Located just over an hour south of Jackson and minutes from Pinedale, this 1,200± deeded acre working cattle ranch utilizes lush meadows and federal permits to run over 1,000 yearlings. The attractive original homestead compound has been lovingly restored to provide housing for the owner, guests and a ranch manager. The views from the building compound of the towering peaks of the Wind River Range are exceptional with a beautiful trout filled lake in the foreground. An indoor arena, extensive water rights and well-designed livestock facilities make this a very functional working ranch. There is not currently a conservation easement on this highly scenic and appropriately improved ranch.
The Rendezvous Ranch is a large working cattle ranch lying in the center of the Green River Valley with vast hay meadows, enormous views of the major peaks of the Wind River Mountains and classic restored log improvements. A large fishing pond was developed on the north side of the building compound and often reflects views of Wyoming’s tallest peaks. The ranch enjoys views of the entire Wind River Mountain Range up close and more distant views of The Gros Ventre Mountain Range and the Wyoming Mountain Range. A long gravel drive leads to the improvements winding past the working corrals and entering the very private headquarters on the north side of the property. The main ranch consists of approximately 1,040 deeded acres and is 1 ¼ miles long and 1 ½ miles wide at its widest. In addition, there is an isolated 160± acres that anchors the ranch’s extensive BLM grazing permits. It includes a full set of corrals and adjoins a 480± acre tract on which the ranch has long-term free grazing rights. This deeded base gives the ranch the ability to control the permit and bring livestock in early to be ready to turn out when the permits open in early May.
The Rendezvous Ranch is a solid working cattle ranch with broad recreational opportunities, extraordinary scenic amenities and classic western improvements. The current owners have created an amazing legacy for the three partners and their families and friends. Their longtime manager, who has been there some 20 years, has expressed an interest in staying on with a new owner making the transition seamless and the enjoyment of the property instantaneous. Truly the combination of a real cattle operation that includes close personal interaction through the historical “Drift” with a fascinating mix of area ranchers, a beautiful setting convenient to both Jackson and Pinedale, and the ability to enjoy a variety of non-ranch recreational activities all while housed in a set of authentic and fully restored log buildings cannot be equaled. It is the perfect counterpoint to the resort lifestyle that one can enjoy in a place like Jackson.
The Rendezvous Ranch is located just over an hour south of Jackson Hole and ten minutes north of Pinedale. The ranch is accessed year-round by taking gravel county road 144 for two miles off paved county road 352 just south of Cora. It is situated along the New Fork River in the southern end of the Upper Green River Valley and commands dramatic views of the Wind River Mountain. Daily commercial air service is available in Jackson Hole through four major carriers and the Sublette County Airport (Ralph Wenz Field- KPNA) is approximately fifteen minutes south of the ranch which can handle most private aircraft on its 8,900’ x 100’ runway.
The immediate neighbors to the Rendezvous Ranch are made up of large working cattle ranches held both by longtime local ranching families and long term recreational ranch investors. A conservation easement is in place with the Jackson Hole Land Trust (JHLT) on the ranch to the north of the property and another large easement covers approximately 1,000 acres just east of the ranch. Additionally, the Nature Conservancy holds a 1,200-acre easement a short distance south of the ranch. The JHLT, which took over from the Green River Valley Land Trust, has worked with nearly 40 families to conserve approximately 20,000 acres of ranchland in Sublette County. The Rendezvous Ranch would be an excellent candidate for an easement given its proximity to town and its significant wildlife habitat. There is broad interest amongst both local ranching families and newer residents in protecting the ranching heritage of this valley through the use of conservation easements.
The Upper Green River valley is the headwaters of the Green River and the New Fork River, both world-renowned trout fisheries. The valley consists of tightly held ranches and a few high-end retreat properties and is home to substantial wildlife populations which graze the lush meadows and hillsides during the spring, summer and fall seasons. In the winter, the area receives consistent snowfall turning it into a true winter paradise for cross country skiing and snowmobiling enthusiasts. The longest ungulate migration corridor in the lower forty-eight states runs through this valley as pronghorn and mule deer pass through in the spring and fall making their way between their winter range in the Red Desert south of Pinedale and their summer range in the Hoback Basin south of Jackson Hole.
Pinedale, the county seat, is the capital of this vast region. It is a friendly town with most of the amenities (good restaurants, bars, stores, banks, motels, etc.) that one would expect in a small ranching community that hosts seasonal influx of tourists. This region has been positively influenced by its proximity to Jackson and many of the ranches have gone into the hands of wealthy families and individuals who enjoy the proximity to Jackson, yet appreciate the rural and agricultural heritage of the area. Jackson, which is just over an hour’s drive from the ranch, is known for its sophisticated atmosphere and resort amenities. In Jackson one finds upscale shopping, art galleries and fine dining combined with a fun-filled western flair and a remarkable local community that is consistently rated as the most philanthropic county in the U.S. This world-class ski resort community has preserved its western heritage and charm through stringent growth planning and county regulations combined with the very active JHLT mentioned above (one of the first in the country). The Rendezvous Ranch is positioned to take advantage of both of these communities while sitting at the foot of Wyoming’s tallest peaks.
The Rendezvous Ranch consists of approximately 1,200 deeded acres and utilizes two BLM grazing permits (which have three sections of State of Wyoming Lease inside them along with the deeded base described above) and a National Forest grazing permit. Just under 1,000 acres of the ranch are subject to irrigation. The BLM permits allow approximately 2,140 AUMs and the Forest Permit is for 1,009 head from July 1st through October 5th (over 3,000 AUMs). The BLM permits are located to the south of the ranch on what is referred to as the Mesa and the Forest Permit is in the Green River Drift Allotment of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. In analyzing the Rendezvous Ranch’s operation, one needs to take note of the fact that over 5,000 AUMs of federal permits that offer both spring and summer grazing considerably enhance the ability of the deeded base to operate an efficient and profitable livestock operation. The seller is prepared to relinquish these permits to the buyer of the deeded lands based upon applicable regulations.
The ranch improvements have all the charm of yesteryear combined with all the conveniences of today. Original log buildings dating back to the beginning of last century were meticulously restored to preserve their character and completely updated for the most discriminating guests. There is a three bedroom owner’s home with two bathrooms; a three bedroom, two bathroom manager’s home; two single bedroom guest cabins, each with kitchenette and bathroom; a horse barn, indoor riding arena, shop and machine shed set amongst beautifully manicured lawns and trees. In addition, there is a well-designed and constructed set of shipping corrals and an outdoor roping arena set on a high spot off the entry road. This is convenient for shipping and keeps the cattle operation separated from the owner’s compound.
The owners believe that they own 100% of the mineral rights on the main property. All mineral rights owned by sellers will transfer at closing.
The property taxes are estimated at $7,500 based upon past history.
As mentioned before, the ranch enjoys a large fish pond on the east side of the headquarters compound. In addition, the New Fork River crosses the ranch for approximately one quarter of a mile. Floaters can enjoy the Green and New Fork rivers with put-in and take-out accesses very near the ranch. Antelope, deer and moose all frequent the property and the elk hunting in the area is exceptional. The horse enthusiast can take advantage of the indoor and outdoor roping arenas or ride the 1,000 plus acres of the ranch while taking in the scenic vistas of mountain ranges in nearly every direction. The romance and comradery associated with the Drift and the moving of livestock on the BLM permits and on the main ranch provide many opportunities for horseback riding with a purpose. The winter season brings snow for cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. A day of downhill skiing can be enjoyed at the nearby White Pine ski resort or a little farther afield the Jackson Hole Mountain resort offers some of the most challenging in-bounds and out-of-bounds terrain to be found in the lower forty-eight. Either way, the end of the day offers a warm seat in front of an open fire with friends and family.
More than a century ago ranchers brought their cattle north in search of green grass and larger spaces. The “Green River Drift” was born. It began as an association of cattlemen owning cattle herds that numbered more than 7,000 head. It has even been the subject of a full-length documentary film. The Drift starts in the spring in the high desert to the south near Big Piney and continues 100 miles north into the mountain grass of Union Pass and the upper Green River. The Rendezvous Ranch is a significant member of this association and their cattle graze primarily on federal lands during the summer season and return to the headquarters in the fall for gathering and sorting.
Currently the ranch runs steers which ship in October coinciding with their removal from the Drift. Their BLM permits allow for more than 1,000 head for the spring months. Consequently, they can run up to 200 additional yearlings on the deeded irrigated pastures during the summer and fall and put up around 500 tons of hay - all on the home place - in addition to taking 1,000 yearlings to the USFS permit by way of the Drift.
If one were interested in going to a traditional year-round cow/calf operation, current management of the ranch estimates that the best scenario would be to run 300 mother cows and carry the calves over to spring supplementing the leases with additional yearlings depending on the season. There are over 1,000 acres of adjudicated water rights and the ranch could put up around 900 tons of hay under a year-round operating scenario. Currently the owners irrigate approximately 925 acres and the water comes from a diversion out of the New Fork River. The water rights are managed by the New Fork Irrigation District.
