GPS Took Us to Dead Ends & Arroyos… How We Found Our Off-Grid Dream

🌵 How a Dirt Road Adventure Became Plateau Hame de Colquhoun

Six years ago, while our family was working a winter ranch job in **New Mexico**, we quietly began what would become a life-changing journey. Every spare dollar was being saved with one goal in mind — **buy land to create our own event center**.

For years, we had **site managed for other venues**, helping build dreams for others. Eventually, we realized it was time to build something for ourselves — something rooted in creativity, music, community, and freedom.

Our original dream was **Minnesota**, but reality set in quickly. Land prices, harsh winters, and short seasons meant we’d only be open a few months a year. **New Mexico**, on the other hand, offered affordability, open space, and weather that allowed us to be open **year-round**.

That realization changed everything.

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🌄 The Land Hunt — and the Adventure to Get There

After looking at multiple properties, none truly felt right. Some were close to highways but lacked soul. Others were accessible but restrictive. Then we found *the one* — listed by a realtor we believe was based out of **New York**.

When we called, he warned us:

> *“You don’t want that one — it’s down some dirt roads.”*

That didn’t scare us. The property was **only 42 miles from Albuquerque**, had **no noise ordinances**, and required no complicated permits. To us, it sounded almost perfect.

So we set out early one morning from **Ruidoso to Belen**, planning to look at several pieces of land. The first few weren’t terrible, but they just didn’t feel right.

Then came the journey to the land we now own — and **that was an adventure all its own**.

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🧭 GPS Lies, Arroyos, and Dead-End Roads

Following GPS turned into a wild goose chase. It led us down **dead-end roads in the middle of nowhere**, far from anything familiar. At one point, GPS took us straight toward an **arroyo**, and we **almost got stuck** trying to turn around.

Another route sent us down a road **filled with trash**. Instead of turning back right away, we stopped and **cleaned up the area**, only to realize after all that effort that the road went absolutely nowhere.

No exit. No turnaround. Just desert silence.

We were frustrated, tired, and close to giving up.

But then — we found better roads.

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🌌 Love at First Sight — Even in the Dark

By the time we finally arrived at the property, it was **after dark**.

And yet… I fell in love instantly.

Standing there, looking out over the valley with **city lights glowing below**, the view was breathtaking. Quiet. Powerful. It felt like home.

Still, we knew we had to see it in daylight.

So we scheduled another trip, making this land our priority.

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🌞 Daylight Confirmed What Our Hearts Already Knew

When we returned during the day, we fell even harder. The land was expansive, peaceful, and full of possibility. This wasn’t just property — it was a blank canvas.

This would become **Plateau Hame de Colquhoun LLC**, home to **Ka-Hoon Campground** and **Ka-Hoon Event Center**.

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💔 Almost Lost — Then Everything Changed

When we called the realtor to say we wanted the land and could pay immediately, our hearts sank.

Someone else had claimed it.

We sat there defeated, feeling like we had lost a battle — and then, **less than five minutes later**, the phone rang again.

*“The land is yours.”*

It took a moment to sink in. Then adrenaline kicked in. Debit card already in hand.

**The land was ours.**

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🎶 Six Years Later — A Dream Built Off-Grid

That moment happened on **January 5th, 2020** — six years ago.

Today, that once-hard-to-reach land is home to:

* **Colquhoun Entertainment**
* **Plateau Hame de Colquhoun LLC**
* **Ka-Hoon Campground**
* **Ka-Hoon Event Center**
* **Music in the Desert**
* **Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band**
* **Melodie’s Oddities**
* **Dusty Nail General Store**
* **Offgrid Talk**
* **Melodious**, tying it all together

What began as a risky drive down dirt roads — through arroyos, trash-filled paths, and wrong turns — became a place where **music echoes**, **off-grid living thrives**, and **community is built under desert skies**.

And this… is still just the beginning.

Www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com

Music by Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band  http://www.advocatusdiaboliandthegrimleaferband.com

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#OffGridAdventure #DesertDream #KaHoonCampground #MusicInTheDesert #BuiltFromNothing