The 10,500 acre
Diamond Star Ranch, located south of I-70 and several miles east of Eagle,
stretches south along rolling
hills above the Brush Creek Valley. Since the 1890’s, the property has operated
as a working cattle and
horse ranch. An old stagecoach route that ran west from Denver cuts through the property. The remains
of an original homestead cabin and a school house still exist on the ranch as do nearly 60 other
structures, constant reminders of the ranch’s past.
Today’s owners of the
Diamond S have planned a limited development of only 50 homesites, less than were to be found on
the property a century ago. The sites have been carefully located in the aspen stands and on
sage-brushed overlooks to assure minimal impact on the environment and maximum
privacy for each owner. To
assure that the Diamond S maintains its western heritage forever, management
is committed to putting much of the Ranch under conservation easements. Currently, the Eagle
Valley Land Trust holds easements on two parcels, totaling 1,450 acres.
DIAMOND STAR II
Recognizing the
importance of protecting this region's western heritage, owners of the Diamond
Star Ranch development added 180 acres of ranchlands to the 1,400 acres already
protected on its expansive property east of Eagle and south of I-70.
This easement includes
part of the original homestead of Leonidas P. Howe who was granted title to 318
acres by President Calvin Coolidge in the "year of our Lord 1925 and the
Independence of the United States one hundred and fifteen" (per Eagle County
Recorder's office).
The cabin, measuring
15' x 25' was build near a spring, which was the usual practice. It is located
near the old stage road from Squaw Creek to Brush Creek and Eagle.
Eagle County native Jack Olsen, along with his crew, have restored the Howe
Cabin and one of its outbuildings. The cabin logs are original as are some of
the windows. It is furnished as near as possible with furniture of the time.
