Thorne Ranch on the Huerfano River- Huerfano County Commissioners purchased the Historic Thorne Ranch on the Taos Trail at the base of Badito cone on the Huerfano River with the intent of providing a regional recreation area for not only Huerfano County but others looking for dark night skies and a connection to the land and history of the west.  The site contains 2 ruins; an ancient adobe that once was a trading post on the Taos Trail and a whale bone like spine of a stables that held the steeds of explorers and locals alike.  These tell the tale of the independent west, where ancient geology is often under the scrutiny of college classes who come to study the ancient sea beds and creatures that were the first inhabitants of this area.  On the ridgetop, a walking archery range will follow the steps of native ancestors who used these ridges for hunting.  In the river bottom a covered pavilion will become a hub for weddings, farmers markets, flea markets, parties, music festivals, artist symposiums and summer camps for children.

This historic ranch will be transformed and become a pilot project for food islands in the desert southwest; a regenerative farm with livestock and plantings that will restore a healthy, vibrant ecosystem and become a refuge and habitat for birds and other wildlife.  These pathways will provide miles of trails for walking, birdwatching, biking and horseback riding in an area devoid of such access to public lands. Thorne Ranch on the Huerfano River, will become a pilot for best soil, land and water management practices, by improving organic matter in the soil, increasing local flora and fauna, improving and sustaining water quality and increasing local food production, access and availability.  The challenge is a rehydration of the land through best practices, including, anerobic bio digestion for compost, waste that will rehydrate the land in addition to installing erosion control measures and livestock management practices that will introduce organic matter into the soils. Thorne Ranch on the Huerfano River will be a place that future generations come to learn about best practices for land management and how to effectively work on building capacity and resilience for local populations by creating a system of local food production and security.  One of the fields will be deeded to the Gardner Community School for agricultural production and they are considering regenerative farming and lavender fields.

The amenities that support the local community through recreation fill a void in recreation, access to the outdoors and hospitality.  Thorne Ranch on the Huerfano River will provide a variety of options from car camping, to RV camping to a tiny home village that could partner with local college architecture programs to design, develop and build unusual cabins and dwelling spaces from geodesic domes that have a historical precedence in the 1960’s communes of Huerfano County, to yurts, log cabins and adobe structures.  This regional project celebrates the history comprehensively for Huerfano County.  The amenities fill a void for all demographics; from local skeet shooting ranges, a rifle range, to a amphitheater for music and an event venue, to dirt bike tracks and ultimate frisbee courses as well as miles of biking, hiking, and horse back trails along the riparian corridor.

As a pilot project for regional decentralized infrastructure that is resilient and forward thinking, energy to run the project can be crated from microhydro, geothermal, solar array, anerobic digestion and wind and be completely sustainable for many generations to come.  Also as a pilot project for local foods, mushroom growing warehouses will be built into hillsides, and greenhouses that endure in harsh spring weather, and early freezes will make the area more food resilient, local aquaponics will be the systems used for water quality and fish and food production. The local holding ponds will be restored for water sports and fishing as local amenities. There will be a general store and restaurant celebrating the whole Food Chain where all the local foods are prepared and celebrated, with a full RV servicing station.  This will provide a much-needed recreation area and sustainable infrastructure pilot program where intensive use creates solutions to current and future issues. .