EVail, CO
Location: Snowmass Village, CO
Project Name: Melton Ranch Trail
Owner: Village of Snowmass, CO
Manufacturer: Signature Stone
Wall Type: Gravity Retaining Wall
Texture: Ledgestone
Wall Area: 8,052 sq ft
Year Built: 2025S
When the Village of Snowmass began planning the Melton Ranch Trail project, they set out with ambitious goals: to seamlessly link several residential neighborhoods directly to the community’s extensive hiking and mountain biking network. Once completed, the trail would tie into the larger Rim Trail system, offering breathtaking views of the Roaring Fork Valley.
Building out this infrastructure in rugged mountain terrain presented a major hurdle. A steep section of the new trail had very limited space for excavation, requiring a retaining wall system that was robust enough to hold back the mountain and ensure the safety of trail-goers, without requiring massive earth-moving operations that would disrupt the natural landscape.
Based on three previously successful retaining wall projects in the area, the Village of Snowmass and Gould Construction knew exactly who to call. Signature Stone’s precast Redi-Rock gravity retaining wall system was selected as the optimal choice to meet the project’s spatial and structural demands.
Key factors in the design and selection included:
Gravity Design: The sheer mass of the blocks allowed for a massive, structurally sound wall to be built with limited excavation requirements behind the wall face.
Smart Engineering: The wall incorporated 28-inch top blocks featuring a unique “ski slope” top. This allowed Gould Construction to grade the earth seamlessly right to the wall’s edge, creating a clean, integrated finish with greater efficiency.
Alpine Aesthetics: The “Ledgestone” texture provided a realistic, highly textured natural stone appearance. Combined with the block’s natural color variation, the finished product was aesthetically far superior to field-sprayed concrete alternatives.
Collaboration between trusted local partners made for a smooth and highly efficient installation process:
Proven Partnerships: Signature Stone worked closely alongside Gould Construction to manufacture and stage over 8,000 square feet of block for the build.
Weather Resistance: The wet-cast concrete composition of the blocks provided crucial integrated drainage features. This allows for proper water flow and ensures long-term performance and stability in Snowmass’s harsh alpine weather conditions and freeze-thaw cycles.
The Melton Ranch Trail project is a stunning example of how the right block system can simultaneously safeguard and enhance infrastructure in challenging mountain environments.
Massive Scale: A grand total of 8,052 square feet of Redi-Rock blocks was installed to secure the hillside and the trail safely.
Community Connectivity: The trail successfully bridges local neighborhoods to Snowmass’s world-class outdoor recreation networks.
A New Standard: Because of the aesthetics, performance, and the strong partnership between the village and project stakeholders, Redi-Rock is now the Village of Snowmass’s official standard for retaining wall solutions.
When the Village of Snowmass needed to expand the Melton Ranch Trail along a steep, narrow mountainside, they required a massive structural solution with minimal excavation footprint. Learn how over 8,000 square feet of Redi-Rock gravity blocks provided the safety, durability, and natural aesthetic needed to make this system the village’s new standard for retaining walls.
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