A luxury home hit the market about a month ago that was originally built in 1961 by the legendary Robert Norris. Norris was a well-known rancher in Colorado who grew famous for being the original Marlboro Man in the tobacco company’s commercials.
The luxurious house sits on 15 acres near Black Forest and boasts beautiful views of Pikes Peak. In 2008, the owners of the property decided completely gut the house to the studs. They rebuilt the home to make it more modern and now the gorgeous house is top-of-the-line when it comes to contemporary luxury.
According to the property’s listing agent, Amie Streater with Engel & Volkers Colorado Springs, the $8 million price tag makes this the most expensive property on the market in El Paso County. The next most expensive property in the county is listed at $6.5 million.
The History of Robert Norris, the Original Marlboro Man
According to an article in the New York Times, Robert Norris moved from Indiana to Colorado in 1953 to get into the horse and cattle business. After a few years of moving around Colorado trying to find the right spot for his ranching business he eventually bought 20,000 acres and established the Tee Cross Ranch located east of Fountain.
According to the Shrine of Remembrance website, Norris becoming the Marlboro Man came as a surprise to the rancher. It all started in the early 1960s when Norris had a contract with the tobacco company to come onto his ranch and take pictures with his horses.
When the team shooting the commercials showed up to the ranch, they had a model with them to portray the Marlboro Man. But then after seeing Norris, they decided that he would be a better fit for the role.
Their plan was to rustle up the model’s clothes and make them look dirty, but then they realized that Norris was already dirty and all he needed was a cowboy hat and a cigarette. Norris then became the first Marlboro Man and he filmed television commercials for the brand for over a decade.
Then in the 1970s, Norris decided to quit his role because he wanted to set a good example for his kids as he always told them not to smoke. Norris died in Colorado Springs on Nov. 3, 2019, at age 90 — he never smoked cigarettes.
Throughout his life Norris was well-known in the world of livestock. He was even good friends with actor John Wayne not through his television stardom, but because of his cattle and horse business. The Norris-Penrose Event Center is now named after him and there is a statue of him and the Shrine of Remembrance Funeral Home in Colorado Springs.
The House Now Has Several Luxury Amenities
Even though the property is connected to Norris because he was the original owner, it is completely different now. “The current owners took the property down to the studs and completely rebuilt it and added on to it,” listing agent Amie Streater said. “So, it is definitely not the house that it was then. It’s basically like a brand new house. It’s an exceptional piece of property. It is right at the edge of Black Forest, so you have the forest behind you and then you have this incredible, unobstructed view of Pikes Peak in front of you. Normally you have to choose between trees and views in Colorado Springs. But this is that rare location where you can get both. It’s really spectacular.”
According to Streater, another perk to the property is that it is in a neighborhood, but it is secluded, and no other houses can be seen. The house itself is quite amazing.
The listing says that the home is over 14,400 square feet in size and has eight bedrooms and 10 bathrooms. The master suite and the four connecting bedrooms all share a private courtyard with a fountain and an outdoor fireplace. The suite and the rooms around it also all overlook the home’s tennis and pickleball courts, saltwater pool, grand lawns, and lush landscaping.
The guest suites all have private bathrooms and offer easy access to the entertaining wing off the loggia. The entertainment wing includes a theater and a four-season indoor arena that can be used for hockey and ice skating in the cooler months. During the summertime, the arena can be used for an equestrian training center among other activities.
According to Streater, since the property has been on the market, it has generated much interest from media sources and potential buyers. She said that people from all walks of life have shown interest and viewed the beautiful estate.
