1800s Tobacco Barns Find New Life In The Telluride Mountain Wilderness

Mountain architecture can take many forms. Designs may borrow from a variety of styles such as log cabin, ranch, Adirondack or Prairie, to name a few.

Common threads are that the structures are able to withstand the elements, have rustic details and incorporate materials close at hand.

This residence in Telluride, Colorado, utilized resources both near and far. The home is made up of three 1800s tobacco barns that were shipped from Pennsylvania. Locally quarried boulders and stone were used to create the foundation and lower levels on which the interconnected buildings stand.

The 70-acre retreat is one of about two dozen in the Gray Head Wilderness Preserve. Set on the highest knoll in the community, the property takes in 360-degree views of the 14,000-foot Wilson Range and the Rocky Mountains.

A stone-walled circular driveway leads to a wide, snow-shedding portico at the front of the main structure. A 2.5-story, doubled-sided, wood-burning fireplace creates a focal point in the great room, where walls of glass facing a stone-lined pond frame views of the craggy peaks.

The open-plan space contains a living area, a window-side dining alcove, a breakfast nook and a kitchen with marble counters, a center prep island and stainless appliances. A second island has seating for four.

Catwalks high in the barn’s original beams and rafters overlook the living area.

The primary suite occupies one of the smaller barns. A workout room, a steam shower and fireplace complete this wing, which has a private patio.

The third barn contains a two-car heated garage with living space above.

There are three wood-burning fireplaces, five bedrooms, an office, five bathrooms and two half-baths within the 8,428 square feet of living space outfitted in mountain contemporary decor.

A cabana with a bar fronts faces another stone-lined pond, this one stocked with trout and fed by a waterfall.

TD Smith of Telluride Real Estate Corp. is the listing agent for 7039 Last Dollar Road, Telluride, Colorado. The asking price is US $10.995 million.

The home may be set in wilderness, but resort amenities are close at hand.

Winter recreational opportunities within the preserve include ice skating, sledding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. There’s also hiking, an equestrian center, fly fishing and an 1880s homeowners’ cabin for entertaining.

The town of Telluride is about 8 miles, or 15 minutes, away.

Owners in Gray Head have access to the facilities at the ski-in/ski-out Auberge Residents at Element 5. These include a private ski lift, parking, ski rentals and a fitness center.

Telluride Real Estate Corp. is a founding member of Forbes Global Properties, a consumer marketplace and membership network of elite brokerages selling the world’s most luxurious homes.