Football fans and equestrians take note: This sprawling horse ranch in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado was the long-time summer training grounds of Thunder, a gray, purebred Arabian horse that serves as the Denver Broncos’ live mascot.
Thunder (technically Thunder III) is no longer in residence at the ranch—he has relocated to the owners’ family compound in southeast Denver, where his successor, Thunder IV is currently in training—but aficionados can now lay claim to the property his hooves have been all over.
The owners, horse breeder and philanthropist Sharon Magness Blake and her husband, Ernie Blake, a retired attorney, bought the property in 2003.
They are asking $23 million for the 255-acre property known as Triple Creek Ranch. It first entered the market on June 30, said listing agent Jack Wolfe, of LIV Sotheby's International Realty.
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The secluded, private ranch on Triple Creek Ranch Road in Silverthorne, Colorado, is located about a 90-minute drive west of Denver, 30 minutes from the Kremmling airport and just 10 minutes to I-70. Skiing is also not far—the ranch is a 30-minute drive to the Keystone, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Loveland and Arapahoe Basin resorts.
The property also has miles of its own trails for skiing, riding, and using all-terrain vehicles. For those who enjoy fly-fishing, there are seven stocked ponds from which to choose.
"This was (the owners’) summer retreat into the mountains to escape the heat in Denver," Mr. Wolfe said, noting the unique combination of privacy and proximity to the necessities. "We usually don't see these types of properties so accessible."
Triple Creek Ranch is named for the convergence of three forks of Rock Creek on the property, which is surrounded on three sides by the White River National Forest.
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A total of 12 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms are divided among multiple residences, including two single-family log homes well-suited for entertaining. The larger of the two homes is 7,500 square feet, with four bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, and a two-bedroom, two-bathroom guest apartment. It also has a four-car garage.
The second home is 6,300 square feet with four bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom guest apartment, and a three-car garage.
Ms. Magness Blake and her husband love to entertain, Mr. Wolfe said, and notable house guests over the years have included country music star Garth Brooks as well as current and former Broncos players.
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The owners built a 16,000-square-foot professional indoor riding arena as well as stables designed by Rocky Mountain architect Jon Gunson that house about 10 horses and include a horse-washing area, a tack room and restrooms. In addition, a single acclimatized, upscale horse stable is attached to the house with access through the garage, so Thunder was never far from his caretakers.
Bloomberg reported the owners spent about $11 million to purchase the property and the improvements cost an additional $6 million to $7 million. The owners did not immediately return a request for comment.
The property has multiple maintenance facilities, including a barn with a workshop and a log cabin apartment for the horse manager, an additional small cabin for on-site staff, and a ranch manager’s home.
"It's like the perfect multigenerational property," Mr. Wolfe said. "It's truly a legacy ranch."