead Ward and his partners to opt for the less expensive private gondola.
Ward promised council members he would have a better understanding of American Skiing Company's interest in the gondola when he returns to seek a development permit for Wildhorse Meadows.
Monday, August 15, 2005
100 days until the Steamboat Ski Area opens
Today marks the last day of early season pricing for Steamboat Season Passes and 100 days until the mountain opens on November 23rd for Scholarship Day. Scholarship day is always scheduled for the day before Thanksgiving and is the first day Steamboat Ski area opens with a fundraiser for the local Winter Sports Club.
Lift tickets are $15 and all of the proceeds go to Winter Sports Club programs that train local kids in plethora of Winter Sports events. More Olympians have come from or trained in Steamboat than any other town in the World and that is due to the efforts of the Winter Sports, local parents, and the need to step up to hang with with your friends.
The other side benefit of Scholarship day is that 2 out of 3 years the skiing can be outrageously good. Since it is the first day the mountain opens and they only tend to groom the major feeder runs it is not uncommon to find 3 or more feet of untouched snow on the upper mountain runs and even more in the trees. If you are a dedicated powderhound I recommend planning your Thanksgiving vacation to be here to take advantage of scholarship day. Its worth it just to miss traveling on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving alone. Just rembember the base below isn't packed down so you need to ski around or lean back ot go over any suspicious bumps in the snow.
Most of the time you don't know until a few days beforehand how good it will be since the storms seem to really kick in either the weekend before or the week of Thanksgiving. If you need to spend the holiday with family don't despair because the week after Thanksgiving is even more reliable for good snow. Before I lived here I would often be driving home Sunday night or Monday morning is a good blizzard wishing I could turn around and stay. Prices are great that week and there is much less competition for the snow.
Lift tickets are $15 and all of the proceeds go to Winter Sports Club programs that train local kids in plethora of Winter Sports events. More Olympians have come from or trained in Steamboat than any other town in the World and that is due to the efforts of the Winter Sports, local parents, and the need to step up to hang with with your friends.
The other side benefit of Scholarship day is that 2 out of 3 years the skiing can be outrageously good. Since it is the first day the mountain opens and they only tend to groom the major feeder runs it is not uncommon to find 3 or more feet of untouched snow on the upper mountain runs and even more in the trees. If you are a dedicated powderhound I recommend planning your Thanksgiving vacation to be here to take advantage of scholarship day. Its worth it just to miss traveling on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving alone. Just rembember the base below isn't packed down so you need to ski around or lean back ot go over any suspicious bumps in the snow.
Most of the time you don't know until a few days beforehand how good it will be since the storms seem to really kick in either the weekend before or the week of Thanksgiving. If you need to spend the holiday with family don't despair because the week after Thanksgiving is even more reliable for good snow. Before I lived here I would often be driving home Sunday night or Monday morning is a good blizzard wishing I could turn around and stay. Prices are great that week and there is much less competition for the snow.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Steamboat Springs has 3 new luxury neighborhoods on the way
The Steamboat Springs Luxury Real Estate market has really blossomed over the past few years with the development of Catamount, Priest Creek Ranch and Storm Mountain Ranch. Steamboat is now a world class luxury home destination without losing any of it's rural family friendly appeal. People interested in all but the loftyest price points can now find what they are looking for in Steamboat Springs.
What nearly all of them have in common is the desire to relax with their family and friends in a place that is so rich in recreational opportunities. A big driver is Steamboat's appeal as a place to bring the grandchilren. I frequently hear that when your kids only have 2 weeks of vacation they are much more eager to visit you in Steamboat and get in a good vacation for themselves at the same time. Many people that have been coming to Steamboat for years are upsizing their places here to allow them to share Steamboat with their family and friends. Many people step out of more and more of the daily operations of their businesses to spend time with their family and spending more time in their favorite places is a natural extension of that desire.
It is also becoming almost common place for people to arrange their schedules and jobs to telecommute from Steamboat all or part of the year escaping some of the stresses of fastrack careers and city life. Several people I have talked to feel they can be more productive here without the daily commute. Coming to Steamboat gives others the chance to think more strategically about their business and can turn out to be a net postive for both their business and personal goals.
Selected quotes from the Steamboat Pilot
Trio of rural subdivisions offer high-end acreages By Tom Ross, Staff Reporter
A trio of rural subdivisions working their way through the county planning process holds the potential to create 117 new multi-million dollar homes in the valley. The three subdivisions are Tailwaters River Ranch (Steamboat River Ranch), Alpine Mountain Ranch and Marabou Ranch (Elk Mountain Ranch during the planning phase). All three would be land-preservation subdivisions, which cluster home sites so that the bulk of the property can remain open space. Steamboat River Ranch would cluster 19 home sites on 115 acres of a 531-acre site. The subdivision would be built on part of the historic More Ranch just below Lake Catamount, south of Steamboat on Colorado Highway 131. The Yampa River runs through the property.
Alpine Mountain Ranch is larger than Steamboat River Ranch and closer to the Steamboat Ski Area. It would create 43, 5- to 5.5-acre home sites clustered on 230 acres just south of the city limits. The subdivision would be adjacent to the existing Priest Creek Ranch subdivision. At one time, they both were part of a proposal for a denser residential project. Former Vail Resort president Andy Daly and Cincinnati-based Bill Butler are the principals in Steamboat Alpine Development. They purchased the land for $19 million in April.
Elk Mountain Ranch is the largest of the three proposed LPS projects. It is being developed by Jeff Temple, one of the principals in the existing Storm Mountain Ranch, and his partners, Mark Hall and Jeff Jepson. Temple said the 14 home sites at Storm Mountain Ranch came on the market for $2 million to $2.4 million and were sold within a year. "Nobody thought that would happen. We worked very hard with our team to make every single aspect of the ranch really special," Temple said. "We hoped the market would support it. It was rewarding when they turned out to be a good investment."
Temple said three of the undeveloped home sites were resold by the original purchasers for as much as $3.85 million. Another is on the market for $4.25 million. After launching Maytag Ranch near Salida, Temple is back to expand and, he said, improve on the rural-luxury model. The Elk Mountain LPS would be developed on 1,717 acres west of Steamboat and north of U.S. Highway 40. It would create 55 lots on portions of the Kettel, Sherrod, Selby and Sammons properties. Planning Commission has given tentative approval to the plan.
All three development groups are proposing to use building envelopes that are smaller than what is typical to reduce the homes' visual disturbance of the landscape. Steamboat River Ranch should not be obvious from Colo. 131, county planner Mary Alice Page-Allen said. "You might be able to see a couple of roofs from 131, but for the most part, you'll never even know (the homes) are there," Page-Allen said. "It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been," Comes said.
All three projects envision keeping existing hay meadows and wildlife habitat intact. Temple said he thinks a large grouse lek on Elk Mountain Ranch, along with elk, deer and an occasional mountain lion, are all part of the attraction. "We want the ranch to remain a very viable ag operation and we've tread very lightly," Comes said.
Storm Mountain Ranch combines trophy trout fishing in Walton Creek as well as in ponds and irrigation ditches carefully rebuilt to fish like spring creeks. It also offers its owners horseback riding and a small group of guest cabins clustered around a lodge.
Temple said he and his partners spent $17.5 million on amenities at Storm Mountain Ranch. "We think Steamboat is really special and the hours and hours and all the detail that went into the ranch and the architecture of the buildings is phenomenal."
Their plans at Elk Mountain Ranch include a lodge building, seven fishing cabins along the Elk River, an equestrian facility and employee housing.
Alpine Mountain Ranch anticipates offering a stable of as many as a dozen horses and a trail system for the use of residents. The goal also is to provide hiking trails on par with trails in the Routt National Forest. There will be trout fishing in ponds.
Comes hopes his trout stream will target avid anglers in his marketing.
What nearly all of them have in common is the desire to relax with their family and friends in a place that is so rich in recreational opportunities. A big driver is Steamboat's appeal as a place to bring the grandchilren. I frequently hear that when your kids only have 2 weeks of vacation they are much more eager to visit you in Steamboat and get in a good vacation for themselves at the same time. Many people that have been coming to Steamboat for years are upsizing their places here to allow them to share Steamboat with their family and friends. Many people step out of more and more of the daily operations of their businesses to spend time with their family and spending more time in their favorite places is a natural extension of that desire.
It is also becoming almost common place for people to arrange their schedules and jobs to telecommute from Steamboat all or part of the year escaping some of the stresses of fastrack careers and city life. Several people I have talked to feel they can be more productive here without the daily commute. Coming to Steamboat gives others the chance to think more strategically about their business and can turn out to be a net postive for both their business and personal goals.
Selected quotes from the Steamboat Pilot
Trio of rural subdivisions offer high-end acreages By Tom Ross, Staff Reporter
A trio of rural subdivisions working their way through the county planning process holds the potential to create 117 new multi-million dollar homes in the valley. The three subdivisions are Tailwaters River Ranch (Steamboat River Ranch), Alpine Mountain Ranch and Marabou Ranch (Elk Mountain Ranch during the planning phase). All three would be land-preservation subdivisions, which cluster home sites so that the bulk of the property can remain open space. Steamboat River Ranch would cluster 19 home sites on 115 acres of a 531-acre site. The subdivision would be built on part of the historic More Ranch just below Lake Catamount, south of Steamboat on Colorado Highway 131. The Yampa River runs through the property.
Alpine Mountain Ranch is larger than Steamboat River Ranch and closer to the Steamboat Ski Area. It would create 43, 5- to 5.5-acre home sites clustered on 230 acres just south of the city limits. The subdivision would be adjacent to the existing Priest Creek Ranch subdivision. At one time, they both were part of a proposal for a denser residential project. Former Vail Resort president Andy Daly and Cincinnati-based Bill Butler are the principals in Steamboat Alpine Development. They purchased the land for $19 million in April.
Elk Mountain Ranch is the largest of the three proposed LPS projects. It is being developed by Jeff Temple, one of the principals in the existing Storm Mountain Ranch, and his partners, Mark Hall and Jeff Jepson. Temple said the 14 home sites at Storm Mountain Ranch came on the market for $2 million to $2.4 million and were sold within a year. "Nobody thought that would happen. We worked very hard with our team to make every single aspect of the ranch really special," Temple said. "We hoped the market would support it. It was rewarding when they turned out to be a good investment."
Temple said three of the undeveloped home sites were resold by the original purchasers for as much as $3.85 million. Another is on the market for $4.25 million. After launching Maytag Ranch near Salida, Temple is back to expand and, he said, improve on the rural-luxury model. The Elk Mountain LPS would be developed on 1,717 acres west of Steamboat and north of U.S. Highway 40. It would create 55 lots on portions of the Kettel, Sherrod, Selby and Sammons properties. Planning Commission has given tentative approval to the plan.
All three development groups are proposing to use building envelopes that are smaller than what is typical to reduce the homes' visual disturbance of the landscape. Steamboat River Ranch should not be obvious from Colo. 131, county planner Mary Alice Page-Allen said. "You might be able to see a couple of roofs from 131, but for the most part, you'll never even know (the homes) are there," Page-Allen said. "It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been," Comes said.
All three projects envision keeping existing hay meadows and wildlife habitat intact. Temple said he thinks a large grouse lek on Elk Mountain Ranch, along with elk, deer and an occasional mountain lion, are all part of the attraction. "We want the ranch to remain a very viable ag operation and we've tread very lightly," Comes said.
Storm Mountain Ranch combines trophy trout fishing in Walton Creek as well as in ponds and irrigation ditches carefully rebuilt to fish like spring creeks. It also offers its owners horseback riding and a small group of guest cabins clustered around a lodge.
Temple said he and his partners spent $17.5 million on amenities at Storm Mountain Ranch. "We think Steamboat is really special and the hours and hours and all the detail that went into the ranch and the architecture of the buildings is phenomenal."
Their plans at Elk Mountain Ranch include a lodge building, seven fishing cabins along the Elk River, an equestrian facility and employee housing.
Alpine Mountain Ranch anticipates offering a stable of as many as a dozen horses and a trail system for the use of residents. The goal also is to provide hiking trails on par with trails in the Routt National Forest. There will be trout fishing in ponds.
Comes hopes his trout stream will target avid anglers in his marketing.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
One Steamboat Place plans presented
Here is a quick update on One Steamboat Place. This project along with Wildhorse Meadows is a key catalyst for the base area re-development. If implemeted it will be a big driver for the base area update plans. The base area update is an effort to revitalize Steamboat's aging base area. I think it will have a very favorable impact on surrounding property prices. Now we just need to get ASC to sell Steamboat to a more progressive buyer like the last one they walked away from and things will really start to roll.
selected quotes from the Steamboat Pilot and Today:
Council members also praised project applicant Whitney Ward for bringing forward plans that they hoped would spark more redevelopment at the base of the Steamboat Ski Area. "I am very excited about the project. It is kind of a jump-start to get going," Councilwoman Kathy Connell said. One Steamboat Place, the development that would be on a 4.2-acre parcel south of Gondola Square and adjacent to the ski school, would include the land where the gondola parking lot now sits.
At Tuesday's council meeting, Ward presented plans for a six-story, 150,000-square-foot condo building and a five-story, 100,000-square-foot condo building. Plans also call for two additions to the gondola building, a 10,000-square-foot expansion for an amenities building and a 6,000-square-foot addition to the ski school. The plan also incorporates a pedestrian walkway that would take skiers from the Gondola Transit Center shuttle drop-off area to Gondola Square.
In addition, the plan proposes a gondola that would run from the Meadows parking lot to One Steamboat Place. The developers still need to negotiate with Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. and the city before deciding whether the gondola would be open to the public. Almost all of the council members at Tuesday night's preapplication hearing worried that the proposed buildings would be too tall. The two condo buildings would have overall heights of 116 feet and 111 feet, which are well higher than the 67 feet allowed in the zone district.
selected quotes from the Steamboat Pilot and Today:
Council members also praised project applicant Whitney Ward for bringing forward plans that they hoped would spark more redevelopment at the base of the Steamboat Ski Area. "I am very excited about the project. It is kind of a jump-start to get going," Councilwoman Kathy Connell said. One Steamboat Place, the development that would be on a 4.2-acre parcel south of Gondola Square and adjacent to the ski school, would include the land where the gondola parking lot now sits.
At Tuesday's council meeting, Ward presented plans for a six-story, 150,000-square-foot condo building and a five-story, 100,000-square-foot condo building. Plans also call for two additions to the gondola building, a 10,000-square-foot expansion for an amenities building and a 6,000-square-foot addition to the ski school. The plan also incorporates a pedestrian walkway that would take skiers from the Gondola Transit Center shuttle drop-off area to Gondola Square.
In addition, the plan proposes a gondola that would run from the Meadows parking lot to One Steamboat Place. The developers still need to negotiate with Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. and the city before deciding whether the gondola would be open to the public. Almost all of the council members at Tuesday night's preapplication hearing worried that the proposed buildings would be too tall. The two condo buildings would have overall heights of 116 feet and 111 feet, which are well higher than the 67 feet allowed in the zone district.
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