TBD CR 51 Minnehaha Basin
Silverton, CO 81433

Powder Paradise! Six patented mining claims coming to 60 acres in Minnehaha Basin. Beautiful high country San Juan County land. Mining in the summer, skiing in the winter!?! Seller would retain a 3% royalty in mining interests (other commercial endeavors exempt). This is essential land for a unique and potential ski area, that would provide slopes on the eastern side near Eureka or to the western side in Minnehaha Basin towards Gladstone. The saddle sits at 12,777 feet. This would be about 1,000 acres of terrain on either side. The basin attracts snowmobiling enthusiasts. The first electric ski gondola in America?? County Road 51 ends right below the property. There is not a road to the property but there is a non-exclusive easement through private property from County Road 51. Once a road is in, you would have 20 acres of level ground on top of the property (and/or the end of a future gondola). "This property will require a buyer who can envision the rarity & potential of this property. The buyer will also need to know how to effectively negotiate County regulations, to obtain "special/exemption" approvals to realize their vision of a "Powder Paradise Ski Area". There are several mines from the past, ranging from one mile away to the Lead Carbonate Mine, which is contiguous to the property (200 feet away). These mines include the George Washington Mine, the Ben Franklin Mine, the Gold King Mine, the Sunnyside Mine, the Black Hawk Mine, the American Tunnel Mine, the Grivitza Mine, the Mountain Eagle Mine, the Mogul Mine and the Minnehaha Mine. There are several photos from a 70-year-old geology report under docs. The Lead Carbonate mine that up until the early 1950s tunneled very close to the bottom of the property: The "Lead Carbonate Mill," where they process that ore is 1 mile down below, traveling on County Road 51. Rare Earth Elements are essential for all the computer things we use. A bit of information concerning where rare earth elements (REEs) are generally found: "For nearly 50 years, carbonatites have been the primary source of niobium and rare earth elements (REEs), the light REEs, including La, Ce, Pr, and Nd. Carbonatites are a relatively rare type of igneous rock composed of greater than 50 vol % primary carbonate minerals, primarily calcite and/or dolomite, and contain the highest concentrations of REEs of any igneous rocks. Although there are more than 500 known carbonatites in the world, currently only four are being mined for REEs. Other commodities produced from carbonatite-related deposits include phosphates, iron, fluorite, copper, vanadium, titanium, uranium, and calcite." (This was taken from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) "pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70138176#:~:text=Carbonatites%20are%20a%20relatively%20rare,REEs%20of%20any%20igneous%20rocks") Seller hopes to find a buyer soon, since he is 75. As a result of this "time factor," he will consider all offers. Short term: Heli pad for personal VTLs/paragliding,/zipline in summer? 1800 feet zipline & STILL ON THE PROPERTY! The same heli pad for skiers/ boarders in winter" Seller thinks in the "Long term, 5-10 years: with additional properties and/or easements, this would give a ski area about 700 acres of snow on each side. Paragliding/Hang-gliding/zip-line/alpine slide, tourist scenic ride after the train in summer?" This property has unique and matchless scenery, don't let this rare opportunity pass you by!