The Story behind the purchase of:

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Written by Robert Lee White
during his first stay on the Colorado property,  6/11-6/14/2003

For years I’ve dreamed about owning  land, of having a special place for me and mine.  I envisioned a peaceful place, always there ready to envelope me for rest or quicken my senses with activity .  When in Alaska I found  an unbelievable piece for sale over looking the Cook Inlet….got me thinking!   After that I looked at the ads, islands in NW Canada, lakefront in upstate NY.  I even gathered info about buying an apple orchard north of KC!  But these were just dreams.

That all changed when I learned about  a family in Colorado.  They purchased a lot in Breckenridge in the 60’s and put a simple cabin on it.  Now 3 generations of that family have had that cabin as a getaway….a home base in the midst of recreation heaven.  It is now worth hundreds of thousands of dollars….but they will not sell….they value what that place does for their family.  I am sure it may have been tough to buy that property back then….but what foresight!   

Could I have that foresight? 

With that, the mere thought this dream became became “pressure”.    “If I did not buy land, who in my family could and would? 

So I started to think… where…how?   I love upstate NY, the lakes, the forest, but my kids could care less.  I wanted a place that my family and friends would want to use and experience.  Arizona?   We all liked it and evidently it is a great place to retire to.  But if Arizona, why not New Mexico or Oregon?  We have no connection to any other state as a family…except Missouri, Kansas and Colorado.   Lee has expressed interest in living in Colorado.  Natalie has strong connections there, and we as a family traveled there to enjoy  
recreation far more than anywhere else. It is also a common destination for many of my friends and ….I love it there too!   So Colorado became the “where”. 

I then developed criteria for what I would be looking for.   Pines…..had to have lots of them, been in a deciduous forest too long! Views of the  mountains, proximity to more of Colorado’s recreation than just skiing, & easy highway access.  With these primary goals in mind I began my search.

I liked the first property I looked at with it’s wonderful forest of pines…..did not think I needed to look further!   But I did.  I was not prepared however for what I was going to feel when I began hiking up the hill of a second property.  I fell in love with it’s woods, it’s trees, it’s red dirt, it’s animals, it’s contours and then as I came out of the woods onto it’s bare hill top instantly I was amazed at a view that I did not think was possible for me to behold.  You now know that I own that “hill” but at the time I felt like I needed to keep looking.

And so, I kept looking.  After almost 3 years, six trips, studying countless properties on paper and hiking on over 35 parcels I can say that this 40 acres in Fairplay this “hill” was always the best!  It was the “gold standard” too which I compared all other properties as I looked at them.  Many had pines, but not interesting like the variety and age of those on the “hill”.   All claimed to have “views”, but most were laughable compared the  “hill’s 365 degree, in your face continental divide and valley views!  Some were closer to skiing (not many that I could afford) but none were ½ hour to 1.5 hours from rafting, the best fishing, great hiking, 14 ers, the sand dunes, Denver and Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak….and snow skiing.  It is also nice to be near what is likely the best mountain town for restaurants, shopping, night life, culture….Breckenridge. 

Even though I felt like I had found the place for me and mine it was difficult to make the final decision.  I had been losing tons in the stock market and my 401k was half of its highest value.   Add to that the events of 9/11/2001 and a world climate very unsure of itself.  Even in
the face of these negatives I still could not get away from the pressure; “If I don’t, who will?”

In January of 2003 I hiked the “hill” and confirmed how wonderful this land was.  I thought, “if someone else buys it I would feel horrible”  In spite of that confirmation I still could not decide…until one night while  getting ice cream at a Baskin Robbins on Noland Road in Independence Mo.  The kid waiting on me had more steel piercing his body than that which is contained in a suspension bridge and more permanent ink on his body than printed in the KC Star Sunday edition!  Music from another planet sounded from a cheap boom box and so as soon as I got my ice cream I headed outside. The area around a park bench was filthy and sticky.  Noland Road was active with screeching tires and belching fumes.  It hit me that there was nothing beautiful or uplifting about that setting!!  I decided right then and there, “I am buying that land!” “I want to know that no matter how crazy things get on this planet for me and mine, we will have a place that will likely be sane!”

So I called Art Girten a realtor the next day and made my offer.  What followed has been amazing!  The owners accepted a lower price.  The property appraised for much more than the purchase price allowing the bank to give me an unheard of 11% only down payment for vacant ground.  This in turn allowed me to keep money in the stock market and in the time since I made the decision I have made back some of what I lost.  My 401k is at a yearly high.  A neighbor agreed to trade a poor easement for a really good one giving much better access to the “hill”.  After other neighbors said it could not be done, the state is giving me access off their highway.  Sometimes making the right decision is just “right”!  Add to that the elk, antelope, coyote, red tail hawk, snowshoe rabbit and yes even cows that I have spent time with the last four days…..and the take your breath away views. And I can’t forget the emotion of the sunrises and sunsets…..or the smell of the pine, or most significantly the feeling I get just being here.  The decision feels right!  

“If I did not buy land, who in my family could and would?”……does not bother me now!  The pressure is gone!

To digress let me say that I have always been surprised when I hear of someone who sold the “family farm”.  Three generations of ownership and then wham…..money talks!  To me land seems too special, too hard to get, too important over the long haul for one generation of a family to sell just because the price at a given point in time seems to good to pass up!

Lee and Natalie, I don’t know that you appreciate this “hill” like I do.  If not now, possibly someday you will.  Possibly when you run into problems in your life and you need  “hideaway”.  Maybe your kids will love to ski or hike and then you will use this hill more so as to spend time with them.  Maybe you will just want to be away from KC’s heat and humidity!  Or quite possibly when you go into a Baskin Robbins in the year 2035 and the kid that serves you has detached his foot and sewn it onto the top of his head! …..  This is why you keep the family farm and in this case why I want you to keep this land available for our family, many generations of our family.   You never know  when you and yours and theirs will need it! 

After the mortgage is paid, I will sign documents, which will keep the property in the family forever.  Both of you and your families will be legally capable of using this place and will have responsibility for it. 
It is my desire that the two of you take time on an annual basis to discuss matters regarding this land.    Make sure the structures are maintained.  Keep on top of things so that the property is always ready for someone to use and benefit from.     Use the land wisely and with the environment in mind.   Take care of the trees!  Be gentle with the wildlife!    

I also hope you raise up kids to appreciate and love this place and it’s purpose.   When they are young, give them a rock from the hilltop or
a twisted piece of 1000 year old wood and tell them how special it is.  Share this place with your friends and make it a place that really benefits those who come!   However if anyone abuses it please take away their privilege. 

For now the land is mine to use and share, but it will be yours.  It is so very special,  not just because of all the neat things like wildlife and views but because of what all this can do for us while we are on this wonderful earth.  I believe it is hard to find the quality of rest, peace and vigor that this place gives so willingly.  It will help balance you in your lives; it will renew you to your core.

We are fortunate to be blessed with this land, please realize that above all else! 

And remember, God stopped making more of it a long time ago!

 

 

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Robert L White                                         12/24/2003