Sangre Cristo, 4.73 Acres, $258 Dn
Federate Rd : Fort Garland, CO 81133
Costilla County, Colorado
Lot Description
Welcome to 4.73 acres in the Sangre de Cristo Ranches of Costilla County, Colorado - a flat, square parcel at 8,081 to 8,092 feet above sea level, accessed via county-maintained Federate Road, sitting just 3,032 feet - less than six-tenths of a mile - from Interstate 160. Guests can find this property. That single fact separates this parcel from the vast majority of rural Colorado land listed for sale, and it is the foundation of the short-term rental thesis that makes this particular acreage exceptional.
This is Unit V, Block 173, Lot 3004 of the Sangre de Cristo Ranches. Annual property taxes: $171.20. No mandatory HOA dues. Estate Residential zoning with no time limit to build and short-term vacation rentals explicitly permitted by Costilla County. Great Sand Dunes National Park - one of the most photographed and shared natural attractions in the country - is 33 minutes south. The Rio Grande Gold Medal trout fishery is 30 to 40 minutes west. GMU 83 elk country surrounds the valley. Fort Garland, with gas and groceries, is 8 minutes north.
Owner financing starts at $258 down with no credit check and no bank required. Four confirmed GPS corners are on file - you can locate this parcel precisely before you drive. GPS corners are included in this listing.
This is the accessible Colorado mountain parcel that outdoor recreation travelers are looking for when they search for an authentic, off-grid retreat between Blanca Peak and the Great Sand Dunes.
The Short-Term Rental And Glamping Case
The short-term rental calculus in rural Colorado comes down to four questions: Is the destination compelling enough to draw guests? Can guests actually find and access the property? Does the county permit short-term rentals? Is there a HOA that can prohibit or restrict them?
This parcel answers all four correctly.
The Destination: Great Sand Dunes National Park draws more than 600,000 visitors annually and its national and international profile continues to grow. Every traveler on I-70 who has seen Great Sand Dunes on a Colorado tourism map has added it to a future road trip. The park itself has limited on-site accommodation. The surrounding region has a growing but still undersupplied market for authentic rural off-grid accommodation within a short drive of the park entrance. A properly developed glamping site - converted Airstream, safari tent, A-frame, yurt, or tiny cabin - on 4.73 flat Colorado acres at 8,000 feet, 33 minutes from the dunes, with Blanca Peak visible on the horizon and dark sky stargazing every night, is precisely the product that outdoor recreation travelers are searching for and not yet finding in abundance.
Accessibility: Interstate 160 is 3,032 feet from the property - less than six-tenths of a mile. Guests flying into Alamosa Regional Airport (under 1 hour) or driving from Denver (3 hours 15 minutes), Colorado Springs (2 hours 4 minutes), or Pueblo (under 2 hours) can reach this property without navigating 10 miles of remote dirt road in an unfamiliar rental vehicle. The access friction that kills short-term rental conversion for remote rural properties does not apply here.
STR Permitted: Short-term vacation rentals are permitted in Costilla County per county guidelines. No additional county-level barriers apply.
No HOA Interference: The Sangre de Cristo Ranches Community Association is entirely voluntary. There is no mandatory HOA with authority to prohibit short-term rentals, restrict commercial use of your property, or enforce rules about what structures you place on your land.
The glamping and off-grid tourism market continues to accelerate. Properties with mountain views, dark sky access, national park proximity, and highway-accessible dirt road locations are the premium tier of that market. This parcel has all four.
Property Highlights At A Glance
Parcel: Unit V, Block 173, Lot 3004 - Sangre de Cristo Ranches
Apn: 70267180
Legal Description: S.D.C.R. Unit V Blk 173 Lot 3004 Cont 4.73 Ac
Address: Federate Rd, Fort Garland, CO 81133
County: Costilla County, Colorado
GPS Center: 37.437694, -105.372306
Gps NE Corner: 37.43849, -105.37172
Gps SE Corner: 37.43723, -105.37136
Gps SW Corner: 37.43694, -105.37288
Gps NW Corner: 37.43823, -105.37314
Parcel Size: 4.73 acres
Shape: Square
Slope: 1.5% average (flat/level - flattest in current Sdcr inventory)
Elevation: 8,081.5 ft - 8,092.2 ft above sea level
Terrain: Flat, lightly shrubbed rural terrain
Flood Zone: Zone X - outside mapped floodplain
Creek/Wetlands: Minor creek along western property boundary - buyers verify setback requirements with Costilla County planning prior to development
Distance to I-160: 3,032 ft / approximately 0.57 miles - closest in current inventory
Road Access: Federate Rd - dirt, county-maintained, legal access confirmed
Zoning: ER - Estate Residential, Costilla County
Single-Family Home: Yes - 600 sq ft minimum
Manufactured Home: Yes - 1979 or newer, Hud-Certified
Modular Home: Yes
Mobile Home: Yes - 1979 or newer, county-compliant
Tiny Home: No - 600 sq ft minimum applies
Time Limit to Build: 3 years from permit issuance
Camping: 14 days per year without permit; longer with construction permit and installed septic
RV: 14 days per year without permit; longer with permit and septic
Full-Time RV: Not permitted without permanent dwelling
Solar: Permitted
Wind Generator: Permitted - small residential
Propane: Permitted - portable or buried
Short-Term Rentals: Yes - permitted per Costilla County
HOA: Voluntary Sdcr Community Association - no mandatory dues; optional $25/Year
Annual Taxes: $171.20 (2025) - current, no back taxes, no liens
Fort Garland, CO: 8 min / 4.9 miles
Blanca, CO: 13 min / 9.6 miles
San Luis, CO: 21 min / 20.1 miles
Alamosa, CO: approx. 44 min
Great Sand Dunes National Park: 33 min / 31.0 miles
Colorado Springs: 2 hr 4 min / 135 miles
Denver: 3 hr 15 min / 208 miles
Cash Sale Price: $14,999
Owner Financing: From $258 down - no credit check, no bank required
Location And Access
Interstate 160 - 3,032 Feet Away: This is not a convenient drive to the highway - it is walking distance. At 3,032 feet, the on-ramp to I-160 is closer to this parcel than most buyers' nearest grocery store is to their current home. That proximity is a liquidity asset for resale, an accessibility asset for short-term rental guests, and a convenience asset for any owner who needs to reach Fort Garland (8 minutes), Alamosa (under an hour), or the Front Range (under 2 hours to Pueblo) on a regular basis.
Fort Garland - 8 Minutes / 4.9 Miles: Gas (Conoco 7 min), post office, diners, and the Fort Garland Museum and Cultural Center - the restored 1858 military outpost where Kit Carson served as commanding officer. Everything a rural landowner or short-term rental host needs within an 8-minute radius.
Blanca - 13 Minutes: The community at the foot of Blanca Peak - Colorado's fourth-highest fourteener at 14,345 feet. Gateway for hikers and mountaineers accessing the Blanca massif via Lake Como Road.
San Luis - 21 Minutes: Colorado's oldest incorporated municipality. The Stations of the Cross Shrine, authentic local cuisine, and 400 years of Hispanic heritage - a culturally rich complement to the outdoor recreation that defines this region.
Alamosa - Under 1 Hour: San Luis Valley Health hospital, Walmart Supercenter, Home Depot, Adams State University, and Alamosa Regional Airport (Als) with scheduled service to Denver International. Guest arrivals, supply runs, and medical needs covered within one hour.
Road Access - Federate Road: County-maintained dirt road with confirmed legal access year-round. Short-term rental guests arriving via standard passenger vehicle can reach the property under normal conditions without high-clearance requirements.
Zoning And Permitted Uses
Estate Residential (Er) - Costilla County: The ER designation is Costilla County's most flexible rural residential zoning. No mandatory HOA. No architectural review. No time limit beyond the permit window. Your development decisions belong to you.
Single-Family Home: Site-built home of 600 square feet or larger. No maximum size.
Manufactured Home: Permitted - 1979 or newer, Hud-Certified. A quality manufactured home is one of the fastest and most cost-effective paths to habitable short-term rental infrastructure at this location.
Modular Home: Permitted. Factory-built quality, site-delivered and installed.
Mobile Home: Permitted - 1979 or newer, county-compliant.
Three-Year Building Window: Permits run three years from issuance. Phase your development at the pace that works for your capital timeline.
Short-Term Vacation Rentals - Explicitly Permitted: This is the critical zoning confirmation for STR developers. Costilla County permits short-term vacation rentals on ER-zoned parcels. No county-level restriction. No HOA restriction. The business model is unobstructed.
Alternative Structures - Glamping Development Pathway: Costilla County's ER zoning and the absence of mandatory HOA restrictions create a development pathway for alternative accommodations - converted Airstream trailers, canvas safari tents, yurts, A-frames, shipping container conversions, and other non-standard structures that command premium nightly rates in the outdoor recreation travel market. Verify specific structure types with Costilla County planning before investment.
Camping and RV: Permitted for 14 days per year without a permit. Extended stays available with construction permit and installed septic.
Solar and Wind Energy: Both permitted. Off-grid solar at 8,000 feet in Costilla County is the correct and financially superior power solution.
Voluntary HOA Only: Sdcr Community Association is entirely optional. No mandatory fees, no commercial-use restrictions, no enforcement.
Recreational Opportunities And Guest Draw
Great Sand Dunes National Park - 33 Minutes / 31.0 Miles: North America's tallest sand dunes - some exceeding 750 feet - set against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in one of the most extraordinary and recognizable natural landscapes in the United States. Sand sledding, sandboarding, wading in seasonal Medano Creek, backcountry hiking, astronomy programs under International Dark Sky Park designation. The park draws more than 600,000 visitors annually. For a short-term rental developer, this is the primary demand anchor - travelers plan trips to Great Sand Dunes and need somewhere to stay that captures the spirit of the destination rather than a chain hotel in Alamosa.
Blanca Peak - Colorado's Fourth-Highest Fourteener, 13 Minutes: The 14,345-Foot summit visible directly from the property. Summit route via Lake Como Road draws mountaineers and peak baggers from across the country. For guests who are serious about Colorado mountain objectives, this is a premium proximity feature.
Rio Grande Gold Medal Trout Fishing - 30-40 Minutes: Brown trout exceeding 20 inches in the deeper pools and runs on the Gold Medal reaches of the Rio Grande. Public BLM walk-in access. Notably light pressure compared to Front Range fisheries. For fly fishing travelers, proximity to Gold Medal water with private basecamp access commands significant nightly premiums.
Zapata Falls - 33 Minutes: A 30-foot waterfall through a narrow volcanic rock canyon - one of southern Colorado's most rewarding short hikes and among the region's best-kept secrets. For guests who want a morning hike before a long afternoon at the dunes, Zapata Falls is the perfect complement.
Sangre de Cristo Wilderness - 30 Minutes: 220,000 acres of pristine backcountry. Over 100 miles of maintained trails. Genuine wilderness solitude within a day-trip drive of your glamping site.
GMU 83 Elk Hunting: Over-the-counter bull elk licenses available for the Trinchera herd of approximately 7,000 animals. For hunting-focused guests, this parcel serves as a natural basecamp for the second and third rifle seasons.
Dark Sky Stargazing - Bortle Class 2-3: 4.73 open acres at 8,000 feet in one of the most light-pollution-free environments in the continental United States. Stargazing is a growing short-term rental amenity that commands premium pricing in markets with dark sky access. The San Luis Valley's International Dark Sky designation gives this location a credible, marketable astronomy identity.
Wolf Creek Ski Area - 2.5 Hours: Colorado's snowiest resort. 430 inches of annual snowfall. Winter-season guests have a legitimate ski-day option within a half-day drive.
Wildlife And Natural Environment
Wildlife Experience for Guests: The wildlife at this elevation and in this location is not a backdrop - it is a primary guest experience. Guests who have never seen a herd of elk move across the valley floor at dawn, or watched a golden eagle hunt from the updrafts above the Sangre de Cristo foothills, or heard sandhill cranes calling overhead during the October migration, consistently describe these experiences as among the most memorable of their lives. That kind of natural character is not manufacturable - it comes with the land and the location.
Big Game: Elk from GMU 83's Trinchera herd - approximately 7,000 animals - move through the southern Sangre de Cristo Ranches seasonally. Herds of 50 to 100 visible on valley grasslands during late fall and winter. Mule deer browse year-round. Pronghorn on the open valley floor to the east.
Creek Corridor: The minor creek along the western boundary creates a natural riparian feature - birds, deer, and small mammals concentrated at the water's edge. For guests, this translates to wildlife viewing from the property without leaving the site.
Pacific Flyway: Sandhill crane migration in March and October - a genuine wildlife spectacle at valley scale. Golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, and Swainson's hawks year-round. Over 200 documented species in the San Luis Valley annually.
Predators: Black bear, mountain lion, coyote, and fox round out the ecosystem. This is not tame rural land - it is genuine high-country Colorado operating at ecological scale.
Utilities And Development Infrastructure
Power - Off-Grid Solar: The nearest power line is approximately 0.8 miles from the property. Grid extension at that distance is possible but costly - off-grid solar is the correct infrastructure choice for short-term rental development at this location. At 8,000 feet in Costilla County with approximately 340 sunshine days annually, a commercial-quality solar array paired with lithium battery storage reliably powers multiple rental structures, common area lighting, hot water systems, and charging amenities year-round. Wind generation adds supplemental production during overnight and storm periods. The total infrastructure investment for a solar-powered off-grid glamping setup here is a known, plannable cost - not an unknown.
Water - Well Drilling: No water source on site. Well drilling is standard throughout the Sangre de Cristo Ranches. Area depths run 150 to 350 feet. Complete installation - pump, pressure tank, electrical - approximately $10,000 to $15,000. For a multi-unit glamping development, a properly sized wellhead serves multiple structures from a single installation. Water hauling to storage tanks provides an interim solution during the development phase.
Sewer - Septic System: Required for permanent occupancy of any structure. Costilla County manages permits and site evaluation. Standard leach field designs throughout the subdivision. Multiple structures may require engineered septic solutions - verify with county planning. Note that creek-adjacent placement on the western edge of the lot should be confirmed for riparian setback compliance before finalizing septic design.
Propane: Standard fuel for heating, cooking, and water heating. Portable or buried tanks permitted. Propane is the preferred fuel source for off-grid guest amenities where a wood fire creates liability concerns.
Internet - Starlink: Consistent broadband throughout Costilla County at this elevation. For short-term rental guests who expect connectivity, Starlink closes the gap that once made rural Colorado properties unmarketable to the broader digital traveler demographic. Unobstructed sky at 8,000 feet - ideal Starlink operating environment.
Investment And Development Potential
The Revenue Thesis: A well-executed glamping or off-grid short-term rental on 4.73 acres with Great Sand Dunes 33 minutes away, Gold Medal trout fishing 30 to 40 minutes away, Blanca Peak visible from the deck, dark sky stargazing nightly, and I-160 access within six-tenths of a mile can achieve nightly rates of $150 to $400+ depending on structure type and amenity level. A single-unit glamping site with modest infrastructure at 60% occupancy generates $32,000 to $88,000 in gross annual revenue. A multi-unit development - four to six structures across 4.73 acres - scales proportionally. Those revenue numbers do not account for the land's continued appreciation, the operational simplicity of a paid-off owner-financed purchase, or the personal-use value of having a Colorado mountain retreat that pays for itself.
$171.20 Per Year to Hold While You Develop: Annual taxes of $171.20 while your STR infrastructure takes shape means the land's carrying cost during the development phase is genuinely negligible. No HOA fees, no special assessments, no mandatory road maintenance charges.
Great Sand Dunes Tourism Growth: Great Sand Dunes National Park's visitor count has grown steadily year-over-year. Colorado's outdoor tourism economy continues to expand. The supply of authentic, off-grid rural accommodation near the park entrance is still significantly underbuilt relative to demand.
I-160 Position - Drive-By Awareness: Properties this close to a major highway benefit from passive visibility that more remote parcels cannot access. Road-trippers on I-160 see a Federate Road sign and can divert 3,032 feet to an inquiry or check-in. That is a distribution channel most rural STR operators cannot replicate.
Your Three Paths To Ownership - No Credit Check, No Bank Required
Option 1 - Cash Purchase
Best Total Value - Immediate Full Ownership
Cash Sale Price: $14,999
Down Payment: $499
Documentation Fee: $199
Total Due Today: $698
Conveyance: Recorded Warranty Deed after closing
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Option 2 - Super Saver Financing
Best Value With Financing - Fastest Path to Full Ownership
Monthly Payment: $598.53
Loan Term: 2.5-Year Super Saver Plan
Total Monthly Payments: $565 x 30 months
Down Payment: $300
Documentation Fee: $249
Total Due Today: $549
Own your Colorado land free and clear in 2.5 years.
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Option 3 - Easy Financing
Lowest Entry Point - Start for $507 Today
Monthly Payment: $291.53
Loan Term: 6-Year Easy Financing Plan
Total Monthly Payments: $258 x 72 months
Down Payment: $258
Documentation Fee: $249
Total Due Today: $507
Nearly 5 acres of Colorado glamping country. $258 down.
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All Three Plans Include:
No Credit Check - Your credit history is not a factor.
No Bank Involvement - No applications, no appraisals, no denials.
No Prepayment Penalties - Pay it off early at any time, no extra cost.
Simple Process - Reserve today. Ownership transfers in 1-2 business days.
Perfect For Buyers Who Want
Glamping or STR Development: STRs explicitly permitted, no HOA, 33 minutes from Great Sand Dunes, I-160 within six-tenths of a mile - everything the STR investor needs confirmed before purchase.
Great Sand Dunes Revenue Anchor: 600,000-Plus annual visitors, growing national profile, undersupplied rural accommodation market within drive distance - the demand thesis is documented.
Gold Medal Fly Fishing Basecamp: Rio Grande Gold Medal reaches 30-40 minutes west. Private 4.73-Acre basecamp for repeated fishing trips with no campground reservations or permit competitions.
Highway-Accessible Mountain Land: 3,032 feet to I-160 - closer than most neighborhood coffee shops are to most buyers' front doors. Guests arrive easily. Owners come and go easily. Resale buyers find it easily.
Dark Sky Astronomy Platform: Bortle Class 2-3 on 4.73 open acres at 8,000 feet. A legitimate astronomy amenity with market premium in the growing dark sky tourism segment.
GMU 83 Elk Country: Over-the-counter bull elk tags, Trinchera herd of 7,000 animals, flat terrain to camp on - a serious hunting basecamp with STR potential in the off-season.
Blanca Peak Gateway: Colorado's fourth-highest fourteener 13 minutes away and visible from the property daily. For mountaineering travelers, this proximity is a booking reason.
Land Banking with Revenue Potential: $171.20/Year taxes, no mandatory HOA, multiple development exit strategies. Hold at near-zero cost or develop for income - the STR option means this land can pay for itself.
Take Action - Your Colorado Str Basecamp Starts At $507
What You Are Getting: 4.73 flat, square acres in the Sangre de Cristo Ranches, Costilla County, Colorado. Elevation 8,081 to 8,092 feet. ER zoning - STRs permitted, manufactured homes allowed, no mandatory HOA. County-maintained Federate Road with legal access. Just 3,032 feet from Interstate 160. Annual taxes of $171.20. No back taxes, no liens. Fort Garland 8 minutes. Great Sand Dunes 33 minutes. Gold Medal Rio Grande 30-40 minutes. Blanca Peak on the horizon. GMU 83 elk country. Bortle Class 2-3 dark skies. Creek along western boundary. Off-grid solar infrastructure viable. All four GPS corners confirmed. Owner financing from $258 down - no credit check, no bank required.
Why This Will Not Wait: Highway-adjacent Str-Permitted acreage in the Sangre de Cristo Ranches within 33 minutes of Great Sand Dunes National Park - with all four GPS corners confirmed, no HOA restrictions, and owner financing available at $258 down - is a specific and valuable combination that does not stay on the market at these prices once the short-term rental development community discovers it. Today's $14,999 cash price is pre-development pricing.
Your Next Move: Drop 37.437694, -105.372306 into your Gps. Drive to Federate Road. Walk the square. Look south toward the dunes. Look north at Blanca. Calculate what four to six glamping units at $200 a night and 60% occupancy would do for your portfolio. Then call us.
100-Day No-Nonsense Guarantee
When you purchase this property and change your mind within 100 days of your down payment, let us know. We will either refund your principal payment or exchange it for another property in our inventory that better suits your needs. This guarantee allows you to secure the property confidently before visiting in person. On owner financing, we refund principal paid excluding fees (closing costs, doc fees, note maintenance fees, and taxes). Any late or missed payments during the guarantee period will automatically void the guarantee.
Four GPS corners confirmed. Six-tenths of a mile to I-160. Great Sand Dunes 33 minutes. The land is yours for $507.
Start living wild - your Colorado glamping venture begins today.
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Note: Information presented in this listing is deemed accurate but not guaranteed. Buyers are advised to conduct their own due diligence and verify all details independently. Property is sold as-is where-is.
Annual Ownership Costs
Property Taxes: $171.20/Year (2025) - approximately $14.27/Month
HOA Fees: $0 mandatory - voluntary Sdcr Community Association, optional $25/Year
Special Assessments: $0
Metro District Taxes: $0
Transfer Fees: $0
Mandatory Road Maintenance Fees: $0
Lot Maps & Attachments
Directions to Lot
Directions To Apn 70267180
Sangre de Cristo Ranches, Unit V, Block 173, Lot 3004
Federate Rd, Fort Garland, CO 81133
GPS Center: 37.437694, -105.372306
Gps Corner Coordinates
Center: 37.437694, -105.372306
NE Corner: 37.43849, -105.37172
SE Corner: 37.43723, -105.37136
SW Corner: 37.43694, -105.37288
NW Corner: 37.43823, -105.37314
DIRECTIONS FROM FORT GARLAND, CO (8 min / 4.9 miles)
1. Start at the intersection of US-160 and CO-159 in Fort Garland, Colorado.
2. Head SOUTH on CO-159 toward San Luis for approximately 3.5 miles.
3. Turn LEFT (east) onto Federate Road.
4. Continue east on Federate Road to Unit V, Block 173, Lot 3004.
5. Confirm arrival: GPS 37.437694, -105.372306.
Note: Property is approximately 3,032 feet (0.57 miles) from I-160. Federate Road is county-maintained dirt, passable in a standard passenger vehicle under dry conditions. High-clearance recommended after rain or snow.
Nearest fuel: Conoco, Fort Garland - 7 min / 4.7 miles north on CO-159.
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