A Colorado woman’s dream home purchase turned into a legal nightmare when she tried to assert her property rights over a beloved local creek.
At a Glance
- Taralyn Romero bought a home in Kittredge, Colorado, with Bear Creek running through the backyard
- She faced backlash after attempting to restrict public access to the creek
- Jefferson County sued Romero, claiming public rights to the land based on adverse possession
- A settlement was reached, with Romero selling part of her land to the county for $250,000
- The case sparked a heated debate about private property rights versus public access
A Dream Home Becomes a Battleground
In 2021, Taralyn Romero purchased what she thought would be her dream home in Kittredge, Colorado. The property, which included a portion of Bear Creek running through the backyard, soon became the center of a heated dispute that would pit Romero against her neighbors and local government. The conflict began when Romero, concerned about liability and property damage, installed “Private Property” and “No Trespassing” signs on land that locals had used for years as part of Kittredge Park.
Romero’s actions sparked immediate outrage in the community. Locals, accustomed to unrestricted access to the creek, viewed her attempts to limit access as an assault on a beloved public space. The situation quickly escalated, with some visitors committing acts of vandalism and verbally abusing Romero. Social media platforms became battlegrounds for rumors and character attacks against the homeowner.
“They were incredibly abusive to me verbally, and abusive to the land. Sometimes they were bringing out metal shovels and literally destroying the creek bank, they were breaking trees, leaving trash,” claims Romero.
Colorado woman says she was bullied by community who wanted to take her property, this is how she fought back https://t.co/tk67mso8S6
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 24, 2024
Legal Battle Ensues
The conflict took a legal turn when Jefferson County filed a lawsuit against Romero, claiming public rights to the land based on adverse possession. This legal principle allows someone to claim ownership of property if they have openly used it for a certain period without the owner’s permission. The county argued that years of public use had established the creek area as community property.
“The more that I tried to defend myself, the more aggressively I got attacked, and eventually, they just blocked me completely from these groups,” said Romero.
Romero, maintaining that she was a native Coloradan who simply wanted to enjoy nature on her own property, found herself at odds with both her neighbors and local authorities. The dispute gained significant attention on social media, particularly TikTok, where Romero turned to share her side of the story. Her posts went viral, leading to a 23% increase in park visitors from 2022 to 2023.
A Costly Compromise
After months of tension and legal wrangling, a settlement was reached in May 2023. As part of the agreement, Romero agreed to sell a portion of her land to the county for $250,000. A fence was built to delineate her property, with the land outside the fence now managed by the Evergreen Park and Recreation District (EPRD).
While the settlement brought a resolution to the immediate conflict, it left Romero feeling disillusioned with the justice system and local government. She continues to use her platform on TikTok to advocate for property rights and address other issues, harboring resentment towards those she believes conspired against her during the dispute.
The Bear Creek dispute highlights the complex interplay between private property rights and public access to natural resources and public land. It also underscores the power of social media to shape local conflicts and public opinion. As communities continue to grapple with these issues, the case serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of property rights and the need for open dialogue between landowners and local authorities.
