RAFTER J. HISTORY
Many years ago the Brown family owned a couple thousand acres of land in this area for raising cattle. The ranch was called Rafter-=J= Open “A” Summer Ranch. As the family’s needs changed, they began to sell off some of the acreage. That is how adjacent subdivisions such as Tomahawk, La Plata Vista Estates, etc. came to be. The last portion of the family ranch of about 660 acres was acquired by Mel Reddy, who, first with a partner then with son Mark, developed our present day Rafter J subdivision. The development started in the early 1970’s and was completed sometime in the late 1990’s.
Rafter J is roughly 7500 ft in elevation, plus or minus, depending on where you are located in the neighborhood. West Fork Estates and King Mountain Estates are some of the sections making up the approximate 179 lots within the subdivision. Thanks to the Reddys, the roads were built to county specifications. However, all 7.5 miles of paved roads within Rafter J, are private. This is due to the fact that the Association, and not the county, is financially responsible for the maintenance and plowing of all those paved roads
There were three wells dug on the property that served the simple water system which included a water storage tower as well. As the number of residents grew, the water capacity proved to be inadequate and the whole system was transferred to Lake Durango Water Company then owned by Bob Johnson. Later on Lake Durango Water Company became Lake Durango Water Authority, which continues to provide service to those neighborhoods along CR 141, including Trappers Crossing, Shenandoah and upward to Lake Durango Water Estates, where Lake Durango itself is located.
Rafter J primarily has lots ranging anywhere from three to six-acres, with the exception of some lots, being more than ten-acres. Today there are roughly 165 homes in the neighborhood. The mail is delivered to community mailboxes and parcel boxes, which are located at each of the subdivision entrances (Ridge Rd., Hideaway Rd. and Spring Rd). The 9-R district schools for the area are Ft. Lewis Elementary, Escalante Middle School and Durango High School.
At the inception of the subdivision, the developer filed Articles of Incorporation to create a legal binding, not-for-profit, tax exempt Homeowners Association. The Association has formal Bylaws, CC&Rs and a Board of Directors. The Rafter J HOA governs only the areas with the paved roads, which are Ridge Rd., Spring Rd., Hideaway Rd., West Fork Rd., King Mountain Rd., etc...as well as any of the side roads.
For more information please contact the Rafter J Homeowners Association Business Office (contact info on Board of Directors page)