La Dolce Vita Ranch is a 446-acre property on the north slope of Thirtynine Mile Mountain near Guffey and approximately 1/4 mile from Pike National Forest. The property is a mix of rolling of montane grasslands, punctuated with mixed conifers, stands of aspen, rocky outcroppings, and springs, wetlands, and ponds along two draws. The area is important for wildlife, with elk, pronghorn, deer, many birds, bears, and mountain lions using the property throughout the year. This part of Park County is within the Currant Creek watershed which flows south to the Arkansas River and is geologically within the ancient Guffey caldera.
In 2023, La Dolce Vita Ranch was purchased by a couple to serve as home to three generations of family and to operate a diversified cow-calf working ranch with grass-finishing of cattle, sheep, and free-range chickens. The property is headquarters to the landowners’ livestock grazing consultancy and their non-profit Rangeland Living Laboratory, both dedicated to applying rangeland and ecosystem science to help bridge the gap between science and management. The landowners open their property to collaborate with local schools, Colorado State University, the former Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Soil Health Program, the NRCS’s Conservation Stewardship Program, and other partnerships for student research, educational workshops, and work experience.
“Working with Colorado Open Lands was in perfect alignment with our own values of land stewardship and conservation. It puts our minds and hearts at ease to know that the land we love so much and care for every day will continue to remain in agriculture, protected from development, and an inspiring naturescape for future generations to enjoy,” said landowner Anna Clare Monlezun.
The Park County Land & Water Trust Fund was a project partner.