Winter 2017

It took the better part
of two decades for the
Boeddeker family to
strategically piece
together what is now
Cross Mountain Ranch.
Piece by piece...
It took the better part of two decades for the Boeddeker family to
strategically piece together what is now Cross Mountain Ranch. With the
first purchase in 1992, more land was acquired in 1994 and 2005. The
completion of the ranch occurred in 2007 when Cross Mountain Ranch
participated in a federal land exchange with the Department of Interior,
acquiring 2,543 acres.
The Boeddekers constructed an 11,000-square-foot, nine-bedroom
and nine-and-a-half-bathroom log mansion and enhanced the property
with paved roads, plumbing and electricity. The mansion was completed
in December of 1993 and sits on top of a bluff in the middle of open green
pastures with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains in the
Upper Ranch.
With the property finally complete, the Boeddekers set their sights on
conservation, and in 2014, set a precedent for other large, privatelyowned
ranches by protecting 16,000 acres of vital sage grouse habitat
through a conservation easement with The Colorado Cattleman’s
Agricultural Land Trust. In addition, the family has had the ranch enrolled
in Colorado’s innovative Ranching for Wildlife program for years. The
program gives hunters the luxury to hunt on privately owned land,
while also playing a role in wildlife management. As one of 27 ranches
participating in the program, Cross Mountain Ranch is awarded 100+ elk
tags and 25 mule deer tags in the Upper Ranch annually.
Lay of the land...
Because of the Boeddeker’s expert foresight and conservation efforts,
today Cross Mountain Ranch stands at 56,050 acres with 168,000
acres leased for grazing from the Routt National Forest, Bureau of
Land Management, Colorado State Land Board and Dinosaur National
Monument. The confluence of history, nature, recreation and agriculture,
the property is a once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunity. As a working
cattle and sheep ranch, it has a carrying capacity of 2,000 cows and
10,000 sheep, grazing on hundreds of acres of pastures and lush
meadows fed by 20 miles of private river frontage along the Yampa,
Williams Fork and Little Snake rivers. The abundance of flowing water
throughout the property is accompanied by historic water rights, that are
some of the oldest in the Yampa River Basin.
The Upper Ranch located in Routt and Garfield counties is just 45 minutes
from Steamboat Springs, Colorado and adjoins to the Routt National
Forest as well as the north slopes of Flat Top Wilderness
Area. Known for its stunning Alpine landscapes and
rich game, the area includes 2.5 miles of beautiful
river frontage along the winding Williams Fork
River. The clear waters of the Williams Fork
are known as one of the best brown trout
fisheries in Colorado and are fishable
year-round.
80