CROOKED RIVER RIM FARM
Culver, Oregon
$2,385,000 | 456.83± Acres
Crooked River Rim Farm | Culver, Oregon
INTRODUCTION
The Crooked River Rim Farm is a land investor’s dream! Step right into established agricultural production while enjoying private views of a Central Oregon treasure — the Crooked River Canyon. The sun rises over gravity-fed irrigated farmland, planted in a multitude of crops, often showcasing muley bucks wading through the hay fields. Enjoy the sun as it fades below the Cascade Mountains at the end of the day, creating glorious sunsets over the canyon rim.
The Crooked River Rim Farm includes the following:
• 456.83± acres of land 2.7± miles away from Culver, Oregon
• 183.9± acres of North Unit Irrigation District water rights
• One stick-built home, currently used by the farm manager
• Two mobile homes to reserve home sites with county planning
• Large hay/commodities barn
• Heated, with a concrete floor, shop and equipment storage
• Irrigation equipment (two half pivots, six wheel-lines, and handlines to ensure full coverage of irrigated acres)
• Crooked River frontage, accessible by foot
One potential dream home site sits right on the canyon rim, where you’ll enjoy secluded views of the canyon and the Cascade Mountains. The property, bordering the Crooked River, sits high enough on a bench in the canyon to allow amazing views of iconic Mount Hood and Mount Je fferson.
The Crooked River Rim Farm is less than three miles from the friendly farming town of Culver, Oregon. This area is known as a gateway to boating, fishing, hiking, and wildflower viewing at Lake Billy Chinook. While you’re conveniently close to town, you’ll feel a world away.
The Crooked River Rim Farm has a fantasy setting with a fully operational professional farm infrastructure.
LOCATION
The Crooked River Rim Farm is 2.7± miles from the small farming town of Culver in Jefferson County. Twelve miles from Culver lies the Jefferson County seat, Madras, with a population of around 7,000±. Jefferson County is named after Mount Jefferson, the second-highest mountain in Oregon, of which views are prevalent throughout the county. The county is renowned for its seed farming due to its proximity to the median line (between equator and pole) and favorable climate. The beautiful landscape of the county transitions from the amazing ponderosa pines to the great basin high desert plateau with junipers and sagebrush and of course cultivated and irrigated farm ground.
GETTING THERE
From Portland, Oregon: 2.5 hours±
Take Highway 26 for 129± miles until Highway 97 at Madras. Once in Madras, head south on Highway 97 until you take a right on Southwest D Street/ Oregon-36. In 9± miles, you will reach Culver.
From Bend, Oregon: 45 minutes±
Head north on Highway 97 for 33± miles until the slight left onto Southwest Culver Highway/Oregon-361. In 2.5± miles, you will arrive in Culver.
From Culver: Please call Alex Robertson (541-420-2394) for the property’s address and directions.
AIRPORT SERVICES
Closest Major Airport: Bend-Redmond (RDM)
Just 30± minutes away, The Roberts Field Airport in Redmond, Oregon (RDM) is the fourth largest commercial airport in Oregon. It's only 20± minutes away from the energy and excitement of downtown Bend.
Direct flights are available to and from Denver, Los Angeles, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Seattle. RDM is served by Alaska, United, Delta, and American Airlines.
Closest International Airport: Portland International (PDX)
Portland International Airport is only 2.5± hours driving from the Crooked River Rim Farm.PDX is served by Air Canada, Alaska, American Airlines, Boutique Air, Condor, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian Airlines, Iceland Air, Jet Blue, Pen Air, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country Airlines, United, Virgin America, Volaris, and West Jet.
Local Airport: Madras
The Madras Airport is considered a "heavy" airport, capable of handling any class of aircraft. Formerly a World War II training base for B-17 pilots, it is now the site for the annual Airshow of the Cascades, the Erickson Aircraft Collection, and Erickson Aero Tanker that provides support for wildland fire suppression. (Information courtesy of https://www.ci.madras.or.us/ community/page/welcome-madras)
The Robert’s Field Airport in Redmond, Oregon
AREA HISTORY
Central Oregon has a rich history, starting as the home of Northern Paiute and Southern Sahaptin Tribes before European settlement. Fur trappers were the first Europeans to explore the region, and by the 1870s, settlements had developed; Jefferson County was created in 1914 from part of neighboring Crook County to the east. The agricultural prosperity to the area was due to the railroad development in 1911 and later 1930s irrigation projects that led to the creation of the North Unit Irrigation District. Through much of the 20th century, the area was known for its lumber industry due to its proximity to the Cascade Mountain forests.
Jefferson County has kept its agricultural roots, but in recent years, the county’s small towns have become bedroom communities of the larger cities in the area, providing homes for remote workers who want to improve their lifestyle with small-town living and recreation.
ACREAGE
Crooked River Rim Farm consists of 456.83± acres; 183.9± acres are currently being farmed and irrigated with water rights mentioned.
The balance of the acreage on the property is in native rangeland, varying from high desert grasslands and sagebrush to canyon rims and lava rock outcroppings. The terrain can be level, sloped, or cliff-faced all in one property.
SCENIC VISTAS
The Crooked River Rim Farm has the only residence on this unique bench, sitting 500± feet above the river. It’s private and secluded, with rimrock cliff views on both sides.
On a clear day, you can spot the snowy peak of Mount Hood beyond the canyon rim. At the farm’s highest point, enjoy sweeping views of the gently sloping Cascade Mountains. When you invest in the Crooked River Rim Farm, you’ll own one of only three properties with this spectacular vantage point.
Opportunities to own homes and land on the Crooked River Canyon rim are rare, even more so to own an expanse of land with multiple dwellings making the Crooked River Rim Farm a unique and amazing opportunity to own!
Crooked River Rim Farm | Culver, Oregon
CLIMATE
Culver has a pleasant climate that is relatively mild for Central Oregon. Sunny for much of the year, Culver receives 11± inches of rain a year, not including snow. At its hottest, Culver is still pleasant in the summer due to its lack of humidity. A typical growing season in Culver is 133± days, making it one of the longest in Central Oregon. Winters are mild and very manageable, with rare significant snow events.
Climate information courtesy of http://www.city-data.com/city/Culver-Oregon.html
IMPROVEMENTS
The Crooked River Rim Farm is blessed with three permitted dwellings. The 1200 ± square feet stick-built home, currently occupied by the farms’ manager, would make a perfect guesthouse or employee housing. Two manufactured homes currently reserve county-approved building sites on the farm. One resides on the canyon rim with sweeping views, and the second is catty-corner to the stick-built home.
The Crooked River Rim Farm comes with the infrastructure you’ll need for a fully operational farm.
Your complete pump-free* irrigation system includes:
• Two half pivots (6 tower-5 tower), which are efficient, inexpensive, and require no labor to run
• 6-wheel lines to double the coverage in your northern field
• Hand lines to ensure even your corners are adequately watered
*Never pay another electric irrigation pump bill again. No pumps are needed on the Crooked River Rim Farm with its drop of elevation from the delivery point of the irrigation water to the fields. This is a huge advantage for a farmer, as electrical pumps are a sizable expense against farm profits.
Mainlines are both inground and above ground. Commodity(hay) storage is well covered with a 12,900± square feet shed that can hold 800± tons of hay. A heated 2,200± square feet shop with concrete floor and 220v power makes working on or storing equipment pleasant.
The farm has multiple, well-fenced pastures and paddocks for livestock and a large collection pond for irrigation runoff to water livestock and wildlife.
Crooked River Rim Farm | Culver, Oregon
RECREATION
Jefferson County is rich in recreation and attractions. The naturalist will enjoy the rivers, lakes, buttes, mountains, and wild areas of the county. You can rent a houseboat from Cove Palisades on Lake Billy Chinook, view Native American artifacts at the Warm Springs Museum, or hike to Steelhead Falls. These are just the tip of the iceberg of the recreational opportunities in Jefferson County.
Sttelhead Falls
H
unting & W ildlife
f is H ing
The Crooked River, a tributary of the Deschutes River, is known as a great year-round fishery. Many anglers refer to it as a great classroom with manageable depth and flow. Fishermen can fly fish for redband trout and mountain whitefish. Many online sites can give tips on the best rigs, flies, and techniques for fishing the Crooked River.
Lake Billy Chinook is a reservoir just north of Crooked River Rim Farm. This great lake is where the Deschutes, Crooked, and Metolius Rivers converge. It is stocked with largemouth bass, rainbow, brown, bulltrout, and whitefish. However, the reservoir is known for kokanee salmon and smallmouth bass; both are plentiful and easy to catch.
Crooked River Rim Farm is eligible for four OFW LOP tags; Buyer to verify with ODFW. The farm is routinely visited by mule deer enjoying the alfalfa fields throughout the year. The property is in the Grizzly Unit 38, and across the river is the Metolius Unit 39. Both units are known for easy terrain, ease of drawing, decent public access, and a lack of crowding.
Lake Billy Chinook
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS | ACTIVITIES
From Crooked River Rim Farm, short drives can take you to many fun and exciting attractions. Head north less than 100 miles to skiing at Mount Hood (Oregon’s tallest mountain) or head south 60± miles to the Mount Bachelor Ski Area. Downtown Bend, known for its shopping, dining, and microbrews, is an easy 45± minute drive. The greater Central Oregon is also blessed with many high-class resorts, including Sunriver, Eagle Crest, Pronghorn, Black Butte Ranch, and more. Central Oregon’s largest music venue Hayden Homes Amphitheater, previously named Les Schwab Amphitheater, hosts many big-name artists, including Bob Dylan, Dave Mathews Band, and Willie Nelson, to name a few.
Central Oregon’s event list is extensive and includes:
• Oregon Winterfest (February)
• The Pole, Peddle, Paddle (May)
• Sisters’ Rodeo and Crooked River Round-up (June)
• Sisters’ Quilt Show (July)
• Culver Crawdad Festival (July)
• The Airshow of the Cascades (August)
• Deschutes and Jefferson County Fairs (August)
• Many more events
Mount Bachelor
AGRICULTURE
The Crooked River Rim Farm has been productive for over 18 years. For many years the farm has turned a profit after paying the farm manager to oversee all operations. Income/return opportunities are dependent on the buyers’ choice of farming and practices. The area crops that do well are alfalfa, hay/forage, bluegrass seed, carrot seed, wheat, garlic, mint, potatoes, and other specialty seed crops. From this array of crops, the buyer can choose the promising direction they wish to take. Previously the farm has grown the following: low-sugar grass hay, alfalfa, cereal forage, wheat, and hemp. The gravity-fed irrigation system gives the farm a leg up by passing over the need and expense of irrigation pumps. In 2023 the Crooked River Rim Farm will be in a Crop-share Farm Lease, with owner and operator sharing expenses and profits on the following crops:
• 50± acres of alfalfa (3rd year)
• 102± acres of Triticale
The current agreement is year to year with possibility to be renewed.
WATER SOURCES | WATER RIGHTS
Crooked River Rim Farm consists of 183.9± acres of North Unit Irrigation District rights. Of the 183.9± acres, 164.1± acres of Deschutes River rights and 19.8± acres of Crooked River rights. North Unit Irrigation District services 58,842± acres of farm ground, most of the irrigated farm ground in the Deschutes River Basin.
The winter of 2023/24 has blessed much of Oregon with above-normal snowpack for the second straight year, relieving many areas that have been droughtstricken. This has resulted in many irrigation districts raising flow allocation compared to recent years. Currently, North Unit Irrigation (NUID) plans to allocate 1± feet per acre for Deschutes River rights and 0.5± feet per acre for Crooked River Rights, an increase of allocation for the second year. Wikiup Reservoir is at 76% of capacity (main storage for NUID), with 152,324-acre feet (3/25/24) compared to 130,078-acre feet on the same date last year (2023).
Under Oregon law, all water is publicly owned. With some exceptions, cities, farmers, factory owners, and other users must obtain a permit or water right from the Water Resources Department to use water from any source, whether underground, lakes, or streams. Landowners with water flowing past, thru, or under their property do not automatically have the right to use that water without a permit from the Department; the waters of Oregon are administered by the State of Oregon under a “prior-appropriation” doctrine; first in time, first in right.
CONSERVATION | STEWARDSHIP
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.
QUICK FACTS
• 456.83± deeded acres,
• 183.9± acres of NUID water rights
• Three approved dwellings
• Two Pivots, six wheel-lines, and handlines
• Epic Crooked River Canyon views
• Crooked River frontage
• Views of Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson
• Large hay barn and heated machine shop
• Borders public lands
• Private setting
Crooked River Rim Farm | Culver, Oregon
SUMMARY
The Crooked River Rim Farm is the only property of its kind! With hundreds of secluded acres of agricultural land and three permitted dwellings, you’re still only minutes from the art, music, restaurants, and recreation of Central Oregon.
The irrigated farm ground has been productive and well cared for, waiting for the next operator to plant their roots. It has all the tools you need for a successful farming operation; quality irrigation system, heated machine shop, hay/commodity storage, pastures, paddocks, and more. Build your dream home on the Canyon Rim to enjoy watching the wildlife, as well as the setting sun. Don’t miss this chance to live a world away while civilization waits for you just down the road.
Rim
$2,385,000
Cash, Conventional Financing, 1031 Tax Exchange
Please contact Alex Robertson at (541) 420-2394 | arobertson@fayranches.com to schedule a showing. This is an exclusive listing. An agent from Fay Ranches 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 .
PRICE TERMS CONTACT NOTICE
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.
