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English rocker Joe Cocker made no secret of his love for Colorado. After playing a show in Telluride, he and wife, Pam, decided to build their dream home on the Western Slope. The nearly 16,000-square-foot English manor, dubbed Mad Dog Ranch, is perched against a quintessential Colorado landscape and was designed by the couple in 1994. Following Cocker’s death in 2014, the property went on the market for $7 million. But taking a cue from selling trends in the luxury market, Pam Cocker has opted to put the property up for a live on-site auction on September 1.
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“Pick up this property and move it an hour away to Aspen, and it’s worth $50 million—if you could even find something like it,” says Maverick Commins, CEO and owner of Scottsdale-based Supreme Auctions, which will manage the process. “From a value standpoint, this property is unbelievable.”
Featuring seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a private guest suite, and an eight-stall horse barn, Mad Dog Ranch offers “a departure from traditional mountain decor,” says listing agent Mandy Nadler, broker associate with Coldwell Banker Devonshire in Cherry Creek. “This is very representative of their taste. Joe brought his little English village to Crawford.”
Think English Tudor style, including vaulted ceilings, sweeping staircases, Brazilian cherry flooring, and a cozy library also paneled in custom cherry. Furnishings are not included in the sale, aside from two special items: a custom 18-seat dining set and Cocker’s beloved, historic snooker table that once belonged to King Edward VII.
The “no reserve” live auction means bidders have to pony up a $150,000 deposit to participate, and the property will sell that day to the highest bidder—no matter how low the price. The winning buyer has 24 hours to wire 10 percent of the sale price and 30 days to close. The sale has no contingencies, as inspections have already been conducted and disclosed in the due diligence packet available to bidders.
The home was initially built as a summer vacation spot, but Joe and Pam Cocker came to enjoy it year-round.
“Joe loved touring, and he loved his fans, but when he came home to Crawford, he could just be Joe,” Nadler says. “He loved to garden and hike here on the property. It affords incredible privacy—it even has its own swimming hole—all in a spectacular setting.”
Nadler emphasizes that although the auction has no reserve, she expects the property to sell at market value. “It’s not a distress sale,” she says. “We’re targeting a global market. If you think about it, the finest art, jewelry, and cars are sold at auction. Why not luxury homes?”
Nadler already has bustling interest and will continue showing the property by appointment on the weekends prior to the auction. Commins has sold luxury homes by auction for the last 16 years and believes the Mad Dog Ranch auction will draw attention as several buyers have already purchased their due diligence packets.
“It’s a great property near a cool little town, and it’s got an incredible history,” says Commins. “The property is immaculate and in an incredible setting. Someone is going to get a great deal.”
We just hope the lucky buyer opts to come in through the bathroom window.
For more information on Mad Dog Ranch, visit the auction website or call Mandy Nadler at 303-882-6160.