Lazy Frog Ranch

Lazy Frog Ranch is located southwest of Kaycee, Wyoming, a small community steeped in Western heritage. Accessed via the Barnum Highway (Highway 190) and a well-maintained county road, the ranch offers seclusion without sacrificing year-round accessibility. Its proximity to nearby towns and major airports ensures convenience for both residents and visitors. Buffalo, Wyoming, lies just 58 miles away, while the larger hubs of Casper (80 miles) and Sheridan (94 miles) offer commercial air service and “big town” amenities. 

Lazy Frog Ranch lies in an area of large working ranches, and all its neighboring properties are just that. Nearby attractions include the Bighorn Mountains, Outlaw Canyon, and the Middle Fork of the Powder River—a premier fishing destination. The town of Kaycee provides essential amenities, while Buffalo, Casper, and Sheridan offer expanded services, entertainment, and healthcare.

The area features a high desert climate with mild winters and warm summers. Average annual precipitation averages just over 12 inches. Average snowfall totals 41 inches and is often mitigated by warm chinook winds, making it conducive for winter grazing. Sunny days prevail throughout the year, enhancing outdoor activities and agricultural operations.

Lazy Frog Ranch sits in a region marked by a vibrant history of Native American culture, pioneer settlements, and infamous outlaws. This storied past adds a unique charm and sense of place to the property. Nearby, Kaycee, Wyoming, is a small town with a rich history rooted in the American West. Incorporated in 1906, the town was named after the "KC" brand used by early homesteader John Nolan. The government required the name spelled out, resulting in "Kaycee." The area around Kaycee was significant during the late 19th century, particularly during the Johnson County War of 1892. The nearby Hole-in-the-Wall region served as a hideout for infamous outlaws like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

The main residence is a stunning custom home with 3,341± square feet on the main and second floors and a fully finished 1,715± square-foot basement. It showcases hickory flooring, EuroLine tilt-and-turn windows, and Montana Ghostwood siding. The open floor plan seamlessly connects the gourmet kitchen, dining, and living areas. The home includes two master suites, four additional bedrooms, and multiple bathrooms.

Outdoor features include a three-sided wrap-around porch, multi-level patios, and an outdoor fireplace constructed with Montana Moss Rock. A 20’x40’ in-ground pool, surrounded by privacy fencing, adds to the home's appeal.

The property features a versatile multi-purpose building with a 1,921± square-foot apartment with two bedrooms and one bathroom. The building also houses a two-car garage, a workshop, and a game processing room. It offers four horse stalls equipped with automatic waterers and rubber mat flooring for equestrian needs.

Tucked along the creek and north of the main compound is a newly constructed manager's home. Built in 2021, the house is 1500± square feet, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a lovely, covered porch overlooking Red Fork. The build is an open layout with a high ceiling main room encompassing the kitchen and living room. Currently, a year-round manager occupies the home; however, it would work well for additional guest quarters if there was no need for management housing.  

Recreational amenities include a sporting clay range with six fixed throwers and extensive ATV and hiking trails throughout the property.

Lazy Frog Ranch’s water resources are anchored by the Red Fork of the Powder River, which flows for over three miles through the property. Approximately 120 acres are dedicated to hay production, supported by water rights from the Red Fork via the Comstock Ditch. The ranch holds adjudicated water rights, including Certificate Record 03-446 (Permit 1664.0D) with a flow rate of 0.60 cubic feet per second, established in 1897, and Certificate Record 26-269 (Permit 1346.0E) with a flow rate of 0.44 cubic feet per second, established in 1905.

All mineral rights appurtenant to the property and owned by the current owners will be conveyed to the buyer at closing. The seller does not know what mineral rights might be owned and has not completed a detailed mineral search. 

Based on past years, the annual real estate taxes are estimated at $16,362. 

The ranch has over three miles of Red Fork of Powder River, a mostly privately owned drainage well-known for trout fishing. Brown trout are plentiful primarily on the Lazy Frog Ranch. Somewhat a technical fishery, the creek is lined with tall grass and brush, providing shady pools that the trout love. There are many zigs and zags to the creek on the ranch, providing numerous directional changes and pooling areas that ensure shady spots to hold trout. 

Numerous mountain streams, including the highly regarded Middle Fork of Powder River, are off the ranch and in close proximity. 

The ranch supports a thriving and diverse ecosystem, with mule deer, whitetail deer, pronghorn antelope, and upland game birds, including a thriving chukar population, Hungarian partridge, and pheasants. The area is also well known for elk and some frequent the ranch as they roam the area. The cliffs of the Red Wall host a variety of predatory birds, including numerous hawks and eagles. The varying terrain, from low creek bottom to high rim and brushed terrain, hosts most of the game inhabited in Wyoming. Aside from all the wildlife the ranch offers, the surrounding area is abundant, with public lands for additional exploring.

Lazy Frog Ranch’s primary focus is being a private recreational retreat and family compound. Aside from its extensive living and outdoor amenities, the ranch has a simply managed, working end of things. The ranch is currently being utilized as a seasonal cattle operation. The alluvial creek bottom has 120± acres of irrigated hayfields utilized for hay production and grazing. The remaining rangeland is utilized for livestock grazing and provides home to a host of wildlife. 

Currently, the ranch is leased for grazing by two separate neighboring ranchers. The “south end” pasture is leased to the south neighbor for light intermittent grazing. The remaining ranch is leased to another neighboring rancher just north of Lazy Frog. They utilize the ranch for two months of targeted grazing (mid-December – mid-January) and stock with 200 bred cows for two months and out. They do a great job cleaning up the abundant grass forage in preparation for the coming spring. There is just enough agriculture on the Lazy Frog Ranch to help with expenses and keep the ranch's favorable tax status as Agricultural.