I have always had an adventurous spirit in me. For as long as I can remember I
have felt a relationship with the raven and what it stands for: wisdom, understanding, creation, prestige, and the complexity of nature. We first purchased the Dayton parcel that lacked legal access, which we planned to remedy. In 2019 the neighboring properties, with legal access to U.S. 550 and a rough road, came up for sale. At the same time another parcel without legal access, but with additional roads across the property, also came up for sale. While walking through the trees and into a clearing to see the stunning view ahead, the river and railroad below, we noticed two ravens circling in the sky above us. We knew this was home. We envisioned connecting all the parcels and roads to provide one legal access for all these great properties and adjusting boundaries to improve build sites on eight amazing parcels, each with fantastic features. Creating great building spots in the San Juan’s takes vision, creativity, persistence, and a bit of love. This is how Raven’s Nest Estates was born.

“Few places in this world are more dangerous than home. Fear not, therefore, to try the mountain passes. They will kill care, save you from deadly apathy, set you free, and call forth every faculty into vigorous, enthusiastic action” -John Muir

Lessons We Learned on the Long Road to Building Raven’s Nest

Pricing of Land, We Found, is Very Confusing

(and in many cases, do not have or list the correct information about the parcel, come without surveys, and sometimes signage is even on the wrong land)

• 10-25K: You can pickup up a solid 10-200 acres that takes mountain climbing gear to get to
• 35-65K: You can get a mining claim with no road access, but maybe does not require rock climbing gear or is likely above tree line or over the edge of a cliff
• 90-120K: You start to see potentially buildable claims, all be it with most likely no winter access and challenging roads in non-winter conditions
• 129K +++: You can get more accessible and buildable properties maybe even with power within a reasonable distance of town and civilization, but views are typically mediocre
• 159K +++: You begin to get premium properties with great access, view sites, and buildable locations, but many are asking upwards towards 340K or more

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Raven’s Nest: The Quintessential San Juan Back Country Property

• Water, creeks, the Animas river and 2 massive waterfalls
• Views beyond compare
• The Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Train; the views, the sounds, the smells
• Historic Structures
• Mines
• Buildable Lots
• Plowable Road
• Close distance to town

Amenities of Raven’s Nest Estates

• Platted Survey of each property
• Property boundaries optimized for each individual property
• Platted and deeded right of way access to each property
• Legal, Year-round access to Highway 550
• Community Roads designed for large constructions or emergency vehicles with emergency egress
• Forest thinning and fire prevention underway
• Complimentary fire ring and unique metal art sign for each property
• A well thought out spot for an approvable and safe build site
• Strong cell phone and wireless internet connection
• Community supported power line or advice on solar power system setup as the community prefers
• Exceptional solar exposure for max power off grid generations and better snow melt
• Planning process advice, consultation, and hearing support
• Combined road maintenance effort

Are YOU the Right Fit for Raven’s Nest?

This will be a tight knit, small community of 8 homes and families. So, we also believe in sharing similar values that include: No formal HOA nanny; A passion for freedom to live as you please; A willingness to work together as a community; Friendly and outgoing; adventurous spirits; A tolerance of others beliefs and activities; Love of OHV recreation or an acceptance of it; Investor purchase is okay, but second home owner or ideally someone with future retirement plans is preferred; self-sufficient nature for living in a remote place.

Let’s build something together.

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Off Grid Living Considerations

Lloyd and Esther have been living and working off-grid in the mountains for many years, currently in a 4,000 sq. ft. heated home currently in the Sandia Mountains. Technology has been evolving for 40 years and solar power has become increasingly easy to live with and more practical. Even very recently, new batteries have been developed that have improved systems dramatically. While we would support a community effort to bring in on grid power, we would be fine continuing off grid in Ravens Nest as well. Off-grid considerations include;

• A properly designed solar system with remote monitoring, modern equipment, ground mount arrays, and winter snow removal systems.
• Well drilling to approximately 250’ and off-grid specific pump system
• Propane system and Radiant Heating
• Engineered and permitted septic system
• A community dumpster or independent trash hauling to transfer station
• Snow Removal Efforts and road maintenance
• Rugged 4×4 vehicles
• Preparing for road closures with emergency supplies

If this crazy and adventurous community sounds like YOUR cup of tea, pack up the family and camping gear and stay the night or two on one of the parcels for sale. Take time to look around in person what Raven’s Nest has to offer you or feel free to reach out to us through the website by email or phone, or take a tour with Silverton Realty! We will have videos that will take a closer look at each parcel, and what makes them special to narrow down which might be best suited to you.