Denver’s Bear Mountain Ranch sells for $15M

A family ranch recently sold for a Denver metro high for the year.

Tim Smith bought the Bear Mountain Ranch at 1334 S. Grapevine Road from Denver business leaders John and Debi Medved for $14.7 million, according to the Denver Business Journal. The property, located in unincorporated Jefferson County, spent around three years on the market. 

The Medveds raised their six children on the estate, which was built on the grounds of the former Arapahoe East Ski Area, which operated during the 1970s and ’80s. 

The Medveds had been trying to sell the property even before they sold their car dealerships in 2021, listing it in 2020 for $37 million.

Ronda Courtney, of Denver Re/Max franchise Leaders, took over the property listing after it had languished on the market for two years. She subdivided the property into different parcels to attract a broader pool of potential buyers and enlisted the help of additional brokers, including Brittany Morgan of Compass’ Northrop Group and Rod Canterbury from Re/Max.

The buyer was represented by Lori Gajarsky from Location Real Estate.

The sale included the 17,000-square-foot mansion, an equestrian barn, a guest house, an indoor riding area, a shop, over 163 acres of land, and a sizable cattle herd. The property’s amenities include a sauna, fitness room, pool, and shooting range, making it an attractive prospect for potential buyers.

Additional land adjacent to the property, totaling over 150 acres, is still available for purchase in the form of different lots.

The sale stands as the largest recorded transaction in the Denver metro MLS over the past two years, excluding off-market deals. 

But the record might not stand for too long.

A private-equity executive and a high-profile figure in Colorado’s business landscape has put up his Cherry Hills, Colorado, mansion for sale.

Charlie Gallagher has listed his luxe 23,000-square-foot residence, located adjacent to the 10th green at Cherry Hills Country Club, for $18.5 million, the Denver Post reported.

The mansion, nestled on Cherry Hills Drive in the wealthiest suburb in Denver, was designed by Chicago architect Gregory Maine.

Constructed in 1993, the eight-bedroom, 14-bathroom home is adorned with intricate brick and stonework, the mansion is accessed via a cobblestone circular drive, adding to its elegance.

Inside, the mansion has an array of  interior features and amenities, painted ceilings, plastered walls, eight fireplaces, a two-story dining room, 18 sets of French doors and an elevator to go along with multiple staircases.

— Ted Glanzer