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Colorado woman's dream home turned into a nightmare when locals started using her backyard creek without permission. Taralyn Romero bought the five-bedroom house in Kittredge, CO, for $840,000 after a month of searching during the housing crisis. The property had a creek running through it and was next to a park, which initially seemed like a bonus.

    However, soon after moving in, Romero noticed people fishing and picnicking on her property without her knowledge or consent. She discovered that locals had been using the creek for 35 years, with the previous owners having given them permission, but not informing Romero during the sale.

    Romero was concerned about liability and put up "No Trespassing" signs, which enraged the locals who called her a land thief and the Wicked Witch of the West. The situation escalated to the point where people were yelling at Romero and damaging trees in protest.

    The county eventually sued Romero for ownership of the land, claiming adverse possession, accretion, and public use via prescriptive easement. Romero took to TikTok to document her ordeal, gaining over 241,000 followers and attracting support from around the world.

    After a long battle, Romero settled with the county by selling 0.099 acres of her land, including part of the creek, for $250,000. The county erected a fence along the property line, and Romero retained 70% of her land.

    Romero also filed a lawsuit against the previous property owners for alleged fraud and not disclosing public use or government ownership claims. The case was settled with a public apology from the former owners.

    The experience left Romero shaken, but she has since become an advocate for property rights and is helping others who face similar situations. She advises those facing disputes to "buckle up, lean in, and remember that you are at war," while also being willing to negotiate a deal.