Greg and Kirsten Norman at Seven Lakes Ranch
Max Kim-Bee
Hall of Fame golfer Greg Norman, whose success in business ventures rivals his golfing career, is selling his Seven Lakes Ranch in Meeker, Colorado. The sprawling homestead, undeniably a sportsman’s paradise, is back on the market for $50 million, $5 million less than its list price in 2017.
Overlooking White River National Forest, the property features 11,600 acres of varied terrain with the majestic beauty of Northwest Colorado as the backdrop. Seven Lakes includes a 13,907-square-foot main lodge with nine bedrooms, seven guest cabins, staff housing, a historic dance hall, equestrian facilities and a fitness center with spa.
The main lodge and surrounding buildings
Max Kim-Bee
Norman, an international businessman, and his wife, Kirsten, an interior designer, have transformed a former corporate retreat into a family legacy that’s a study in rustic chic. The house, which was built of logs trucked in from Montana, is steeped in enduring Western charm. After stepping through the front door of the huge lodge, one is struck by the open and airy atmosphere with sublime views. The rich palette of earth tones and carefully curated furnishings enrich the decor.
The dining room puts a new spin on country classic.
Max Kim-Bee
A guest suite at the lodge
Max Kim-Bee
The bar stools in the bar are upholstered in tooled leather.
Max Kim-Bee
Thirty-foot vaulted ceilings, a wall of windows and a huge double-sided fireplace make a statement in the great room. Entertaining guests is a piece of cake thanks to a formal dining room, movie theater, Western bar and lounge accommodations. The commercial kitchen features a walk-in refrigerator and walk-in freezer. Six bedrooms are upstairs, including the master suite. A seventh bedroom is on the entry level, while the eighth bedroom, a staff apartment, is on the lower level. The basement also includes a walk-in wine cellar, commercial laundry area and two dry-storage rooms.
An executive cabin that overlooks Cabin Lake has served as a retreat for family and friends, including the late president George H.W. Bush.
A bunk room is outfitted with bean bags and a table by the window for homework, crafts and games.
Max Kim-Bee
Lodge exterior
Max Kim-Bee
Steven Shane, managing director and broker associate at Compass real estate brokerage in Aspen, Colorado, says Seven Lakes is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.
“The natural resources of this property are what make it so valuable,” says Shane. “There are 100-mile views of the White River National Forest and the Flat Tops Wilderness Area. And it’s not only from the lodge. If you go to the clays course at a different station, the views will take your breath away.”
The rugged terrain, sweeping meadows, trails, fishing spots and abundance of wildlife are ideal for recreationists in search of opportunities to camp out in the wild, hunt, catch fish or go horseback riding and snowmobiling. Seeking something more low key? The area provides the perfect setting for stargazing.
A view of the land at sunset
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Greg Norman fly fishing in White River
Max Kim-Bee
Horseback riding is an ideal way to see the beauty of Seven Lakes Ranch.
Max Kim-Bee
Shane pointed out that varied terrain distinguishes a Coloradan ranch from ranches in some other states. “If you would go to ranches in Texas, Wyoming or Montana, there would be a lot of acreage and very flat land,” he explains. “Here, there are significant changes in elevation and types of terrain.”
Norman assembled Seven Lakes from three land parcels. Pollard Ranch is 3,007 acres and includes two miles of White River frontage that is perfect for fly fishing. Pollard features a dance hall, barn and corrals for horseback riding in open pastures. A competitive clays course for skeet shooting is in the slope of a mountain. From Pollard, take a bridge over White River and you are in the 8,350-acre Dry Creek parcel, which Shane says offers the best elk hunting in North America. A four-bedroom hunting lodge is in Dry Creek. The remaining parcel of land is the 244-acre Seven Lakes.
Always the astute businessman, Norman has included farm and ranch equipment to sweeten the deal. Who, you might ask, would be the ideal owner of Norman’s ranch in this Colorado town? “It’s going to be for a person or a family that appreciates and understands that they want to own an authentic piece of America’s landscape,” says Shane. “A person or family who understands that this is a once-in-lifetime opportunity to enjoy everything the great outdoors has to offer.”
Click here to watch a video of Seven Lakes Ranch. For more information, contact listing agent Steven Shane via email at [email protected] or call 970-948-6005.