Executive Summary
The Horse Prairie Ranch is the epitome of the West, the classic Montana Ranch — expansive, private, mountainous, and full of horses, cattle, wildlife and cowboy and Native American history. This is one of Montana’s historic reputation ranches, acclaimed by USA Today as one of the “10 Best Places to Be a Cowboy.” Its over 30,000 acres of combined deeded and leased lands lie in one private block in a mountain valley surrounded by other large cattle ranches, forested mountains and thousands and thousands of acres of federal lands. Aspen-lined streams course through the ranch for miles, from the adjoining evergreen forest through the ranch’s grass, sage and irrigated haylands. Horses, cattle, elk, deer and antelope dot the ranch. The panorama from almost anywhere on the ranch stretches for 30 miles to the tops of surrounding mountain ranges and night reveals only a handful of neighboring lights under a canopy of brilliant stars. Privacy is assured, yet Dillon, the cow-town center of southwest Montana, is within 45 minutes. Its improvements are extensive and include both top-quality operational buildings and a separate owner’s compound that are all in first-class condition. To view additional photos and other descriptions of the ranch (see left-hand menu for Photo Album), click here. Location
The Horse Prairie Ranch is located in southwestern Montana in the Horse Prairie Valley 35 miles (40 minutes) southwest of Dillon. The Butte and Idaho Falls commercial airports are each approximately one hour and forty-five minutes from the ranch.
Dillon offers a complete range of services, including a hospital, numerous banks, grocers, restaurants, legal services, and even a Patagonia outlet store. Dillon is also a college town, with a jet capable airport, and several good “watering holes,” as well as equipment dealers and fly-fishing stores. Locale
Southwestern Montana is a land of broad river valleys separated by islands of forested mountain ranges. There is documented evidence that its natural abundance has supported native peoples for 12,000 years. The landscape has changed little over the years. Horse Prairie Valley is a large undeveloped mountain valley with tremendous privacy and a feeling of expansiveness. There are only a handful of ranch owners in the entire valley, each owning thousands of acres. Lewis & Clark’s expedition west gave this valley its name as this is where Sacagawea obtained horses from her tribe to ascend the Great Divide. The expedition opened this area for western civilization. In the early 1800s, trappers found fortune in its animal riches. During the 1860s, prospectors discovered its wealth in gold. Pioneer settlers quickly discovered its capacity to raise livestock to feed miners and subsequent settlers.
Ranching dominates the economy in this region, as it has for generations. Beaverhead County is home to more cattle than any other county in the state. However, outdoor recreational activity has become another important economic industry. The trout streams in the region are legendary: Beaverhead, Madison, Ruby, Big Hole and Jefferson. These have long been destinations for a few dedicated anglers. However the explosion of interest in fly-fishing in the past decade has brought a surge of activity and many new businesses to the area.
Big-game hunting is another important focus. Some of the premier hunting in Montana is available on the Horse Prairie Ranch. Elk, moose, mule deer, whitetail deer, antelope and mountain lion are all found on the ranch.
Dillon is the largest city in the region with a population of 4,000 people. It is a classic cowboy town and the hub of this corner of Montana. It serves as an agricultural and educational center for a trade area spanning more than 15,000 square miles. It is home to the Western Montana College campus of the University of Montana, three full-service fly-fishing stores and a Patagonia Outlet — not to mention a full complement of banks, stores, restaurants, equipment dealers. Climate
The climate is considered relatively mild for Montana, with an average precipitation in the valley of 12”-14.” This is not heavy snow country, which is probably why the Shoshone, Bannock and Flathead tribes all used the region before the arrival of Europeans. Average high temperatures reach 80 degrees in the summer and 28 degrees during the winter months. The elevation of the ranch ranges from a base elevation of 6,256 ft. to 8,263 ft. in the upper reaches. Typical of Montana, daily temperatures can have a huge fluctuation and although the winter snow can build substantially at times in the higher elevations, it tends to readily dissipate through all of the winter months. The humidity levels are always low providing a comfortable, dry, semi-arid environment. General Description
The Horse Prairie Ranch is huge, private, scenic and productive. It operates on 30,000 acres spanning 36 square miles — nine miles long and four miles wide. It comprises its own visually private valley that is at the head of two streams and the end of the road. It is almost entirely surrounded by public lands. The Horse Prairie Ranch is unique in its setting with the headquarters located in the valley, in the center of the ranch, and the private owner and guest cabins located at the upper end of the ranch next to the Beaverhead National Forest, which is the location of the ranch’s Forest Service Permit.
Improvements
The Horse Prairie Ranch has an ideal combination of working ranch and recreational improvements. These are located in three areas of the ranch based on the function they perform and are two to two and one-half miles from each other. The lower set of improvements functions as the livestock headquarters which is situated near the working corrals. It is known as Ranch HQ. A central set of improvements is clustered around a lake and aspen grove and is known as Lakeside. The buildings on the upper end of the ranch are at the edge of the national forest and are know as the Forest Lodge.
Ranch Headquarters:
A complex of livestock working facilities and classic horse barn:
Manager’s log home and wood framed hired-man’s home.
Historic horse barn
Two shops, three equipment storage sheds, two calving barns, cattle scale, lodge pole pine rail working corrals, gates, pens and miles of jack-leg fences.
Lakeside:
A fully landscaped complex of cabins and barn located along Painter Creek and the fishing lake consisting of:
Creekside Lodge - log gathering place with guest loft and commercial kitchen.
Lakeview, Aspenview, Elkview, and Lewis and Clark log cabins, each accommodating up to eight guests in one to four bedrooms. Two are small and three are larger with kitchens.
Horse barn, riding arena and three-car garage.
2˝-acre lake and spawning creek stocked with westslope cutthroat trout, an Indian camp, office, riding arena, and bunk house for staff.
Forest Lodge:
A secluded get-a-way home set along Browns Creek at the edge of the aspen and fir forests:
Five bedroom, two-bath, two-story log lodge
Storage shed and two historic homestead cabins (currently unusable)
Gravel airplane landing strip General Operations
The Horse Prairie Ranch is an award-winning year-round cow/calf operation selling natural beef. The ranch has a 750 animal-unit carrying capacity on an average year. Currently there are 650 cows, 65 heifers, 34 bulls and 15 horses. The operation is self contained with all livestock being raised and fed on the ranch until they go across the ranch scales to be sold. The grazing is divided into 50 well-watered pastures. Hay is raised and harvested on around 600 flood and sub-irrigated acres. Another 600 or so flood and sub-irrigated acres is pastured. The majority of the herd spends the summer on the adjoining leased BLM lands, the balance of the herd on the adjoining leased National Forest lands.
The ranch has until recently (and could easily again) operated a commercial guest business. The Lakeside housing is ideal for it, complete with lodge, barn and five guest cabins. The unique real working ranch experience is appreciated by family and guests. Gentle rolling lands make horse riding for sight seeing or gathering cattle perfectly rider friendly. Overnight camping permits on the adjoining national forest and BLM lands allow for summer and fall pack trips. Elk hunting is integrated into the ranch and can also be done on adjoining public lands. The Horse Prairie Ranch has the only USFS overnight outfitting (e.g. elk hunting) permit on the Horse Prairie Valley side of the Beaverhead National Forest. The outfitting permit and business are available for purchase by the buyer of the Horse Prairie Ranch. Water Resources
The ranch is very well watered for wildlife, cattle and fish. Painter and Browns Creeks each run through the ranch for four miles. There are developed springs and 15 wells. The irrigation water rights are among the oldest in Montana, dating back to 1865, and are at the head of the creeks, thereby being first in line. There are 68 water rights. Wildlife Resources
The Horse Prairie Ranch is the winter home of 200-300 elk. On a year-round basis the ranch is home to 100+ antelope, mule and white tail deer as well as numerous moose. Sage grouse populations are up significantly. Brown’s and Painter Creeks each course through the ranch for four miles. These contain Montana’s purest strain of Westslope Cutthroat Trout, as does the two and one-half acre lake and spawning stream. Acreage
8,281+/- Deeded Acreage Breakdown
The Horse Prairie Ranch is comprised of a combination of deeded, State, National Forest and BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Lands.
Deeded Lands: 600± acres flood and sub-irrigated hay ground
200± acres flood irrigated pasture
400± acres sub irrigated pasture
7,081± acres range
Total Deeded Land: 8,281± acres
Leased Lands: 9,497± acres (estimated) BLM
11,981± acres (estimated) USFS
1,240± acres State
Total Leased Land: 22,719± acres
Total Ranch Lands (deeded and leased): 31,000± acres
Grazing Allotments:
BLM: Five private allotments adjoin the ranch offering 1,207 AUM’s of grazing.
Forest Service: One adjoining private allotment for 437 AUM’s of grazing. State of Montana: Three leases rated at 305 AUM’s of grazing. Broker Comments
The Horse Prairie Ranch is a classic operating mountain ranch with major recreational amenities, dramatic big sky views, and a thoughtfully designed and immaculate set of operating buildings complemented by extensive and attractive improvements designed for an owner and his or her guests.
Recreational Considerations
Horse pastures, paddocks, stalls and barns provide an ideal base to explore on horseback this ranch, which spans nine miles in length and four miles in width. Cross-country skiing, hiking and biking complete the palate of quieter pursuits. Snowmobiles, ATVs and motorcycles are also ready ways to enjoy the ranch. Taxes
The 2008 property taxes were $21,281. Additional Services
MANAGEMENT SERVICES – Hall and Hall’s Management Division has a very clear mission – To represent the owner and to ensure that his or her experience is a positive one. Services are customized to suit the owner’s needs. They often begin with the recruiting and hiring of a suitable ranch manager or caretaker and are followed by the development of a management or operating plan along with appropriate budgets. Ongoing services include bill paying, ranch oversight, and consulting services as needed. Even the most sophisticated and experienced ranch owners appreciate the value of a management firm representing them and providing advice on local area practices and costs. Wes Oja and Jerome Chvilicek at (406) 656-7500 or Randy Clavel at (303) 861-8282 are available to describe and discuss these services in detail and welcome your call.
RESOURCE ENHANCEMENT SERVICES – Increasingly the value of a ranch is measured by the quality of each and every one of its resources. Coincidentally the enhancement of a ranch’s resources also increases the pleasure that one derives from the ownership of a ranch. Our management services have included the assessment of everything from wildlife habitat to bird habitat to water resources and fisheries and the subsequent oversight of the process involved with the enhancement of these resources. Wes Oja or Jerome Chvilicek at (406) 656-7500 are available to describe and discuss these services in detail and welcome your call.
SPECIALIZED LENDING - Over the past 59 years Hall and Hall has created a legacy by efficiently providing capital to the intermountain west. In addition to traditional farm and ranch loans, we specialize in understanding the unique aspects of placing loans on ranches where value may be influenced by recreational features, location and improvements and repayment may come from outside sources. Our extensive experience and strong relationships with our lenders allows us to quickly tell you whether we can provide the required financing.
Competitive Pricing ● Flexible Terms ● Efficient Processing
In-House Appraisals ● Common Sense Underwriting
Dave Roddy ● (406) 656-7500
Mike Hall, Judy Chirila, or Randy Clavel ● (303) 861-8282
Monte Lyons ● (806) 698-6882 Email Broker - Dave Johnson Return to Top | Return to List
NOTICE: Offering is subject to errors, omissions, prior sale, change or withdrawal without notice, and approval of purchase by owner. Information regarding land classifications, acreages, carrying capacities, potential profits, etc., are intended only as general guidelines and have been provided by sources deemed reliable, but whose accuracy we cannot guarantee. Prospective buyers should verify all information to their satisfaction. Prospective buyers should also be aware that the photographs in this brochure may have been digitally enhanced.
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