Cornerstone Colorado: A Family Retreat That Takes The High Ground
MONTROSE, COLORADO -- Bounded by the San Juan Mountains to the south, the West Elks Range to the northeast, and the Grand Mesa (the world's largest flat top mountain) to the north, the residential resort community of Cornerstone Colorado enjoys an enviable setting on the high desert of southwestern Colorado.
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Dramatic snow-capped mountain peaks surround its 6,000 acres and the diverse topography is bursting with lush windflower fields, sweeping stands of golden aspens and meadows of sage. The views from Cornerstone's location high on the Uncompahgre Plateau (the community's elevation ranges from 7,900 feet to 9,200 feet) are equally impressive. On many a day, 100-mile views into Utah can be enjoyed.
So it was no small order when Jim Mikula, Cornerstone's general manager said, "My mission is for the community to match the beauty of the land." To accomplish that mission, Cornerstone designated more than 3,000 of its acres as open space. They created homesteads reaching up to a remarkable 200 acres. A Greg Norman-designed championship course (where the existing landscape dictates the flow of play) is under construction. And in addition to five-star concierge service for their Club members, Cornerstone's resort-style amenities will include two clubhouses, a swimming pool, stables, a Mountain Club in Telluride and a camp for both children and adults.
A Location and Climate for all Seasons
Cornerstone is located about an hour's drive from Telluride, ski resort playground of the rich and home to a multitude of cultural activities. Just one of several nearby ski areas to choose from, Telluride is also home to Cornerstone's year-round Mountain Club. This 3,000 square foot club in Telluride's Mountain Village offers members a kid's area, family locker rooms, showers and a business center.
While southwestern Colorado is known as a ski mecca in winter, the region enjoys almost 300 days of sunshine a year. Summer temperatures average a comfortable low 70s to mid 80s. The community is easily accessible from the nearby Montrose airport (just a 30 minute drive) that is serviced year round by a number of major airlines.
A Resort Community with Origins in the Homestead Act
Back in 1862, President Lincoln established the Homestead Act to help settle the West. In those days, $10 would allow you to file a claim on land. Once you "proved up" the land by building a home and making the land productive, you paid an additional $6 for a deed to the land. To mark their property, landowners would place piles of rocks around the perimeter of their land. These "piles of rocks" were called cornerstones. While surveying, the developers found a cornerstone dating back to the early 1900s, inspiring the name.
While the community's name may be rooted in the past, developer Hunt Realty Corporation (HRC) is well known in today's real estate market. An affiliate of Hunt Consolidated, Inc., (the holding company for Hunt Oil Company), HRC is multifaceted and involved nationally in real estate investment, development, and management. They are well-capitalized and dedicated to creating high-quality community at Cornerstone.
"We are committed to achieving the highest level of quality in every endeavor we undertake," said Gene Saner, President of HRC. "We're creating a resort community and private club that will include much more than golf - offering many year-round amenities and activities for families to enjoy together. And, we are excited about the positive, early response Cornerstone has received."
A Course Poised to Rank Among the Rockies Finest
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To create a championship golf course in such a naturally beautiful setting, the developers turned to Greg Norman, who already knew the region. 'I own a 14,000 acre ranch in colorado and love the rocky Mountain lifestyle," says Norman. His golf course designs have been acclaimed for their environmental sensitivities.
"We chose Greg because of his 'least disturbance' design philosophy," says Mikula. "The course fits the lay of the land and blends with the natural vegetation."
Norman and his team took Cornerstone's most desirable natural features and put them into play. The course winds through three distinct habitats as the elevation changes 700 feet. At the lowest elevation, pinon, juniper, and sage populate the landscape. As the course rises, rolling alpine meadows come into play. At the highest elevations, mature aspen groves frame dramatic mountain vistas.
"I first saw the Cornerstone property during a winter visit several years ago," says Norman, "and as I looked at the roll of the land and the snow-covered terrain, I immediately saw how wonderful the landscape and vegetation were for a spectacular golf course.
"Michelangelo once said, 'I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free." It's great that we could just 'release' the natural layout for a championship course from the existing terrain," says Norman.
Cornerstone's golf superintendent, Tom Huesgen, who is overseeing the course construction, believes that the layout comes as close to matching the beauty of the surrounding mountains and terrain as possible. 'The view from the 12th tee is spectacular," says Huesgen. "During the fall, the mountain is a patchwork of color. The contrast of the snowcapped San Juan Mountains in the background... the golden hued aspen groves... the green oaks.. .and the blending of native grasses (including yarrow, lupine, and Indian paintbrush) is breathtaking."
Superintendent at Pebble Beach Golf Links before coming to Cornerstone, Huesgen has a unique perspective from which to judge the new course. "Our high altitude mountain course experience at Cornerstone rivals the dramatic coastal view experience at Pebble Beach," says Huesgen. Compliments in the golf world don't come much better than that.
When the first nine holes of Cornerstone Colorado's Greg Norman Signature Golf Course open in the summer of 2007, it will be the only truly private golf club in southwestern Colorado. The par-72 course will have full practice facilities and a 6,000 square-foot golf clubhouse (opening 2008) overlooking a pond stocked with trout.
Luxurious Amenities and Pioneer Hospitality
While the golf course is the centerpiece of the community's design ("We planned the community around the golf course, not the other way around, " says Mikula), the foundation of the community's lifestyle is exceptional personal service. He and the staff at cornerstone have built a service philosophy inspired by the hardy homesteaders who first settled on the land. Pioneer Hospitality is based on four principles: thoughtfulness, resourcefulness, authenticity and competence.
"Everything we do for our members is tested against these principles," says Mikula. 'For example, over labor Day weekend, we called our members who were attending the Telluride Film festival and got their toiletry brands. We then had their toiletries on hand so they would not have to check luggage at the airport."
The spirit of Pioneer Hospitality (which includes in-home catering, travel planning and home preparation//care) is summed up simply by Mikula: "The staff wave and smile at you because they want to." That spirit fits well with Colorado's casual mountain lifestyle and is enhanced by a full slate of luxurious amenities.
The Cornerstone Lodge will be the center of activity at the community. The Lodge will offer swimming, tennis, a fitness center and spa, mercantile, and a full gourmet restaurant and bar. Camp Cornerstone was developed for both kids and adults with activities ranging from fly-fishing lessons to cooking classes.
"We place a great deal of importance on family and children," said Sanger. "Our members will enjoy an array of amenities from babysitting for infants to club activities for kids of all ages as well as the young at heart!"
Cornerstone Stables will feature 40 acres with corrals, boarding facilities and tack rooms. The facility will support both the serious equestrian as well as the casual trail rider, and offer an obstacle course, a five-acre pasture, and two campsites.
The Great Outdoors
Cornerstone's High Country location and the southwestern Colorado lifestyle is an invitation to the outdoors. "The land is captivating," says Mikula. "You can't help but want to be outdoors."
With over 20 miles of hiking, biking, Nordic and horse trails, a stocked fishing pond, and acres of open space, cornerstone caters to the outdoor lifestyle. The meadows of flowers and abundant wildlife are testament to that. Cornerstone is alive with deer, fox, turkey, badger, beaver and elk. In fact, the land is a major elk calving area. The community's wildlife management plan takes protection of the habitat seriously and Greg Norman routed the golf course around the calving areas.
Homesteads Up to 200 Acres
At Cornerstone, the real estate offerings are almost as big as the mountain views. For those looking for a big acreage in a resort and golf community, this is one of the very few places you'll find offerings from one-fourth to 200 acres. At total 412 "homesteads" are being planned in the community. The largest ranch homesteads run from 20 to 200 acres, while view homesteads are offered in one-quarter to eight acre sizes. Along the Greg Norman Signature Golf Course, golf homesteads range from $475,000, resort village homesteads are planned to start in the high-$200.
For those who enjoy village living, you can build a 1,800 square foot Mountain Craftsman Home in the resort village and buy a full golf membership for under $1 million. Many would argue that the views from the Uncompahgre Plateau are worth that.
