A 24-acre ranch near Boulder, listed for $7.5 million, blends the rugged charm of the Wild West with the easy convenience of modern living.

The property, owned by former University of Colorado athletic director Dick Tharp includes a 6,793-square-foot, five-bedroom home designed by architect Ken Taniguchi and constructed in 2005.

There’s also a 4,000-square-foot gymnasium or multipurpose facility and  fully equipped barn, as well as fenced and irrigated pastures.

The Willow Creek Drive property sits about 15 minutes from the CU campus and downtown Boulder.

The ranch provides unobstructed views of Indian Peaks and the Flatirons. Bordering the Teller and Fox Hills open spaces provides privacy and guarantees the adjoining property won’t be developed.

“It’s ideal for the move-up buyer who wants space and privacy but still wants to be close to Boulder,” said listing agent Joel Ripmaster with Slifer Smith & Frampton.

“It sits on 24 acres, but you feel like you have 1,000.”

The open, airy home has 30-foot vaulted ceilings that ensure plenty of natural light.

“It’s an interesting design,” Ripmaster said. “It’s not your typical rustic farm-style house. The open floor plan mixes urban and suburban with rural views. It reflects the land and the way the owner lives.”

Tharp, who earned a law degree from CU in 1973, worked in several positions at the university before serving as CU’s athletic director from 1997 to 2004. During his tenure, he hired former head football coach Gary Barnett, oversaw a $42.6 million expansion to Folsom Field and established the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He was inducted into it himself  in 2022.

After leaving the university, Tharp was an owner of ACS Athletics, which developed college athletic administration and compliance software. ACS Athletics merged with Front Rush, which developed recruiting software for college coaches, in 2016.

This story was reported by our partner BusinessDen.