Page 10 - Sentinel January 2018

WORDS Continued from page 9 • Trails – trails will be added and will include the County’s 2nd,
non-motorized access to Pike National Park.
plan is to capture • Water – the surface and subsurface water rights will remain
traveling country
music and Souther with the property and will be used as they are currently for the
rock acts between agricultural use of the property.
manjor performanc- Only a couple of weeks into this transaction, the County will be
es for short week studying the best ways to preserve while offering public avail-
day plays at their ability to the large ranch land. As their plans develop, public
new BOURBON BROTHERS PRESENTS and follow with hearings are anticipated. Hats off to a quick response by the
local bands and/or stand-up comedy on the weekends. They County to preserve and protect Larkspur’s natural environment.
expect to charge in the $75-$150 range for the “A” artist hoping the sales tax-funded preservation acquisition fund. The meeting
to break-even on the entertainment cost, making money on the was well attended with all parties in favor of the acquisition.
food and beverages. If successful, it should provide convient,
and comfortably sized major entertainment in our local setting. Some of the questions and responses include:
Go for it BB. Look for the opening next summer. • Use – The property will remain an active working ranch with
public access.
The DeGraff Building – 118 N. Te- • Management – the current ranch manager will remain, now
jon Street – is one of a handful of re- employed by the county
maining commercial buuildings dat- • Access – the rear access will be gated and will not be used as
ing back to the Cripple Creek Gold a major entrance. A study will follow to address the best public
rush. Built in 1897 by a successful access location.
gold rush miner, David Degraff, • Trails – trails will be added and will include the county’s sec-
the building started out with office ond, non-motorized access to Pike National Park.
and commercial space, converted to • Water – the surface and subsurface water rights will remain
apartments after WWII, and back to with the property and will be used as they are currently for the
office/retail in 1967. After nearly 30 agricultural use of the property.
years in occupancy, the Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom moved
out last year. Just opened in 15,000 square feet on two levels
is a new Colorado based restaurant/brewery outlet, OSKAR Only a couple of weeks into this transaction, the county will be
BLUES, which plans to maintain the old-time Colorado flavor studying the best ways to preserve while offering public avail-
of the property, featuring local beers as well as its own Oskar ability to the large ranch land. As their plans develop, public
Blues beers brewed in in Longmont. Locally sourced beef con- hearings are anticipated. Hats off to a quick response by the
tinues the home town flavor. The lower level “entertainment county to preserve and protect Larkspur’s natural environ-
grotto,” has bocce courts, a stage and private party lounge. The ment.
Outdoor back patio has a new fire pit and game area.
The meeting was well attended with all parties in favor of the
acquisition. Some of the questions and responses include:
COUNTY PURCHASES SANDSTONE • Use – The property will remain an active working ranch with
RANCH FOR OPEN SPACE public access.
• Management – the current ranch manager will remain, now
On December 27, the Douglas County Commissioners formally employed by the County
approved the acquisition of the 2,038- acre Sandstone Ranch, • Access – the rear access will be gated and will not be used as
with the formal closing to take place mid-January. This was a a major entrance. A study will follow to address the best public
remarkable several-week transaction which followed the sales access location.
price drop from $27.6 million to $18,750,000. Approximately • Trails – trails will be added and will include the County’s 2nd,
on-half of the funds will be provided by grants with the county non-motorized access to Pike National Park.
responsible for just over $9 million which comes from he sales • Water – the surface and subsurface water rights will remain
tax funded preservation acquisition fund. The meeting was well with the property and will be used as they are currently for the
attended with all parties in favor of the acquisition. Some of the agricultural use of the property.
questions and responses include: Only a couple of weeks into this transaction, the County will be
• Use – The property will remain an active working ranch with studying the best ways to preserve while offering public avail-
public access. ability to the large ranch land. As their plans develop, public
• Management – the current ranch manager will remain, now hearings are anticipated. Hats off to a quick response by the
employed by the County County to preserve and protect Larkspur’s natural environ-
• Access – the rear access will be gated and will not be used as ment.
a major entrance. A study will follow to address the best public
access location.

Page 10 - January 2018 Perry Park Sentinel