Little Hangmans Ranch

Little Hangmans Ranch is located 10 miles east of Big Timber and is accessed off Interstate 90 by exiting the highway at Greycliff. From there one travels approximately one mile on the Sweet Grass Road, a paved county road that crosses the Yellowstone River. Taking the first right turn just after the bridge, one proceeds on a private gravel road for a quarter of a mile before entering the north end of the ranch. Access to the property is simple and easy. The main home sits closer to the south end of the ranch and the driveway to it and to the ranch manager’s house is a well-maintained gravel ranch road that meanders along the edge of the tree-covered river bottom, where it is common to see both wildlife and waterfowl.  

Big Timber is the county seat for Sweet Grass County and provides most of the services for the area including a paved, lighted jet strip. Daily commercial air service is available in Bozeman and Billings. These two cities offer the most extensive air service in the state. Greycliff is equidistance from Bozeman and Billings with both clocking in at 73 miles.  

One of the most appealing aspects of the location of the ranch is that it is surrounded by a large working cattle ranch that is in strong ownership, providing exceptional privacy for Little Hangmans Ranch. The locale itself is also a very desirable part of Big Sky Country. Big Timber is a unique community situated on the Yellowstone River. Its character has been formed in part by families from the East and the Midwest, who were early guests of dude ranches in the area and then came back to live and ranch here. In more recent years the popularity of fly-fishing and people looking for a place to which to escape or to be near the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has brought a new wave of non-resident landowners who swell the population during the summer and fall months and have certainly contributed in many ways to forming the character of the community. 

Naturally, its early history as a center for cattle and sheep ranching played an important part in its heritage as well. The tradition of ranching and making good use of the land is deeply ingrained even amongst the newcomers. What we have today is, by Montana standards, a relatively sophisticated community that has good schools, a hospital, churches, bars, excellent cafes and restaurants, galleries, specialty shops, banks, lawyers, and everything one would want in a small, comfortable package. Billings, 80 miles to the east of Big Timber and Bozeman, 62 miles to the west, provide a broader range of social, cultural, and service options. 

Big Timber and the Sweet Grass County area enjoy the diversity of each season, with a variety of weather phenomena. The average annual precipitation is approximately 15 inches and comes in any form, from winter snowstorms to spring cloudbursts, and summer and fall rain showers. The April through September precipitation amounts average 10.5 inches and the maximum temperature average is 75.26. The average minimum temperature for April through September is 44.15 degrees. July and August are the warmest months with temperatures reaching into the high 80s and 90s. The yearly average maximum temperature is 60.6 degrees and the average minimum temperature is 33.6. Big Timber boasts 286 days of sunshine each year.

THE OFFERING

The ranch is being offered basically “turnkey”, including equipment and the furnishings in the main house and the studio. The main house and studio apartment in particular are essentially move in ready down to the linens on the beds and a fully equipped kitchen.

The ranch is very tastefully and completely improved with a main house, a caretaker’s house, and a studio/guest house all originally designed by regionally recognized architect Candice Miller and located on the southeasterly end of the property. There is also a barn/shop complex located at the entrance to the property on the northwest end. The main house and the studio/guest house have been extensively renovated and remodeled in the last eight years. The barn/shop area has been updated and the fencing has been replaced or rebuilt to the highest standard. The property shows tremendous pride of ownership in every aspect. The main improvements are described as follows:

Main House: The design and construction of this 5,500 square foot home are both tasteful and appropriate for the site evoking a subtle western flavor. The use of stone and wood throughout creates a rugged warmth that one expects in a western ranch home. The setting is ideal, and the views are spectacular looking out to the Yellowstone River that flows just below the house to the south and the jagged peaks of the Crazy Mountains to the west. The volcanic grey cliffs that are the namesake for the town of Greycliff dominate the view to the east. The house was remodeled to expand the kitchen and to open up the views of the Crazy Mountains from the living room. The floor plan includes a private office and master bedroom on the southwesterly end of the house overlooking the river and four bedrooms each with its own bathroom along a hallway on the northeasterly end. These bedrooms all command Crazy Mountain views to the west. There is also a comfortable sitting room with a fireplace in the guest wing. There is an oversized two-car garage, laundry room, and utility area just off the kitchen. This is an ideal home for entertaining guests and extended family because of the expansive public areas in the kitchen and dining room area, plus the second living room and powder room that easily accommodate guests. At the same time, the guest wing can be shut off and the house becomes comfortable and cozy for a single person or a couple. 

Barn/Studio/Guest House: This unique “Barn” was the subject of an article in Mountain Living Magazine in July of 2019 (view article here). A multipurpose structure it was recently rethought and remodeled by the previous owner to accommodate her photography studio. The studio features big windows installed in two story high “doors” on each end. The balance of the building is dedicated to storage for ranch equipment as well as a complete one-bedroom apartment with a kitchenette.

Caretaker’s Home: There is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom caretaker's home that is both comfortable and efficient. Executed in a similar vernacular to the main house, this attractive home would be well appreciated by most caretakers. 

Shop and Barn: Located near the entrance to the property on the west end, there is a classic horse barn and a shop with a concrete floor. These buildings function as the operating center of the ranch and are well separated from the main building compound. 

Utilities: The buildings are all serviced by wells and septic systems, as well as by electricity and traditional hardline telephones. Triangle Communications has recently installed a fiber optic line into the ranch, which accommodates high-speed internet.

The ranch has good water rights that include a shared early (1881) right to irrigate approximately 55 acres. It also has filed rights for three wells and two dams, plus stock water rights on the waters that flow through the ranch. 

Real estate taxes are estimated at $11,500 per annum based upon previous years. 

Whether it is fishing the pond or the Yellowstone River, any angler will be delighted with the variety of fishing opportunities. The fly-fishing on the Yellowstone River is in a word “excellent”! It is no accident that the Yellowstone is internationally known as one of the finest trout fisheries in the United States. Brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout are all found in abundant numbers and the wide variety of habitat provided offers great dry fly fishing, as well as sub-surface fishing with streamers and nymphs. As a testament to the health of the ecosystem small, medium, large, and enormous fish can all be caught here. The stretch from Big Timber to Billings is known as the quiet section of the Yellowstone, as so many of the guide services focus on the Paradise Valley stretch and the Livingston to Big Timber stretch. Therefore, it is not uncommon to have long periods with almost no boat traffic.  

The property and the region surrounding it are home to the broad diversity of wildlife that Montana is famous for. Whitetail and mule deer, antelope, and many other smaller mammals reside on the ranch. A variety of waterfowl, raptors, cranes, songbirds, and herons also call the ranch home. Hunting, hiking, horseback riding, bird watching, and mountain biking can all be enjoyed on the property. As discussed under General Operation, one can often work with neighbors to exchange services and equipment use for hay and grazing. The deal could ideally include access to more acres for riding and hiking – even hunting in some cases. These deals are often far preferable to sharing public land with unknown members of the public! 

The Little Hangmans Ranch is primarily a private retreat that can generate some income from either grazing or putting up hay. There are approximately 55 acres that are subject to irrigation. Generally, on operations of this size, it is advisable to work with neighbors – often exchanging services. A small ranch cannot always justify owning equipment and livestock. It can however provide grazing and hay production that is useful to a larger ranch that can more easily afford to own the equipment and can benefit from the additional hay and grazing. 

The ranch would also lend itself to a small horse operation and can produce hay and grazing for that purpose. 

Cash at closing. The offering price includes all furnishings and equipment, except for a few personal items belonging to the owner.