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Meg Whitman's Big Colorado Land Buy

Filed under: Wealth

Meg Whitman may be busy running for governor in California but she found a little time to do some land buying in another state. The former CEO of eBay already owned Skyline Ranch near Telluride, Colorado (bought for around $20 million back in 2005). Now she has picked up land near Alta Lakes, an approximately 800-acre swath of undeveloped high country land earmarked for development.

The Telluride Daily Planet says that the billionaire has no plans to develop the property. She bought it from Silver Mountain Industries which had planned to put a neighborhood of large and expensive houses on the land, angering nature enthusiasts who enjoy the beautiful untouched land. It's not known exactly how many acres were sold or how much Whitman and her husband, neurosurgeon Griffith Harsh IV paid for the land. Whitman has also previously donated money to help conserve land in the area. The rights to develop went with the sale of the land but given Whitman's record of conservation in the area it's likely this will stay virgin land. Now if only she'd bring spend some more of that money in California.

Rent an Entire "Town" for Your Ski Vacation

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels


This is great idea for those who have a large group or want a very different type of vacation from the usual ski-in ski-out luxury condo complex found at most ski resorts. Even the finest hotels at the various alpine resorts tend to feel all the same after a while, most likely due to the design concessions needed to build on the side of the ski slopes.

Dunton Hot Springs is located in a beautiful Colorado valley right near Telluride. It is a fully restored ghost town set in a pristine Alpine locale near the Dolores River which you cross to reach the resort. Comprised of 12 unique cabins surrounding the communal Saloon and Dance Hall; this is no hokey rendition of what a western town should be, but rather a carefully crafted authentic setting where each cabin is decorated individually. The idea was to retain all the original character but to add a touch of European flair.

Even though the flavor of the resort may be rustic the amenities are not. Full business services are available as well as activities like heli-skiing, trout fishing, and rafting. Guests can choose to explore the surrounding land by foot (hiking or snow shoeing), cross-country skiing, or on horseback. The resort meals feature local ingredients, in the late summer you will find wild mushrooms gathered from the surrounding mountains on the menu, as well as wines from the resort's own vineyard Sutcliffe Vineyards.

True to its name there really are hot springs at Dunton. The springs found at the resort are of the calcium bicarbonate type with iron, maganese and lithium found in the waters. Guests can enjoy the springs in the 19th century Bathhouse, pictured above, and Well House cabin, in two pools on the property, or under the stars at the source or on the river.

If you'd like to "rent the whole town" the resort holds a total of 42 guests. For $10,000 - $17,500 a night depending on the season you can provide your guests with food, lodging and use of all the property's facilities. Seems like the ideal location for a family reunion ski trip or intimate winter wedding. Cabins may also be rented individually and vary in size some holding just 2 people and others 6 to 10 guests.

Elk Run Mining Compound, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


Part of the pleasure of doing the estate-of-the-day post each day is searching through the dreck to find truly exceptional homes. This one in Telluride wins me over with its open, light-filled spaces and the use of simple shed and gable structures to create three different spaces which represent a mill, cabin and a bunkhouse and form a master suite, main home, and a garage with a caretaker's unit above. There is also an older log cabin which has been moved to the nearly five-acre property and set amidst the woods for a private guest experience. The entrance to the home has a timber and steel trestle bridge. There are six bedrooms total and just one fireplace but what a fireplace it is, so huge you could practically curl up inside it. This home is listed at $8.995 million.

Tomboy Road, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


Telluride, Colorado and not an antler chandelier in right. This four-bedroom home is more modest in size (3652 square feet) than other houses we've seen in the area but for design it's the top of my list. Clean, modern and spare with big windows showing off gorgeous vistas, this home doesn't require a perfect snowy scene to make it a charmer. The home has in-floor radiant heat, large patios, gourmet kitchen and a unique design that includes a car park area which is reached by a bridge. It is listed at $5.1 million. After the jump, a master bedroom with a perfect view of the town below.

Telluride Hotel Goes Condo

Filed under: Estates

The Peaks Resort & Golden Door Spa in Telluride, Colorado is going condo, making it the first well-established in the area to convert to individual ownership for those interested in the "luxury mountain lifestyle." The plan calls for $60 million in renovations, converting the 174 guestrooms into studio, one and two bedroom condos with new flooring, furniture, fixtures and amenities like flat-screen TVs, gas fireplaces, spa-like bathrooms and, for most rooms, outdoor decks. The facility will include easy ski access, a full spa and fitness center, a children's recreation center and conference/gathering rooms. Construction will be completed by December 2007, and the units, fully-furnished, will be priced at $500,000 and up.

Raspberry Patch, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


I've done a lot of talking about condos and hotels in Telluride, now let's take a look at one of the most interesting houses in the area. This 9,200-square-foot home has been featured in Architectural Digest. The home sits on 26 acres just outside of Telluride which border United States Forest Service land. The home is designed to look like a group of small buildings and has eight bedrooms. The great room has a two-story floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, the dining room has a coffered tin ceiling, and the two master suites have gas fireplaces, walk-in closets, refrigerators, and baths with jetted tubs and steam showers. The home is listed at $8.495 million. After the jump, snakes on a bedroom wall.

Element 52 To Come To Telluride

Filed under: Estates

I've been hearing more and more about luxury projects in Telluride, Colorado. The latest is Element 52, a condo development which recently received final Town of Telluride approval and plans to launch sales soon. Element 52 will be located slopeside with ski-in/ski-out access and will have a private ski lift for owners and guests. There will be a bar for après ski, a private owners wine cellar and secured wine storage, spa, fitness center and other amenities. There will be 38 residences, priced from $1-9 million.

[via Telluride Watch ]

Telluride To Get Another Luxury Hotel

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Just a couple weeks ago, we saw that Telluride would be getting a Rosewood hotel. Now they are getting a second luxury project, the first Capella hotel planned for the U.S. The West Paces Hotel Group LLC is planning Capella properties in Ireland, Austria, Mexico and Singapore in the coming years,. The hotels are meant to be "ultra-luxury" catering to the very highest end of the already increasingly high-end Telluride crowd. The project will consist of 100 hotels and 42 condo units and should be done in 2008.

Hotel Columbia, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates, Luxury Travel & Hotels


Last Friday, I brought you a hotel in Spain, this week, an American classic can be yours. The Hotel Columbia in scenic Telluride. Colorado has one of the best locations in town, at the base of the gondola and adjacent to skiing, river, trails, restaurants and shops. The 21-room hotel is also home to the Cosmopolitan, which is considered to be Telluride's best restaurant. A special bonus is the rooftop hot tub with a delightful view of the mountains. Approval for condos has already been granted. The hotel is listed at $9 million. After the jump, you might just want to move in too.

Telluride Wine Festival

Filed under: Wine, Events

It may not be ski season but it's still gorgeous in Telluride, Colorado. The  25th Annual Telluride Wine Festival gives you chance to check out this ridiculously picturesque town in the month of June. The festival, which runs from June 22-25 includes winemaker's luncheons, a grand tasting held in Town Park, cooking demonstrations, the Toast of Telluride & Mountain Village, a Scotch and cigar tasting, and the Sunday brunch which is the festival finale. The guest chefs include Vitaly Paley, the owner of Paley's Place in Portland Oregon, Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson co-owner with Bobby Stucky of Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder, Colorado and Ana Sortun of Oleana in Boston. The Patron Package sells for $850 and includes priority seating at all festival events. Individual events are priced from $40 to $125.

Valmore, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates

Valmore is a beautiful new home in Telluride, Colorado. The home has mountain views and overlooks the village and ski runs. The Town of Telluride can be reached via gondola and the See Forever ski run can be accessed from a ski room that includes ski racks, boot dryers and a floor drain for melting snow. Located conveniently nearby, the spa/exercise area includes a sauna, steam room and heated terrace with a hot tub. The over 13,000 sq. ft. home has seven bedrooms, three of which are master bedrooms. There is also a wet bar and lounge, an eat-in wine room and a home office. The home has a rugged castle-like look with a stone exterior. It islisted at $14.5 million.

[via Luxury Real Estate]

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