River Valley Ranch, the 187-acre championship golf course just outside Carbondale, is getting a celebrity-backed makeover. Palm Tree Crew, the lifestyle and events company co-founded by DJ Kygo, has teamed up with restaurant group Major Food Group and investment firm 8K Capital to buy the property, with plans to blend serious golf, destination dining, and branded events while keeping the course open to the public.
If the deal closes at the current offering price, it would rank as one of the most significant hospitality plays in the Roaring Fork Valley in recent years.
As reported by The Aspen Times, the acquisition was announced in a press release that lays out a vision to "create a golf destination combining championship golf with Major Food Group restaurants and Palm Tree Crew events." Myles Shear, co-founder of Palm Tree Crew, called the purchase "the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Palm Tree Crew." Major Food Group co-founder Jeff Zalaznick said his team "looks forward to creating a dining and social experience that complements the course."
The property was marketed for $24.5 million, and the broker’s offering page lists the course as "under contract," according to Leisure Investment Properties Group marketing materials. The listing touts the 18-hole layout designed by Jay Morrish and points to potential development and revenue upside in the offering memorandum.
According to the River Valley Ranch Master Association, the golf course operates as a privately owned, pay-to-play public facility. Any physical changes will have to move through both the homeowners' association and town planning processes. The RVRMA site includes Q&A documents and other community materials that the new ownership group can use as it coordinates with residents and course staff.
Local reporting and county records indicate the course last changed hands in 2018 for roughly $3.5 million and went back on the market this summer at the current asking price. The Sopris Sun reported that the sale was "pending" and noted that course managers had not commented publicly while negotiations were underway. That recent history helps explain why neighbors and the HOA have been closely tuned in to every hint of a sale or redevelopment plan.
Buyers' Plans And Background
Palm Tree Crew is framing River Valley Ranch as part of a broader push into hospitality and live entertainment, a strategy that already includes festivals, clubs, and other hospitality ventures highlighted on the company’s press page. Major Food Group’s role signals a restaurant-centered approach; the company is known for high-profile destination spots such as Carbone and Torrisi, according to industry coverage. The partners say that the combination will fuel daytime golf and dining along with a steady slate of evening events.
What Locals Will Watch For
Residents and the River Valley Ranch homeowners association are expected to keep a close eye on any proposals that involve rezoning, expanded event permits, or changes to the driving range parcel. A previous rezoning push tied to that area was rejected in past community discussions. Any larger resort or hotel ideas hinted at in the marketing materials would likely face town review, county permitting, and HOA approval before becoming a reality.
Next Steps
The broker’s offering page currently shows the property as under contract, but county deed filings often trail announcements and may not appear for days or weeks. For more details, see the buyer announcement in The Aspen Times and check the River Valley Ranch master association's golf page for community updates: RVRMA golf page.
