Copperfield Ranch

Land Description

Copperfield Ranch is a beautiful and historic property located about nine miles north of the small comfortable town of Cotopaxi, Colorado. The town of Copperfield developed on the rich mining history of West Fremont County to consolidate several mining claims housed under the Copperfield Consolidated Copper Company and once consisted of 1000 acres of land. You now have the opportunity to own 240 acres of this original township.

Land Copperfield Ranch sets with two natural, developed springs, this hideaway is a favorite haunt for a diverse collection of elk, mule deer, turkey, and other birds and wildlife. The terrain varies from rolling hills to rocky outcroppings to wildflower meadows. The possibilities are limitless, whether hiker or hunter. There are multiple excellent cabin sites for subdivision or for use as a creative family compound. If you love nature, this property offers boundless potential.

Still present on the property is the old blacksmith shop, a bunkhouse, a barn, and part of the old original town post office was beautifully incorporated into the main home.

Improvements

Home

The one and a half story, three-bedroom, and two and one-quarter bathroom home is constructed of 10 and 6 logs and frame combination. The home has recently been professionally sealed and stained to preserve the lovely logs.

The kitchen was remodeled in 2018 and is tastefully crafted with attractive pine cabinets, beautiful ceramic tile and marble countertops, GE double ovens, GE dishwasher, and GE propane 6-top cook-top with a fan. New ceramic tile floors were installed in June 2021.

There are two bedrooms and a bonus/office room on the main level and on the second level a bonus room and master suite with a beautifully designed master bathroom. From the master bedroom, you can walk out on the balcony to enjoy your morning coffee to watch the sunrise or enjoy a cool drink in the evening as you watch the sunset.

The open-concept Great Room incorporates the living and dining areas. This inviting room has new laminate flooring, a wood-burning fireplace, and an open 22-foot cathedral ceiling. The large windows face south toward the Sangre de Cristo mountains with double-glass wood-frame French doors that open to a beautiful, newly-stained wood deck complete with a log railing.

The laundry room, just off the bonus/office, includes the bath.

A one-car garage/workshop is attached to the east.

Outbuildings and Extras

There is an adorable, original bunkhouse that has been refurbished into a modern office complete with WiFi and a stained concrete floor, a loafing shed in the east paddock, a chicken house, the original tack shed and barn includes five stalls with gates. The barn electrical wiring was updated in 2018 and includes dusk to dawn lighting. Adjacent to the bunkhouse is a 12'x24 shed which was installed in October 2020. The shed has been fully insulated, has 7/16th, OSB walls and trim, fully powered with ample electrical outlets and even includes on the outside a 30-Amp plug for an RV to hookup. There is an RV parking area across from the shed.

The 500-Gallon propane tank is owned by the sellers and will transfer with the sale.

New additions to the property

Furnace installed Jan 18. The furnace features an onboard humidifier and an advanced filtration system.

Nearly all rooms painted June '21. Kitchen and master bath repainted Feb'18.

Entirely sealed and stained outside walls and railings June 21.

New flooring installed in the kitchen, living/dining room, stairs, and upstairs rooms June 21.

New gravel driveway and gravel in west horse-paddock installed April '21.

Installed a horse waterer in east horse-paddock Oct 20.

Risers installed on septic system Oct 20

New 5-strand, smooth-wire fencing installed for both horse pastures June 20

Recreationcopperfield Ranch is a gorgeous property nestled in the ranch land of south-central Colorado, two hours from Colorado Springs. These 240+ acres are just 10 miles north of Cotopaxi, an Arkansas River community known for its river rafting, fly fishing, and thriving general store.

AgricultureYou will experience the fresh smell of the pine, pinon, and juniper forest on the wooded portion of the property which offers direct access to 10k+ BLM acres for horseback riding, hiking, and hunting.

Water/Mineral Rights & Natural ResourcesTwo developed springs.

General Operations

Region & ClimateLOCAL Attractions

The Royal Gorge Region offers outdoor adventure, Old West history, and small-town hospitality. Nestled half-way between Canon City & Salida, it is 30-45 minutes from the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience, great shopping, summer farmer's markets, and festivals and some of the very best white water rafting, fly fishing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and outdoor experiences in the country. Monarch Mountain Ski & Snowboard Area is only 90 minutes 53 miles from the property and offers one of the least crowded, family-friendly ski resorts with some of the best snow in the state.Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall - This is a fantastic place to retreat with your family & friends. Relax, breathe deeply & enjoy the quiet tranquility as well as the endless possibilities for outdoor adventure on the property & the Arkansas River.

HistoryA little more history of this property as told by a local historian

Step back in time as we explore the historic wonder that is Copperfield Homestead. Beginning as a copper mining town around the turn of the 20th century, by 1907 there were 200 people living on the original 350 acres. The mining town included a blacksmith shop and log cabin where the Blacksmith lived, a Post Office in what was the original house, and a Boarding House/Hotel and Stage Coach barn. Quaint log cabins were scattered throughout the property and an old wagon still resides in the yard. As far as I know, the hotel burned down and the Stage Coach barn was salvaged for lumber.

We enjoy stories and even pictures of the town from the neighbor, Rusty Ross, whose parents homesteaded nearby. In the old house, we found written on a board in the wall, 100 inches of snow- December 1900'. The property has been leased and sold many times throughout the years. One of the owners raised vegetables which he sold in Cotopaxi, another ran a dairy farm in the late 1930S.

At one point the Mining Company was offering tours of the property to investors. In 1980 the University from Emporia, Kansas brought Geology students to Copperfield Homestead to study rock formation. I have some of the student's findings, mostly grafts of the strata in the formations.

Throughout the years, guests have stopped by who previously knew the property. Reminiscing always brought up interesting and funny stories the upstairs of the old house was once used as a bedroom and the only way to access it was by a ladder on the outside. The old house was built solely on a log foundation, making remodeling quite the challenge. And there was a root cellar built into the hill. Originally a lean-to was on the south side of the barn, now it has a five-stall barn with hay storage at the back wall.

Long before the arrival of settlers, the Ute Indians traveled through the area and may have set up a summer camp close to the Blacksmith cabin. Our family has found arrowheads in the area and lots of flints used in their production. Vic Miller, one of the oldest settlers in the area, told many interesting stories of finding Indian artifacts in the area and we have found priceless relics as well small glimpses into the lives of those who walked these lands before us, both Indian and settler.

An excellent summary, taken from the Copperfield Tour, says Arriving at the camp you find it is located in an amphitheater near the center of the district, with gradually sloping hills off to the southwest, and rather precipitous hills to the east and north. Further north the hills rising rather abruptly on the west. The location of the town could not be improved. The altitude is about 8,500 feet and climate ideal, cool summers and winters moderate. Accommodations are very ample, the company having a large boarding house/hotel, with a number of smaller houses for married employees. The entire town is lighted by electricity, daily mail, and a telephone line connecting to all points in Colorado.