County OKs women's ranch by Mancos

County OKs women's ranch by Mancos

May 15, 2001

By Janelle Holden
Journal staff Writer

The Montezuma County commissioners on Monday conditionally approved a high-impact permit to build a women’s adventure ranch two miles north of Mancos.

The owners of the proposed Double H Women’s Adventure Ranch explained their proposal for a high-end resort with an outdoor-education emphasis to the commissioners at the public hearing Monday.

The anticipated level of travel to and from the ranch — 20-25 vehicle round-trips per day on County Road 42 — exceeds the county’s threshold standard of 15 vehicle round-trips per day, requiring a high-impact permit.

"We’re a guest resort with an education focus," explained Marcia L. Walker, president of the corporation sponsoring the proposal. Walker said the approximately 80 guests would arrive on a Sunday and stay until the following Saturday, and most would likely travel by airplane to the region.

"We will be nationally and internationally based," said Walker of the $11 million project. "We want to give the guests we have the ultimate experience."

Walker and her business partner, Carey E. Boyce, agreed to the county planning commission’s conditions for the development: a maximum of 120 guests, construction being required to meet code, and upgrading County Road 42 from the end of the road to the property’s driveway. Unlike the ranch’s neighbor, Echo Basin, they promised to hold no outdoor concerts.

Commissioner Gene Story also required that a commercial planned unit development and time frame for building the project be attached to the permit within 60 days of the purchase of Randy Spencer’s 141.73-acre property. Walker and Boyce plan to close on the purchase of Spencer’s property on Friday, and have estimated an 18-month building plan.

Walker promised the neighbors gathered that they would be "good neighbors."

Neighbor Bob Colgan said that if the county standards were met, he did not have a problem with the development. "If we’re going to have development, I’m encouraged to see that it’s first-class development."

Walker explained that the ranch would provide a four- or five-star resort and spa with instruction in horse-riding, rock-climbing, fly-fishing, and numerous other activities.

Walker and Boyce also plan to hire 30 to 40 employees, half of which would live at the ranch.

The ranch would include a main lodge, four cabins, three staff cabins, five outbuildings (barns, laundry and storage) and two false-fronted "Old West Town" buildings, one containing guest suites, the other, shops.

The total area of the buildings would be 45,220 square feet, less than the 50,000-square-foot threshold standard established in the Montezuma County Land Use Code.