The Hogan Creek Retreat is conveniently located at the base of the magnificent Beartooth Mountains. Only a 15-minute commute to Red Lodge, a complete year-round alpine resort town. Hogan Creek traverses through the property for nearly three-quarters of a mile. The creek corridor, coupled with approximately 40 acres of hay ground, supports grazing for both livestock and wildlife. A large pond and a smaller pond are situated on the eastern boundary and is home to a plethora of aquatic, bird, and wildlife populations. Two nicely finished 1,920± square foot houses with exceptional views of the Beartooth Mountains anchor the retreat. In addition, there is a 3,450± square foot steel building.
As one enters the property from Highway 78, one will see that the Hogan Creek Retreat consists primarily of verdant, flat rolling hay lands that are punctuated by two separate sets of improvements, and three-quarters of a mile riparian corridor along Hogan Creek. Additional characteristics of the property include a two-and-a-half acre pond and its awe-inspiring views of the Beartooth Front, which rise immediately to the south.
The Hogan Creek Retreat is an opportunity to own a small family compound with production, water resources, two-family homes, and convenient year-round access. The area provides abundant recreation and easy access to Billings, Red Lodge, and several other small Montana communities. This allows one to enjoy Montana culture, world-class outdoor recreation, and an appealing ski resort.
The Hogan Creek Retreat is in the scenic foothill country of the Beartooth Mountains, 12± miles northwest of the famous resort community of Red Lodge. The ranch is accessed via State Highway 78. Red Lodge offers all the full services one may need including grocery stores, fine restaurants, banks, medical facilities, and general service providers. The nearby city of Billings serves as the principal trade center for the area and offers regular commercial air service through United, Delta, Alaska, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Cape Air, and Sun Country Airlines.
With views of the Beartooth Mountains, considered one of Montana’s most scenic areas and among the state’s top destinations for outdoor recreation. Natural resources, including mountain lakes, national forest, rivers, and streams are attractive to people from all over the world. Red Lodge has a cosmopolitan flare intrinsic to destination ski resorts while maintaining a deeply rooted cowboy tradition. Aside from skiing, Red Lodge is the gateway to Yellowstone National Park via the Beartooth Highway, proclaimed by the late Charles Kuralt to be the most beautiful drive in America. This is attributed to this small western town's year-round hustle and bustle.
The property is part of a loosely knit community that consists of older ranch properties, speculative investment, and recreational ownership. The area is regarded as stable and prosperous, with large influxes of tourists and part-time residents during the summer months. The basic lifestyle and natural beauty of the area are the defining features that draw people to this wonderful Montana community.
The average elevation at the ranch is over 5,000 feet above sea level. Winter generally settles in before Christmas where average temperatures range from 10 to 35 degrees with occasional Chinook winds that cause near 50-degree temperatures throughout the region during the winter months. Temperatures in the winter months can also fall well below zero which, when offset by the Chinooks, can create huge temperature fluctuations. On average, 122 inches of snow will fall annually with three to seven inches on average standing on the ground through the winter months.
The shoulder season always provides dramatic weather patterns and springtime is perhaps the most notable. Average temperatures range from 18 to 60 degrees with as much as half of the 21 inches of annual precipitation falling between March and June. Fall tends to be very pleasant in September and October and often through November, but dramatic reminders of winter forthcoming are demonstrated by early mountain snows. Average fall temperatures range from 20 to 66 degrees with a generally predictable “Indian Summer” that occurs in October. Precipitation is drastically decreased during this period and aside from the short prefaces to winter, the fall season is generally a pleasant time of year.
The summer months are very comfortable. Warm but not excessively hot days are highlighted by cool summer nights. Average temperatures range from 43 to 80 degrees. The moisture content in the air is quite low so even in the colder times, most people find the climate here to be very pleasant as compared to many four-season parts of the world.
There are two contemporary homes on the ranch. The first residence as one enters the ranch is a 1,923± square feet, three-bedroom, two-bathroom home built in 2003 with an oversized two-car garage. There is a great room with large windows exposing magnificent views to the west. In addition to the homes, there is an implement shed that has been converted into a multi-use building that is approximately 3,456 square feet. The finished shop is currently being used as a dog training facility. The second residence is 1,920± square feet with three-bedrooms and two-bathrooms built in 2002 with an oversized garage. Both homes have similar floor plans and materials.
The property has both Underwood Creek and Hogan Creek frontage. In addition, there is a pond that has the water right (43D 107105-00) from Hogan Creek. A second water right (43D 10217-00) from Durst Ditch is used for irrigation.
All minerals appurtenant to the ranch and owned by the seller will be transferred to the buyer at closing.
The annual estimated taxes are $5,432.00.
Location, ample water, riparian cover along the creek, and feed create a very desirable habitat for a variety of wildlife. Deer can be found almost anywhere on the ranch, grazing the hay fields, or taking cover along the creek bottom. Moose frequent the ranch as well and can be observed grazing the willows on the creek bottom. Waterfowl, along with a host of non-game species such as raptors, songbirds, and other fur-bearing animals are also present in good numbers.
The Hogan Creek Retreat operates as a small recreational retreat for two individual families. Approximately 30± acres are hay and are farmed by a local farmer. In the past, the pond and finished metal shop have been used as a dog training facility for cattle dogs and retrievers.
