Our entry into America’s Most Beautiful Ranch contest

Ouray’s 9 Acres sits just south of what we believe is one of America’s most beautiful ranches as you enter into Ouray. US550 makes a lazy curve along and around the ranch on the east side. The J&E ranch is pictured below, near the end of a normal June dry spell. Ouray monsoons typically hit the San Juans in conjunction with the traditional celebratory downtown water fights on Independence Day. A couple of weeks later … the alpine wild flowers above town are spectacular and the ranch meadow turns green.

Even with a slightly browning pasture, it is still an awesome property and hard to imagine it not being in a list of the world’s top view ranches. The gently flowing Uncompahgre sits next to the ranch, and to its western banks is River Road. You feel the pull of the Old West on the shore of the ranch pond, gazing up at Mt. Abram. So it is easy to imagine and see why television commercials have been filmed at the ranch.

Christmas on the Ranch? All four seasons in Ouray are special – each with a unique feel, and Ouray just seems like “Christmas Town USA,” in addition to “Switzerland of America.” Nothing quite like a powdery Christmas Eve snow, a crackling fire, and a shot of whiskey … perfect time for a sleigh ride.

A ranch or a few “ranchettes” on Ouray’s 9 Acres? They could look similar to our current ranch headquarters at J&E, but maybe even better. You have a completely clear artist’s pallet. We have envisioned an HOA with a barn, stables, along with a store, built on the south parcel, and 1 to 9 ranchettes that could share the stables and a horse trail.

Pictured below is the view from what we envision as your new ranch headquarters on Ouray’s 9 Acres. Next to it is your barn and in front of the buildings is your horse path. You can build this residence for yourself, and then develop a couple of the others for sale. Or keep it all to yourself.

The C2 zoning designation opens up a variety of possibilities for the two parcels of 3.9 and 5.3 acres. A subdivision plan can be drawn up for these concepts, and submitted for approval. We have included links to Ouray’s land use and building regulations on the Helpful page. We look forward to assisting you on the next generation of development on Ouray’s 9 Acres!