The 2,965± acre King Mountain Ranch and Retreat, located 45 minutes east of Missoula, is a diverse mountain holding offering a variety of options for the rancher or sporting set. Divided into five blocks, the ranch provides room to explore both the deeded acreage and thousands of acres of adjacent public land. Elk, bear, mule deer, mountain lion, and a variety of other game and non-game species are known to frequent the property. With additional improvements in fencing and water, the ranch would be ideal for a summer grazing operation. At an elevation of 5,500± feet overlooking Rattler Gulch and the Clark Fork River Valley is a state-of-the-art off-grid owner's compound complete with a historic hewn log cabin, lodge, and equipment shop. Powered by solar and two propane backup generators, the ranch headquarters is truly a self-sufficient, four-season retreat.
King Mountain Ranch and Retreat rises from the Clark Fork River Valley at 4,200 feet to well over 6,200 feet at its highest point. The terrain is generally mountainous, but ranges from open meadows below to park-like Ponderosa Pine Savannah up top. The topography is punctuated with massive rock outcroppings mid-mountain that add to the incredible visual diversity. The residential and operational improvements are perched at 5,500 feet overlooking the surrounding peaks and river valleys below. All blocks are accessible by a quality road system that traverses the entirety of the ranch.
King Mountain Ranch and Retreat is the perfect getaway offering extreme privacy, nearly unlimited recreational opportunities, and comfortable accommodations in an extraordinary alpine setting.
King Mountain Ranch and Retreat sits above the Clark Fork River Valley, minutes from Drummond, a ranching town of about 300. For amenities associated with a larger community, Missoula and its international airport and full suite of services is under an hour to the west via Interstate 90. The ranch is well positioned to access some of the best recreational opportunities Montana has to offer. The historic town of Philipsburg, Georgetown Lake, and Discovery Ski Area are less than one hour to the south. For adventures further afield, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks are each under four hours away. For anglers, the Clark Fork River, Flint Creek, and Rock Creek, all exceptional trout fisheries, are mere minutes from the ranch. The immediate area is surrounded by vast swaths of accessible public land further, cementing the top tier recreational opportunities both on and off the property.
King Mountain Ranch sits near the easternmost end of a narrow stretch of the Clark Fork River Valley. Beyond the ranch to the east, the topography opens up revealing the picturesque Flint Creek Valley with the Flint Creek Range further east. To the south are the Sapphire Mountains, which form the eastern boundary of the renowned Bitterroot Valley. The ranch itself is situated in the foothills of the Garnet Range, surrounded on three sides by public ground. The surrounding privately held land is a combination of small homesteads, working cattle ranches, and irrigated hay operations taking advantage of the fertile river valley soils and abundant water. The locale is heavily dependent on agriculture and tourism related to outdoors including winter sports, angling ,and hunting. Cattle ranching is the primary economic driver, with large ranches spanning east along the I-90 corridor and south past the town of Philipsburg. Many of the local ranchers take advantage of coveted public land leases in the foothills of the surrounding mountains to graze their herds in the summer and fall.
By Montana standards, the climate in Drummond is fairly mild. Located west of the Continental Divide, the weather is influenced more by the Pacific Ocean than the plains further east. The Koppen classifies the region as a Warm Continental Summer Climate with average lows in January of 11°F and the average high in July of 82°F. Drummond is semi-arid with only 14 inches of rainfall and 49 inches of snow on average annually. In a normal year, Drummond gets 162 sunny days.
2,965± acres in ten legal parcels.
King Mountain Ranch is lightly improved with an off-grid owner’s compound consisting of a shop with lodge and hewn cabin. The improvement cluster is serviced by a septic system, domestic well, and 2,000 gallons of propane for domestic use.
Cabin
Adjacent to the shop/lodge complex is a 650± square foot hewn log cabin which was deconstructed in West Virginia and moved to its current location and finished in 2018. The main level offers a sitting room with fireplace, half bath, and sleeping room. Above the main level is a small loft, large enough for a small sleeping space. Below grade is a walkout basement with full bathroom, kitchen, and mechanical amenities.
Shop/Lodge
Constructed in 2018, this 3,790± square foot multipurpose metal structure was designed to offer a variety of uses. The heated, two-bay shop is large enough for tool storage and equipment repair with additional storage in an open loft area and contains its own bathroom. Adjacent to the shop but within the same structure is an 1,895± square foot lodge with full kitchen, bar, master suite, bunk room, and gym. The gym could easily be converted to additional living space or add a third bay to the shop.
Off-Grid Amenities
The owner’s compound is serviced by two Caterpillar generators with 4,000 gallons of on-site dedicated propane storage which charges a battery bank. Added in 2021, a 10.4KW solar array supplements power to batteries, significantly reducing the fuel use. There is traditional satellite internet and a Starlink terminal installed.
The ranch lacks significant surface water, but there are a variety of undeveloped springs for which there are stock water rights. The residential and operational compound is serviced by an 11 gallon-per-minute well.
Sellers will convey all the mineral rights they own.
Taxes are estimated at $5,144 based upon past years.
Fishing
The ranch sits squarely in the middle of some of Western Montana’s best trout fishing water.
Rock Creek - Rock Creek is another well-known tributary to the Clark Fork and one of the best fisheries in Western Montana. While floatable early in the season, Rock Creek is primarily a wading stream and a favorite among locals.
Clark Fork of the Columbia River - The Clark Fork River runs through the valley below and is easily accessed just ten minutes from the ranch. This is a moderate-sized tributary of the Columbia River with headwaters due east. After removal of the Milltown Dam near Missoula, the quality of the fishery has improved dramatically.
Blackfoot River - Made famous by Norman Maclean’s A River Runs Through It, the Blackfoot River is another local favorite for floating. Easily accessed from Highway 200, this tributary of the Clark Fork is both scenic and productive.
Other local fisheries include the lesser known Flint Creek, Georgetown Lake, and Big Hole River, to name a few.
Hunting
Nestled in the West Garnet Range Hunting District 292, King Mountain Ranch and Retreat offers significant hunting opportunities. Elk, mule deer, mountain lion, and black bear are abundant on the deeded acreage and on the thousands of acres of adjacent public land. Additional hunting opportunities are available in the nearby national forest units, including Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, the largest unit in the State of Montana spanning 3.36 million acres.
King Mountain Ranch and Retreat is primarily a recreation-centric, alpine holding. However, with additional investment in fencing and developing the existing water resources, certain blocks would be ideal for a summer rotational grazing operation. Buyers and their agents are encouraged to explore the possibility of accessing the adjacent Bureau of Land Management ground for additional grazing opportunities.
