Can you buy a cottage in Chautauqua Park?
The short answer
Yes, though only a small number are privately owned. Colorado Chautauqua opened on July 4, 1898, and 98 cottages were built there between 1899 and 1954. The Colorado Chautauqua Association rents out roughly sixty of them; the rest are privately owned and change hands rarely. Owners own the cottage, while the land is part of the roughly 26 acres the Association leases from the City of Boulder.
People ask me about Chautauqua cottages every year. The first thing to understand is that you would be buying a cottage on leased land inside a National Historic Landmark. That shapes everything else.
How ownership works
The Colorado Chautauqua Association manages about 26 acres leased from the City of Boulder. The Association rents out roughly sixty cottages to guests. County records show 37 cottages held by private owners. A private owner owns the cottage and pays the Association for the ground lease and dues each year. Read the lease terms before anything else.
Historic rules
The whole 40 acre site, including Chautauqua Park, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006. Exterior changes go through the City of Boulder's landmark review. Plan for that approval before you plan a remodel.
How often they sell
Rarely. County records show no private cottage sale between September 2023 and September 2026. The Association itself buys cottages when they come up. When cottages have sold, prices per square foot have varied widely, because each one is different and so few trade.
- Colorado Chautauqua (opening, 98 cottages, 26 acre lease, 2006 landmark designation)
- The Boulder Magazine, A Village Within Boulder (nearly sixty Association cottages)
- Boulder County Assessor parcel and sales records, compiled September 2026