At the base of Rabbit Ears Pass just four miles south of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Storm Mountain Ranch has made a commitment to environmental preservation and smart growth. Jamie Temple, a fourth generation Routt County native, acquired Storm Mountain Ranch and then donated a 793-acre conservation easement to the Yampa Valley Land Trust. The conservation plan was over three years in the making and won the Governor’s Smart Growth Award in 1998.

Temple stated, “I’m especially happy that because of the conservation easement, I was able to preserve part of the ‘front door’ to Steamboat as open, agriculturally productive land.” The conservation plan allows for a total of 14 homesites on 1,063 acres. Jeff Temple, Jamie’s brother, has implemented the conservation plan by hand-selecting the Ranch’s team of experts and ensuring that all construction remains environmentally sensitive.

Herald Stout of Elk River Realty in Steamboat recently sold a Storm Mountain Ranch homesite to a Chicago couple. Inspired by the Ranch’s previous land donation, Stout also made a contribution to the Yampa Valley Land Trust: he donated a large part of his commission from the $2.5 million sale. “The trend toward protecting ranches and broad expanses of open space is commendable, and the Yampa Valley Land Trust takes a leadership role in making that happen,” commented Stout. “I especially admire the way Storm Mountain Ranch has implemented their conservation-minded development plan.”

Stout began working in real estate as a principal in 1984 while working as a trader in the Chicago Board of Trade and the Options Exchange. “I like to put together partnerships and find creative ways to make deals happen,” Stout says. Shortly after the first of three daughters was born, Stout and his wife Laura decided to move to Steamboat Springs to raise their family.

For Stout, Steamboat’s appeal as a great place to live can only be sustained by efforts in smart growth development. “While there are many appealing aspects of the area that make growth inevitable, we can do our part to do it right. As the Yampa Valley grows, it’s important to remind the new residents, along with everyone else, that we need to maintain the open areas and ranch heritage.”

In fact, Storm Mountain Ranch’s efforts in smart growth have been popular with buyers: only four of the 14 homesites remain. Some buyers are choosing a homesite at Storm Mountain Ranch because they want to return to the outdoors they enjoyed as kids; however, some are choosing a homesite because they have always wanted to experience a life of horseback riding and fly fishing.

Storm Mountain Ranch, with activities for the experienced and novice, caters to both. The 70-acre parcels start at $2.5 million, and homeowners share amenities such as the numerous lakes, ponds, and streams for fishing; the riding and roping arena, western-style barn, and registered paint horses; the working hay ranch; and two magnificent lodges.

Published: August 1, 2000

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.