Nels Cary is a Colorado native who has never been too far from Telluride.
“I have lived within 100 miles of here for most of my life,” says the man behind Peaks Real Estate and Sotheby's International Realty. “My family used to come here camping and for the Fourth of July celebrations in the 1960s. Telluride has always been the most beautiful part of Colorado.”

Nels has been living the good life in the area for 15 years, ever since he was recruited by a major hotel company to assist with its initial sales program. Ranching is in his family’s blood, so it makes sense that his lifestyle is built around horses. He was born in Denver, while his family had been ranching near Steamboat Springs for four generations. Due to his mother’s health, his family moved to Grand Junction, where he lived until 1989, when he came to Telluride with his wife, Patricia, and sons, Michael (28, lives in Boulder) and Hans (21, attends the University of Oregon).

In the time since moving here, Cary has witnessed the remarkable growth of the ski resort industry in the area, as well as everything from the gondola to a new library, convention facilities in Mountain Village and a booming real estate marketplace. He has been a skier for half a century; he still works out; and after 15 years in Telluride, he knows the ski area like the back of his hand. “I like all of the various runs in Telluride and like to mix it up,” he says. “After 51 years I don't ski the very steep mogul runs as much any more. I enjoy Telluride the most for the high-alpine scenic splendor.” One of the best places to view that splendor is at home, where his success in the real estate business has led to the best that mountain living can offer. So where does someone who routinely offers his clients some of the most glorious real state in the country live?

“Our home is a wonderful new home,” he says. “It is on 40 acres surrounded by 120 additional acres with fabulous views of the San Juans, Lone Cone and LaSal mountains, with pastures and an abundance of wildlife.”

Running true to his family ranching roots, the property also has a great “horse setup” with indoor and outdoor arenas. In all, it's a perfect small horse ranch for the couple. “My wife Patricia and I enjoy working on the tractor and doing the ranch chores,” he says.

This lifestyle was built with Cary starting on his own in Telluride, which he says was the key ingredient in the company's growth to six regional locations: “We are widely respected as being trustworthy and honest,” he says. “We help first-time home buyers and the airline guarantee program in a big way.”
Community service is also a big part of the Cary lifestyle as the family is a big supporter for the Norwood Rodeo and the Red Ball Express fundraising program.
He believes making Telluride into a place where local working families who are career-oriented can live. In order to do that, his big dream for the community is for it to find a way to balance the needs of hotel development and tourism “while maintaining the pristine, non-commercialized nature that everyone desires but only Telluride can offer.”

Cary believes in increasing the recreational opportunities in the area “while preserving open space and protecting high-alpine environments.”