Off-Grid Rental Business/Ultimate Family Compound for Sale
Stunning 27-acre property almost completely surrounded by national forest lands just 5 miles from Creede, Colorado.
This property has two distinct possible uses - as an off-grid rental business or as the Ultimate Family Compound/Retreat.
Off-Grid Rentals
Buyer has the option to expand the current 2-yurt rental business under a pre-approved, transferable development permit from Mineral county which I acquired back in 1997. Colorado has very strict development regulations which means this type of permit is likely not available today. Permit allows up to 24 guests in 6-9 yurts plus 2-4 cabins or tiny homes, a lodge and a shower house facility. The permit automatically transfers to the new owner and allows 10 years from date of sale for final buildout.
Ultimate Family Compound/Retreat
Not interested in running a rental business? The property is the perfect getaway for a family compound where each family member/friend has their own place on one big property. The two rental yurts can be claimed as guest houses since they are under 500 sq. ft. Also a great place to run and hide from everything if things get too crazy!
Property Features
Reason for Selling
Retiring and ready to hand the reigns to someone new. Whether you want the ultimate getaway property or are interested in a backcountry rental operation (or a hybrid of both) this property has it all
Mountain Town
Less than 5 miles from the mountain town of Creede, Colorado with grocery, gas and tourist shops as well as the nationally recognized Creede Repertory Theater
San Juan Mountains
Amazing views of the San Juans that must be experienced in-person to fully appreciate. Yet just a 15 minute drive back to Creede
Private Land
This is not a forest service land lease situation. The sale includes 27 acres of fee simple, private property almost completely surrounded by national forest lands. There are also two rental yurts on the property now with permission to add several more yurts or tiny homes plus a lodge and a shower house facility
Roads
The first 3.5 miles from town to the property is maintained by Mineral county. The last 1.5 miles is a lightly maintained 4WD forest service road. This rougher section of road keeps traffic low and ensures maximum privacy for guests or owners
Airbnb
10 years on Airbnb with over 420 total reviews with average 4.96 stars overall. Click on links below to see Airbnb listings and reviews:
Cliff Yurt
Eagle Nest Yurt
Guests
Hundreds of guest journal entries that include guest artwork and stories of their vacation visit to the yurts
Celebrations
Visited by guests from around the world for many special occasions; birthdays, anniversaries, surprise trips and even weddings. Read some highlights by clicking on the “reviews” tab
Night Skies
Because of it's high altitude, dry atmosphere and lack of ambient light from nearby towns, Creede is considered one of the best stargazing locations in the U.S. The yurt property is at 10,600’ elevation and zero light pollution! Check out the many night sky guest photos on Airbnb
Hobby Business
This has been a fun hobby for me while I was involved with my full-time real estate business. The last several years I only operated May-Sep with zero employees and with just one yurt until about 4 years ago when another yurt was added. It's easy to get 5-star reviews because of the amazing location and setting. But because this has been operated just a few months per year as a hobby, there are no financials (other than gross sales figures from Airbnb rentals).
Property Currently Has:
- One 20’ yurt with attached 12’ yurt as a bathroom. Both of these yurts are from Pacific Yurts of Oregon
- One 24’ tall-wall yurt with a separate detached bathroom building. This yurt is from the Colorado Yurt company of Montrose, CO. The yurt features three fully functional glass windows with screens, oven/range, custom built kitchen cabinets, full sized propane refrigerator, opening dome, quartz countertops and quartz topped custom-made bed headboard, huge trex-type deck with propane fire pit overlooking an 1,100’ drop-off to East Willow creek below (see pics) This yurt also has a full county-approved septic system installed at the time of construction in 2021
- Transferable Conditional Use Permit approved by Mineral County that allows: Building of a combination of 6-9 yurts, 2-4 cabins to allow up to 24 guests on the property at any one time. This number may be able to be increased with permission from the county. The permit also allows for a shower house and a lodge building with no specific size limitations mentioned in the permit. The Conditional Use permit is a substantial portion of the value of this business and likely impossible to duplicate today
- The Conditional Use Permit was originally issued in 1997 and was re-confirmed in 2021 in a meeting by the Mineral County board of commissioners.
- There is no immediate rush to build as the new owner has 10 years from date of purchase to complete the buildout of the property. So if interested in acquiring the property for a family compound situation but not sure about running a rental business you have plenty of time to get a feel for the property and still have time to build out the rental structures later if desired
- The conditional use permit is now a permanent part of the property and transfers automatically with the property
- Owner financing is available with a minimum of 50% of purchase price down payment
- Transferable forest service access permits for crossing small portions of forest service land. This took me several years to acquire and allows full legal access to the property. Small annual fee of around $150 a year to maintain
- Featured in Denver’s 5280 magazine two years in a row, along with multiple publications over the years
- Contacted multiple times to consider filming of reality television shows
- Property is currently run only May-October but has a huge market for winter business which originally was the only time the property was operated. Owner doesn’t live in the area in the winter anymore
- There is no cell signal at the property. But now with Starlink internet you can easily use wi-fi calling with most cell phones. I own 2 Starlink systems and they work great. My personal residence in AZ has no cell service so I use Starlink exclusively for wi-fi calling on my Verizon cell phone with no problem
- Zero dollars spent on marketing for the last 20 years. I have no social media presence at all as I’ve had all the business I can handle for many years without trying. So this property is ripe for some high-tech marketing innovation as tiny homes and yurts are on fire on the Internet now
- Excellent opportunities for backcountry skiing, see video. For years my friends and I have hiked up and skied these mountains and there are some great lines to be had! Ski from the yurts and up head up Campbell mountain for some great skiing just 1/4 mile away
- County maintains and snowplows the county road to within 1 1/2 miles of the property in the winter. In past years snowmobile’s were used to easily and quickly (much faster than in summer) access the property on the 1 1/2 mile jeep road from where the county quits plowing.
- Mineral County Memorial airport has a 6,880’ X 60’ foot newly repaved (2022) asphalt runway allowing aircraft up to 20,000 pounds GVW
- Bureau of mines requested and was granted permission by me in the early 2000s to land a helicopter in the meadow of the yurt property. They stated it was the only open landing spot in the nearby mountains
- Owners’ vision for the future includes having upscale clients flown in by private jet into the Mineral County airport and then delivered by helicopter shuttle to the yurt property
- Owner is ready to retire after owning the property for over 30 years
- Current Owner is willing to consult with new owner on future ideas if interested
- There is no well on the property at this time
- All future rental units built must adhere to Colorado Rule 43 regulations regarding sanitation (as was done with the new septic system on 24’ yurt in 2021)
- Owner is offering a 3% co-op commission to any broker that brings a buyer and does the paperwork for them. No exclusive real estate listing will be given, please don’t inquire. Just bring a buyer and I will sign a commission agreement with you for that client and you will get paid!


Price:
$1,850,000
Mark Richter
Phoenix Ridge Yurts, LLC
hutrentals@gmail.com
(303) 565-6787
Owner's Statement:
It has been my life's mission to reconnect people to the natural world from which we all come. Nature has a way of healing and calming us when we actually take a break from the fast paced world we all share. As can be seen in the guest reviews of the yurts, almost everyone that stays at this amazing property has found solace, inspiration and rejuvenation from the non-stop overstimulation of modern technology and the world of machines. But now it's time to pass the torch and let someone else enjoy and share this property whether with the world or a handful of close family and friends.