Land Isn’t Just Dirt—It’s Legacy, Privacy, and Dream-Space

Land.

It’s an interesting topic.

One significant component of the American Dream has always been “owning my own home.” And for most of us, we’re already there. We own our home — and it’s a nice one. A comfortable one.

But for many, the dream is no longer just about the home. It’s about what surrounds the home. The setting. The view. The privacy. The land.

If we turned the clock back a few hundred years, I think a better version of the American Dream would have been to: “own my own land.” And I don’t think that dream has ever really gone away. Over the past 20+ years, I’ve lived in the mountains of Colorado and Montana — places where the question of how much land is the right amount has a very different answer than where I grew up in the suburbs of Seattle. Back there, a home on a ½-acre lot felt generous, maybe even impressive.

But in the mountain communities around Vail, it would take a home set on five acres to be considered a substantial property. Go just a little farther out, and now the conversation starts at 40 acres.

Head north to Montana (or Wyoming), and 40 acres is often just the starting point. Up there, 500- to 1,000-acre parcels aren’t unusual. (Let’s not even talk about Texas…)

What counts as a “large” ranch? It’s all relative. And there’s no one right answer —not for size, and not for why someone dreams of land in the first place. For some, it’s about running a working ranch or farm. For others, it’s about building a homestead; something peaceful and private where the noise of the world can’t quite reach you.

And for others still, it’s about creating a legacy property: 1,000+ acres of trees, valleys, nature, wildlife, fishing, hunting, and something to pass down through generations.

At the high-net-worth level, that dream can become reality.

Right now, we’re seeing more legacy ranches of significant size (and value) come to market than we’ve seen in decades. The cost of maintaining large parcels, combined with the complexities of passing estates to future generations, has brought properties to market that haven’t been available for generations.

If you’re curious, here’s a handful that have caught my eye more than once lately:📎 CNBC: Inside the Most Spectacular Ranch Listings in the West

Of course, Vail may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of vast ranches or 1,000-acre estates — but don’t underestimate what’s possible. The right amount of land might not be as far away as you imagine.

When I was in my 20s, I thought an acre was a lot.When I first discovered the valleys of Eagle County, five acres felt like a dream.Now? I might be dreaming a little bigger.

What’s your dream?

There’s no right answer. It’s yours — and yours alone.

If that dream includes land (or a home) in the mountains, my team and I would be happy to help you explore some of the most picturesque settings in the West.