FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 27, 2006
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Jennifer Abshire
Abshire Public Relations
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Savannah Developer Finds Success with Marabou, a Unique New Ranch Preservation Community in Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Half of North Point Real Estate’s Homesteads, Which Combine Luxury With Adventure, Have Sold
SAVANNAH, GA. – Known primarily for its residential and commercial projects in Savannah and the Lowcountry, Savannah-based North Point Real Estate has successfully ventured outside of its usual realm with Marabou, a unique ranch preservation community in the western town of Steamboat Springs, Colo.
North Point has successfully master planned and developed 10,000 acres of the best communities in North Carolina and Georgia. The company’s principal Jeff Jepson said when he saw the ruggedly beautiful property he couldn’t resist.
“When you find a special piece of property as a developer your mind starts going through mental loops as to what you can do,” Jepson said. “You want to preserve the natural beauty and be a good steward of the land but you also want to put it to a use so that people can enjoy it.”
North Point’s vision for the property has been enthusiastically received. Since sales started this spring, more than half of the available 62 homesteads have sold. And the property is gaining national interest having been featured in The New York Times in October.
Part of the attraction to the novel project is that the nearly 1,800-acre community will remain a working, productive cattle ranch. Residents of the custom homesteads and their guests can participate, at their discretion, in all aspects of ranching, from herding cattle and baling hay on the property to caring for the horses that live there.
“Marabou will take our residents back to a simpler time, when life’s principles were taught through driving cattle, mending fences and exploring the land,” said Mark Hall, principal of North Point Real Estate. “Service and comfort are paramount, but our residents really want the rural, authentic experience of a working Colorado cattle ranch. We provide both for them.”
Residents also can kick back and enjoy the many amenities built just for them on the edge of the Elk River, a renowned private fly fishing retreat. Jepson said that he believes that the various outdoor activities such as skiing, snow boarding, mountain biking and fly fishing would attract many people from the Lowcountry area looking for a retreat from their daily cares to a life that is close to the land.
“We are proud to add Marabou to our growing list of quality, innovative residential neighborhoods,” Hall said. “Marabou is in line with our absolute commitment to preserving land while providing residents with a unique and peaceful place to call home. We are approaching this project with the greatest of care to preserve the land while opening it up for our owners’ enjoyment.”
Part of the experience is learning from the experts in Marabou’s Master Guide Program. The Marabou Master Guides are champions in their respective areas such as fly fishing, horsemanship, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing and snowboarding. They will mentor and educate residents about how to have safe and enriching adventures while living on the ranch. U.S. Olympian skiers Nelson Carmichael and Todd Lodwick, fly fishermen Steve Herter and Steve Henderson, master snowboarder Erin Simmons and ranch manager Chad Bedell are among the masters who will share their experience with residents and their guests.
Ranch homesteads, selling for $2.4 million to $5 million, will average 6.3 acres and are carefully placed on the land to maintain privacy and protect the overall viewshed of the property. Homes can consume less than three-quarters of an acre, preserving the remaining land as open space, left undisturbed and cared for by the ranch association. More than 1,300 acres will remain common open space.
The development plans call for homesites to be located off of ridgelines and outside of agriculture areas and wildlife resources, preserving mountain vistas and wildlife corridors. The remainder parcels of land will continue to be farmed and ranched, as they have been for the past 105 years. Only now, Marabou residents will have shared ownership and will be able to hone their ranching skills and learn new ones.
Like many Colorado ranches, the gateway into Marabou will include a ranch compound, caretakers’ home and an organic garden. The heritage of the region will be prevalent throughout the ranch, from the entry to the many amenities. Meandering roads hug the landscape and lead to private homesteads, which are set aside from riparian, agriculture and wildlife corridors.
A well appointed owner’s lodge, outfitter’s center, wellness center, workout facility, theater and children’s activity center will become gathering places for residents and their guests. The horse barn, round pen, arena and tack room will be active year round. Residents can participate in ranching operations at their discretion, and under the leadership of the Ranch Manager and the Marabou Master Guides.
Marabou is being developed by Elk River Partners L.L.C., a partnership between North Point Real Estate of Savannah and Due West Land Ltd. of Steamboat Springs, Colo.
ABOUT NORTH POINT REAL ESTATE
Headquartered in Savannah, North Point Real Estate is the largest developer at Crossroads Business Center, spearheading the development of 2.8 million square feet of new office and warehouse space at this 1,700-acre office park adjacent to I-95 and the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Company principals have planned and developed a wide range of office buildings, industrial warehouses and master-planned residential communities for owners and investors. For more information about North Point, please visit www.northpoint-re.com online.
