Rangely | Rio Blanco County

Rangely only has a population of about 2,250 people, but the remote Western Slope town packs quite a punch when it comes to outdoor activities, art and culture. Real estate for sale in Rangely includes mostly single-family homes in the town core and larger residences on bigger lots outside of town. There are golf homes, townhouses, duplexes, remodeled homes, starter homes and vacant lots to build a new home. In all, Rangely has about 750 residences.

Rangely was inhabited by Ute Indians years ago, and later oil was drilled and produced, so the town has roots dating back to the late 1800s. In the early 20th Century, the main trades in the area were oil well drilling, farming, and raising livestock like sheep and cattle. In the early days, there were manby cabins, trailers and small homes. There are a few older homes in Rangeley that have been well taken care of.

While most of Colorado has experienced a steady growth in population, Rangely has stayed at about 2,250 residents since the 1980s. Many homeowners have constructed new homes, but there has not been a big influx of new residents to the area. Some families have been in the Rangely area for generations, especially those who live on farms and ranches outside of town.

Homeowners in Rangely can enjoy the outdoors to the fullest. Kenney Reservoir, about five miles east of town, has fishing, water skiing, diving, swimming, boating, kayaking and paddle-boarding. There is also a marina, campgrounds and wildlife viewing areas. The marina is on the east side of Kenney Reservoir. There is a concrete boat ramp and fiberglass docks there. For hunters seeking large game, the land upstream of the reservoir is fertile territory as it is managed for wildlife.

Neighborhood Highlights

• The Rangely Recreation Center offers plenty of space and things to do. Highlights at the rec center include racquetball courts, game room, multi-purpose room, cardio room, weight room, hot tub, kiddie pool, water slide, and a junior size Olympic pool with a deep-end diving board extension.

• Near Rangely are a few prehistoric Fremont Indian sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Some sites in the area date from 500-1499 AD. Points of interest include a shelter site, lookout site and a location with ancient "Carrot Men" pictographs.

• In 2015, a fossil dig unearthed the bones and very rare skin and tendons of a duckbill dinosaur that was later named Walter.

• There is a nine-hole, par-36 public course on the stunning mesas just outside of town: Cedar Ridges. The 3,422-yard course was designed by Frank Hummel. It is a beautifully maintained course.

• Just a few miles southwest of Rangely is the only designated four-wheel drive rock crawling park in Colorado. Rangely Rock Crawling Club has more than 560 acres of rocky terrain for 4x4s, ATVs and other off-road vehicles. Entrance to the park is free.

• The Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway is a 512-mile-long National Scenic Byway with a variety of museums that showcase reconstructed skeletons of dinosaurs discovered in the area.