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Gateway Land & Development
Suzi Apple's History in Building 550+ Homes Since 1993
GATEWAY LAND AND DEVELOPMENT
Suzi Apple's History in Building 550+ Homes Since 1993
Arrowhead at Vail
PROPERTY | The Greens, Arrowhead at Vail
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In 1993, my business partner, George Sanders, and I, Suzi Apple, started Gateway Land and Development Company. With the help of an excellent construction and marketing team, we built and sold more than 550 single-family and duplex homes throughout the valley, including Arrowhead, The Ranch at Cordillera, Cordillera Valley Club, and Bachelor Gulch. Our first venture was The Greens at Arrowhead.
The five acres we acquired were flat and uninteresting, but they had southern exposure and views back to Arrowhead Mountain. To give the land some interest and identity, we hired Jack Nicklaus to design a 27-hole putting course that was enhanced by numerous waterfalls and trout-laden ponds. This now-beautiful site became home to 40 single-family Greens residences, among the most sought-after properties in Arrowhead!
PROPERTY | The Boulders, Arrowhead at Vail
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In 1995, we embarked on an exciting and challenging project in Arrowhead—a site that presented a unique opportunity to create something extraordinary. This development property was strategically located, overlooking the 2nd and 3rd holes of the highly acclaimed Country Club of the Rockies and bordered by a wooded open space to the south.
To maximize the breathtaking golf course vistas, we made the innovative decision to elevate the ten duplex homes. By positioning the great room, kitchen, and master suite on the second floor, we ensured that residents could fully appreciate the stunning views. This design also allowed for expansive north- and west-facing decks, offering unobstructed panoramas of the lush fairways, serene golf-course ponds, and the majestic Castle Peak. The elevated position also allowed for spacious backyards and sunny patios that opened directly onto the beautiful Forest Service land.
A few years later, we expanded our vision by securing land directly to the east. Here, we developed The Boulders, a collection of 7 single-family estates that quickly became among the most sought-after properties in Arrowhead. These homes were designed to offer generous living spaces, spectacular views, and the convenience of being within walking distance of all the community's amenities.
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The Boulders development epitomizes the harmonious blend of luxury living and natural beauty for which Arrowhead is known. The thoughtful design and prime location have made these homes a cherished part of the community, offering residents a serene, picturesque environment to call home.
PROPERTY | River Dance, River Ranch, River Stone
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In 1996, our next venture in Arrowhead was a series of three neighborhoods on the Eagle River. For this to happen, we had to acquire 20 acres of the old Donavan ranch. This narrow piece of land offered significant Eagle River frontage. John Donovan and his family were among the first residents of Vail. They owned the famous Donavan’s Copper bar on Bridge Street. Once the Donovan property was annexed into Arrowhead, we were able to offer a stunning collection of 40 duplexes, River Dance, where half overlooked the wetlands contiguous to the Eagle River and where the other half surrounded a 3-acre stocked pond with a series of dramatic waterfalls.
Soon after, to the west, we built 20 magnificent SF estates at River Ranch, offering three gracious floor plans, dramatic riverfrontage, and stunning views from every room. Our last Eagle River acquisition was 5 acres, just outside Arrowhead gates, where we built five log home masterpieces, River Stone. To this day, these Eagle River homes are some of the most sought-after properties in the entire Vail Valley.
PROPERTY | Trailside Arrowhead
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In 1998, we built our first ski-in/ski-out homes on Arrowhead Mountain, known as Trailside. One of the most significant challenges of this mountaintop location was that it was 2000 vertical feet above the valley floor and lacked roads or utilities. No problem! In less than 12 months, Vail Resorts built a paved, 3-mile-long, winding road with all necessary underground utilities.
Another challenge with this land is that of the 20 Trailside homes, only five were true ski-in/out. So, to solve this inequity, we built a genuinely charming community slope-side cabin with a large great room, fireplace, wet bar, and giant ski lockers for all your mountain gear. With three distinct floor plans, these magnificent log masterpieces offer breathtaking views, extraordinary privacy, and easy access to summer and winter activities.
Bachelor Gulch
PROPERTY | Bachelor Gulch, Skywatch, and Snowberry
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Our first venture into Bachelor Gulch was our ski-in/out single-family homes, Skywatch. The development site was truly magnificent for these fourteen stunning log estates. Offering sweeping views to the east to the Gore Range and Vail’s Back Bowls as well as sunny views south to Beaver Creek and Bachelor Mountain, the ski-in/out access was impeccable. There are two floorplans, the larger about 5,500 sq. ft. and the smaller 4,000 sq. ft.
On an adjacent property, directly on the Sawtooth run, we developed three duplexes we named Snowberry. Known for their extraordinary craftsmanship, stonework, and dramatic views, these homes provided easy access to all Bachelor Gulch summer and winter activities, including numerous restaurants at The Ritz-Carlton, the Bachelor Gulch Club, Zach’s Cabin, and endless hiking and snowshoe trails.
To this day, these homes remain some of the most sought after in all of Bachelor Gulch and rarely come on the market. Their unique combination of luxury, convenience, and natural beauty continues to attract discerning buyers who seek the best of mountain living. Skywatch and Snowberry stand as a testament to our commitment to creating exceptional living experiences in Vail Valley.
The Ranch at Cordillera
PROPERTY | Bearcat at The Ranch
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​Our first venture in building in the newly developed Cordillera neighborhoods was Bearcat at The Ranch. They were named after Bearcat Bearden, an early homesteader in the area (and my new cocker spaniel puppy, Bearcat). Legend has it that, as a youngster, Bearcat got his name from wrestling baby bear cubs for weekend entertainment for the local ranchers.
These 43 SF homes are located on a spectacular, elevated site that proved to be the single best development opportunity in all the Cordilleras. Bearcat is surrounded on three sides by the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Hale Irwin-designed golf courses and offers stunning views to the east to the Gore Range, south to the Sawatch Range, and west to Castle Peak. Main-level living was a key component for all three, offering three distinct floor plans and sweeping, uninterrupted views from every room. Bearcats rarely come on the market. They are mainly because of their unmatched proximity to the gate and clubhouse, and the endless views, and they are still occupied by many of the original owners or family members.
Cordillera Valley Club
PROPERTY | CVC
In 1996, my business partner, George Sanders, became a 50% owner of a 1,000-plus-acre ranch with extraordinary potential. If Location, Location, Location is the mantra, this land had it all. The property was strategically located, just one mile west of the Edwards exit and truly minutes to Vail, Beaver Creek, and Arrowhead. Backing up to the Forest Service to the north, the ranch land had a highly desirable southern exposure, massive views east of the Back Bowls of Vail and Arrowhead Mountain, as well as views south to Lake Creek and the Sawatch Mountain Range. Rarely do you have an opportunity to plan an entire neighborhood, so we took this very seriously, realizing it may never happen again.
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Initially, we named our new neighborhood Wildhorse, but unfortunately, when it was sold to Cordillera, they renamed it Cordillera Valley Club (CVC). Our first course of action was to select the golf course architect, and the highly acclaimed Tom Fazio was soon hired. Land planning is also a key element in successful development, and we spent hours walking the proposed homesites and ultimately settled on 128 SF lots.
Our first offering of 60 sold out in two weeks! We think we succeeded because we made the roads private and added manned security gates. The private roads gave us freedom from many county and government rules and regulations, and allowed us to use golf carts. Thus, it became the first golf-in/golf-out neighborhood in the entire Vail Valley. To this day, homes in CVC, because of their views, privacy, and location, are among the most sought-after estates in the entire Vail Valley.
