22 acres once owned by famed sculptor Lincoln Fox, and built by Mr. Wooten in the early 1900's, aeolian acres is now home to the North Fork Tipi Haven, North Fork Valley Hemp and Elsewhere @ Read more...

Mr. Wooten built his 'plantation style' house after houses in the panhandle of Texas where he was from and our house is often known as the 'plantation house'. The North Fork Valley, encompassing Crawford, Hotchkiss and Paonia, was an important fruit orchard area in the late 1800's and well into the 1900's. The valley is a banana belt perfect for fruit with the cold air coming down from the mountains at night and the heat from the mesas warming up the valley during the day. Coal mines up the road in Bowie and Somerset paid better, so many of the orchards languished over the years. Since the closing of all the mines but one, today the NFV is home to the largest concentration of organic farms in the state of Colorado as well as becoming a state Creative District serving the multitudes of artist and creatives that call the valley home. There are many pick-your-own peaches, cherries, apples, pears, nectarines and if we are lucky, apricots, in the valley. Delicious Orchards, 1 mile down Hwy 133, is an excellent place to pick your own, drink local hard cider and listen to live music on the weekend over a wonderful brunch. It is all about the farms, cattle, art, music, outdoor adventure, fun and relaxation here in the North Fork Valley.

During the 1940's-70's, the Mowrer's operated a Hereford Bull operation on the property. The barn with the bull pens still intact, if slightly tilting, can be explored until we figure out what to do with it. The open meadow behind the house, where oats were grown for the cow feed, is now home to the North Fork Tipi Haven.

Made sense for us to farm people to share this special piece of land with others since we purchased the property in Sept 2017. As promised by Mr. Fox, we have discovered many interesting things on the land like "scarred trees" and the shady infamous Love Gulch that will add some interest to your visit. Revisit your love of paperback novels while lounging under the 100 year-old cottonwood, elm and box elder trees. The tipis are fully lined for excellent ventilation along with an 'ozan' in case it rains...it seldom rains here.
Colorado blue sky reigns most days.

The tipis are custom made by the Colorado Yurt Company in Montrose, Colorado where they have been making yurts, tents and tipis since 1976. The tipis are expertly designed and made with custom paintings invoking the animal spirits that inhabit our land. As you enter a tipi it is proper to walk in a clock-wise direction to your left and do not step over the wood poles out of respect for the tree that gives you shelter. The Ute's held trees as sacred and after a night in the tipi you will understand why. Being encased in the 'round' is a titillating experience to indulge your senses with absolute awe at the beauty of the simple, yet effective design. These are a Sioux design as the Ute's mainly lived in wiki-ups until they were introduced to the tipi in the 1800's.

Each tipi has a new IKEA foam mattress for your comfort and we ask that you bring your own bedding. We do have bedding available for $5 a day if need be. We have solar lights but you may want to bring our flashlight, 2 private composting toilets, a camp kitchen with tables, chairs and a cook stove with cooking materials along with a percolator coffee pot. We will also supply drinking water in the kitchen area. If people want, we will build solar showers, please let us know in the comment section of your review. In the meantime, showers are available at the local laundry mat in Hotchkiss, that is if you really think you need one.

Our goal is your comfort and to awaken your sense of wonder by sleeping out in nature and waking up to the Colorado Blue Sky in clean, clear air at 5300 ft. We want you to have a reasonable place to stay while you enjoy the North Fork Valley of the Gunnison River on the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains. You can visit the many high altitude wineries (think Alsace), fruit orchards, organic farms, farm-to-table restaurants, world class classical music at the Blue Sage, interesting movies at the community owned Paradise Theater, art at the Creamery Arts Center in Hotchkiss, stand-up paddle boarding at Crawford reservoir, mountain biking in Grand Mesa, hiking in the West Elks, rafting down the Gunnison river in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, fishing up canyon in the coolness of the forest or relaxing in one of many hot springs within an hour of us.

Want to take a horse back ride up above the shuttered mines at Bowie, let us know and we will hook you up with a certified mountain man.
Come and visit one of the last 'non-tourist' areas of Colorado. If you really must...Aspen, Crested Butte (over Kebler Pass), Glenwood Springs, Gunnison, Ouray, Grand Junction and Telluride all are about 1.3 hours away by car.

We are 420 friendly and can host a 420 Happy Hour if you are over 21.