Boulder County places the highest bid for the second Haystack Mountain parcel

The five-day auction of the second parcel of property at Haystack Mountain, 5655 Niwot Road, concluded on Tuesday, Sept. 24, with the prevailing offer for the 105-acre site placed by Boulder County.

According to Janis Whisman, Real Estate Development Manager for Boulder County Parks and Open Space, "We competed in the auction and are now under contract to purchase it and 31 shares of the Reformer New Hinman Ditch Company for their combined fair market value of $6.2 million. Closing is currently scheduled for October 22."

Whisman also said that the property, which includes the raised volcano-shaped feature that it is named after, is a Natural Landmark as designated in Boulder County's comprehensive plan and will be closed to the public to protect its open space features. This is in keeping with the County's open space program which seeks to protect properties that have designations in the comprehensive plan as being important to leave undeveloped, including natural landmarks, natural habitat for plants and wildlife, cultural resources, agricultural land and water, and other open space resources.

The land abuts what was a similarly sized parcel of land, known and operated as the Haystack Mountain Golf Course, which was sold to Michael Markel of Markel Homes, an area luxury home developer, in 2021. That parcel has subsequently been divided into three parcels of 35 acres or more, one of which included the former clubhouse and residence on the property, which was sold later in 2021. Markel's limited liability company, Haystack Holdings, LLC, retains ownership of the other two parcels.

Markel expressed his hope that the auction and sale process would continue to proceed smoothly. Since his purchase, he has been working to restore the former golf course to agricultural use, establishing a farm on a part of the site which would be for his personal use. He is currently determining what feasible crops and use are appropriate for the property. In the past, land use has included both hay and livestock production.

The property has a rich history and has been a beloved part of the area. It was initially used by Chief Niwot's Arapaho tribe, and most recently owned by the descendants of Lois and Bud Ebel who owned both the former golf course and the property that was up for auction.

In a 2021 conversation with Courier reporter Vicky Dorvee, Julia Pirnak, the trustee for the family trust, indicated that three factors had influenced the sale: the decreased likelihood the Ebel family descendants would be back to enjoy the property, a large estate tax bill, and a 78% increase in county property taxes.