Caribou Ranch, Recording studio in Nederland, Colorado, US
Caribou Ranch was a recording studio housed in a converted barn on a 4,000-acre property at approximately 8,300 feet (2,530 m) elevation in the Rocky Mountains. The facility offered luxury cabins on-site, allowing artists to stay during recording sessions while working in the mountain environment.
Producer James William Guercio founded the recording facility in 1972 in this remote mountain region. A devastating fire destroyed the control room in 1985, bringing an end to this legendary site's operations.
The studio attracted many famous musicians during the 1970s and 1980s who came to record their albums here. Artists appreciated the remote mountain setting where they could focus on their work while experiencing the natural surroundings.
The location sits high in the mountains, so visitors should be prepared for the elevation and mountain climate. Traveling to this remote area requires a car, as access is by mountain roads in a rural setting.
Elton John named his 1974 album after this studio because he recorded it here. The control room was custom-designed by renowned acoustician Tom Hidley.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
