It’s the affordable prices of new mountain condos at Granby Ranch that lure families to come look at the resort community 90 minutes from Denver. But people say the friendships they make with other families has been one of numbers of unanticipated paybacks of owning here.
“We just clicked with them; we thought they were great,” says one new owner of The Reserve at Ten Mile Creek, who with her husband bought a new 2-bedroom/2-bath condo last ski season after meeting other owners at an open house. “Everyone’s so friendly, everyone remembers you. It’s not pretentious; it’s like a laid-back country club.”
Although Granby Ranch is around same distance from Denver as Breckenridge (less the traffic tie-ups at Eisenhower Tunnel), the new owner couple had always skied Summit County before — virtually no experience with Winter Park and Grand County before their trip up to see The Reserve. Now they’re using Granby Ranch as a base camp for cross-country skiing at exclusive Devil’s Thumb, a few minutes south of The Reserve. They’ve kayaked in Grand Lake; and hike into Monarch Lake and the scenic, unused side of Rocky Mountain National Park. During summer they explore Granby Ranch’s own lift-served trails by mountain bike, and play Granby Ranch golf course (four foursomes a year come free as part of their Granby Ranch homeowner’s membership).
“It’s gorgeous, very diverse,” she says about Golf Granby Ranch. “It’s really wild on the back nine, and it’s not overbooked.”
Meanwhile, the couple plans their weekends here virtually at the last minute – choosing what activities strike their fancy, and picking any gear to bring up that’s not stored in their roomy unit. She notes that along with the family-styled ski mountain and a private fishing reserve, Granby Ranch provides a pool and spa where she swims morning laps, and where the couple can wind down in the hot tub after biking.
You can see what they have today, 20 minutes beyond Winter Park — along with 19 new condos being readied now from the $130s (from the low $300s for a 3-bedroom/2-bath). All homes at The Reserve are entirely new — a big contrast to dated 1980s units that are standard fare not only in Grand County, but Summit County and even Vail. In the newest Homestead building at The Reserve are some Treehouse 2-story designs with 2-sided views from bedroom suites. All get classic mountain finishes: granite kitchens with pendant lights, a stone fireplace under a chinked-wood mantel, plank floors, rubbed-bronze fixtures; plus covered decks on many where you can expand the living space even during winter with an optional infrared deck heater.
“We see it as an investment with benefits,” the resident adds, noting that she and her husband enjoy the dining scene at Devil’s Thumb and at Mustachio’s on Granby Reservoir, where they celebrated her birthday. “Once they’re a part of this, people get a sense of freedom in planning their mountain experiences that you can only experience when you’re here, when you’re living close to the lakes and trails,” says Jim Houston, with the Reserve. “Space and flexibility for bringing family or friends, and when you’re ready to go home, you lock it and leave it with no worries until your return.”
Houston will point up a large conservation easement alongside the newest homes, and the views they’ll share. To explore Granby Ranch, call Houston (970-557-3022) or take I-70 past Idaho Springs to U.S. 40 and continue west, past Winter Park; 15 more miles to a right at Village Road.
Visit Facebook/Lodgeat1OMileCreek or 10milecreek.com.
WHERE: Reserve at Ten Mile Creek, Granby Ranch; final 1-to-3-bed resort condos with year-round amenities: golf, trails, spa, river fishing, Ski Granby Ranch family ski mountain; new ‘Treehouse’ 2-bed designs with views from two sides. 160 Village Rd., Granby; take U.S. 40 over Berthoud Pass, past Winter Park, 15 more miles to Village Rd (entrance to Granby Ranch); right 1 blk.
PRICE: 1-bedroom from $130s, 3-beds from low $300s
WHEN: Today and daily 10-6.
PHONE: 970-557-3022
WEB:
FACEBOOK: LodgeAt10MileCreek
Mark Samuelson writes on real estate and business; you can email him at mark@samuelsonassoc.com. You can see all of Mark Samuelson’s columns online at DenverPostHomes.com
