South Shore Retreat

Colorado, La Plata County, Bayfield

This private one acre retreat is located in the Vallecito Valley, surrounded by the high peaks of the Weminuchi Wilderness and San Juan National Forest, just 30 minutes from historic downtown Durango. The charming and cozy, custom 3,350 SF home backs up to serene pine and aspen woodlands, overlooking Vallecito Lake with views of Engineer Mountain, and is a perfect environment to find rest, relaxation and recreation of every kind.

Location and Area

Sheltered in a secluded mountain valley 8,000 feet above sea level, Vallecito Lake is one of the largest and most beautiful bodies of water in Colorado. Vallecito, Spanish for “Little Valley,” an ancestral home to many of Colorado’s Ute Indians, became the name of the sparkling waters of the lake it surrounded. With its 12 miles of shoreline, Vallecito sits in the heart of the unspoiled San Juan National Forest and offers a variety of recreational opportunities. Located in the Southwestern part of the state just 18 miles from Durango, Vallecito provides a perfect base for enjoying the Four Corners area and its many wonders.

Durango is a town of rural mountain character and charm, yet has many big city conveniences including a new hospital, hotels, shopping, restaurants, golf courses and a four-year college. It is said that the number of restaurants per capita is the highest in the West. Located 6,512 ft. above sea level, Durango is one of the most varied and picturesque of all the Rocky Mountain towns. Enjoying over 300 days of sunshine each year, the comfortable summer temperatures reach the upper 80s, while the autumn days are clear, cool, and full of vibrant foliage colors. Crisp and sunny winter days feature abundant light powder snow. The La Plata County area that includes Durango and Bayfield has a population of 44,000. La Plata County Airport is 10 minutes from the estate and has daily commercial air service to Denver, Albuquerque and Phoenix, with seasonal service to Houston, and facilities for full service general aviation. The ranch is approximately 180 miles from Grand Junction, 200 miles from Albuquerque and around 285 miles from Denver and Colorado Springs.

Property Details

This beautiful 3,320 SF, 4 bedroom, 3 bath home is nestled in the pine trees overlooking the south shore of Vallecito Lake, yielding spectacular views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Great attention was paid to the creation of this special retreat, calling for all the finest materials, including hand hewn logs and cedar railings, reclaimed antique heartwood pine flooring, massive river rock fireplace, Vermont Casting wood stove and the finest of appliances and furnishings.

Grounds

• House surrounded by beautiful, mature landscaping on a timed, drip irrigation system
  
• Views looking north to Lake Vallecito and Engineer Mountain and San Juan Mountains
  
• Backs up to the Weminuchi Wilderness
  
• Close to groomed hiking trails and cross-country ski trails
  
• Tall standing evergreens and wildflowers surround acre of land with open back yard
  
• Separate extended 2-car garage with extra wood storage on either side
  
• Upstairs garage storage loft; could become loft living area and is wired
  
• Outside flagstone patio and walkways to main and lower levels of house
  
• Heavy compacted gravel driveway
  
• HOA for snow removal

General Home Features

• Log, cedar plank siding and river rock exterior with 40-year asphalt shingle and metal roof
  
• Barry Byar was the builder of the home and Bart Simms completed the interior; all hand-built on-site and very solid
  
• Tongue and groove aspen ceilings
  
• Vaulted 22’ and 9’ ceilings throughout
  
• Cross and support beams are hand-peeled and hand-hewn spruce from Colorado’s Durango Mountain Resort
  
• Finished red wood porch and decks
  
• Solid core, pine beveled and hand-brushed doors throughout
  
• All interior and exterior fixtures from Santa Fe, black hand-crafted wrought iron
  
• Reclaimed 100 year-old, heartwood pine flooring throughout main and upper levels from Sears Tower in Chicago; concrete flooring downstairs
  
• Exquisite, custom hand-cut and peeled cedar railing inside and out
  
• Pozzi, high-end windows throughout; double-paned, insulated, oversized and fold-down for easy cleaning in and out
  
• Extremely well insulated home; heated by wood burning fireplace, new Vermont Castings Defiant non-catalyst, wood burning stove and radiant in-floor heat (minimal propane use); 4 separate heating zones

MAIN LEVEL

Living Room

• Vaulted ceiling to 22 feet
  
• Floor to ceiling windows looking out to Lake Vallecito and San Juan Mountains
  
• Floor to ceiling river rock, wood burning fireplace with mantle, hearth and rheostat blower
  
• Double sliding doors walk out to large back redwood deck

Kitchen

• Granite counters
  
• Stainless steel appliances: Kitchen-Aide microwave; GE Profile side by side
  
• Cabinets with glass inserts; all custom made of pine
  
• White porcelain recessed double-wide sink
  
• Soffits open for storage
  
• Under cabinet lighting
  
• Jen-aire downdraft exhaust to outside
  
• Hand-made cherry and pounded, wrought iron, hanging pot racks for extra storage

Guest Bedroom One

• Windows face mountains and lake
  
• Walk-out doors to private, enclosed sitting deck looking out to lake and mountains
  
• Double door closet
  
• Guest bath (detached) with architectural free-standing porcelain sink with stainless and porcelain fixtures
  
• Porcelain bathtub with shower and white tile
  
• Washer/Dryer area with storage space and hanging racks

Upper Level

• Separate sitting overlooking living room
  
• Separate closet storage off Master with built-in shelves

Extra large Guest Room

• Vaulted ceiling
  
• Windows looking out in 3 directions

Master Suite

• Large open room
  
• Double door walk-out to private deck and bench seating area
  
• Vaulted ceiling
  
• En-suite bath has pedestal porcelain sink with porcelain and stainless fixtures
  
• Stall shower with white tiles
  
• Windows looking out to wilderness
  
• Ample storage and linen closet

Lower Level

• Flooring is colored concrete, 7” thick
  
• Ample storage space under stairwell
  
• Utility, heated storage room with double walkout door; good for kayaks, outboard motors, etc.
  
• Large sitting area with view out to Vallecito Lake and outdoor flagstone patio surrounding lower side of house
  
• Double sliding doors out to flagstone patio
  
• Mud room entrance with built-in stainless steel counters, cupboards and wash basin

Downstairs Guest Room

• Private with large windows looking out to lake views and wilderness
  
• Full bath (detached) with free standing porcelain sink; white mosaic tile shower and bath; built-in shelves
  
• Double closet

Wildlife and Recreation

The property looks out over Vallecito Lake and borders the Weminuchi Wilderness, providing access to a myriad of activities. Given the proximity to the wilderness, you may see elk, mule deer, bear, coyote, wild turkey, great horned owls and eagles along with many other small animals and song birds. The property is steps away from great trails and topography for hiking, climbing and cross-country skiing. And, Vallecito provides for great fishing and all water sports. For an expanded fishing experience, the Pine River, along with Lemon provide a wonderful destination, just minutes from the property. Also, the Animas and Florida Rivers are nearby. For horseback riding, there are a number of dude ranches nearby (e.g., Wits End Guest Ranch & Resort, Wilderness Trails Ranch) where you can take part in various trail rides with different degrees of difficulty and many different destinations.

For downhill skiing, Durango Mountain Resort is a 50 minute drive from the property, while Wolf Creek Ski Area is an hour and 20 minutes away. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snow-mobiling are also available throughout the area. Summertime is filled with opportunities for golfing and visiting the local Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Mesa Verde National Park and the Four Corners National Monument. Excellent golf can be found at Dalton Ranch Golf Club, Hillcrest Community Club, the private Glacier Club (memberships available), and a top-rated public course at Pinion Hills in Farmington, NM.

$925,000 – Reduced by $50,000

This property is offered by Legacy Properties West, LLC, Tom Morse, Broker, and Durango Real Estate Partners, LLC. All information provided by Legacy Properties West, LLC, Durango Real Estate Partners, LLC or their sales representatives in connection with this property was acquired from sources deemed reliable and is believed to be accurate and reliable, however, we do not warrant its accuracy or completeness. Legacy Properties West, LLC and Durango Real Estate Partners, LLC recommend that every item of interest to the purchaser (i.e. water laws, mineral laws, zoning, land use regulations, state, federal and private permits) be independently verified by the purchaser’s attorney.

PDF Brochure Download To download a PDF brochure for this property please fill out the form below and click on the submit button.
* First Name:
* Last Name:
* Email:
Keep me informed on updates for this property. (default is yes)
Yes     No
* Required Fields