I grew up in the mountains of Teller County, Colorado technically incorporated into Florissant, Colorado and right against the Florissant Fossil Beds, a National Monument. I spent my childhood running around the woods, massive boulders, playing in the dirt, burying treasure, riding horses, and hiking with our dogs. Money was tight, but we always had plenty of places to hide and explore, we didn’t have a normal playground, but nature offered a lot of adventure.
in the 1940s my great-grandfather purchased this land for a family ranch. He had worked in Monte Vista with a hatchery before establishing his own in Burlington, Kansas. A ranch in Colorado meant additional income and a vacation escape complete with rock hideaways, a basic cabin, and cooler summers than that in Kansas.
Somewhere in the 1970s demands and taxes of the property became too much for my Great Grandfather and he made the rough decision to sell off the majority of the land. My grandparents decided to buy three acres to build their dream hope and permanently land in the Rocky Mountains.
My dad built the house I grew up in in the 1980s and into my existence circa 1991. The house was meant to be a retirement home for my grandparents, my grandfather was leaving Boeing after 35 years, and my grandmother was carrying on a family legacy. My parents moved in with my grandparents for financial means, and three kids later it became obvious my grandparents could not live alone. All of my 19 years before college were spent in this house.
My grandmother passed away in 2015 and for a few years the house just sat until the family sorted out financial needs for the place. Finally, last summer my parents were able to pool their resources and fix up the house that needed some serious love and cleaning. It’s still a work in progress, with more upgrades to come, but the shift from cluttered home to vacation rental is fantastic.
The best part for me personally is that now other people will get to enjoy time away in the mountains, create memories with their kids and friends, and share a love of the area with others. I hope you consider this property for your next vacation, and enjoy the mountains that inspired me as a child.
Happy Travels!
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