Fort Garland, Costilla County: New life rises from the ashes

This lovely lot is located in the lush Forbes Park gated community, just 16 miles outside Fort Garland. Your 2.07 acres of Costilla County sits east of Mount Blanca, and just below the Missouri Creek. A forest fire set the property alight in 2018, but life always finds a way, and the grasses and flowers are making a comeback. Whether you’re looking to build your dream holiday home, or to relocate to the wild; the diverse and natural beauty of Colorado’s Costilla County offers a little something for everyone.

Costilla County and its surrounds are a true natural playground. The diverse landscape ranges from wetlands and grasslands to lakes and aspen forests. If you want to connect with nature, you could hardly find a better spot. Hiking, rock climbing, canyoning, and sandboarding are just a few ways to raise the heart rate. Love to fish? The reservoirs are teeming with walleye, pike, bass, and trout. Elk, deer, antelope, bears and even mountain lions are found in this part of the state, and a woodsman (or woman!) could hardly find a better home. The area attracts big game hunters from all over the country thanks in part to the variety of habitats on offer. Mt. Blanca stands 14,345 feet at its peak and is the 4th highest mountain in Colorado. Great Sand Dunes National Park (just 46 miles away), is home to the tallest dunes in North America and offers an unforgettable sandboarding adventure. It’s also a fantastic spot for stargazers, and a walk on the dunes on a clear, moonlit night is an unforgettable experience.

The only real question left is, what will you create on your piece of earth? Turn that notebook sketch into reality and break ground on that homestead, ranch, or cabin. Perhaps you’ve always wanted a summer holiday home, or was it a winter lodge? Whatever picture you’re trying to paint, you’ve certainly found the backdrop.

Costilla County is an area dotted with quaint towns and friendly local communities. It’s an area rich in history and is even home to Colorado’s oldest town. San Luis is just a 35-minute drive from the lot and makes for a fascinating history-filled day trip. Fort Garland is your closest town, and here you’ll be able to stock up on the basics, as well as enjoy a good steak. The Red Rocks General Store in Blanca is a real classic and the best place to get an authentic Polish sausage sandwich (in case you’ve been hopelessly searching). You’re also just a 2-hour drive from Colorado Springs.

The gated community at Forbes Park is made up of approximately 13,000 acres, or which 5,000 is common land. Your 2.07 acres sits at an elevation of 8,996 feet and is flat at the eastern side, and slopes downhill to an arroyo. The western side is fairly steep and the vegetation is mostly pine trees, flowers, and shrubs. In case you were worried you wouldn’t be close enough to the wildlife, there is a bear den down by the Arroyo (no sign of Yogi when we visited). The scars of the forest fire in 2018 are still visible, particularly at the base of the pines, but life is starting to reclaim the land. Access to the lot is via a well maintained dirt road, and although ATV’s are not allowed, snowmobiles are! The nearest power post is about .2 miles away from the property. Alternatively, power could be by solar, wind or generator. Water would be a well, water haul and holding tank, or similar option. A septic system is required to be installed before any dwelling is constructed.

Let your adventurous side loose and break ground on a dream in Costilla County. Whether you’re a thrill seeker, bear wrestler, stargazer or doomsday prepper; you may have just found your perfect plot. Picture yourself under a bright full moon, listening for owls and searching for alien spacecraft (several sightings have been reported around Mt. Blanca you know). Sounds good?