LOCATION
The Elk Ridge Ranch is a short 35-mile drive from
Red Lodge, Montana and is easily accessed via paved highway and maintained
county road. The Ranch is ideally nestled in the upper slopes against the
Beartooth Mountains, approximately 12 miles south of Fishtail, Mt. at the
headwaters of Fishtail and Moose creeks at the end of its own private road.
Fishtail is the nearest community offering groceries and basic necessities and
approximately 18 miles north is Absarokee Mt., the closest town with a broad
cross-section of services. Billings,
Montana, Montana’s largest city about 70 miles away, has the nearest commercial
airport.
Take a look at some snapshots for Deer and Elk on my
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AREA
The Ranch lies adjacent to the highest mountains in Montana
in an area referred to as the “Beartooth Front”, considered one of the most desirable
and sought after regions of the state.
This area is generally bounded by Red Lodge, Mt. and the Rock Creek
Canyon on the east, and Nye, Mt. and the Stillwater Canyon on the west, with
the massive Beartooth Plateau forming the southern boundary. The region boasts numerous small towns and
villages such as Red Lodge and Absarokee on the more populated end, and Roscoe,
Luther, Dean, Nye, and Fishtail on the sparsely populated end.
The primary industry in the area
consists of ranching with an increasing recreational focus. Red Lodge, Mt,
boasts one of Montana’s best ski areas and has recently expanded its number of
runs and lifts. Fortunately, with very few exceptions, the lands adjoining the
National Forest boundary along the Beartooth Front have remained in quite
strong hands and there has been little development. The ranch is bordered
partly by National Forest and one of the areas larger “old time” cattle ranches
consisting of approximately 10,000 acres, which is protected against
development by a conservation easement.
The Elk Ridge Ranch is typical of the ranches along the
“Beartooth Front”. It is in a particularly exclusive class because it actually
joins the National Forest boundary. Most of the ranches on the front itself are
considered so desirable that they have remained in the same hands for
generations. Consequently, the Elk Ridge Ranch represents a rare opportunity
to buy property bounded by National Forest and only two miles from the
Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness boundary. In our opinion, a feature that makes
this area especially attractive is that while it is fundamentally an
agriculturally based community, there is a growing recreational sector that has
provided an attractive social infrastructure not common to most ranching areas.
This feature has given rise to success of services like the three quite
attractive small but popular restaurants within a 20-minute drive of the ranch.
IMPROVEMENTS
The recently completed massive log lodge, of approximately 10.000 sq
ft., is a thing of beauty, exceptional design and functionality. A huge rock
fireplace accents the large entertaining area on the north wall and large
windows on the south open the room to the beautiful mountain views. A monster
log stairs takes you to a second level recreation area and patio. A full
service kitchen, dining area, utility area, mudroom, ¾ bath, and wet bar
complete this segment. An entrance area is second to none having a waterfall,
stuffed bear and bison in a setting to
excite anyone. Added to this is a unit
having 5 bedrooms, a bunkhouse room, 6 full baths, and ½ bath and service
kitchen with sitting area. Completing the lodge is an attached 3-car garage.
Landscaping is also a thing of beauty set up for absorbing the fantastic views
and outdoor entertaining with a rocked in fire pit, grill and smoker.
The manager’s home is a recently remodeled 2240 sq.
ft. 3 bedroom 2 bath structure with a large deck and well landscaped for
enjoyment of life.
*Both units are sold with
the existing furnishings.
Supporting out buildings include a large horse barn
with heated tack room area and corral and a very nice 2400 sq ft. shop, storage
garage combination for ATV’s, snowmobiles, etc.
WILDLIFE AND
RECREATION
Wildlife viewing on the ranch is incomparable; moose, elk,
black bear, whitetail deer, mule deer, eagles, grouse, geese, ducks, sand hill
cranes, herons and turkeys frequent the ranch.
The Ranch borders some of the pristine mountain wilderness Montana is known
for, allowing one to hike or ride right out “your back door” into National
Forest Land and into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, a trail rider/hiker
paradise. Winter on the Ranch offers
superb snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
For downhill skiing, Red Lodge Mountain Ski Resort is approximately 35
miles away. Summer activities include
hiking and horseback riding on the ranch and in the adjacent National
Forest. Fishing is found in Moose Creek,
which crosses the ranch, or in the areas numerous creeks, rivers and lakes. The
East Rosebud River, West Rosebud River and Stillwater River, are all renowned
fly-fishing rivers and are located within a 30-minute drive of the ranch. In
addition, an on-site beaver pond has the development potential for an 8-acre
private lake. Two scenic mountain lakes, Lily Pad and Crater Lake, are located
adjacent to the property on State land and are presently under lease to the
ranch, providing excellent fishing.
Access to both lakes is via a trail network directly from the
ranch. Yellowstone National Park, less
than 2
hours away, is a
favorite for photography expeditions, wildlife viewing, fly-fishing, and the
wonders of nature that are found nowhere else in the world.
In an effort to preserve and enhance the native wildlife
resource, no hunting has been allowed on the ranch for more than a decade. Thus
for either hunting or
preservation,
wildlife
populations are very
good.
ACREAGE
1138+ Deeded acres and 640 acres leased
from the State of Montana. The ranch
enjoys a balance of some of the most beautiful and scenic attributes found
anywhere. The landscape is made up of
lush rolling mountain meadows of tall grass and hillsides shrouded with
colorful mountain wildflowers. Sparkling
groves of Aspen trees are intermingled on dense pine forested hills with
Montana’s highest mountain peaks as a stunning backdrop to the property. The owners have been positive stewards of the
land as can be easily recognized while viewing the ranch. They are presently working with the National
Forest Service, in conjunction with a professional Forester, to enhance the
health of the forest through a very limited thinning process confined to a few
select areas of the ranch. This effort has had a positive effect on the quality
of the property and has greatly improved the wildlife habitat. Several miles of crystal clear mountain
streams meander through the ranch along with numerous springs. The largest spring on the property, Split
Rock Spring, flows in excess of 60,000 gallons per day. The water from Split Rock Spring has been
tested and meets the EPA standards for bottling.
CLIMATE
This area is not considered to receive the heaviest of
Montana winters since the immediate proximity of the ranch to the Beartooth
Front places it in a highly predictable Chinook area. Consequently, the winters are quite pleasant,
although occasional very low temperatures are experienced. The area is subject to numerous snows
however, the heaviest being spring storms. These spring storms usually occur
late in March or early April and, due to the mild temperatures, the snow seldom
lasts but a few days. These heavy wet snows are welcomed, as they contribute to
the lush strong grasses that nourish livestock and wildlife through the grazing
season.
BROKER’S COMMENT
"None
like it"
In summary, the Elk Ridge Ranch is one
the most desirable ranches that has been offered for sale along Montana’s
coveted “Beartooth Front” in recent times: joining National Forest and State of
Montana Land on two sides, providing access to thousands of acres of pristine
wilderness, plus unparalleled private south-facing views of 12,000 foot snowy
peaks whose heavily timbered slopes run down to the edge of the ranch. The vistas to the west, north and east offer
100-mile views of a vast western landscape and Montana’s legendary “Big
Sky”. Lush mountain meadows, aspens,
pines, several miles of clear mountain streams, spring fed ponds and countless
building sites combine to make the Elk Ridge Ranch highly desirable. Although
year-round accessible and just over an hour from Montana’s largest airport, the
ranch provides the ultimate seclusion without being remote. The SPRING HIGH
RANCH is an ideal candidate for those interested in considering the tax
advantages of a Conservation Easement.
Price: $7,500,000
Neil
E. McCaslin - Broker/Owner
51
Nye Road - P.O. BOX 752
Absarokee,
MT 59001
Office
(406) 328-4085
Cell
(406) 321-0340
mailto:Neil@McCaslinLand.com
* The statements made herein while not guaranteed are from sources deemed
reliable, and maps are for visual reference only. This offering is subject to
prior sale, change or withdrawal without notice.
Map (see next
page for a close-up)
Map Close-Up
