When Ryan Stark decided to live full-time in Utah, he searched for a home along the river with plenty of space for his family to enjoy the outdoors.
He came up short in finding a move-in-ready home but ultimately found the perfect land parcel where he decided to build his dream property. In 2020, he purchased a 21-acre plot situated along the Weber River in Peoa with an equestrian barn and daily visits from foxes, moose, geese and other wildlife.
After a few pandemic-related disruptions, Stark's "legacy property" at 6950 N. River Valley Drive was completed in 2024. The property, including the new 6,460-square-foot estate and the original equestrian barn, is on the market for $10.9 million.
It marked the first ground-up construction project for Stark, who has experience renovating older homes he's lived in.
"We wanted to have something that was something no one else could have, which to me was having access to the river and being able to have a place where our kids can ride horses and ATVs," Stark said in an interview with Homes.com.
The two-story home, designed by Utah architect Rick Brighton, was built on top of a pond with the support of pylons to protect it from water. The home has five bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, a loft lounge with a bar, a two-story sauna, a hot tub, and a rock-climbing wall. Outside, there are seven trout-fed ponds, and the equestrian barn, which features heated stables, a fireplace and gear storage.
A land footprint with riverfront access
Before Stark could take occupancy, a change in family circumstances forced the family to put the house on the market in July.
Kevin Crockett of Coldwell Banker Realty is listing the property. According to Homes.com, the $10.9 million asking price makes it the priciest for-sale home in Peoa.
The second-priciest listing in Peoa is a 6,500-square-foot home on 25 acres at 6117 N. Rocky Ridge Road and is listed for $5 million.
Crockett and Stark believe their listing trumps everything else on the local market because of the access to the Weber River.
"There are some homes on the river, but those don't come with a ton of acreage," Crockett said in an interview with Homes.com.
The property is located in Utah's Kamas Valley, where more than half of the homes carry a value north of $1.14 million. The median single-family sales price in Kamas Valley is $1.4 million, according to Homes.com data.
While the home is less than 15 miles from Park City, Stark thinks homes like his slip through the cracks for those looking at properties with access to ski resorts.
"You get ranch living, but you're not living hours away from civilization," he said.
Stark, meanwhile, is "definitely" willing to build another house for himself, but he's not looking to enter the world of building and selling houses to others.