La Veta, COHuerfano County

Silver Mountain Preserve is ideal for the buyer looking to own a 10,000+ acre Western retreat, wildlife preserve and ranch operation in a truly spectacular setting. It is one of the few large legacy properties left in the west with all the desired qualities. It boasts exceptional recreational amenities and conservation attributes. The current owner's wish is to find a buyer who will preserve it in its entirety and protect it for future generations.

The property embraces varied landscapes - from the pristine mountain meadows surrounded by stands of ponderosa pine, aspen and silver spruce, across the transition hills interspersed with rim rock outcrops, studded with pinion pine and gambol oak, to the fertile, lush irrigated hay fields and rolling grassland - this is an exquisite and special place. It has been carefully managed over the years to enhance the abundant herds of trophy elk, deer, antelope and turkey while supporting a year-round cow/calf operation. Given the nature of this property, it's an excellent candidate for a conservation easement. In fact, in 1974, this property was before the state legislature to become a state park because of its unique attributes and immense biodiversity.

This 10,355-acre (7,812 deeded acres, 1,750 acre BLM lease and 640 acre State lease) ranch is situated in southern Colorado's Cuchara Valley in a magnificent setting against the backdrop of Mestas and Silver Mountains on the eastern flank of the Sangre de Cristo Range. The quaint arts community of La Veta is five miles to the southeast of the ranch with an airport 2 miles from the ranch with a 5,789 foot airstrip for private aircraft.

Silver Mountain Preserve boasts commanding southeastern views of the 13,000-foot Spanish Peaks and great dike walls, and to the north are sweeping vistas of the 13,000-foot Wet Mountain Range, while the geologic wonder called Goemmer's Butte is to the south. A clear mountain stream, Abetya Creek, lined with cottonwoods, aspens and willows, flows from the mountain canyon through the grasslands for the length of the ranch. Abetya Creek is the main water source for Citadel Lake in the upper reaches of the canyon, creating a large reservoir at its base that feeds an irrigation pipeline to the hayfields. The creek, lake and reservoir provide a private fishery for trout while supplying water for livestock and wildlife. The water rights associated with this ranch are significant and rare for the region.