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Specie Wilderness Ranch

Specie Wilderness Ranch Tour

Amazing Views

Specie Wilderness Ranch ~ 30-35 minutes to downtown Telluride.

551.80 acres - Telluride MLS# 38189 – Offered at $4,450,000

Recreational Colorado Ranch with long National Forest Border and Stunning Mountain Views

Rarely does a ranch of this magnitude come to market on the mesas surrounding Telluride. The rolling meadows and aspen glades of the 551.80 acre ”Specie Wilderness Ranch” have almost a full mile of direct border with U.S. Forest Service land, offering a whole world of recreational opportunities and gated privacy to its owner.

The ranch is offered with two domestic water well permits and water decrees from the State for 4 one-acre ponds of 11.5 acre feet each using the property’s interest in the J&M Hughes Ditch.  

The adjoining U.S.F.S. land (the Uncompahgre National Forest) measures 955,229 acres, or about 1500 square miles.

The 551 acres is comprised of 6 individual SWR “tracts” (1,3,4,5,6,7) totaling 431 acres and a separate 120 acre piece on the NE corner (SBB, LLC) with no covenants.  The 6 SWR tracts range in acreage from +/- 40 acres to +/- 110 acres. 

Species Wilderness Ranch has worked to obtain the water rights for 4 ponds within the property (which includes the separate 120 acre piece on the NE corner (SBB, LLC)).  This is a great achievement as not only can these 4 ponds be filled but can also be refilled as the water evaporates.  Please see the PDF section regarding the water decree.  The Species Wilderness Ranch does have an established HOA which does include the for sale Tract 2, with ownership of tract 2 along with the Ranch the HOA can be abolished or adjusted as the sole owner sees fit.  The density of the SWR tracts (1,3,4,5,6,7) and the SBB 120 acres is 6 + 3 (SBB) for a total of 9 structures.  With the addtion of Tract 2 which has 2 density unit on it the total density is 11 units.  

For the conservation minded buyer there are no existing conservation easements. 

San Miguel Power is underground for grid electrical service to the Specie Wilderness Ranch home sites.

There is a 24 foot wide equestrian and pedestrian access easement for the “tracts” on the north end to get access down to the southern end and out to the U.S. Forest Service land.

Access onto the SWR is gated for privacy, particularly during elk hunting season.  

Road access is via San Miguel County roads (M44 & P52).  P52 is currently not regularly maintained by the County in the winter.  Most of the surrounding properties are large format working ranches, some thousands of acres, that wrap up their operations with the onset of winter.  From time to time, parties with real property on Specie Mesa may provide winter maintenance (snow plowing) for all or a portion of County Road P52.  The bid we’ve gotten was $110 per mile for snow removal – it’s the +/- 2.5 miles in on P52 that would need it – M44 has year-round service.  

The SWR properties currently have Agricultural Tax status – property taxes on the entire +/- 631 acres last year were $418.22.

If you'd like to tour the ranch at the end of the month while you are here, I’ll ask the owners to plow P52 to the SWR and we can snowmobile out on it.

Tract 2, Specie Wilderness Ranch

79.61 acres - Telluride MLS# 36675 – Offered at $1,050,000

With its signature historic homestead structures, Tract 2 at the Specie Wilderness Ranch offers a glimpse into a bygone era on Specie Mesa. It can be subdivided into 2 distinct approximately 40 acre parcels, and there are no existing conservation easements. A 24' wide pedestrian & equestrian easement provides access to the U.S.F.S. land at the southern end of the Specie Wilderness Ranch. There are 2 water springs and substantial Aspen trees. Diverse view corridors include the La Sal Range in Utah, Lone Cone Mountain, the St. Sophia Ridge, ski runs of the Telluride Ski Area, and Wilson Peak (one of Colorado's most iconic 14'ers), A creative buyer could incorporate some of the existing historic structures into a future residential plan. Electrical grid power available at the lot line.

 

The +/- 80 acre Tract 2 was the only Specie Wilderness Ranch parcel that ever sold off individually – the current owner (the Register Trust) paid $850k in September 2000.

The entire +/- 80 acres of Tract 2 is offered at $1,050,000.

This parcel can be subdivided into 2 distinct properties – Tract 2A and Tract 2B – both +/- 40 acres.  There is no existing conservation easement on this property – you could pick which home site you like best and put the other one in a conservation easement with some state and federal tax benefit.  There are a variety of 3rd party conservation easement organizations who can counsel in detail on the advantages of entering into such an agreement.

Tract 2A on the western side has the historic homestead structures, lots of aspen trees, and views to the La Sal Range, Lone Cone and great sunsets.

Tract 2B on the eastern side offers a big sweeping view back to the San Sophia Ridge, the Ski Area, and Wilson Peak.

Tract 2A and Tract 2B are both offered at $575,000.