Breckenridge Real Estate Blog

Summit County residents and visitors are the lucky beneficiaries of a real estate purchase that adds more than 1,000 acres to the county's already abundant open space and trails network. Knorr Lakeside Ranch went on the market in the spring after six generations of the family had ranched the land, but just couldn't keep plugging away at the tough business of ranching. Thanks to their neighbors, who initially bought the property, Summit County now has land on the banks of Green Mountain Reservoir, near Heeney, in the northern part of the county.

The latest gift of open space arrives through the hard work of many committed people, who tirelessly work to increase this bounty, to blaze public/private solutions to creating and protecting open space and trails, including the Knorr's neighbors, local government, Colorado Parks & Wildlife's Habitat Protection Program, and a local real estate agent who all worked together to find a way to protect this valuable wildlife corridor with an important aquifer, wetlands and water rights. A discounted purchase price of $7 million dollars with a $1.6 million contribution from the county, from the original $8 million dollars helped seal the deal. The county then purchased an additional 550 acres at a depressed price of $1.2 million. A conservation easement granted by the neighbors ensures perpetual protection from development. Both of the purchasing neighbors will retain a percentage for ranching operations - some leased back from the county until the agricultural value of the land is given up at which time it may also be converted to recreational use.

Had the deal not come together, the Knorr Lakeside Ranch could have been developed for 64 homes and a golf course, according to the intentions of some land developers who had been eyeing the property. Instead, the ranch will remain rural in character, as it has been since the Knorrs homesteaded there, along the banks of the Blue River in the late 1800s.

After a few wildfire scares, we can all appreciate the beneficence of conservation easements like these that give a little buffer between the forest and the developed land. At Breckenridge Associates Real Estate, we are proud to support the preservation of wild spaces and open skies. We, Summit County recreators, residents and visitors, will directly benefit from these protected view corridors, wildlife habitats and trails... and you're welcome to come join us. Since we're here, we thought we'd let you know about the hard work of our countywide Open Spaces and Trails crews. 

While you're thinking about big views and giant skies, it may cross your mind that owning a place here in the high country would be a great idea. If so, we'd love to get a call, 970 453-2200, here at Breckenridge Associates Real Estate, or see you stop in next time you're ambling down Main Street. 

If you like looking for real estate on the web, you'll find that we have the most frequently updated search out there. If you sign up, or log in, you can save searches based on what you're specifically looking for, and then ask for instant notification when new listings come on the market based on your criteria.