Many consider the North Fork of the Gunnison Valley as the best of all worlds. Apple, cherry, and peach orchards and even vineyards grace the valley floor, while the wildlife and trout-rich Grand Mesa rises to 11,000 feet directly to the north. In the middle of this grandeur lies the Ridge Creek Ranch, roughly 1700 acres of prime foothills property blessed with two miles of Leroux Creek and an incredible 11,000 square foot Lodge that sets the standard for luxury living. Turn-key ready, Ridge Creek Ranch easily exceeds expectations for big game hunting, stream fishing, trail riding on the ranch itself, and many other recreational activities are but a stones throw away on public lands year-round.

Situated at roughly 7500 feet only 20 minutes from the small community of Hotchkiss, Ridge Creek Ranch boasts a variety of foothill habitats, including pinon/juniper forests, aspen groves, oak brush, irrigated meadows, and riparian areas. With a milder climate, wildlife thrives here year round, including mule deer, elk, mountain lions, and black bears. Big game hunting is a proven asset on the ranch, with its trophy mule deer being especially noteworthy. The ranch qualifies for mule deer landowner tags, and elk tags are available over the counter.

Fly fishers will delight in exploring two miles of Leroux Creek, a rainbow and cutthroat trout fishery, that flow through the ranch. Leroux Creek is a classic boulder and pocket water stream, ideal for high-floating dry flies and aggressive strikes. A smaller tributary, Cow Creek, is also on the ranch, and invites exploration with a short rod. Stillwater anglers wont do better than taking a short drive to the top of Grand Mesa, where literally hundreds of lakes and reservoirs await.

The Lodge at Ridge Creek Ranch is truly a masterpiece of architecture ideal for a large number of guests. Sited on top of a hill, its 360 views include the San Juan Mountains and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Its stone and frame exterior can only be described as stunning, with large windows to take full advantage of the sweeping views in every direction.

The Lodge is of open timber construction with a Great Room that is simply breathtaking. Its spacious kitchen includes marble countertops, a commercial cookstove, two dishwashers, and a large pantry. Nine guest suites and eleven bathrooms make the Lodge an ideal headquarters for large family gatherings, hunting parties or corporate retreats. Downstairs lies a media room with theatre-like seating for evening entertainment.

The primary outbuilding at the Ridge Creek Ranch is a new 4060 foot garage and shop, ideal for vehicle and OHV storage. It includes heated concrete floors, a bathroom, and even a walk-in cooler for meat storage. The property is also suitable for running cows in the summer on the ranch and the adjacent 1000+/- acre BLM grazing allotment, with up to 130 cow/calf pairs being supported. Three newly implemented pivots irrigate much of the lower elevations of the ranch, which also serve as a major attractant to wildlife.

Summer recreation at Ridge Creek Ranch is for hiking, trail riding, casting flies to the eager trout of Leroux Creek, and perusing the fruit orchards in the valley below. Hunting dominates the recreational activities in the fall, aided by the fact that the property shares a four-mile boundary with the BLM and 3/4 mile with the USFS. Winter shifts to snow-based recreation, including snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ski touring, and ice fishing atop Grand Mesa, and downhill skiing at Powderhorn Ski Resort on the north side of Grand Mesa. The much larger world-class ski areas of Aspen, Telluride, and Crested Butte all lie about two hours away from the ranch.

Grand Junction, a city of 100,000, is conveniently a little over an hours drive away, and offers all retail services and air connection to the rest of the West, as well as Amtrak. A regional airport at Montrose is slightly closer. Ridge Creek Ranch is close enough to urban amenities when desired, yet distant enough to feel like a true rural retreat.

The possibilities at Ridge Creek Ranch are as impressive as its dark sky view on a cloudless night. With a Conservation Easement already in place, the property is destined to retain a wildlife and open space-friendly character for years to come, but that is precisely its greatest asset. The best of both worlds is indeed found here nestled between the storied agriculture of the valley below and the fabulous Grand Mesa above. The Lodge at Ridge Creek Ranch is just waiting to become a corporate, hunting, or family retreat truly second to none.