Golf swap draws early opposition
Land exchange proposed north of Tamarron

The golf course at the Glacier Club at Tamarron lies dormant early this week. The resort has proposed a land exchange with the Forest Service that would enable the addition of nine new holes. However, the land is currently within the popular Haviland Lake recreation area, and the proposal is already drawing strong public opposition. /Photo by Todd Newcomer

by Will Sands

A pitch to replace a popular hiking and cross-country skiing area with nine holes of exclusive golf is already stirring up strong emotions. The Glacier Club at Tamarron has forwarded a proposal to the Forest Service to exchange a portion of the Haviland Lake Recreation Area for two other parcels high on the agency's wish list. Though still very preliminary, numerous citizens and conservation groups are already coming out against the proposed swap.

Western Land Group, a Denver-based outfit specializing in facilitating public and nonprofit land transactions, has approached the Forest Service on behalf of Tamarron. The resort has secured options to purchase two 160-acre parcels that represent the only private inholdings remaining in the Hermosa Creek Roadless Area. One is located near the Hermosa Creek trailhead and the other sits high above the Animas River Valley at Mitchell Lakes. Speaking to the significance of the parcels, Ann Bond, Forest Service public information officer, commented, "The parcels are the only reason we're considering this. They've been on our acquisition list for decades. Those are the last two private parcels in the Hermosa Roadless Area."

In exchange, Tamarron has requested approximately 320 acres north of the existing resort and currently inside the Haviland Lake Recreation Area but south of the lake itself. The acreage would be divided into homesites and another nine holes of golf, bringing the resort's total to 36 holes. The exact acreage would be determined only after an appraisal.

Tim Wohlgenant, of the Western Land Group, explained, "This exchange would allow Tamarron to spread out the existing density that has already been approved a little bit and also add another nine-hole golf course."

The proposal remains in its infancy. So far, the Western Land Group has merely made a pitch to the Forest Service. The agency is currently studying whether it will even seriously consider the proposal and start analyzing its merit. "Our first step will be to conduct a feasibility study and determine whether the agency will even take it under consideration," Bond said. "It's at best 50/50 right now whether we'll even study the proposal."

Although the proposal is in its early stages, significant opposition is already coming out of the woodwork. Many people and groups have started voicing their desire to see the area south of Haviland Lake remain in public hands. In response to the proposal, Richard Robinson, a resident of Rockwood, recently formed the group, Save the Haviland Lake Recreation Area. Robinson pointed to the existing use, saying that large numbers of people already use the parcel in question for hiking, cross-country skiing, bird watching and other activities.

"The Haviland Lake area is very heavily used recreationally by people from Durango but also by people from Farmington, Albuquerque and places as far away as Illinois," he said. "It would not be an equal exchange. Something the public uses regularly does not compare to two parcels you can't even get to in December."

Robinson added that the exchange would effectively wipe out a large portion of a historic wagon road that crosses the property. "The wagon road was the road supplies went through to get to the Silverton mining camp prior to the entrance of the train in 1881," he said.4 "The Forest Service on their own map has an indicator telling people the significance of that trail."

Robinson concluded, "I don't think they can come up with an exchange value I would accept because the recreational value will be lost and the trail will be obliterated."

Rick Moeller is another citizen who has strong objections to the exchange. Moeller has taken a look at the value of the two inholdings and believes that the proposal is skewed in Tamarron's favor.

"I would love the opportunity to buy 320 acres near the resort corridor for a half a million dollars," he said. "The whole value of that resort takes a huge step up in the world when you add nine more holes and make it a 36-hole layout."

A sign marks the entrance to the popular Haviland Lake recreation area, about 20 miles north of Durango on Highway 550. A land swap being proposed by Tamarron would exchange up to 320 acres inside the area for two 160-acre privately held parcels inside the Hermosa Creek Roadless Area./Photo by Todd Newcomer

"I would love the opportunity to buy 320 acres near the resort corridor for a half a million dollars," he said. "The whole value of that resort takes a huge step up in the world when you add nine more holes and make it a 36-hole layout."

Moeller also noted that the homes would be decidedly high-end, and beginning this year, the golf course will no longer be open to the public. "It just seems ridiculous to me that we sacrifice that public resource for the sake of potential homeowners who play golf," he said.

Individuals are not the only ones turning hard eyes on the proposed land swap. Several organizations have developed a keen interest in it and are also preparing their objections.

Chris Paulson, of the Colorado Mountain Club, agreed that the proposal seems to be out of balance. "What would be taken is an accessible area that's close to town and used by hikers, skiers and others, and there are significant habitat concerns," she said. "They'd be trading it off for a couple of in-field parcels that are hard to get to."

Paulson said that the CMC will be watching the exchange closely should it go forward. "We want to know what's going on, and if this is really in the public's interest," she said. "If it is, we want to make sure Tamarron is paying the right price for it."

Mark Pearson, executive director of San Juan Citizens' Alliance, expressed skepticism about converting a recreational resource into real estate.

"We're dubious about the need for Tamarron to acquire popular, prime Forest Service land for more trophy homes and another nine holes of golf," he said. Pearson did say that he would like to see the two roadless area inholdings transferred into public hands. However, he does not see the Tamarron swap as the best way of doing it.

"I think those parcels are desirable, but this may not be the best way of getting them," he said.

Echoing this sentiment, Bond said that land exchanges are always tricky for the Forest Service, adding that the agency and the public can often be at odds over where the value lies.

"It's kind of a conundrum," she said. "The agency looks at a roadless area and sees high value in acquiring private inholdings. Then there are public parcels that are easy to access and receive a great deal of public use. It becomes a really hard choice."

For his part, Robinson is hopeful that the Forest Service will see enough early opposition to the land exchange to abandon it altogether.

"We're at a phase where the Forest Service might be convinced not to pursue it," he said. "If you wait too long, lawyers and bureaucracy take over and everything gets more difficult."