Notes from the host
Big Mountain Home on 80 Private Acres
Our big, loving vacation home is nestled in the Arkansas River Valley of Colorado. The Arkansas River, less than 15 minutes from our ranch, is renowned for whitewater rafting and fly fishing and is on the list of Gold Medal Trout Waters in Colorado. This unique, inviting area experiences warmer, dryer weather than the surrounding regions, delivering even greater possibilities for outdoor adventures year-round. We would love for you & your loved ones to stay at the MoonShadow Ranch & experience first-hand this very special area, property & home.
We invite you to design your family's next vacation in this gorgeous area & plan to visit nearby attractions like Royal Gorge Bridge & Park & Dino Experience & then, come 'HOME' to MoonShadow Ranch, a family-focused, luxury vacation home with:
*Good access on a paved county road that comes to the entrance of our ranch.
*Ample space for your family's next vacation &/or family reunion.
*4,380 sq. ft. of Gorgeous, Living Space (on nearly 80 private acres!).
*4 LARGE Bedrooms with 7 beds, 2 Double Blow-Up Mattresses + several
couches
*Wood burning fireplace in living room
* INCREDIBLE Kitchen with EVERYTHING you could possibly need for big, memorable family meals. You won't find another home stocked like this one!
* FULL GAME ROOM - Pool Table, Poker Table, Air Hockey Table, Board Games - with Large Smart TV, DVD player, 2 Full Couches & a Very Cool, Handcrafted Bar. We also have satellite Dish Network & DVD’s for Children & Adults.
AWESOME Outdoor Amenities include:
*2 Raised Decks
*Large grill
*Stone Fire Pit
*Horseshoes & Bocce on the Game Pit (in front of the house).
*Game & Hammock Area with cornhole (sack toss) and ladder toss games, Tree-Stump Tick-Tac-Toe, 1 Laying Hammock & 1 Hammock Chair.
*2 Mountain Bikes & 3 children's bikes,
*2 Pair of Snow Shoes.
*Fishing rods.
*Basketball hoop in driveway in front of house.
*Private Shooting/Target Range.
*AMAZING fully equipped Kid's PLAYHOUSE (10 X 12 ft) with a 4 ft wrap-around deck.
*PRIVATE Pavilion with 8-top Picnic Table, Propane Grill, Tetherball & another Cornhole (sack toss) game.
You & your family will LOVE the entire Royal Gorge Region because it offers the perfect combination of outdoor adventure, Old West history, and small-town hospitality. Nestled half-way between Canon City & Salida, we're 30-45 minutes from ALL the Royal Gorge Region has to offer. This is a place where you can slow down and leisurely shop the Main Streets in Salida or antique and other shops of Florence and Westcliffe. Or speed up, with a paddle in your hands, through the whitewater rapids of the Arkansas River or enjoy the winter slopes of Monarch Mountain. Or plan to come back to do it all!
Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall - especially the beautiful aspen groves located just a short drive up the hill from our home. This is an amazing place to retreat with your family & friends. Relax, breathe deep & enjoy the quiet tranquility as well as the endless possibilities for outdoor adventure on the ranch & on the Arkansas River.
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Summer: ENDLESS hiking on the ranch and surrounding area! Local rafting tours, lasting anywhere from a few hours to six days, leave from here & tumble along the state’s most popular whitewater river, facing rapids ranging from the calm, family-style waters outside Cañon City to adrenaline-pumping swells & steep drops near the Royal Gorge.
Winter: Cozy up with your loved ones by the fireplace after a wonderful, big family meal & enjoy the great warmth of this loving home. Additionally, we've added a gorgeous stone fire pit, snowshoes & saucer sleds to enjoy the fresh snow fall. If you're looking to add a day or two of skiing to your winter vacation, this could be the ideal home as Monarch Mountain Ski & Snowboard Area is 80 minutes (55 miles) away. Monarch is a great skiing location because it’s often one of the least crowded ski areas in all of Colorado & it often has some of the best snow in the state! Monarch is a wonderfully, family-friendly ski resort with an excellent ski school & childcare center.
For an unforgettable experience—enjoy the freedom and privacy of your own living space in one of the most beautiful areas of the country.
* Read a book next to one of 3 fireplaces – One located on each floor. The 1st & 3rd floor fireplaces are electric & the 2nd-floor fireplace is wood-burning.
* Relax on one of two raised decks - enjoy your coffee, a great BBQ dinner or a glass of wine & watch the wildlife that visit the property…including turkeys, rabbits, chipmunks, deer, the occasional elk, and many mountain birds including the beautiful and colorful hummingbirds.
* Hike on nearly 80 acres of private land, or venture beyond & make it a half/full-day hike & enjoy crossing over into the open access to Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) land that extends for 1,000s of additional acres.
*UNLIMITED INTERNET SERVICE IS AVAILABLE!
*During August 2022, we upgraded our internet service, so guests can now enjoy online gaming, streaming/downloading/uploading movies, videos &/or photos without restrictions while in our home.
*There is no cell phone coverage on our property. Guests, however, can make and receive phone calls, texts and video calls over our Wi-Fi network on their cell phones. Cell phone calls can also be forwarded to the land line in our home, which is available for guest use for both incoming & outgoing domestic calls.
From Our Family to Yours: Dream as if you will live forever. Love as if you only have today. In the Wonder of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and this valley, may you have love, joy and peace.
