Snowmass history: Cozy Point Ranch
Aspen Historical Society, Bob Krueger Collection/Courtesy photo
“Future affordable housing, open space and recreation or luxury homes and an elite club? That may become the $3.2 million question this week as Aspen considers purchase of a 2.5 mile section of property north of Brush Creek” pondered the Aspen Daily News on Sept. 26, 1994.
“Owners of the Cozy Point Ranch met with Aspen city officials Friday and are expected to debate the ranch purchase during the regular City Council meeting tonight. Another meeting is expected for Tuesday, said sources familiar with the negotiation.
‘It’s an excellent opportunity for the community to capture’ the area said Time McFlynn, a principal in the deal. McFlynn predicted that, if the city does not make the purchase, the land will be sold- probably for luxury homes. A proposal being studied by the city includes a 15 acre ‘pedestrian village’ dedicated to public housing for up to 100 families complete with commercial core, Nordic trails and continued ranching operations.
‘The central portion of the property containing the ranch, houses, barns outbuildings and indoor and outdoor arenas would be reserved for … a complex of existing and future equestrian and community recreational uses … ” The City did decide to purchase the property and is now designated as public open space, consisting of approximately 60 acres of flat irrigated hay meadow & pasture, 30 acres of equestrian facilities, and hillsides covered in Pinion, Sage and Juniper.
Later acquisitions of adjacent property by Pitkin County Open Space and Trails have added thousands of aces with conservation easements by Aspen Valley Land Trust ensuring these lands will remain unchanged in perpetuity.
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