AVLT, Eagle County and Pitkin County partner on open space acquisition

On Jan. 3, Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT), Eagle County and Pitkin County announced a massive joint acquisition project, wherein the three parties plan to pull together $27.7 million to conserve a property measuring more than 4,000 acres in Missouri Heights. The property, Three Meadows Ranch, is currently the largest contiguous property in the Roaring Fork Valley, and if purchased would become protected habitat secured from future development.

In order to complete the purchase, Pitkin County would contribute $7.7 million, Eagle County $12.5 million, and a private donor $7.5 million through AVLT.

Pitkin County staff presented its funding request to the Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 8 and received unanimous approval. 

Through AVLT, the Wexner family made its generous donation in hopes of making a significant contribution to a local conservation project, matching the contribution made by Pitkin County.

As for Eagle County, after a positive funding recommendation from the Eagle County Citizens Open Space Advisory Committee, Eagle County staff will present a funding request to its Board of County Commissioners later this month.

Located along Cottonwood Pass, Three Meadows Ranch possesses a wide variety of ecosystems, including sagebrush, wetlands and aspen forests, forming critical high-priority habitat identified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Additionally, meadows on the property support a resident elk herd of over 300. The property also includes plenty of water — multiple ponds, springs and water rights from Cottonwood Creek.

AVLT’s involvement with Three Meadows Ranch began in 2018, when the organization attempted to establish a conservation easement on the property. During that process, AVLT Executive Director Suzanne Stephens said that AVLT became familiar with the area’s outstanding conservation value. Disappointingly for AVLT, the property changed owners and the easement was unsuccessful. 

After the property foreclosed in the hands of its next owner, First Western Trust Bank acquired Three Meadows Ranch, and only after several years of foreclosure proceedings did the property enter the market last year. The opportunity gained the attention of the presently involved partnership in October of 2024.

“Once we saw the ranch back on the market, we collectively all leapt,” Stephens explained.

Shortly after, representatives of Eagle and Pitkin counties surveyed the property from above with Aspen-based nonprofit Ecoflight to gather more information about the area’s habitat and ecological value. After joint discussion, the group decided that the opportunity was too good to pass up. Working quickly, AVLT submitted its $27.7 million offer on Dec. 19. Though multiple offers had already been placed on the property, First Western Trust Bank granted grace to AVLT in recognition of the public good the purchase would serve, accepting the offer the next day. Since then, the partnership has been working quickly to organize the funds to complete the purchase.

According to Stephens, should Three Meadows Ranch have entered another owner’s hands, the property could have been cut into over 30 different subdivisions and developed for massive profit. Though plans for how the property — and its water rights — will be operated have yet to be finalized, should the purchase be successful, the habitat is guaranteed to be protected. As of right now, organizing the purchase is the number one priority.

Though the entirety of the property is located in Eagle County, according to Dale Will, acquisitions and projects director for Pitkin County Open Space & Trails, Pitkin County has good reason to be invested in a conservation project far outside its county lines, as both counties share the same watershed. Additionally, Will argued, were the parcel to be subdivided and developed, additional stress would be placed on infrastructure in Pitkin County — especially in terms of traffic.

The Pitkin County Commissioners agreed. “The entrance to Aspen is the Grand Avenue Bridge in Glenwood Springs,” said Commissioner Steve Child. “We’re all in this together in our watershed, and it’s so important that we all work together regardless of the political boundaries.”

After over 25 years working with Open Space & Trails, Will is impressed by the scale of this acquisition. “I honestly never thought we’d do another deal over 4,000 acres … to have the opportunity to protect so much land in the Roaring Fork Watershed in the year 2024, it’s very exciting.”

On Jan. 3, Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT), Eagle County and Pitkin County announced a massive joint acquisition project, wherein the three parties plan to pull together $27.7 million to conserve a property measuring more than 4,000 acres in Missouri Heights. The property, Three Meadows Ranch, is currently the largest contiguous property in the Roaring Fork Valley, and if purchased would become protected habitat secured from future development.
In order to complete the purchase, Pitkin County would contribute $7.7 million, Eagle County $12.5 million, and a private donor $7.5 million through AVLT.
Pitkin County staff presented its funding request to the Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 8 and received unanimous approval.
Through AVLT, the Wexner family made its generous donation in hopes of making a significant contribution to a local conservation project, matching the contribution made by Pitkin County.
As for Eagle County, after a positive funding recommendation from the Eagle County Citizens Open Space Advisory Committee, Eagle County staff will present a funding request to its Board of County Commissioners later this month.
Located along Cottonwood Pass, Three Meadows Ranch possesses a wide variety of ecosystems, including sagebrush, wetlands and aspen forests, forming critical high-priority habitat identified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Additionally, meadows on the property support a resident elk herd of over 300. The property also includes plenty of water — multiple ponds, springs and water rights from Cottonwood Creek.
AVLT’s involvement with Three Meadows Ranch began in 2018, when the organization attempted to establish a conservation easement on the property. During that process, AVLT Executive Director Suzanne Stephens said that AVLT became familiar with the area’s outstanding conservation value. Disappointingly for AVLT, the property changed owners and the easement was unsuccessful.
After the property foreclosed in the hands of its next owner, First Western Trust Bank acquired Three Meadows Ranch, and only after several years of foreclosure proceedings did the property enter the market last year. The opportunity gained the attention of the presently involved partnership in October of 2024.
“Once we saw the ranch back on the market, we collectively all leapt,” Stephens explained.
Shortly after, representatives of Eagle and Pitkin counties surveyed the property from above with Aspen-based nonprofit Ecoflight to gather more information about the area’s habitat and ecological value. After joint discussion, the group decided that the opportunity was too good to pass up. Working quickly, AVLT submitted its $27.7 million offer on Dec. 19. Though multiple offers had already been placed on the property, First Western Trust Bank granted grace to AVLT in recognition of the public good the purchase would serve, accepting the offer the next day. Since then, the partnership has been working quickly to organize the funds to complete the purchase.
According to Stephens, should Three Meadows Ranch have entered another owner’s hands, the property could have been cut into over 30 different subdivisions and developed for massive profit. Though plans for how the property — and its water rights — will be operated have yet to be finalized, should the purchase be successful, the habitat is guaranteed to be protected. As of right now, organizing the purchase is the number one priority.
Though the entirety of the property is located in Eagle County, according to Dale Will, acquisitions and projects director for Pitkin County Open Space & Trails, Pitkin County has good reason to be invested in a conservation project far outside its county lines, as both counties share the same watershed. Additionally, Will argued, were the parcel to be subdivided and developed, additional stress would be placed on infrastructure in Pitkin County — especially in terms of traffic.
The Pitkin County Commissioners agreed. “The entrance to Aspen is the Grand Avenue Bridge in Glenwood Springs,” said Commissioner Steve Child. “We’re all in this together in our watershed, and it’s so important that we all work together regardless of the political boundaries.”
After over 25 years working with Open Space & Trails, Will is impressed by the scale of this acquisition. “I honestly never thought we’d do another deal over 4,000 acres … to have the opportunity to protect so much land in the Roaring Fork Watershed in the year 2024, it’s very exciting.”