Summary
A developer called Discovery Land Company (DLC) began talks with Routt County in early 2023 about constructing a luxury resort called Stagecoach Mountain Ranch in the Stagecoach area. Initial unofficial plans included a private ski area, golf course, and roughly 700 homes costing between $2 and $20 million each, with the application expected in August or September once Routt County had finalized an updated Unified Development Code. However, Discovery says the application package was delayed by several months to account for inclusion of community feedback the company received.
Submitted in early December 2024, the current application package consists of 1) includes 613 total housing units, as well as several public benefits like a community marketplace, new cell tower, improvements to County Road 14, and infrastructure upgrades for Oak Creek Fire Protection District and Morrison Creek Metro Water and Sanitation District. It does not include the talked about golf course – originally suggested to be sited on the shores of Stagecoach Reservoir, a waterbody that already suffers from elevated nutrients and is listed as impaired by the state – due largely to serious concerns about impacts to water quality. However, the golf course has not been ruled out as an eventual aspect of the development, though an application for it would likely not be submitted until at least late 2025.
From the time of application submittal, the first 6 months are expected to be back-and-forth between DLC and the Routt County Planning Department, meaning the first public meetings for preliminary approval with the Routt County Planning Commission and Routt County Board of Commissioners could take place in summer 2025. If preliminary approval is given, the project will go through another final approval process, with the earliest estimated date of final approval being January 2026.
FOTY’s response
FOTY was heavily engaged in the Routt County development code update in 2023 and 2024, advocating for robust waterbody setbacks, wetlands protections, and golf course standards. We met with the Routt County Planning Department multiple times and provided both written comments and oral comments at public meetings throughout the process. Currently, FOTY is reviewing DLC’s recently-submitted application through the lens of impacts to the health of the Yampa River, its tributaries, and Stagecoach Reservoir. If you have any questions regarding Stagecoach Mountain Ranch, please contact DLC at stagecoachmountainranch@discoverylandco.com. If you have questions about FOTY’s participation in the process, please email Emily Burke at emily@friendsoftheyampa.com.
Read more
Stagecoach Mountain Ranch: initial planning application (submitted 2/2/23)
Routt County Unified Development Code landing page
Stagecoach Mountain Ranch from Discovery Land Co.
Stagecoach Mountain Ranch: application for preliminary subdivision permit (submitted 12/4/24)
Stagecoach Mountain Ranch: application for special use permit for ski mountain facilities (submitted 12/4/24)
Stagecoach Mountain Ranch: application for zoning change (submitted 12/4/24)
In the news
12.06.24, Steamboat Pilot: Discovery submits planning applications for Stagecoach Mountain Ranch
12.05.24, The Yampa Valley Bugle: Plans for Stagecoach Mountain Ranch submitted to Routt County – without planned golf course
08.24.24, Steamboat Pilot: With Stagecoach luxury resort plans looming, Routt County amends golf course setbacks, house size limits
08.28.24, The Yampa Valley Bugle: Routt Commissioners reduce golf safety setbacks, create house size limit workaround in code update
08.07.24, The Colorado Sun: The Colorado community of Stagecoach is paradise to its residents. A luxury resort could turn it upside down.
07.29.24, Steamboat Pilot & Today: Developer seeks water district annexation for project featuring 700 homes, private ski area and golf course in Stagecoach
07.10.24, Steamboat Pilot & Today: ‘I can’t find anything that would stop it:’ Discovery Land Company explains plans for private club development in Stagecoach
07.09.24, The Yampa Valley Bugle: Anxious Stagecoach property owners fill firehouse for first meeting with Discovery Land Company about private ski community
06.27.24, The Yampa Valley Bugle: Regulations about golf course setbacks prompt delay in Stagecoach Mountain Ranch development application
04.23.24, The Yampa Valley Bugle: 90% of Stagecoach Mountain Ranch will be second homes, documents show
04.19.24, The Yampa Valley Bugle: Private ski development requires increased outflows into nutrient-rich Stagecoach Reservoir
03.25.24, Steamboat Pilot & Today: Plans for private resort in Stagecoach include high-profile luxury real estate company
03.21.24, The Yampa Valley Bugle: Company behind Montana’s Yellowstone Club coming to Colorado with similar development near Steamboat Springs
03.21.24, The Steamboat Group Blog: Stagecoach Mountain Ranch: IS Colorado’s Newest Ski Area Moving Forward?
02.27.25, Steamboat Pilot & Today: Routt County zoning review targets growth for Stagecoach ski area, Brown Ranch
04.26.23, The Yampa Valley Bugle: Long dormant Stagecoach ski area has plans to reawaken as private club south of Steamboat Resort
How to get involved
- Review DLC’s various applications to Routt County at the links in the Read More section above
- Email Emily Burke at emily@friendsoftheyampa.com to be added to a list of concerned citizens who we will notify when opportunities to make your voice heard via public comment arise. (As mentioned above, public hearings could take place in summer 2025).
Photo credit: Stagecoach Reservoir, Dylan Anderson, Yampa Valley Bugle