Eagle Ranch, Colo.

This prairie-style home is located in Eagle Ranch, Colo., a hamlet established and annexed to the town of Eagle in 1999. Eagle Ranch is a unique development in that it is highly committed to conforming to the natural setting, as well as the existing aesthetics of Eagle. The community was carefully planned with traditional single-family homes located around a small village with shops, restaurants, offices, a town square and an elementary school. The 450 homesites are located either on narrow streets near the town center or around the Arnold Palmer-designed golf course (see Mountain Golf, page 78).

Eagle Ranch created two funding programs. The Eagle Ranch Housing Corporation was formed to provide financial assistance to local buyers. The Eagle Ranch Wildlife Trust was chartered to manage wildlife and wildlife habitat in and around the community. The Trust dedicated 58 percent of the 1,575-acre development to open space, parks and recreation. This featured home sits on a 0.6-acre lot at the end of a cul-de-sac. It backs up to open space and is just steps from the bike path and the golf course (it looks over the 9th, 10th and 18th holes). It has two master suites and two private guest bedrooms with private baths, plus a fifth bathroom and a powder room.

When you enter from the three-car garage, the mud area serves as a convenient place to stow your wet ski boots or your grassy golf shoes. The kitchen features an island and granite countertops and opens up to the family room and great room, a nice area for entertaining. When it’s warm, settle onto the wraparound porch for unobstructed views of Castle Peak to the north or to the back patios for views of New York Mountain and the Sawatch Range. With all of the open space outside, you’ll never feel cramped in this luxury home. ¿M.D.

PROS
At 6,600 feet, Eagle Ranch is within Vail Valley’s “banana belt,” meaning milder winters, longer summers and more golf days.

CONS
Because the Eagle Ranch concept is essentially “compact and low-impact,” most of the plots are limited to half an acre.

DETAILS
Location Eagle, Colo., 20 minutes from Beaver Creek and 30 minutes from Vail Price $730,000 Total square feet 4,100Time on Market 1 yearSales Contact Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate; 877-328-2550; www.eagleranch.com.