Set within forty five acres of land, this property has been certified as a natural habitat for the preservation of elk, deer, mountain lions, and bear by the National Wildlife Federation. The secluded home occupies a private mountaintop with spectacular views of the Sangre de Christos to the north and the San Juan Mountains to the south.
Originally built by an artist, the unique straw bale construction is one of a kind and was designed to be a low impact and sustainable off grid family hideaway. The sprawling layout is bright and expansive with a large living room anchored by a stone fireplace for cold winter nights where you’ll enjoy views of nearby Dog Mountain and Mt. Bennett.
There’s a spacious yet cozy den with a wood stove and stairs that lead to the “kid’s loft” with twin beds. The massive open plan eat-in kitchen offers plenty of room for large groups and entertaining with a dining table that can seat twelve. The ground floor features double height ceilings, polished (heated) concrete floors and Santa Fe inspired adobe and wood finishes as well as decorative window hoods, to enhance the eclectic Santa Fe feel.
An interesting collection of art and rustic furnishings and decor are accented by the hand crafted “bottle artwork” designed by the artist/builder of the home. The master bedroom is furnished with antique mid-century pieces with a large full bath decorated with tiles from around the world and offers great views of the rock formations. The upstairs bedroom features possibly the best view in the house of the Great Sand Dunes National Park, and the Sangre de Christo mountains and there’s an additional ground floor bedroom with bunk beds made from Eastern Oklahoma red cedar, offering the perfect place for kids to sleep.
Outside a BBQ and dining terrace are perfect for summer fun with uninterrupted wilderness at your feet. With absolutely zero light pollution, you’ll want to use the telescope for spectacular star gazing that seems to go on forever.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Wifi throughout, three 45″ TVs with DirecTV (Den, Master and Upstairs bedrooms) with a large library of DVD’s and VHS, surround sound system with lots of CD’s and music channels. Game closet with games for all ages and lots of new toys for the kids to use and take home. Sightseeing guides and books. Housekeeping and laundry facilities.
AROUND
Five miles south of the small town of Del Norte, outside of the Rio Grande National Forest, the house is situated near hundreds of miles of trails and unusual rock formations, petroglyphs and caves for exploring. The sanctuary is home to elk, deer, mountain lions, coyotes and many species of birds and wildlife. Just a fifteen minute drive to the forests of the Rocky Mountains, you’re less than an hour to Wolf Creek Ski Resort for winter sports, the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve with nearby Zapata Falls and Hot Springs and several national wildlife preserves including Monte Vista National Wildlife Area (known for the migration of Sand Hill Cranes) fifteen miles east. Don’t miss Old Woman’s Creek, Natural Arch, and Elephant Rocks. Several interesting towns are within an hour including Creede (famous for its well known Creede Repertory Theatre), SouthFork, (world class fly-fishing), Pagosa Springs (famous hot springs) and Crestone (Buddhist and Hindu spiritual center, with a Zen Center, a coed Carmelite Monestary and many new age happenings).
LOCATION
Del Norte, Colorado. The new Del Norte airport handles private planes. Nearest Scheduled Service Airports: A regional airport in Alamosa, 30 miles east, services small planes and scheduled flights to Denver. Larger airports include: Durango (99 miles west), Colorado Springs (2.5 hour drive), Santa Fe (2.5 hour drive), and Denver (4 hour drive).
BEST TIME TO VISIT:
This is a great year round outdoor destination with mild summers (average high of 72 degrees), perfect for hiking, biking, rafting down the Rio Grande River, and sight-seeing. A variety of winter sports, with Wolf Creek Ski Resort less than an hour away, can be had including skiing, snow-shoeing, sledding, ice-fishing, etc. Gorgeous autumn foliage can be found in September and October. Mountain biking has become a immensely popular activity due to the hundreds of miles of great trails for all levels of experience. The Belmont’s property, as well as many other nearby areas, offers great rock climbing opportunities.
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