Historic Colorado Taylor Estate!

Historic Colorado Taylor Estate!

Historic Colorado Taylor Estate!

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Ann Bonfoey was a woman for all seasons; a true Renaissance woman far ahead of her time. Ann was raised in Illinois by her family whose wealth came from a pharmaceutical manufacturing company. Her parents even had their own airplane and grass landing strip. In the early 1920s, flying was considered to be a man’s pursuit, so when Ann’s father hired a pilot to teach her to fly at the age of 12, the teacher was ill-tempered and insulted. Completely unconcerned, Ann learned to fly quickly and loved it. With the onset of World War II, Ann became a flight instructor teaching the men how to fly - Army and Navy pilots.

A woman of many talents, Ann was an excellent tennis player who competed at Wimbledon. She then moved to Vermont where she taught herself to ski. When she soon started ski racing, friends gave her the nickname Nose-Dive Annie. She eventually became an alternate in 1939 on the Women's Olympic Ski Team and continued skiing until her late 80s.

After World War II, Ann returned to Vermont to design ski outfits and invented the first fanny pack. Her ski clothes immediately caught on in the fashion world seen on the covers of most of the upscale couture magazines and in the windows of Fifth Avenue’s most elite clothiers. It was in 1947 in her Vermont ski shop where she finally met the love of her life, Vernon ''Moose'' Taylor, Jr.

After Ann and Moose married, she gave up her Vermont ski business in 1951 and they moved to Colorado to raise a family. The Taylors loved skiing; saw the potential of the Vail area and were instrumental in the development of the town. They also built the first two ski chalets there. Vail is where they spent their winters and their summers were spent on this elegant 122-acre farm, 20 minutes southwest of Denver. The Taylors entertained royalty, heads of state and other notable guests in their homes in Vail and at this beautiful farm. It is where they lived out their final years.

This 1932 manor home was designed by Denver architect, Burnham F. Hoyt, who was known for designing Red Rocks Amphitheater, as well as landmarks such as the Central Denver Public Library and State Capitol Annex Building. The 26-room residence has a large drawing room, his-and-her master suites, nine additional bedroom suites, nine bathrooms, a formal banquet-sized dining room, chef’s kitchen, library, sitting rooms, offices, a flower-cutting room, 12 fireplaces, and living quarters for a full-time staff. The 122 private acres have direct views of Mount Evans and the Front Range. A lake cottage at the edge of Ward Lake has a dock, beach and boating privileges. The estate also includes a pool, tennis court, outdoor patios, a gardens, dressage ring, stables, three staff cottages, water rights and agricultural status. Hoyt considered this residence to be the most beautiful home in America. For more information.

The elegant European-style, 122-acre estate of Vernon F. Taylor, Jr. and his wife Ann Bonfoey Taylor, located 20 minutes outside of Denver, Colorado, is now for sale. Priced at $27.7 million.

Source: www.ascentsir.com