A Colorado ranch that belonged to the late rock-and-blues legend Joe Cocker will go under the hammer Sept. 1.
The 240-acre estate was the long-time home of the singer and his wife, Pam. Known as Mad Dog Ranch, the property is in the town of Crawford, roughly a two-hour drive from Aspen. The Cockers built the English Tudor-style home there in 1994, inspired by their travels in Europe.
“Joe and I originally bought the property to spend just a few weeks a year here,” Mrs. Cocker said in a statement. “But after our first winter, we knew this was where we wanted to call home.”
The English-born singer, who was best known for his rendition of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends,” died in 2014 after a battle with lung cancer. He was 70 years old.
Mrs. Cocker originally listed the home in February of 2015 for $7 million, according to Supreme Auctions, the firm handling the auction. The price was later reduced to $5.75 million. Now, the property is scheduled to be sold at auction without reserve, meaning there is no minimum bid required.
The sprawling manor has 15,873 square feet of living space spread across three floors, according to Supreme Auctions. A 33-foot turret houses the entry foyer, which leads to living, dining, billiards and sun rooms—all of which open to a patio with sweeping views of Needle Mountain. There’s also a chef’s kitchen.
The home has seven bedrooms, eight full bathrooms and two partial baths. The master suite, which boasts 13-foot-high vaulted ceilings, two bathrooms, a stone fireplace and a private balcony, is located on the second floor.
Outside, landscaped lawns and formal gardens surround the manor. There’s also a one-acre swimming pond. The working ranch includes a seven-stall barn, a silo, turnouts and an outdoor arena. Hiking trails and horse paths weave throughout the estate.
The property also features 80 acres of irrigated pastures—where the Cockers kept their horses—that back up to 400,000 acres belonging to the Bureau of Land Management, offering privacy as well as captivating views.
“It’s one of the reasons they decided to build the home where they did,” said Maverick Commins, chairman and CEO of Supreme Auctions.
In general, sellers who go the auction route are “looking for a more expedient way of selling the property than keeping it on the market,” said Mr. Commins. Auctions allow for alternative marketing strategies, rather than traditional sales methods, and empower potential buyers to name their own price. “It’s more about time for our sellers than the money,” he said.
The Cocker residence will be sold unfurnished, except for the snooker table in the billiards room, which belonged to a member of Britain’s Royal Family, and a custom-designed dining room table, said Jennie Heal, president of Supreme Auctions. The buyer will have the option to purchase more furnishings for an additional price.
Browse the gallery above for a look inside the home.