Royal Gorge Ranch & Resort Makes Good Use of Former Buckskin Joe Property

For decades, Buckskin Joe was one of Colorado's most recognizable attractions. The frontier town and movie set served as a filming location for Western productions and welcomed tourists from around the world. When billionaire Bill Koch purchased the property in 2010 and dismantled the structures for relocation to his private ranch, many wondered what would become of this iconic piece of Colorado history.

In October 2018, Ty Seufer and his wife Anna purchased the 805-acre property with a vision that honors the land's heritage while creating something entirely new. Royal Gorge Ranch & Resort is a gated recreational retreat that transforms the former movie set into a first-class eco-adventure community.

The property's natural features — glacier-carved rock formations, ridgelines with panoramic views, wetlands teeming with wildlife, and meadows stretching to the Sangre de Cristo mountains — are the foundation of the development plan. Rather than clearing land for conventional subdivisions, the community is organized into five distinct eco areas that work with the existing terrain.

Infrastructure development has been thoughtful and deliberate. Roads have been cut, named, and graded to provide access while minimizing environmental impact. The trail system connects all five eco areas and crosses the property's restored railroad trestles, which serve hikers, bikers, and dog walkers.

The Gunslingers Clubhouse, a Wild West-themed community gathering space, pays homage to the Buckskin Joe era. The property's climbing routes, Via Ferrata installations, and disc golf course make use of terrain features that were previously inaccessible to the public.

What was once a movie set is becoming a real community. And the story is just getting started.