Kiowa Bennett Ranch

Kiowa Bennett Ranch, a well located, front range, amenity filled ranch in Elbert County Colorado, north of Kiowa. Over 2030 contiguous acres and 1 1/4 miles of Kiowa Creek, and two beautiful homes and exceptional livestock facilities highlight this Colorado front range ranch. Land Kiowa Bennett Ranch is a larger contiguous ranch in Elbert County, north of Kiowa, Colorado along the paved Kiowa Bennett Road. The details, facilities and amenities create an oasis characterized by ease of operation. The ranch is 2035 total contiguous acres consisting or 1785 acres of well sodded native grass range along with 250 acres of tilled farm ground. Bisecting the property for 1 and 1/4 miles is the Kiowa Creek, a seasonal creek that runs in the fall and winter months and goes under ground in the summer. The creek bottom is covered with towering Cottonwood Trees and provides great cover and protection for cattle. The ranch has improved interior roads and cattle guards for ease of operation. The ranch is serviced by several livestock wells and stock dams for watering livestock. The exterior and interior fencing is newer  and in great condition. The livestock facilities on the ranch are top notch and includes a 24×48 heated and insulated calving barn with pens and a headgate/calving area and includes an office area, water, sink, plenty of electrical and two 10 ft overhead doors. The ranch also includes a 27×57 covered cattle working alley and chute with a heavy duty Flying W hydraulic squeeze chute, adjustable hydraulic alley and tub. Outside the working area is a good set of sorting pens, scales and lighted corrals with water along with a ground load ramp and a semi load out ramp. The ranch also has feeding pens to wean calves or develop bulls or heifers. Other buildings include a massive 150×75 equipment storage shed with 13 1/2 doors and a built in work shop area; and at each house, a new shop building measuring 64×40 with 3 14 ft overhead doors, 220 power and RV hook-ups. The ranch is beautifully set up as a hunting oasis to take advantage of trophy Mule Deer, Turkey and Antelope as it is equipped with hunting blinds for Pronghorn in the pasture and for Deer on the creek bottom and a gun range with targets, benches and a container for storage. With two miles of frontage on the paved Kiowa Bennett Road and a mile of frontage on County Road 174, the ranch would be attractive to land developers to meet the needs of the ever growing population of the Colorado Front Range. Renewable energy production is also a possibility with the proximity to the coming power pathway line.

Improvements The 2021 custom home is the jewel of the ranch. No detail was spared in the construction of this home built overlooking Kiowa Creek on the north end of the ranch. The modern farmhouse style home is 2821 square feed on the main level and 2821 square feet in the mostly finished basement for a total of 5642  total square feet of living area. The home has 5 bedrooms, including a main level primary and a lower level primary, 4 1/2 bathrooms and a 4 car garage. The main level primary suite (14 1/2×16) has a walkout to the deck and includes a 5-piece master bathroom with a steam shower and dual shower heads and a soaking tub. the large primary closet (12 1/2×17) has ample space. The kitchen is equipped with high end stainless steel appliances including a gas stove, double oven, dishwasher and refrigerator. The main level living room features a gas fireplace and large windows overlooking the deck and creek to the west. The main level includes two additional bedrooms with a full jack and jill bathroom, and main level laundry and mud room. The fully finished basement has the second primary bedroom suite with its own primary bathroom and walk-in closet. The lower level also features a guest room and full bathroom and a family room and walks out to the west.

The original ranch home built in 1996, and recently completely remodeled and updated sits just north of the cattle working facilities overlooking the creek bottom. The home boasts 4 bedrooms and 3 and 1/2 bathrooms and 2096 main level square feet and is on a fully finished 2080 square foot walk-out basement and has an attached 3 car garage. The large open concept kitchen, dining and living room area is perfect for entertaining guests. The main level boasts the primary bedroom suite with a full bath and two secondary bedrooms with a full jack and jill bathroom between. Leading to the garage is a half bath, mud room and pantry, ideally located just off the kitchen. The basement has a guest suite with a full bath, a large 33×33 family room and a storage/gun room and walks out to a large concrete patio to the west. The home will have a new roof, exterior paint, gutters, septic tank and deck soon.

Recreation Outdoor recreational opportunities in the area center on the open high-plains grasslands and ranchlands of Elbert County. Hunting is a primary draw, with strong populations of trophy class mule deer, pronghorn, Elk  (plains over the counter tags) and upland birds such as turkey; local Game Management Units support both public-access and private-land opportunities, including Ranching for Wildlife programs and guided outfitters that offer trophy hunts on leased ranches spanning thousands of acres. Equine recreation thrives here thanks to the abundance of private horse properties, boarding stables, and open terrain ideal for trail riding, with facilities near Elizabeth and Kiowa providing lessons and arenas for all disciplines. Overall the region offers a classic rural Colorado outdoor experience rooted in its ranching heritage and expansive open space.

Agriculture Currently a full scale ranching operation, the property is ideally set up with all the facilities for a premier ranching operation. The terrain offers open summer grazing pastures of native grass forage and winter cover on the Kiowa Creek bottom for calving and cover. The tilled farm ground provides winter feed for the cows.  The ranch is set up for either a commercial cattle operation, a registered seed stock cattle operation or could be a premier horse ranch with some added improvements.

Water/Mineral Rights & Natural Resources The ranch will convey with all appurtenant mineral rights and water rights owned by the seller, if any. Both to be determined.

Region & Climate Elbert County’s high plains (elevations of about 6,000–6,500 feet), has a cold semi-arid climate. Summers are warm, with July average highs around 83–86°F and lows in the mid-50s°F, while winters are cold, bringing average highs in the low-to-mid 40s°F and lows often in the mid-to-upper teens°F; sub-zero readings can occur, and large day-to-night temperature swings are typical because of the dry air and elevation. Annual precipitation averages 18–20 inches, mostly falling in late spring and summer from afternoon thunderstorms, and snowfall totals roughly 70–80 inches a year, with snow possible from fall through spring. The region enjoys abundant sunshine (often more than 240 sunny days annually), low humidity, and frequent winds that strengthen the winter chill or provide summer cooling. The growing season lasts about 140–150 days from mid-May to late September, placing the area in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b.

In the area, daily life and recreation revolve around ranching, agriculture, and open-country outdoor pursuits. Cattle ranching and hay farming remain the economic backbone, with many properties supporting livestock operations, horseback riding, and equestrian activities on private land and local trails. Residents and visitors enjoy hunting for deer, pronghorn, and upland birds, fishing in private ponds or nearby reservoirs, ATV and off-road riding on dirt roads and open terrain, and stargazing under exceptionally dark skies with minimal light pollution. Community life centers on seasonal events such as the Elbert County Fair, rodeos, livestock shows, and gatherings at local parks and fairgrounds, while the nearby Elbert County Museum and historic markers offer glimpses into the region’s pioneer and Santa Fe Trail heritage. The expansive grasslands also support quiet prairie walks, wildlife viewing, and a generally low-key, Western rural lifestyle.

History Kiowa, Colorado, shares the broader history of western Elbert County on the high plains. Long before European-American settlement, the region was traversed and inhabited by Indigenous peoples, including the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Kiowa, who used the grasslands for hunting and seasonal movement. In the mid-19th century the Smoky Hill Trail (a major overland route during the Colorado Gold Rush) passed nearby, and stage stops such as Middle Kiowa (established around 1859) supported early travelers. Permanent ranching and farming began in the 1860s as homesteaders claimed the open prairie for cattle and later dryland agriculture; Elbert County itself was created in 1874 and named for Territorial Governor Samuel H. Elbert, with Kiowa designated the county seat. Railroads arriving in the 1870s–1880s further encouraged settlement and commerce, while the community endured challenges such as the 1935 flood along Kiowa Creek and the hardships of the Dust Bowl era. Today the landscape still reflects that ranching heritage, with many historic homestead properties and open grasslands remaining central to the area’s identity.

Location The ranch is roughly 18 miles northeast of the town of Elizabeth (the nearest larger community with basic shopping, schools, and services),  about 10–12 miles north of Kiowa itself, the county seat and 19 miles south of Bennett Colorado and Interstate 70. Castle Rock and Parker lie approximately 20–25 miles to the west and northwest, offering more extensive retail, dining, and medical facilities, while downtown Denver is roughly 40–50 miles northwest and Colorado Springs about 45–55 miles southwest. Major airports are conveniently accessible: Centennial Airport (APA) is about 25–30 miles northwest, Denver International Airport (DEN) roughly 40–50 miles north-northwest, and Colorado Springs Airport (COS) around 45–50 miles southwest. Everyday amenities such as grocery stores, fuel, and local government services are available in Elizabeth and Kiowa, with fuller commercial, hospital, and entertainment options found in the nearby Denver metro suburbs.