By Shannon Lukens. Courtesy photo.
The Copper Ridge property that the City of Steamboat Springs had been making plans to purchase is now under contract, with a competing buyer. The city has been working on purchasing the parcel along County Road 129 for the past 13 months, to add recreational amenities for the community. A press release from the city says the full funding of $19.9 million was secured, but then the seller chose to accept an alternative offer over the weekend. The purchase would have provided 870 acres of open space and 157 acres of working ranchland.
The release also says the city will keep in touch with the real estate broker, in case the opportunity to acquire the property reopens.
The city will continue to move forward with the State Creek Parkland Acquisition, which has a projected closing date of July 2026. This project has 131 acres of open space with plans for a park and indoor recreational facilities.
Much more information is below.
Press Release from the City of Steamboat Springs; May 20, 2025.
Copper Ridge Parkland Acquisition Halted
Competing Buyer Under Contract For Proposed Parkland Parcel
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-May 20, 2025-Despite significant efforts to acquire additional public parkland, the City of Steamboat Springs announced on Tuesday that the Copper Ridge property is now under contract with a competing buyer.
“While we are understandably disappointed that the Copper Ridge opportunity didn’t come to fruition, we are incredibly proud of the work and collaboration that brought us to the table” commented Steamboat Springs Parks & Recreation Director Angela Cosby. “The vision, planning, and generous support from our partners, donors, and community members, demonstrates the strength of Steamboat Springs’ commitment to preserving open space and expanding recreational access.”
Over the past 13 months, the city has been working diligently toward acquiring the Copper Ridge parcel to address the growing demand for parkland and recreational amenities in our expanding community. On Tuesday, May 13, the city, with support of generous donors, and the Trust for Public Land, secured full funding for the $19.9 million purchase, plus an additional $1.5 million for trail planning and development. In addition, the city was actively finalizing a contract with the seller and had site visits scheduled for donors, partners, and community leaders this week.
Unfortunately, the seller chose to accept an alternative offer over the weekend. In public real estate transactions, unless a seller is motivated by conservation and community goals, public entities such as the city, and partners like the Trust for Public Land, often face challenges due to the necessary complexities of funding strategies, stakeholder collaboration, and public transparency requirements.
With ongoing community growth, particularly to the west, and a very active population, Steamboat Springs has outgrown its existing parkland capacity. This has resulted in overutilized, and at times, deteriorating parks and opens spaces, and a growing list of recreational facility and partner organization needs. The acquisition of Copper Ridge, along with the separate but complementary Slate Creek acquisition, was intended to address these needs and provide more equitable access to parks and services across the city.
The Copper Ridge acquisition (1,027 acres) would have provided:
- 870 acres of open space to protect wildlife habitat and establish a regional trail network, comparable in scope to Emerald Mountain.
- 157 acres of working ranchland for partner organizations like Yampatika and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and a future City of Steamboat Springs water treatment facility that’s essential for strengthening the city’s water infrastructure and supporting long-term population growth.
While stepping back from the Copper Ridge acquisition at this time, the city will remain in contact with the real estate broker and is maintaining its readiness to move forward in the event circumstances shift and the opportunity to acquire the property reopens.
Meanwhile, the city continues to move forward with the Slate Creek Parkland Acquisition, which remains under contract with an anticipated closing date in July 2026. This project will preserve 131 acres of open space, include a 50-acre regional park, and set aside six acres for future indoor recreation facilities, marking a significant step in meeting the recreational needs of residents.
“Copper Ridge was an exciting vision for Steamboat Springs, and City Council remains committed to ensuring every resident has access to high-quality parks, trails, and recreational amenities”, said City Council President Gail Garey. “We thank our staff, the Trust for Public Land, our generous public and private partners, and especially the public for their unwavering support. As we continue with the Slate Creek acquisition and look for future opportunities, we remain focused on shaping a sustainable and equitable future for our growing community.”
The city remains steadfast in its commitment to expanding and improving parkland and recreational amenities to meet the evolving needs of the community. The city sincerely thanks everyone who contributed their time, funding, and advocacy in support of the Copper Ridge effort. The community’s engagement reflects a shared vision of a healthier, more vibrant, Steamboat Springs.
Copper Ridge, also known as the Josie Schroeder Ranch and historically Slate Creek Ranch, consists of three parcels that total 1,027 acres of land located on the northwest slope of the Copper Ridge viewshed. This unique parcel located just ten minutes north of Steamboat Springs, boarders a large parcel owned by the United States Forest Service (USFS), that offers an additional 13,853 acres of public access connecting the Strawberry Park and Buffalo Pass USFS areas.
The Copper Ridge property is broken into two distinct regions. Along County Road 129, the approximately 157 acre developed ranch site is relatively flat (where the working ranch operation is concentrated). Leaving the ranch site and moving up slope is the irrigated hay meadows for the property, and beyond the meadows are the steeper sloped uplands that offer four ponds fed from natural springs, three impressive ridgelines, and dense aspen forests covering 870 acres.