Born and raised on a sizable registered Black Angus ranch, Peter understands all phases of a working ranch. He attended Montana State University, earning a degree in Business Management with minors in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. After college, he grew and sold multiple businesses, ultimately owning and operating a local fly shop and guide service with two partners. That business turned into an international destination fly fishing company known today as Angling Destinations.
With his agricultural background and knowledge of sporting properties, Peter soon found himself helping clients and friends locate and invest in properties throughout the intermountain west.
Peter currently resides in the Sheridan area with his wife Maggie, three boys, two dogs, and a wide variety of reptiles and insects brought daily into the house by his boys.
Click HERE to read a story about Peter and one of many successful buyer and seller transitions.
The Old Elk Ranch is one of the High Plain's homestead cattle ranches from the early 1900s. It comprises 15,102± deeded acres, 1,060± BLM leased acres, and is approximately 15 miles southeast of Laramie —home to the University of Wyoming. The year-round access ranch includes a beautiful western-style main home, guest quarters for up to 24 people, a shooting range, a fishing lodge, a sizeable machine shop with room for large equipment, and two attached apartments. A well-maintained inner road system connects the extensive compound. Two still-water reservoirs and live springs offer a unique and high-quality fishing experience, while the expansive open range offers consistently large herds of elk for world-class hunting. This Northern Rocky Mountain area is a ranching community with unspoiled natural geography, abundant wildlife, and unparalleled recreational opportunities. A combination of this historical, high altitude, cowboy living, along with proximity to big city life in Denver, has made this area a sought-after location for like-minded individuals and families.
Approaching the ranch from the north entrance, visitors pass through a custom security gate, requiring a combination code for access. The property features an elevation of approximately 8,600 feet at its highest points, gradually descending into rolling hills, open pastures, and scattered stands of pine and aspen to the lowest ranch elevations around 7,400 feet. The ranch improvements are strategically positioned in secluded coulees on the eastern end, maximizing privacy while ensuring protection from the elements. The road system throughout the ranch is well-maintained, allowing easy navigation. The landscape transitions from rolling hills and sagebrush to timbered canyons, which serve as prime habitat for elk, deer, and antelope. Freshwater springs contribute to two reservoirs, one spanning nearly 25 surface acres and is well stocked with brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, and tiger trout. A shooting range is positioned to take advantage of the vast rolling terrain, offering long-range rifle, carbine, handgun, and clay shooting courses.
The Old Elk Ranch represents a rare opportunity to acquire a large, contiguous piece of land with diverse attributes. The elk hunting is world-class, with strong local populations, and the property supports outstanding mule deer and antelope hunting as well. The still-water fishing is exceptional, offering highly desirable angling experiences. Improvements are practical yet high-end, strategically placed to maintain the wild integrity of the land. With year-round access and a wide array of outdoor activities, the Old Elk Ranch is a premier recreational property with the potential to generate income that offsets operating expenses. Ranches with still water, livestock water, live water, as well as big and small game recreation, are a very difficult asset to acquire.
The ranch is easily accessible, featuring two primary entrances—one to the north and one to the south. The north entrance, considered the main entry, is just 200 yards from the paved frontage road, which connects directly to Interstate 80. The ranch headquarters is located just 15 minutes from Laramie, providing easy access to the city's amenities. The region boasts exceptional skiing, with premier resorts such as Winter Park, Steamboat, and Terry Peak located within a reasonable distance. Closer slopes, including Snowy Range and Sugarloaf, provide additional winter recreation. Air travel is well accommodated, with commercial and private air service available at Laramie Regional Airport, featuring an 8,502-foot-long and 150-foot-wide runway. The ranch is near some of Wyoming’s best fly-fishing waters, including the North Laramie River, Little Laramie River, and the Laramie River proper.
The Old Elk Ranch offers sweeping, unobstructed views, with Colorado’s highest snowcapped peaks visible in the distance. Neighboring properties consist of similar large ranches, with rolling pastures and evergreen-covered hills dominating the landscape. Just 15 minutes away, Laramie is home to the University of Wyoming, the state’s only four-year university, and boasts a population of approximately 32,000. This vibrant college town sees an influx of nearly 20,000 additional residents during the school year. Laramie is known for its strong agricultural roots, while also offering an impressive variety of dining options, from fine steaks to fresh sushi. Nearby Cheyenne, Wyoming’s capital, is home to over 65,000 residents and provides additional city conveniences.
With elevations ranging from 7,400 to 8,600 feet, the Old Elk Ranch experiences a cooler climate, with a shorter growing season of approximately four months. The area enjoys a prolonged green season, benefiting from later-arriving summers compared to lower-elevation ranches.
The Old Elk Ranch combines the historic XX and AX Ranches, two of the most established properties in Albany County, Wyoming. The XX Ranch was founded in 1882 by William R. Williams, a Welsh immigrant who gained U.S. citizenship and filed for a homestead patent. Williams had supplied timber to the Union Pacific Railroad in 1867 and later became one of the first to introduce Angus cattle to Wyoming. By 1879, he operated a major freighting business and ran 400 head of cattle. After transitioning to full-time ranching in 1888, the property remained in the Williams family for over a century. In the 1930s, Chet Williams, William’s son, enhanced the ranch’s reputation for Black Angus cattle.
Ownership passed through successive generations, including Edith Williams and Forrest Blunk, and later to Mary Alice Williams, the founder’s granddaughter. The Williams family sold the XX Ranch in 1991, ending its run as Wyoming’s oldest ranch held continuously by one family. The neighboring AX Ranch followed a parallel path and was sold along with the XX in 2002 to Peter Hansen, son of former Wyoming Governor Clifford Hansen. In 2017, the AX Ranch—spanning 12,255± acres in the Laramie Mountains—was sold again. Between 2017 and 2022, the current owners acquired both properties and consolidated them into what is now the Old Elk Ranch. Today, the ranch carries forward the legacy of two foundational Wyoming ranches under a new era of private stewardship.
The Old Elk Ranch spans a total of 16,162± acres, with 15,102± deeded acres and 1,060± acres under BLM grazing leases. Approximately 70 percent of the ranch consists of rolling grazing pastures with varied elevation, while 25 percent is timbered terrain providing cover for wildlife and livestock. Less than five percent of the property comprises riparian areas, and roughly 120 acres of sub-irrigated ground support a single cutting of grass hay annually. conveniences.
There are no conservation easements on the property. Some personal property is negotiable through a separate bill of sale.
The ranch’s improvements are thoughtfully designed and meticulously maintained. Located on the eastern end to preserve wildlife habitats, the property includes a large ranch shop, a fisherman’s cabin near the lake, a wood mill, and a quonset shop. The quonset hosts various indoor activities, including a shooting simulator, a large western-style bar and dining area, fully equipped kitchens, an equipment repair room, and walk-in refrigeration and freezer facilities.
Sleeping accommodations include multiple rooms, with capacity for up to 32 guests. The main home is a three-bedroom, four-bathroom custom residence featuring high-end finishes, a patio, and landscaping designed to blend seamlessly into the natural surroundings.
Water resources on the ranch include three solar-powered stock tanks, one windmill-powered tank, and several natural freshwater springs. The springs contribute to a 25± acre reservoir, which provides excellent fishing. The “tail water” of the reservoir is Dale Creek, which has quality small trout species angling; small creeks and a combination of Beavers attributed to the ranch's water enhancements.
All water rights associated with the ranch will be conveyed to the buyer upon closing.
If any mineral rights are owned, they will be conveyed to the buyer at closing.
The annual estimated taxes are approximately $18,195.
Fishing opportunities include multiple water sources, with the standout feature being the 25± surface acre reservoir stocked with brook, rainbow, brown, and tiger trout. The Stillwater fishing experience is exceptional for both fly and traditional anglers.
The ranch is home to an estimated 6,000 elk within its hunting unit, with ample tags available for hunters. Additionally, mule deer, antelope, black bear, mountain lions, and occasional moose roam the property. The ranch harvests over 100 elk annually and multiple other big game species. combination of Beavers attributed to the ranch's water enhancements.
Beyond hunting and fishing, the ranch supports various outdoor activities, including hiking, horseback riding, ATV exploration, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and camping. The property’s proximity to major ski resorts in both Colorado and Wyoming enhances its recreational appeal. combination of Beavers attributed to the ranch's water enhancements.
The ranch primarily operates as a premier big game hunting and recreation property. In addition to world-class hunting, it offers excellent still-water fishing as well small creek fishing in the four miles of Dale Creek flowing through the ranch. Also present are a variety of shooting sports, including long-range rifle shooting up to two miles, sporting clays, and carbine and handgun shooting. While grazing is an excellent use of the grass, the property is currently managed with an emphasis on wildlife conservation.
The professionalism of Peter and Tina distinguished them, and their firm, in the ranch real estate sector.
When I realized that my contract for a land purchase in Sheridan, WY did not afford a long period to closing, I was certain that I would not be able to draw upon debt financing for the purchase. My Hall and Hall broker/advisor, Peter Widener, who guided me through the contract process, encouraged...
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