SOLD: Big Hole River Retreat | Fay Ranches

BIG HOLE RIVER RETREAT

Melrose, Montana

$2,675,000 | 20± Acres

Big Hole River Retreat | Melrose, Montana

INTRODUCTION

This is the river property you have been waiting for! About .2 miles of the famed Big Hole River makes up the west boundary of this 20± acre end of the road property for blue-ribbon trout fishing. Most of the acreage is irrigated, with a pond in the center. Big Hole River Retreat features a custom stone and wood 2,400+ square foot, two bed, two bath main home. The home is grand, with vaulted ceilings and an open floor plan, yet perfectly sized. Large windows open to breathtaking views of the river and mountains. Guests can relax in the historic hand-hewn guest cabin or additional guest quarters adjacent to the detached garage. A spacious heated shop holds extra gear and toys for recreating in this coveted part of Montana. Enjoy views of the Pioneer and Highland Mountains while casting to fish or relaxing in the sunroom. Accessible year-round, Big Hole River Retreat is a few minutes north of Melrose, Montana, 30± minutes to the fly fishing town of Dillon, Montana and its airstrip for private air travel, and the same distance to the larger city of Butte and its commercial airport. This valley is surrounded by public land, including Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Montana’s largest National Forest. The property and these endless acres of public land are home to white-tailed deer, elk, bear, duck, geese, and other wildlife. Blue-ribbon trout fly fishing, irrigated land, tasteful improvements, and proximity to public land make this the perfect legacy property.

QUICK FACTS

• 20+ deeded acres of mostly irrigated land

• About .2 miles of Big Hole River frontage for blue-ribbon trout fishing

• Pond

• 2,400+ SF, two bed, two bath handcrafted post and beam main home

• Two-car detached garage with an adjacent guest suite

• Renovated hand-hewn cabin for guests

• 48’ x 60’ foam insulated shop with lean-to and heated space

• Views of the Pioneer and Highland Mountains

• Endless recreational opportunities on the property and the thousands of acres of nearby public land

• A few minutes north of the small fishing town of Melrose, MT (Sunrise Fly Shop/Lodging, post office, gas station, restaurant)

• 30+ minutes to Dillon, MT for private air travel or Butte, MT for commercial air travel

• A little over an hour to Discovery Ski Area, Maverick Mountain Ski Area, and Lost Trail Ski Area

ACREAGE | AGRICULTURE

Big Hole River Retreat encompasses 20± deeded acres that are mostly irrigated. About .2 miles of the Big Hole River make up the property’s western boundary, while a pond sits in the center of the acreage. The property sits at almost 5,200’ elevation. Once you enter the gated road, the property gate is just ahead. Follow the 900± foot private driveway to reach a circular drive in front of the home and outbuildings. The property also boasts excellent water rights for flood irrigation on 5-10 acres.

www.fayranches.com | (800) 238.8616 | info@fayranches.com

RECREATION

F ishing

About .2 miles of Big Hole River frontage borders the property. A must for any angler, the Big Hole River is one of the most sought-after fishing destinations in the country. The Montana Angling Guide describes the Big Hole River as having “optimum water variety, challenge, plenty of nice fish and the insect life to support it.” This classic riffle, run, pool water is wonderful to float in June during high water. Early summer is when the famous salmon fly hatch occurs. The adult salmon fly is two to three inches long and can drive the largest trout in the river to feed. The river is easily waded during the lower-water months of July through October, when caddis, hoppers, tricos, and many other mayflies dominate. Streamer fishing can be fantastic throughout the year but is particularly enjoyable in the weeks leading up to the salmon fly hatch and again in the fall. There are very large fish in this section of the river, where it is possible to land browns up to 20-24 inches long. The upper Big Hole River is home to one of the few populations of fluvial Arctic Grayling in the U.S. Ranging in size from six to ten inches, Grayling are not large but are beautiful. Silver and blue, the Grayling is recognized by its large dorsal fin. Grayling will rise to most dry flies but will take nymphs as well. The Big Hole River’s catch and release regulations protect the Arctic Grayling. In addition to your frontage on the Big Hole River, the Beaverhead, Ruby, Jefferson, and Madison Rivers are close enough to go fishing for the day. There are also a variety of smaller fisheries in the area.

Big Hole River Retreat is in hunt district 331. This area is very well known for its big game hunting, including elk, deer, bears, and, in some cases, antelope. The seemingly endless acres of nearby public land yield outstanding big game hunting for deer, elk, antelope, and moose. As a result of so much open ground, the hunting in this area is world-class for both numbers and trophy quality of big game animals. Big Hole River Retreat is home to large populations of white-tailed deer in the lush and healthy riparian area along the river. Elk are frequent visitors, as well as upland birds and waterfowl. Duck hunting and bird watching are popular activities. This property lies within the Pacific Flyway for Migratory birds. This flyway extends from Alaska to Patagonia. Migratory birds follow this route yearly, searching for food sources and breeding grounds.

O ther r ecreati O n

The vast mountain ranges, beautiful meadows and streams, and lush valleys offer a multitude of recreational pursuits, including horseback riding, hiking, backpacking, bird watching, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, four-wheeling, and just relaxing and enjoying the scenery.

M ap OF n earby p ublic l and

LOCATION

Accessible year-round, Big Hole River Retreat is nestled along the Big Hole River near the BeaverheadDeerlodge National Forest, the largest National Forest in Montana. A few minutes to the south, Melrose, Montana, is a small fishing town with a post office, restaurant, gas station, and fly shop halfway between Dillon and Butte, Montana. The town is known among anglers as a put-in and take-out. This area is famous for trout fishing, but there are many ghost towns and historical sites to explore if fishing is not your passion.

Wise River, Montana, is less than 30 minutes northwest and is where the Wise River flows into the Big Hole River. The Pioneer Mountain Scenic Byway starts in Wise River and runs south for 49± miles towards Polaris, Montana.

Butte, about 30 minutes from the property, is a larger Montana city offering commercial air service.

Dillon is about 30 minutes south and boasts a historic downtown and blue-ribbon fly fishing on the Beaverhead River.

Bozeman, home to Montana State University, is an hour and 40± minutes east of the property and is surrounded by outdoor recreation opportunities. Dive into Bozeman’s thriving arts and culture communities, from festivals, farmer’s markets, and museums to symphonies, theaters, and art galleries.

Two hours to the northwest, Missoula is a city where solitude, wilderness, and adventure are only minutes from gourmet restaurants, funky local shops, and a fantastic music scene. Missoula is home to the University of Montana.

GETTING THERE

Big Hole River Retreat is a little over 30 minutes from Wise River Airport for private air travel. Wise River Airport offers a 4,050’ runway and a 1,234’ runway. Bert Mooney Airport is also a little over 30 minutes away in Butte, Montana, and is serviced by Delta for commercial air travel. BozemanYellowstone International Airport, Montana’s biggest airport with direct flights to 23 cities, is a little over an hour and a half to the east. With direct flights to 14 cities, Missoula Montana Airport is a little over two hours northwest.

6 Big Hole River Retreat | Melrose, Montana

IMPROVEMENTS

M ain h OM e

The 2,400± square foot custom main home, built with stone and wood beams, includes two bedrooms and two bathrooms. When entering the home, you are immediately greeted by large windows facing the river. The living area is straight ahead and features a floor-to-ceiling fireplace, vaulted ceilings, and a chandelier that serves as the centerpiece. Adjacent to the entryway is the kitchen, with a countertop sitting area, red accents, a double bowl farmhouse sink, and black appliances.

Main Home and Guest Cabin

The primary suite and sunroom are on one side of the main living area. The primary suite boasts a fireplace and a large bathroom featuring double sinks, a walk-in shower, and a beautiful tub. The sunroom is accessed off the primary suite or living area and includes a sitting/dining area surrounded by large windows looking out at the river.

Sunroom

Primary Bathroom

Primary Bedroom

Sunroom

On the other side of the home, you will find a guest bedroom and second bathroom, a pantry, and a large mud/laundry room with a sink.

g uest c abin

The renovated hand-hewn guest cabin sits about 90 feet from the main house and features a covered porch facing the river, perfect for morning cups of coffee. The one-room cabin makes you feel like you’re stepping back in time, yet boasts track lighting and mountain views, with a firepit out front.

Guest Cabin

Guest Cabin

g uest s uite / d etached g arage

A two-car detached garage provides plenty of storage. Adjoining the garage is an additional guest suite with a bedroom, bathroom, fireplace, sink/coffee bar, and a fly fishing room.

O utbuildings

A recently built 48’ x 60’ foam insulated shop also includes a 12’ lean-to. A dividing wall splits the shop into two large areas, including a storage room with electric heat and one enclosed stall that could be used for additional storage. The shop includes four overhead doors, four service doors, concrete floors, and Corten siding.

12 Big Hole River Retreat | Melrose, Montana

Guest Suite

Guest Suite

Guest Suite and Two-Car Detached Garage

WATER RIGHTS

Montana waters, in all their varied forms and locations, belong to the State for the benefit of its people. A water right is the right to use the water within state-established guidelines, and not any ownership of the water itself. Since water rights in Montana are guided by the prior appropriation doctrine, a person’s right to use a specific quantity of water depends on when the use of water began, establishing the relative priority date of use on the water source. The first person to use water from a source established the first right, the second person could establish a right to the water that was left, and so on. Additionally, water users are limited to the amount of water that can be beneficially used. Beneficial use includes, but is not limited to, agricultural, recreational, fish, wildlife and domestic purposes.

Montana is currently conducting a statewide adjudication of all water rights with priority dates prior to July 1, 1973. The statewide adjudication is a court process that prioritizes and quantifies all existing water rights in each Montana drainage basin. With 85 basins in Montana, and over 219,000 water right claims, the statewide adjudication is a massive undertaking that is expected to stretch well into the future. Until the adjudication process is complete, the status of any particular water right claim cannot be guaranteed. Fay Ranches, Inc., its brokers and salespersons do not warrant or make any representation concerning the quantity or quality of any water rights, nor any legal entitlement to use of water rights, permits to appropriate water, exempt existing rights, determination of existing water rights, nor any ditches, ditch rights, or ditch easements appurtenant to or constituting a burden on the property. Water rights claims appurtenant to the property may or may not have been fully or finally adjudicated, and any Buyer is advised to make any offer to purchase contingent upon and subject to such independent inspections, evaluations, and advice concerning the water rights and adjudication process as a Buyer might deem prudent. All Buyers should be aware that Fay Ranches, Inc., its brokers and salespersons involved in this offering have not conducted an expert inspection or analysis of the water rights for this property.

MINERAL RIGHTS

All mineral rights appurtenant to the property and owned by the Seller will convey to the Buyer at closing. Mineral rights are not guaranteed. It is suggested that the Buyer conduct a mineral search with a title company.

CONSERVATION | STEWARDSHIP

This property is not under a conservation easement. Each of us at Fay Ranches has a love of the land and a desire to see it remain as productive agricultural ground as well as quality fish and wildlife habitat. Through promoting the use of thoughtful land stewardship, Fay Ranches has guided owners toward a legacy of conserving wide open spaces, enhancing and creating fisheries and wildlife habitat, and implementing sustainable agricultural operations. Fay Ranches is proud to say that since our company began in 1992, the landscape on which we work has been significantly enhanced by the conservation ethic and land-use practices of our clients.

It is easy to imagine spending your days fishing on this property while being so close to amenities and airports. Views of the surrounding mountain ranges abound, while the .2 miles of Big Hole River frontage offer relaxing days spent trout fishing. The Big Hole River is one of the country’s most productive areas for wild trout fishing. The 2,400+ square foot, two-bedroom, two-bathroom handcrafted home is complemented by multiple guest spaces providing room to spread out and a heated shop providing space for recreational toys. These improvements are surrounded by irrigated ground. The endless acres of nearby Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest offers exceptional big-game hunting. The river frontage, various improvements, and unmatched location make this the legacy property you seek.

Big Hole River

PRICE TERMS

$2,675,000 CASH

CONTACT NOTICE

Please contact Vinny Delgado at (406) 253-0507 | vdelgado@fayranches.com or Chance Bernall at (406) 925-1988 | cbernall@beaverheadhomeandranch.com to schedule a showing. This is a co-listing. An agent from Fay Ranches or Beaverhead Home and Ranch must be present at all showings, unless otherwise noted or other arrangements are made. To view other properties, fly fishing properties, and sporting ranches that we have listed, please visit our web page at www.fayranches.com .

Offer is subject to errors, omissions, prior sale, change or withdrawal without notice, and approval of purchase by owner. Information regarding land classification, carrying capacities, maps, etc., is intended only as a general guideline and has been provided by the owners and other sources deemed reliable, but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Prospective purchasers are encouraged to research the information to their own satisfaction.

Main Home

RELATIONSHIPS IN REAL ESTATE

As required by Montana law, a broker or salesperson shall disclose the existence and nature of relevant agency or other relationships to the parties to a real estate transaction. The various relationships and description of duties are as follows:

1. SELLER AGENT

A “Seller Agent” is obligated to the Seller to:

Act solely in the best interests of the seller; Obey promptly and efficiently all lawful instructions of the seller; Disclose all relevant and material information that concerns the real estate transaction and that is known to the seller agent and not known or discoverable by the seller unless the information is subject to confidentiality arising from a prior or existing agency relationship on the part of the seller agent; Safeguard the seller’s confidences; Exercise reasonable care, skill, and diligence in pursuing the seller’s objectives and in complying with the terms established in the listing agreement; Fully account to the seller for any funds or property of the seller that comes into the seller agent’s possession; and Comply with all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations.

Montana law permits a real estate agent, after providing written disclosure to a seller and obtaining a seller’s written consent, to represent multiple sellers of property and to list properties for sale that may compete with the seller’s property, without breaching any obligation to the seller.

A “Seller Agent” is obligated to the Buyer to:

Disclose to a buyer or the buyer agent any adverse material facts that concern the property and that are known to the seller agent, except that the seller agent is not required to inspect the property or verify any statements made by the seller; Disclose to a buyer or the buyer agent when the seller agent has no personal knowledge of the veracity of information regarding adverse material facts that concern the property; Act in good faith with a buyer and a buyer agent; and Comply with all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations.

2. BUYER AGENT (cont)

A “Buyer Agent” is obligated to the Seller to:

Disclose any adverse material facts that are known to the buyer agent and that concern the ability of the buyer to perform on any purchase offer; Disclose to the seller or the seller agent when the buyer agent has no personal knowledge of the veracity of information regarding adverse material facts that concern the property; Act in good faith with a seller and a seller agent; and Comply with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations.

3. DUAL AGENCY If a seller agent is also representing a buyer, or a buyer agent is also representing a seller with regard to a property, then a dual agency relationship may be established. In a dual agency relationship, the dual agent is equally obligated to both the seller and the buyer. These obligations may prohibit the dual agent from advocating exclusively on behalf of the seller or buyer and may limit the depth and degree of representation that you receive. A broker or a salesperson may not act as a dual agent without the signed, written consent of both the seller and the buyer.

A “Dual Agent” is obligated to a Seller in the same manner as a seller agent and is obligated to a Buyer in the same manner as a buyer agent, except

a dual agent:

Has a duty to disclose to a buyer or seller any adverse material facts that are known to the dual agent regardless of any confidentiality considerations; and May not disclose the following information without the written consent of the person to whom the information is confidential; The fact that the buyer is willing to pay more than the offered purchase price; The fact that the seller is willing to accept less than the purchase price that the seller is asking for the property; Factors motivating either party to buy or sell; and Any information that a party indicates in writing to the dual agent is to be kept confidential.

4. STATUTORY BROKER

A “Statutory Broker” is not the agent of the Buyer or Seller but nevertheless is obligated to them to:

Disclose to: i. a buyer or buyer agent any adverse material facts that concern the property and that are known to the statutory broker, except that the statutory broker is not required to inspect the property or verify any statements made by the seller; and ii. a seller or a seller agent any adverse material facts that are known to the statutory broker and that concern the ability of the buyer to perform on any purchase offer; Exercise reasonable care, skill, and diligence in putting together a real estate transaction, and Comply with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations.

5. IN-HOUSE SELLER AGENT DESIGNATE Created when the agency holds both the listing on a property from the seller and a buyer broker agreement with the buyer, an in-house seller agent designate is a broker or salesperson employed by or associated as an independent contractor with a broker and designated by the broker as the exclusive agent for a seller for a designated transaction and who may not be considered to be acting for other than the seller with respect to the designated transaction.

6. IN-HOUSE BUYER AGENT DESIGNATE Created when the agency holds both the listing on a property from the seller and a buyer broker agreement with the buyer, an in-house buyer agent designate is a broker or salesperson employed by or associated as an independent contractor with a broker and designated by the broker as the exclusive agent for a buyer for a designated transaction and who may not be considered to be acting for other than the buyer with respect to the designated transaction.

BUYER AGENT

A “Buyer Agent” is obligated to the Buyer to: Act solely in the best interests of the buyer; Obey promptly and efficiently all lawful instructions of the buyer; Disclose all relevant and material information that concerns the real estate transaction and that is known to the buyer agent and not known or discoverable by the buyer, unless the information is subject to confidentiality arising from a prior or existing agency relationship on the part of the buyer agent; Safeguard the buyer’s confidences; Exercise reasonable care, skill, and diligence in pursuing the buyer’s objectives and in complying with the terms established in the listing agreement; Fully account to the buyer for any funds or property of the buyer that comes into the buyer agent’s possession; and Comply with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations.

Montana law permits a real estate agent, after providing written disclosure to a buyer and obtaining a buyer’s written consent, to represent multiple buyers interested in buying the same property or similar properties to properties in which a buyer is interested and to show properties in which a buyer is interested to other prospective buyers, without breaching any obligation to the buyer.