established in the 1800's, the Porter Ranch is one of the most historically-significant ranches on Colorado's Western Slope.
Located in Newcastle, Colo., the Porter Ranch has been a living testament to a family’s deep connection to the land for more than 140 years. Since its establishment in the 1880s, this expansive property remained within the Porter family, making it one of the most historically-significant ranches on Colorado’s Western Slope. In the fall of 2024, for the first time in its history, the ranch was sold for around $15 million. This marked the end of an era, but also the beginning of a new chapter for this unique property.
The Porter Ranch’s listing price alone makes the deal noteworthy, though the most interesting details are found in the ranch’s rich history and legacy. It spans some 3,500 acres and has been an integral part of the area’s agricultural and recreational landscape. Established for cattle ranching, hay production and hunting, the ranch has passed down five generations through the Porter family, who have operated it and lived on the land.
The Porters: More Than Just Ranchers
The Porter family, like many multi-generational ranchers, embodied much more than the typical notion of ranchers. Over the years, they developed a deep knowledge of land management, water rights, cattle markets and agricultural practices. Their experience, combined with a lot of hard work, contributed to the ranch’s long-term success.
In addition, decade upon decade, the Porter Ranch has been known for exceptional recreational opportunities. It holds a special appeal for hunters of trophy bull elk, mule deer, bear, turkey and grouse. And it’s said that Theodore Roosevelt himself once hunted mountain lions on the property. For the avid outdoor enthusiast, the ranch’s abundant wildlife, natural beauty and ideal terrain have always stood out.
Exclusive Water Rights Among Ranch's Unique Features
Jake Hubbell and Loren Williams, both with Hotchkiss, Colo.-based United Country Real Estate | Colorado Brokers & Auctioneers, served as listing agents for the Porter Ranch sale. One key question they had from the start: How do you sell something that has never been sold before, especially with a 140-year-old property? Of course there were some obvious selling points. The location was ideal, 20 minutes from Glenwood Springs and a little more than an hour from Aspen, giving the ranch amazing views in the middle of Western Colorado ski country.
But there were also some unique elements worth promoting. In the late 19th century, Bill Porter constructed a reservoir fed by multiple basins and drainages, enabling more than 1,100-acre-feet of water storage. The well-designed system used 10 miles of pipes to pressure irrigate the ranchland, and the reservoir was exclusive to the Porter Ranch.
“It’s a huge asset given the high value of water in the Rocky Mountains,” Williams said. “If you were to replicate this today, you’d probably be looking at $10 million in infrastructure costs alone for the reservoir and piping.”
Combined with the ranch’s stunning beauty, recreation and an elevation (6,000 feet at the heart of the property) that lends itself to a longer growing season than some other spots in the region, the exclusive water rights proved to be a valuable asset for marketing the ranch.
A Deep Connection to the Land & People
Selling the Porter Ranch wasn’t just a transaction for Williams and Hubbell. Their approach was personal, as they both were raised on Colorado ranches and have made careers selling the lifestyle they know and love. Ranches, farmland, ski properties, luxury mountain homes and hunting land are the bread and butter of their brokerage.
The two men spent time on the Porter Ranch, immersing themselves in its history and getting to know the daily operations. This hands-on experience allowed them to appreciate the ranch’s legacy and to better understand its value — not just in financial terms, but as a living piece of Colorado’s deep western roots.
“Riding the ranch on horseback or by UTV, hearing the history and learning about the legacy is invaluable,” Hubbell said. “You learn the people who own these family-run ranches do everything. They have to kind of be engineers, scientists, botanists, veterinarians, mechanics and more. They need to be incredibly independent, forward thinkers and problem solvers. But at the same time, they’re still ‘salt of the earth’ and it’s impressive.”
As Hubbell and Williams expected, the land and the generations of people who worked and maintained it became integral to the sale process. In the perfect scenario, the Porters wanted a buyer who planned to maintain the ranch as an agricultural and recreational property to keep its legacy alive. Inevitably, that’s what they found.
negotiating the sale's challenges & complexities
Initially, the Porter family listed the ranch with a different brokerage, hoping for a swift sale. But after two-and-a-half years with no successful offers, the family opted for a fresh approach. Enter United Country | Colorado Brokers & Auctioneers.
“Jake and I asked ourselves, ‘Who is our real buyer for this?’,” Williams said. “What are their qualifications? Who has the ability to close this and for what purpose? It took some time.”
The prospective sale presented challenges, including a lack of due diligence, paperwork and other records that would have otherwise been available had the ranch changed owners in the past … even just a time or two. But that had never happened. Hubbell said there were complex legal issues surrounding the water and mineral rights, easements, floodplain considerations, reservoir management and other concerns.
A solid track record, reputation and years of experience in lifestyle and rural real estate – including several of the specialty properties in the United Country network – were really all the agents needed to move the sale along. Well, that and a lot of time and attention in making the Porter Ranch the men’s top priority at the time.
“All the work ensured that any new owners would eventually step onto the property with a clear understanding of its assets and responsibilities,” Hubbell said.
National Marketing Proves Powerful in Selling Legacy Ranch
One of the tenements of the United Country Real Estate program is “National Marketing, Local Expertise.” The company has a vast national network of offices (and some international), but with each one serving the specific needs of property buyers and sellers in its local market or region. For United Country | Colorado Brokers & Auctioneers, this includes properties such as premium ranches and a significant amount of land, among many others.
“We knew we needed to market the Porter Ranch nationally, possibly internationally, because we didn’t want to miss where the potential buyer could come from,” Williams said. “With United Country backing us, we had that power, that weight behind us. We got most of our direct buyer leads through United Country websites.”
Hubbell and Williams also relied on their own specialized qualifications as Accredited Land Consultants (ALCs), a relatively rare and highly-respected title that made them uniquely suited to handle the complexities of this historic sale. As land experts, they provide in-depth analysis, offer strategic advice and serve as trusted advisors throughout the entire sale process. It’s this kind of comprehensive local market knowledge and commitment to understanding buyer and seller needs that helped close a once-in-a-lifetime transaction.
While the Porter Ranch sale marked the end of a long and storied chapter for the Porter family, it set the stage for the ranch’s legacy to continue under new ownership for generations to come. “The future looks good for the Porter Ranch,” Hubbell said.
