Last winter, local real estate broker Charley Ford made a public post on a social network site about a cabin he was renting to locals, and I was more than intrigued by the offer. So, I gathered two other friends to venture by skis into the woods to spend two nights in this renovated cabin. What we did not expect upon returning was a sense of connection to the space that filled our hearts and souls.
Ford and his wife, Katherine, restored and redesigned this cabin property with the intention to give a spot for locals to unwind. “The Valley has given me so much and this project is something for me to give back,” Ford says. He wanted to create a space where people can return with a clear head and was also affordable and easy to visit. The cabin sits on 20-plus acres nestled between Camp Hale and Ski Cooper along Highway 24 and 35 minutes from Vail. When snow is on the ground the cabin is accessible by skis for a very short approach and the other half of the year, accessible by fourwheel drive vehicles.
The history behind the property started in the 1880s when the land was first titled. First miners accessed the property to blow holes into the ground to see if they could find anything good. They created what is now a decommissioned forest service road that runs uphill through the property. In the 1980s-90s, a family of four children and one single woman lived in the original cabin built from the local trees. The cabin was fully off-grid with no connection to local services except for the bus which stopped at the bottom of the hill to pick up the children for school.
Photo courtesy of Charley Ford
The Fords purchased the two lots through auction and took on the massive undertaking of cleaning up the wilderness surrounding the cabin. The Ford’s guess that between the 1990s-2000s people began squatting on the land. They had to remove 29 trailer loads of materials to clean up the property which included two campers. They also found moonshine distillers on the property which added to the mysteries surrounding the past usage. “The place is so isolated, and no one was up there telling them what they can and can’t do,” says Ford.
The next phase of his project involved renovating the cabin which included blasting out the cracks between the wood beams and resealing everything. The original roof was kept as a historic element. A new wood burning stove keeps the cabin very toasty with comfy leather chairs facing it. The kitchen has a propane stovetop and oven to cook on, large sink for hand washing dishes and an old church pew for seating. A queen size bed with a very good mattress is in a partitioned room off the living area. The loft houses four cots and mattresses that can be arranged to each user’s needs.
Even though some creature comforts like a large sofa for lounging, board games and battery powered fairy lights were added, the cabin is still fully off-grid. The backcountry ruggedness becomes romantic when users are empowered to light their own fire for warmth, use candles for light, boil water from snow to drink and take a short walk to the outhouse. The cabin has been designed specifically for people to create their own adventure and continues to evolve.
“This will be a family legacy property,” says Ford. He believes in the mantra build it and they will come. Since redeveloping the original cabin, he’s built another tiny home along with a large shed to store building supplies close to the cabin. He has plans for a wood burning sauna, cold plunge, hot water shower as well as more tiny cabins throughout the property.
He has been supported by his family throughout this project. Katherine is a residential interior designer and helped fine tune everything. Ford commented that the red accents throughout the cabin were her idea which we noticed were a nice feminine touch. Ford also has a great right-hand man who implements his big picture ideas.
For Ford, this is his way of giving back to the community. “I’d love for the local school groups or vet programs to have access to the property,” he adds. Whether you’re looking for backcountry ski turns, an easy family getaway, a romantic candlelit weekend or the opportunity to isolate yourself from distractions, this cabin will create special memories for years to come.
Visiting this cabin isn’t like any ordinary reservation and requires some effort, just like your stay. Ford can be found online for those willing to do a little digging.