Executive Summary
The 2,440± acre Greyson Creek Ranch will be auctioned on July 28th, 2011 in 4 tracts varying in size from 520± to 720± acres or as a whole. Easily accessed 15 miles from Townsend, it offers 1.5 miles of trout stream, 4 natural spring fed ponds, 3.5 miles of common boundary with USFS and terrific wildlife.
Just the Facts
3 ½ miles boundary with Helena National Forest and 1 mile State Land section.
1 ½ miles trout stream on Greyson Creek.
Four natural mountain spring-fed ponds in addition to beaver ponds.
2,000 ± acres in timber & regrowth forest as well as sprawling Apsen groves.
Views of multiple mountain ranges including the Big Mountain Belt Range.
Large elk, deer, bear, moose and blue grouse thrive on the property.
A lease for grazing and hunting is available. Contact Hall and Hall for details.
15 miles from Townsend, MT and 50 miles from Helena, MT.
Broker's Comments
Brokers Comment: An outstanding mountain ranch just over an hour’s drive from either Bozeman or Helena. The Greyson Creek Ranch provides every Montana mountain experience one could desire.
Learn about the locale
Location
The Greyson Creek Ranch is located 16 miles northwest of Townsend on the west slope of the Big Belt Mountains, south of Highway 12. Drive 11 miles east of town on Highway 12. Then travel three miles south on the Ross Gulch graveled county road. Turn east on Upper Greyson Creek Road for two miles to the end of the public road and the entrance to the ranch. Helena is about an hour’s drive away. Bozeman and its commercial airport are about an hour and one-half. Extensive private and commercial air service is available in both Bozeman and Helena.
Locale
The west slope of the Big Belt Mountains is a very private area little known outside of the local community. It consists of a series of mountain ranches that offer back-door access to and views of one of Montana’s more intimate mountain ranges and front door views across the Canyon Ferry Reservoir to the Elkhorn Mountains. The area was made famous in the 1860’s and 1870’s for the gold placer diggings. Currently the area is better known for trophy elk and top quality mule deer hunting in the Big Belts.
We consider one of the great benefits of this area is that it is not on the main road yet it is easily accessible from both Helena and Bozeman. Townsend is a very attractive small town which provides most basic services and is only 16 miles away.
Climate
The entrance to the ranch sits at an elevation of just over 5,500 feet above sea level. The ridges of this mountain ranch rise to nearly 6,500 feet. This is an alpine ranch which has heavy snow cover in the winter, and good high-mountain grazing in the summer. The ranch lies in an area that is estimated to receive around 13 - 16 inches of annual precipitation.
Learn more about the property
Acreage (Deeded & Leased)
Deeded Acres: 2,440±
State Leased Acres: 0±
Private Leased Acres: 0±
BLM Leased Acres: 0±
Indian Leased Acres: 0±
Other Leased Acres: 0±
Total Leased Acres: 0±
Total Acres: 2,440±
Additional Information
Both the owners of the 240 acres under conservation easement and adjoining the ranch to its east, as well as the 40 acre inholding and labeled “out” on the accompanying maps, have restricted vehicular access on the private internal road along Greyson Creek.
Improvements
Perimeter fencing and numerous roads.
Mineral Rights
The sale of the property shall include any mineral rights owned by the seller.
Learn about the recreational amenities
Fishery Resources
Trout fishing in Greyson Creek and its beaver ponds is excellent for small fish in big numbers. Natural ponds are numerous and the surface water and terrain look ideal for enhancing the fishing potential with deeper, over-wintering ponds.
Wildlife Resources
This is where the Greyson Creek Ranch shines. One is virtually constantly surrounded with some form of wildlife, whether it is elk, deer, black bear, blue grouse, raptors, or the numerous non-game species. At any time one finds oneself on the lookout for wildlife sightings. Elk calve in the spring on the ranch. They rut there in the fall too. It’s the perfect habitat – north sloping timber, grassy parks, spring seeps in dense lodge pole. A 373 inch bull elk was harvested by a bow hunting ranch guest last year at one of many wallows. There are fifteen creek/spring drainages, each with timber, grass and water. The surrounding national forest is hunted but vehicular access is very limited during the rifle season. Forest roads are locked and there are many miles beyond the gates a hunter would have to travel to get near the ranch. Subject to weather related fluctuations in numbers the blue grouse population is outstanding.
Recreational Considerations
Summer opportunities for four wheeling, mountain biking, hiking and horse-back riding are all over this ranch. Past logging activities – mostly selective and leaving habitat more open for grasses -- have left the ranch wonderfully accessible. This does not even include the adjoining tens of thousands of acres and its thousands of miles of National Forest roads. Winter snowmobiling, cross country skiing and snowshoeing is available on the same terrain.Nearby recreational opportunities are many and of good quality. The 26 mile long Canyon Ferry Lake starts 18 miles from the ranch. Walleye and Rainbow trout are the main species to be found there. Water fowling is popular both on the lake and the Missouri River which feeds it. The lake is warm in the summer and popular for water sports such as skiing, tubing, wake-boarding, and jet-skiing. Numerous marinas offer boat storage and restaurants. Ice fishing is popular and some even ice sail and kite skate it. Within an hour, the tailwater section of the Missouri offers some of the finest dry fly-fishing in the state. It is only 45 miles to the headwaters of the Missouri where three of Montana’s renowned trout rivers combine. As mentioned earlier, this ranch could not be better located both in terms of access to attractive towns such as Bozeman and Helena and in terms of access to Montana’s finest streams and mountain ranges. Also, the property is within a short distance to many Ski areas.
Learn about the general operations
General Operations
The current owners graze 400 cow/calf pairs for six weeks, starting mid-August. They would relish the opportunity to lease this same right to graze the ranch in the future. They will pay a cash lease. However, their headquarters is not far and they have experience and equipment to barter for such useful services as road improvement and maintenance – winter and summer.
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Terms
PROCEDURE: The property will be offered in 4 individual tracts, any combination of tracts, or as a whole property. The property will be sold in the manner resulting in the highest total sale price. DOWN PAYMENT: A 10% down payment of the total contract purchase price will be due immediately after being declared the buyer.
ACCEPTANCE OF BID PRICES: All successful bidders will sign a Sale Contract at the auction site immediately following the close of bidding. All final bid prices are subject to the seller’s acceptance or rejection. There will be no financing contingencies.
CLOSING: Anticipated closing date is on or before August 30, 2011.
TITLE: Seller shall furnish the buyer(s) at Seller’s expense title insurance for the property and agrees to provide and execute a warranty deed conveying merchantable title.
REAL ESTATE TAXES: The 2011 calendar year taxes shall be prorated at closing based on the most recent ascertainable tax figures. Buyer will be responsible for all subsequent taxes.
MINERAL RIGHTS: The sale of the property shall include any mineral rights owned by the seller.
AGENCY: Hall and Hall Partners, LLP and its representatives are Exclusive Agents of the Seller.
