Colorado

No Invitation?

by Ingrid

squirrelWell….I waited….and waited….and then waited some more.  But received no invitations from my good friends;  Ralph Lauren, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Cruise.  These well-known folks all own property in or near Telluride, Colorado.

I remember watching Oprah’s special when she visited Ralph Lauren’s 17,000 acre ranch just outside the town of Ridgway.  The scenery resonated through the camera lens and was spectacular and it’s even more stunning in person.  Ah, to call this home!  Well, I can….at least for the week.

Ralph Lauren
part of this valley is the Double RL Ranch – Ralph Lauren’s Ranch

As Al and I head west on Highway 62; destination Telluride, hubby somewhat perturbed by my slow driving speed and wandering eye, finally asks, “What are you looking for?  You know we have at least 10 to 12 miles before our turn to the Last Dollar Road?”  “I’m looking for Ralph Lauren’s place”, I quietly comment.  In a rather sarcastic tone, Al says, “And why?  Oh, let me guess.  We’ve been invited for dinner…..whatever shall I wear!”

Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren enjoys an unobstructed view of Mt. Sneffels

I proceed to tell Al about the Oprah special.  My natural curiosity in all things Real Estate related, has me being a nosey-kins.  Come on….I made my living by buying and selling Real Estate and just because I live in an RV does not negate my general interest in Real Estate.  I have and will always have an interest in Real Estate.Last Dollar

teepee
teepee at Ridgway SP

“Look Al, look…. that’s Ralph Laurens fence”, I exuberantly exclaim.  “Ooh, ah….and what a lovely fence it is”, Al responds in that I don’t give a crap kind of tone.  I’m happy.  I’m excited.  I comment, “Now look for Teepees, honey. I wonder if we can see his Teepees or buildings.  Wow, this fence just doesn’t end, does it”.  We turn onto Last Dollar Road and somewhere along the way the fence style changed, leading us to believe one ranch property ended and someone else’s began.

The land around here is gorgeous.  As we come around a bend in the road, I come to a screeching halt….well not exactly screeching…..  I’m on gravel after all.  I did form a cloud of dust though from the sudden stop.  “Now there’s a fixer upper”, I exclaim.  Al tilts his head to the side, raises an eyebrow, and smiles giving me that look of, “you can’t be serious”.  Ok, moving on.fixer upper

For the next hour and a half we travel through some gorgeous back country accompanied by numerous side roads clearly marked Private Property or No Trespassing.  During the 19th and early 20th centuries mining, agriculture, and ranching were the primary industries.  Mining disappeared, but ranching and agriculture are still big business around here, as evidenced by all the cattle we saw today.

Ranch
Last Dollar Ranch- it’s actually For Sale….if you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it –              So I’ve been told 😉

Telluride

Aspen Tree

As we exit the forest of Aspen trees, we are greeted with an amazing vista.  The road eventually widens and improves.  We start passing a home here and there.  Some small and some LARGE.  I’m drawn to a huge house positioned on a mesa surrounded by mountain views.  It has all the rustic elements of Colorado architecture with all the grandeur you would expect from a celebrity.  “Now THAT has got to be Tom Cruise’s house”, I matter of factly exclaim.  Al says, “How do you know?”  “It kind of looks like it from Oprah’s show“, I respond.  “Sounds like you and Oprah have been spending a lot of time together”, Al quizzically comments.

Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise’s house – well it could be!

In all reality, I rarely watched Oprah but when she would visit a celebrity in their home, well this nosey Real Estate loving person just couldn’t resist watching.  Since we’ve already established I’m nosey about Real Estate, allow me to share some information I found extremely interesting regarding Telluride Real Estate.  First, between two Real Estate offices, I counted 81 Real Estate Agents and there are more than 2 offices….

  • For the first six months of 2013 – Jan-Jun
  • Number of houses sold – 7 ; average sold price $1,700,000
  • Number of condos sold – 16 ; average sold price $650,000
  • Residential land sold – 4 ; average sold price $1,500,000

Suffice it to say, I won’t be getting involved in Real Estate in Telluride in any way shape or form anytime soon.  The amount of Real Estate available For Sale is incredible.  I guess one can make a purchase in five minutes, but it could take five years to sell.  Not my kind of odds.  Architecturally speaking, most of the homes are stunning……old and new and it’s always fun to look.Rocky Mountains

Although we didn’t receive an invitation from any famous people, we did receive an invitation from my brother and his wife.  They pulled into camp late yesterday and invited us over for dinner; New York Strip Steaks….yum.  And the company wasn’t too bad either!

Oh, and FYI….on our return to Ridgway State Park, we saw the Double RL Ranch entrance and the teepees.  Fun ending to a great day 😀

Rocky Mountains

38 thoughts on “No Invitation?”

  1. Love the sarcastic remarks. Hehe. If you ever come to Oxnard I let you in my big property of a rented one room apartment. My view outside is beautiful though. Right when you exit the door, you will see a stair, and that’s it.:D

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    1. Thanks….. Ah….I too have lived in such an environment without a view and therefore appreciate the beautiful mountains seen outside my windows. 🙂

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  3. I suppose there’s no way one can walk up to the door and ask to burrow a cup of sugar?? Pity, otherwise I recon you’d have a can full by now… LOLOLOL

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    1. Hum, hadn’t thought about sugar but then again this is Colorado….I might be greeted by the barrel of a shotgun especially when NO Trespassing signs are posted….LOL.

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  4. I was looking all over for Kevin Costner in Deadwood, SD. He apparently didn’t remember we were coming 😉

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  5. We would love to tour the state of CO leisurely, like you two are doing. The scenery is spectacular and your photos are stunning Ingrid.

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    1. Well come on down…..plenty of room for another 5th wheel. However, can I assume the plan is to spend another summer in OH? If so, sending sympathy. Sorry…. now I’m being rude. Hum, the mountains or the Midwest?……and then there’s obligations 😉

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      1. We will spend the remainder of the summer here, getting Terry through his treatment in Columbus and going back to Dayton on the weekends to work around the folk’s property. We were going to do some overseas traveling but, given what has transpired, we are going to spend some of the winter in FL, then move up the east coast, and from there we aren’t sure, except that we will not be spending another summer in OH. What are your plans? Have you figured them out yet?

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    1. Love, Love, Love this mountain architecture so it does piqued my curiosity. Highly recommend the hiking over here – you’d love it!

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  7. That first shot of RL’s ranch looks like there’s a lenticular cloud forming. What absolutely gorgeous country. Great shots of it, too!

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      1. Serious??? In ANY of my posts; if you see a word in blue, it’s linked to additional information. In my post click on the name shown in blue text and voile!

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        1. Not entirely serious… I suppose I’d have to live in a cave to be totally unfamiliar with these characters, but I can hardly muster the enthusiasm I think I’m supposed to feel. Perhaps somewhat like your hubby? Definitely don’t consider any of them folks click-worthy. 😉

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          1. I figured….lol. In my younger days, I personally encountered quite a few “famous” people and don’t give much of a hoot, but their houses really intrigue me.

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    2. Some of the clouds are so very interesting as storms form over the mountains. I wasn’t sure if anyone would enjoy the photos of clouds as much as I do.

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    1. I detect the humor in your posts which is one of the things I enjoy. We’re always laughing about something, and my hubby is definitely a wise guy. Beautiful country around here….you’ll need to return for some lengthy exploring!

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  10. Spectacular views all through that area…..thank you for posting…..big sigh……wishing we were there too!!! Love the first picture the most!

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  11. I worked as a maintenance man on Ralph and Ricki Lauren’s 17,000 +/- acre Double RL Ranch a few years back and know his “compound” intimately. Those Tee Pees get furnished with priceless antique beds, dressers, mirrors, bearskin rugs, books, old rifles, pistols, and art. Guests have the option of staying in the Tee Pees or one of his “cabins,” furnished equally as well. The Lauren’s seldom came to the ranch except for two to three weeks during fall…the prettiest season.
    I left the Double RL to go to work for Aldasoro Ranch Homeowners Association as their water treatment operator. Aldasoro was a poor sheep ranch turned high dollar residential area for the wealthy. At the uppermost elevation of the properties, behind a high tech gate…another couple miles…was Tom Cruise’s place. Surprisingly, it was not pretentious, as mansions go. A licensed helicopter pilot, Tom would fly in and land on his tennis courts under cover of darkness. Somehow he paparazzi always knew and started showing up in droves…it was my job to keep them pushed back out of the subdivision proper. They were like sharks.
    Box Canyon Mark

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    1. Wow…..you’ve lived interesting times. The Double RL Ranch looks like a gorgeous piece of property and I’m sure the furnishings are equally as stunning. From the Oprah Show, Cruise’s place didn’t look pretentious…..looked rustic Colorado – love that style.
      I think we need to revisit in Sept for some fall colors before heading to AZ. It’s too beautiful of an area not to frequent 🙂

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    1. My sentiments exactly….tea and scones would have been nice. I think we’ll return for fall colors because it’s just to pretty not to.

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      1. 🙂
        Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. I’m not sure if it is the coolness, the smells or just the colors that I like most – maybe its a combo of all.

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  13. What a hoot! You got my curoristy up and I think that is Tom’s home 🙂 Might want to take another spin, I think Jerry Seinfield is out there too.

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    1. Gotta have a sense of humor! I’m sure there’s quite a few celeb owned places around here. You’ll need to check it out for yourself….not that you need an excuse to visit God’s country 😉

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  14. I can relate to your curiosity (even Im not into Real Estate) and classic hubby responses. If you do get invited tuck me inside your purse.
    Colorado is truly scenic and beautiful. Great captures as always.

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