Discovery channel founder John Hendricks has made a significant mark on the Colorado area going back to the 1990s. That was when the Wall Street Journal reports that Hendricks and his wife Maureen happened to see a newspaper ad for a "sprawling" Colorado ranch close to the state's border with Utah. Since then, Hendricks' Colorado property has expanded to include not just a 7,000-acre ranch, but another 1,700-acre parcel that includes both a luxury vacation resort and a classic car museum. Two years ago, Hendricks listed the larger property for $149 million, but now he's decided to throw in the smaller one as well for a total asking price of $279 million.
If the Hendricks properties sold for $279 million, or even in the vicinity of that price, their official listing holders proclaim that it would be the most expensive residential real estate sale in the history of the area.
One highlight of the ranch is the Hendricks's 22,000-square-foot home, designed in a memorable Southwestern Pueblo style. Also found on the property, near the aforementioned Gateway Canyons Resort, is a private observatory. As Hendricks said to the Wall Street Journal, the isolated area is a perfect place to do some serious stargazing:
"The real joy of being located 45 miles from the nearest city is the remarkably clear night sky—no light pollution to spoil stargazing. Viewing the Milky Way and celestial objects like the Andromeda Galaxy is amazing."
With property that far from the nearest urban conveniences, things like shopping can be more than a challenge. But Hendricks has considered that as well, placing a modest convenience store for everyday essentials adjacent to the resort.
The decision to combine all of his property in Colorado into one potential sale wasn't originally part of Hendricks's plans. But he says that so many prospective buyers of the ranch inquired about the smaller property and resort that he decided to combine them.
You can take a look at West Creek Ranch, the larger parcel that was first listed by Hendricks in 2017, in the video below from LIV Sotheby's International Realty:
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