Spectacular $400 million house, resort and ranch for sale in Colorado

A holiday escape in a remote part of the US with an eye-watering price tag north of $400 million has hit the market.

The home in the small town of Gateway, Colorado has been a fitting retreat for its vendors, Discovery Channel founder John Hendricks and his wife Maureen.

Known as the Gateway Canyon Ranches and Resort, 40275 Highway 141, includes its own small township, four ranches, a car museum and a spectacular home with observatory.

The asking price? A cool $US279 million ($A406 million) which would be a record price for the area, 280 kilometres west of ritzy ski destination Aspen.

The main residence is a four-storey, Southwestern Pueblo-style home that includes eight bedrooms and eight bathrooms.

It also features an observatory dome with a roof that retracts for star-gazing.

With spectacular views of the La Sal Mountains, the property is an hour from the closest airport, meaning it’s not an easy place to get to.

Luckily for the buyer, it has an airstrip, aeroplane hangar and two helipads. A helicopter is reportedly also included in the sale, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Its distance from the closest major city means a convenience store that stocks the essentials is also part of the deal.

The WSJ report also revealed the open-to-the-public car museum has 55 cars from Mr Hendricks’ personal collection which the buyer will take ownership of. The cars include a 1906 Cadillac and a 1929 Duesenberg.

The buyer will also have ownership of four separate ranches, a 72-suite resort which also includes 14 casitas (small homes) plus five restaurants and business conference facilities.

The property also has planning permits for a further 371 homes.

According to the WSJ, Mr Hendricks had previously tried to sell part of the property, but the sale fell through when the buyer couldn’t get the funds.

He is selling the property as he is spending less time there.

Agents on the sale are LIV Sotheby’s International Realty’s Kerry Endsley and Richard Steinberg of Douglas Elliman, with the listing calling the property the “finest estate property in the great American West”.

The sky-high price tag is far from the biggest asking price for a prestige property around the world.

An unassuming Hong Kong home is listed for sale with hopes of $A618 million. Even though it has only four bedrooms and is set on just 718 square metres, its location – The Peak neighbourhood – is one of the most sought-after in the city.

Another residence nearby changed hands for a then $A358 million in 2016.

In New York City this year, a penthouse sold to a hedge-fund founder for about $US238 million ($A346 million).

Another penthouse in Monaco was listed years earlier with a then price guide of $A360 million.