Not far from Durango, this Hesperus, Colorado compound offers 175 acres, an indoor pool — and a rather unusual amenity: its own RV campground.
Originally listed in late 2021 for $33.5 million, the estate — known as Wildflower Ranch — reduced its ask to $29.5 million in 2022 and is currently seeking $19.9 million. That’s a $13.6 million overall reduction from the initial price.
“If it was in Aspen, it would be gone. Durango is a hidden gem. I think someone will see the reduction and see great value,” said Eric Roark, who holds the listing with his wife, Connie Roark, both of the Wells Group.
The sellers are retired data storage executive Charles Pope and his wife, retired nurse Gloria Pope, who began buying up the various parcels that compose the property in 2002, the Wall Street Journal previously reported. And the reason for amassing all that space was quite touching.
“You couldn’t reserve anything big enough for our family reunions,” Charles told the Journal of the up to 240-person gatherings the brood held every two years, a tradition that began in the 1970s.
“When we bought the first lot we had no intention of purchasing more,” Charles said. “Then as plans developed and we wanted more, we had to wait for the owners to want to sell.”
The Popes are selling the estate as, following Charles’ parents’ passing, the family began gathering in smaller groups starting in 2017. They no longer need such an enormous swath of terrain, and have long planned a downsize.
In addition to its impressive acreage — which borders three sides of the San Juan National Forest and is split by the La Plata River — Wildflower Ranch also features a 18,000-square-foot main house with multiple fireplaces, a variety of patios and balconies, a formal dining room, a two-story primary suite, a fitness center and a library.
Other amenities at the residence include a heated three-car garage with an attached 800-square-foot greenhouse, horse riding trails, a home theater and, of course, the RV hookup-equipped campground, which can now benefit a new generation of a large family.
