Getting your player ready...
When Chet Brame, oil engineer, and his wife Carol took a 90-minute drive up to Granby to check out golf courses, they never imagined they’d end up buying a home. “I couldn’t sleep that night,” recalls Carol Brame of their return after dropping in at Village Homes’ enclave of resort single-family homes at Fairways at Granby Ranch, beside Sol Vista ski area and Nicklaus-designed Headwaters Golf Course.
This weekend Village grand-opens the furnished model of that ‘Connemara’ 4-bedroom design the Brames bought; and they’ll give your family four ski passes to SolVista, while they last, just for looking.
“We’ve had a beautiful experience with the builder,” Brame said during a visit to the new model, set against a backdrop of Front Range peaks that are draped in early snow (Winter Park is already open). Village’s neighborhood is terraced above the golf course, with unobstructed views of the valley and peaks; literally two minutes from Sol Vista’s family-friendly ski mountain and its seven Trails Grille and outdoor terrace where residents unwind.
Chet Brame, who admits he has difficulty engineering off-time for himself, says he’s making a change. “I told Carol that if we bought a place, I’ll be up here with you more.” Figuring into that equation was the course itself (Brame says the round he played was ‘outstanding’), and the skiing. The Brames already have their kids and a grandkid set to gather here Christmas Eve, to begin exploring SolVista’s slopes and terrain parks – plenty of fun for teenagers learning the sport as well as for older skiers.
“It’s close enough to Winter Park if they want more challenge,” Brame added. The HOA at Granby Ranch includes resident-family season ski passes, plus 16 day passes for their guests; along with four foursomes on Headwaters; a private fishing lease along the Fraser River, famous for 20-inch browns; bike trails; and a ‘River Camp’ that residents can reserve to overnight their guests national-park style, in a scenic camp site with furnished tents.
Before signing on, the Brames ran the prices past their financial planner, who gave a thumbs-up. Right now, before SolVista’s season opens, Village’s main-floor master homes are from the high $300s – from $417,000 for one that’ll deliver this ski season. (You can also see Village’s final four ski-in/ski-out homes above SolVista’s base, rapid sellers this summer. They can deliver soon from $424,900).
Village’s Sheila Bailey, who’s sold six homes since Sept. 1, expects the pace to further pick up when buyers get their first look at this model – big main-floor master suite with a view; great room with grand fireplace and double-back staircase; guest suite on the main, third suite plus a bunkroom for the kids on the lower level, and an upstairs loft for games or media area. It also has a 2-car garage that Village includes standard – parking for a primary vehicle and plenty of room for toys (Granby Reservoir and Grand Lake are 25 minutes north).
It’s a setup, Bailey notes, that works whether you’re buying as a second home; or if you’re making a retirement move. Included among her sales are numbers of buyers who’ve purchased together with friends or family — planning to split weekends, or to spend time together.
If you like the model, Bailey will show you another Connemara that’ll be ready this ski season at $417,000 – 4-bedroom, 2,900 feet, including a day-lighted garden-level. To reach the grand opening (just over the crest of the valley as you drive into Granby Ranch, before the ski area) take U.S. 40 west from I-70, 43 miles (15 mi. past Winter Park) to Village Road, then east 1.8 mile to Fairway Lane.
If you go…
WHERE: Grand opening, Village Homes at Granby Ranch, single-family resort homes at SolVista ski area; main-floor master 4 bed/4 bath; 2-car garage, basement finish, ski/golf/fishing membership; coffee & cookies; first 40 visitors get ski pass-for-4. 108 Fairway Ln, Granby; from I-70 take U.S. 40 west 43 mi. (15 mi. past Winter Park) to Village Rd., right 1.8 mi. to Fairway Ln
PRICE: From $390s; $417,000 delivers this season; final ski-in/out homes from $424,900
WHEN: Today, Saturday & Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., and daily
PHONE: 970-887-0144 WEB: VillageHomes.com
Mark Samuelson is president of Samuelson & Associates, a homebuilding/real estate communications firm. You can e-mail him at mark@samuelsonassoc.com.
