Indian Shadow Ranch - Durango, CO
Indian Shadow Ranch started with the purchase, by the same owner as others of Robert Fitzgerald's Ranch Stewardship projects, of an established, well kept and still working 1700 acre cattle ranch. Located west of the town of Durango, the property has beautiful rolling meadow along a prominent water source known as the La Plata River and was equipped with many beautiful ranch structures. Fitz was asked to design the three amenity cabins nestled along the river and to re-design and renovate the existing circa 1985 home on the property so that it might work as the Lodge for a limited property sales endeavor. Tom Braun, who Fitz has worked with in planning projects for many years including all of the stewardship efforts, was also involved on this team. Other projects at Indian Shadow for which Fitz participated in design charettes were to include the outfitter's cabin, overlook structure, entry house and a new bridge.
The theme was to be much less rustic and less traditional for this place than others of the ranch genre and offered an opportunity to explore quite a new aesthetic for Colorado ranch design. The buildings were to involve a good amount of cast-in-place concrete and steel, while still responding wholly to the need for sunshine, view orientation and the sense of openness between inside and out.
Unfortunately, partnership issues amongst the development entities cased the project to go on hold.
Photos
Indian Shadow Ranch started with the purchase, by the same owner as others of Robert Fitzgerald's Ranch Stewardship projects, of an established, well kept and still working 1700 acre cattle ranch. Located west of the town of Durango, the property has beautiful rolling meadow along a prominent water source known as the La Plata River and was equipped with many beautiful ranch structures. Fitz was asked to design the three amenity cabins nestled along the river and to re-design and renovate the existing circa 1985 home on the property so that it might work as the Lodge for a limited property sales endeavor. Tom Braun, who Fitz has worked with in planning projects for many years including all of the stewardship efforts, was also involved on this team. Other projects at Indian Shadow for which Fitz participated in design charettes were to include the outfitter's cabin, overlook structure, entry house and a new bridge.
The theme was to be much less rustic and less traditional for this place than others of the ranch genre and offered an opportunity to explore quite a new aesthetic for Colorado ranch design. The buildings were to involve a good amount of cast-in-place concrete and steel, while still responding wholly to the need for sunshine, view orientation and the sense of openness between inside and out.
Unfortunately, partnership issues amongst the development entities cased the project to go on hold.
