Hotchkiss CO hobby farm for sale has 27 acres, shop, solar, and horse improvements

Small sustainable hay farm for sale

Hotchkiss, Colorado, is known as one of the most desirable locations in the state for anyone seeking a small farm. The North Fork Valley is known for its mild climate, long growing season, fruit orchards and vineyards, excellent views, and abundant wildlife and recreation. Of all the areas surrounding Hotchkiss, Powell Mesa is known as one of the most desirable neighborhoods, with its stunning views, close proximity to town and services, good irrigation water, and nice climate. This 27-acre hobby farm is a beautiful example of a Colorado country home offering great amenities and lifestyle.

Sustainable property has solar power, shop building, well-kept home

The improvements on this country home have been well maintained and thoughtfully planned. The home is a modest 2-bedroom built in the 1960’s, but well-kept over the years. Many aspects of the home have been updated, such as the walk-in shower, laminate flooring in the office, and a newer metal roof. Adjacent to the home is a smaller 2-car garage that is used for storage. A brand-new large solar panel supplies energy to the premises and is grid-tied to push kilowatts back into the grid. The net result is a nominal monthly fee from the local electric cooperative. The insulated 40×60 Cleary shop building is a beauty, with its own furnace and in-floor radiant heat. It is equipped with a full woodshop complete with dust filtration system. A 2-car garage bay is built into the shop. Domestic water is provided by a well, which is backed up by a 1,500-gallon cistern and water filtration system. A small 1-bedroom, 1-bath mobile home provides overflow housing for guests and workers.

Small hay farm with center pivot irrigation

The total area of the property is 27 acres, with about 20 acres under center pivot irrigation. The normal irrigation routine of moving tarps, hoses, and sprinkler heads doesn’t happen here. The center pivot sprinkler does a hands-free job of keeping the grass-alfalfa hay growing. Most years the property will get two or three cuttings. The property has 300 shares of Fire Mountain Canal water, which is normally a very good water right in the North Fork Valley. 

Colorado horse property for sale has driving arena, horse pasture, quality fencing

The current owner of the property was an enthusiastic competitor in driving competitions, bringing her horses to shows all over the West, where she drove surries, buggies, and other wagons. The arena on the property is consequently built for driving, but can be modified as a riding arena. There is a horse paddock, run-in shelter, and the entire property is fenced so that horses and cattle can be pastured once the hay season has wrapped up. 

Country home is centrally located between Aspen, Telluride, and Crested Butte

Hotchkiss and the North Fork Valley are known as the “fruit basket” of southwest Colorado. The mountain communities of Telluride, Crested Butte, and Aspen are each about two hours distant in different directions. Local farmers grow peaches, apples, pears, plums, apricots, cherries, wine grapes, and all sorts of vegetables, as well as hay, cattle, and sheep. Nearby recreation includes mountain biking, fly-fishing the gold-medal waters of the Gunnison River, excellent hunting for elk and mule deer, rafting and kayaking, 4-wheeling, dirt biking, and horseback riding—not to mention world-class skiing and snowmobiling.