WINDOW SHOPPING
$1.3 million Chama property offers riverfront ‘communion with nature’
The property, which sits on 25 acres, is often frequented by elk herds and is lauded for its fly fishing
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For Sue and John Davis, each day at their northern New Mexico log home offers scenes straight out of a postcard — from elk and their calves wandering the yard to the Chama train making its frequent journeys past the property.
“We get to see it go out in the morning and come back in the afternoon,” Sue Davis said of the train, which belongs to the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. “I always stand out there and try to count how many people are in the cars.”
Fly fishing is another frequent activity for the two, who have been married for 40 years. The western end of their property, located just north of Chama off N.M. 17, features Chama River frontage lush with cottonwood trees.
The couple lives in Corpus Christi, Texas, but spends time at the property in the summer and fall. They had the log home built in 2009 — John Davis had admired the area for years during fly fishing trips to Colorado.
He was eyeing retirement from finance when the couple discovered the 25-acre property and decided it would provide a serene escape from the hustle, bustle and heat of Texas city living.
“It was cooler in the summers, we could fish, we could watch all the wildlife and we could see the stars at night — which you can’t do in the city,” John Davis said.
“It was amazing,” Sue Davis added.
In addition to herds of elk, the occasional bear and badger are also among the property’s furry visitors — sometimes even taking a stroll on the home’s wraparound porch. Spending time at the property was like a constant “communion with nature,” John Davis said.
After years of enjoying the property, however, the couple’s time as its only owners is coming to an end. They listed the property for $1.3 million with the help of Chama Realtor Melissa Clark in August.
“It’s been a lovely place for many years, but we are older now, and the drive from Corpus Christi to Chama is a long way,” Sue Davis said.
“Our big deal was fly fishing. We could walk down and fly fish in the Chama River — but now we walk down, get in the river and fall down,” she said with a chuckle.
The property hit the market a little past Chama’s peak selling season, Clark said, adding she expects it to sell sometime this summer. It also takes a little longer to sell high-end properties in Chama, where the average sale price is about $300,000, she said.
The property offers what Clark described as hard-to-find riverfront presence, off-grid capabilities and acreage that could support livestock, ranching or hunting. And it’s still only about a mile from the heart of town.
“It’s all the things people are looking for to be self-sufficient,” said Clark, who works for United Country Real Estate’s Northern New Mexico Real Estate office.
The home is a D-log cabin, meaning it was built with D-shaped logs that provide better insulation. The two-level dwelling spans 1,968 square feet and includes two bedrooms and two bathrooms. A two-car garage, loft area, in-floor heat and wood-burning fireplace are other features.
“It’s cozy, yet spacious,” Clark said.
With the Rio Grande National Forest so close by, Clark said the property’s next owner will likely be someone keen on nature and outdoor recreation. Sue Davis said she hopes someone young will purchase the property and enjoy it for a long time.
“We will certainly miss the place,” she said.
Kylie Garcia covers retail and real estate for the Journal. You can reach her at kgarcia@abqjournal.com.
