Placerville

Placerville | San Miguel County

First established as a small mining camp during the gold rush days, the Placerville area has never been developed, and there are wonderful real estate opportunities in an array of price ranges. Placerville is only about 30 minutes from Telluride Ski Resort, and has about 800 residents. With so much open space, there is tremendous appeal to build a picture-perfect home with sweeping views and every amenity under the sun. The area around the unincorporated town and census-designated place presents real estate for sale for all budgets. You can secure a smaller tract of land that's large enough for your dream home for only a few hundred thousand dollars. If you're aspirations are bigger than that, there's plenty of room for growth.

South of Placerville are a few terrific locations to build a home to your specifications. A lot with more than 180 acres total that sits in a rolling alpine meadow on the shore of an expansive private lake can be purchased for around $3.2 million. Located in the gated Specie Mesa Ranch, this property offers year-round access and views of towering snow-capped peaks. This prime lot offers convenience to town, front-row mountain views, and lake access. It's the pick of the litter!

Another fabulous option for a dream home is 122 acres at Specie Mesa Ranch with views of El Diente, Little Cone, Lone Cone and the LaSal Mountains. This serene property is easily accessible from Highway 145 and features feature mature aspen trees and majestic open meadows for under $1.4 million.

The Wilson Mesa Ranches is a third option for a future home to the south of Placerville. Highlighted by scenic peaks and rolling flower-filled meadows and a pond, you can find a 7-acre tract of land next to a larger open space for only $460,000. This site is large enough for a permanent luxury homestead nestled in the trees with community water and tremendous views from the Dolores Range to Little Cone. An ideal spot for horses, this quiet mesa is only 25 minutes from all the skiing, shopping and restaurants in Telluride.

Only 10 minutes from Placerville is the Fall Creek Subdivision. Located on the south side of the San Miguel River, this subdivision is surrounded by stunning red stone cliffs and a beautiful woods. There are 1-acre lots available in the subdivision that are flat and buildable with lots of tree coverage, a nearby creek, lots of open space in the area, and marvelous hiking trails for only $325,000. It has the potential to be the perfect jumping-off spot for your forever home.

Neighborhood highlights:

• North of Placerville are additional lots for sale where you can build a home. If you need space, consider a 2,100-acre ranch property with a mix of trees, pasture, ponds and an extensive ridge running above the property for $10 million. Includes a two-bedroom, 1,300-square-foot cabin on the south end of the ranch.
• Telluride Pines offers an opportunity to own affordable acreage north of Placerville and only 30 minutes from Telluride. There are several 5-acre parcels from which to choose, some with southwestern exposure and mountain views. Enjoy design freedom, low taxes, and wonderful private mesa living for under $250,000.