SOLD: Montana Eagle Ranch | Fay Ranches

MONTANA EAGLE RANCH

Wilsall, Montana

$9,975,000 | 951± Acres

Montana Eagle Ranch | Wilsall, Montana

Nestled in the shadow of the Crazy Mountains, this 951± acre property is a little over an hour from Bozeman in the tightly held Shields River Valley. Made up of two parcels of pristine wilderness, the property is contiguous on 1.5 sides (2± miles of property boundary) to thousands of acres of Gallatin National Forest. Known for its crystal-clear water and scenic beauty, the Shields River flows through the northern portion of the property for over half a mile, offering fly-fishing opportunities for native cutthroat and brook trout. Over a mile of both Mill Creek and Deep Creek meander through the ranch, along with a little less than half a mile of the South Fork of the Shields River, providing habitat for diverse wildlife on the property. The ranch supports elk, moose, deer, blue and sharp-tailed grouse, antelope, and various other wildlife that migrate up and down the riparian corridor from the mountains to the creeks and river. Tucked away with unparalleled privacy and surrounded by towering peaks, the ranch includes two cabins to retreat to. The rustic yet elegant 1,596± SF, two-bed, one-bath skip-peeled log home with loft sleeps 12. An outdoor hot tub, sauna, and deck are the perfect places to watch the alpenglow on the mountains. An additional two-bedroom hard-peeled guest cabin with an outhouse sits just down the hill along the creek amongst the mature pines. Both structures are true log stacks with tree log corners and saddle notches. This awe-inspiring property sits amongst the rugged beauty of the surrounding landscape, adjacent to one of Montana’s most magnificent mountain ranges, the Crazy Mountains, with trout fishing on the Shields River, meandering creeks, vast grassy meadows, towering trees, and unparalleled panoramic views.

Shields River running through property

QUICK FACTS

• 951± deeded acres in two parcels

• Contiguous to thousands of acres of Gallatin National Forest for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, four-wheeling, snowshoeing, and exploring mountain lakes

• Fly fishing on over a half mile of the Shields River

• 1.4± miles of Mill Creek, over a mile of Deep Creek, and .45± miles of the South Fork of the Shields River

• Supports a variety of Montana wildlife

• 1,596± SF, 2 bed, 1 bath skip-peeled log home with loft and separate, private deck, hot tub, and sauna

• Additional roomy 2 bed hard-peeled dry cabin with large fireplace and outhouse

• Extremely private location tucked away in a secluded valley, about half an hour to Wilsall, MT and 35± minutes to Clyde Park, MT

• About an hour to Livingston, MT, and its private airport

• About an hour to Bridger Bowl, 2.5± hours to Big Sky Resort

• An hour 15± minutes to Bozeman and Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport

Montana Eagle Ranch | Wilsall, Montana

ACREAGE

With its prime location bordering the Gallatin National Forest for 2± miles, this 951± deeded acre property ranges in elevation from 6,080± feet near the Shields River to 6,650± feet. The property sits in two parcels, one parcel is 631± acres, and the other is 320± acres. This scenic property offers a classic Montana mountain landscape with rolling hills that slowly ascend as you come through the dramatic entryway. The landscape comprises lush rolling mountain meadows of tall grass, sparkling groves of aspen trees intermingled with dense conifer stands, over a half mile of the fishable Shields River, and a dramatic backdrop of the rugged Crazy Mountains. The ranch is easily accessed via paved highway and mostly paved county road. During the winter, Park County plows Shields River Road up to about 1.5 miles from the ranch entryway. A new owner could either pay the county to plow the remaining mile and a half or plow it themselves (the current owners do not use the property in the winter).

4 Montana Eagle Ranch | Wilsall, Montana

WATER

There is no shortage of water on the ranch. Known for its crystal-clear water and scenic beauty, the Shields River flows through the northern portion of the property for over half a mile, offering flyfishing opportunities for native cutthroat and brook trout. Over a mile of both Mill Creek and Deep Creek meander through the ranch, along with a little less than half a mile of the South Fork of the Shields River, providing habitat for diverse wildlife on the property. Multiple springs create a variety of wallows for the elk and feed the internal creeks, which eventually flow into the Shields River.

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

Montana Eagle Ranch | Wilsall, Montana

IMPROVEMENTS

A .65± mile private drive off Shields River Road takes you under an arch to a fork in the road. A little less than half a mile to the right takes you to the secluded main home on a sunny hilltop. A little over a quarter mile the other direction takes you to the guest cabin on the creek. Both structures are in exceptional shape, having been maintained very well. With no covenants or restrictions, the property offers a new buyer a blank slate in one of Montana’s most stunning locations.

M ain H o M e

The 1,596± SF, two-bedroom, one-bathroom log home was built in 1987. This beautifully maintained cabin is a true log stack with skip-peeled logs, tree log corners with saddle notches and a large loft with six beds. The home sleeps 12 and features modern conveniences such as electricity and water, two wells, a septic system, electric baseboard heat, and exceptional views of the towering peaks of the Crazy Mountains. It also includes a roomy living room, kitchen, mudroom, washer/dryer, cathedral ceilings, large windows, a large river rock fireplace, and two large decks to sit back and savor the beauty of nature’s light show. A short walk away, a separate, private deck area includes a hot tub and sauna nestled amongst the towering trees.

8 Montana Eagle Ranch | Wilsall, Montana

Main Home

G uest C abin

Just down the drive and next to a small creek, the two-bedroom guest cabin mimics the main home’s stone and wood exterior. An antique cook stove and floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace are the centerpieces of the cabin, with a large open living area. The guest cabin also includes propane heat for chilly evenings and a large front porch with uninhibited views. The historic-looking guest cabin does not have power or water but has an outhouse. A new buyer could run power and drill a well if desired.

Guest Cabin

Guest Cabin

o utbuildin G s

A metal storage building, roughly 40x30, sits steps away from the Shields River and directly off Shields River Road near the entryway to the ranch. This building is perfect sized to store all your outdoor recreational equipment.

Guest Cabin

RECREATION

F is H in G

The Shields River, running through the ranch for a little over half a mile, is home to native cutthroat and brook trout. Light fishing pressure, excellent habitat, and incredible scenery offer the angler an extraordinary experience. In The Fly Fisher’s Guide to Montana, Chuck Robbins writes, “Bottom line, the Shields is worth a shot. There is decent, if not great, fishing almost all the time, but one thing that never changes is the spectacular setting – jagged Crazies to the east, rugged Bridgers to the West, one of the spiffiest river valleys anywhere on the planet. Drive on by if you must, but for heaven’s sake, slow down long enough to at least taste the view.” He writes, “This stream is about as private as private gets.”

The world-famous Yellowstone River is about 50 minutes south of the property and is the longest freeflowing river in the lower 48 states. The Yellowstone is considered large by trout river standards and is a great river to float and wade fish. The river is most noted for the “Mother’s Day” caddis hatch and provides some of Montana’s best ‘hopper’ fishing. Three world-famous spring creek fisheries are a little over an hour south of the property. Nelson’s, Depuy’s, and O’Hair’s (Armstrong’s) offer fee fishing on over five miles of some of the best spring creek water in the world. Fishing conditions on the creeks are consistently excellent, even in winter. A large volume of nutrient-rich water provides enormous aquatic life, including abundant wild trout. Less than two hours south of the ranch, Yellowstone National Park is the birthplace of many of the finest trout rivers in the West. Headwater streams such as the Gibbon, Firehole, and Lamar create the Madison and Gallatin Rivers. The park hosts many fishing opportunities, with over one hundred lakes and a thousand miles of streams. Nowhere in the world are so many public rivers and streams found within such a small area.

Fishing the Shields River on the property

untin G & W ildli F e

Hunting and wildlife viewing on the ranch and the contiguous National Forest are tremendous. Elk is the main draw, but moose, black bear, white-tailed deer, antelope, eagles, blue and sharp-tailed grouse, sandhill cranes, herons, and various birds also frequent the property. Montana Eagle Ranch sits next to some of the most beautiful and pristine mountain wilderness, the Crazy Mountains, and the Gallatin National Forest, a trail riding and hiking paradise. Located in hunt district 315, Montana Eagle Ranch and the two miles of adjacent public land offer endless hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities.

W inter a C tivities

Winter on the Montana Eagle Ranch offers superb snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Enjoy the freedom and adventure of cruising around the ranch’s diverse terrain and contiguous National Forest land on snowmobiles or create your own cross-country trails. An hour’s drive from the property, Bridger Bowl Ski Area is considered “Bozeman’s resort,” offering an intimate atmosphere where the powder is fantastic. Eight lifts service 2,000 skiable acres with a 2,700-foot vertical drop. The “ridge” presents some of the most challenging skiing and riding within any ski boundary.

About 2.5 hours from the property, Big Sky Resort is an international destination for skiers, snowboarders, and summer vacationers. Big Sky offers 5,850 acres of terrain, 4,350 vertical feet, and 38 lifts in the winter. Summer is the time to golf, fly fish the Gallatin River, or explore miles of National Forest by foot or horseback. Just south of Big Sky is the renowned Yellowstone Club, the world’s only private ski and golf resort, offering a quiet retreat for its members.

Elk; not taken on property

Blue grouse on property

LOCATION

C lyde P ark and W ilsall

Surrounded by magnificent scenery, Montana Eagle Ranch feels private, yet necessary amenities are just a half hour away in the small towns of Wilsall and Clyde Park. The Shields Valley sits between the Absaroka, Crazy, and Bridger Mountains, boasting river activities in the summer and snowmobiling/ cross-country skiing in the winter.

l ivin G ston and b oze M an

About an hour south is Livingston (population 8,700+). Rich in history and noted in journals as a rowdy western town, it was once filled with characters such as Calamity Jane and Kitty O’Leary. Before then, both the River and Mountain Crow Indians convened near here. Livingston, gateway to the Paradise Valley and Yellowstone National Park, now supports numerous galleries, bookstores, a restored railroad depot, restaurants, bars, and fly shops. The world-famous Yellowstone River rushes past town and is the heart of the community’s spirit.

Montana Eagle Ranch is an hour and 15± minutes from the vibrant town of Bozeman (population 58,000±), home to Montana State University and the Museum of the Rockies. Bozeman has received national accolades for its scenic location, endless outdoor activities, and historic downtown. Bozeman restaurants and shops have become favorite places for those who love nature—whether fishing, hunting, skiing, mountain biking, or hiking.

GETTING THERE

For private air travel, Montana Eagle Ranch is only 30± minutes to Wilsall’s 3,100-foot turf runway, and a little less than an hour to Mission Field Airport in Livingston, with a 5,701-foot asphalt runway.

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, the busiest airport in Montana, is an hour and 15± minutes away for commercial air travel. The airport is served by Alaska, Allegiant, American, Avelo, Delta, Jet Blue, Southwest, Sun Country, and United Airlines, with direct flights to many major cities.

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 conservation easement.

Each of us at Fay Ranches loves the land and wants to see it remain a productive agricultural ground and a quality fish and wildlife habitat. Through promoting thoughtful land stewardship, Fay Ranches has guided owners toward a legacy of conserving wide-open spaces, enhancing and creating fisheries and wildlife habitats, and implementing sustainable agricultural operations. Fay Ranches is proud to say that since our company began in 1992, our clients’ conservation ethics and land-use practices have significantly enhanced our work landscape.

22 Montana Eagle Ranch | Wilsall, Montana

Montana Eagle Ranch is one of the most desirable ranches that has been offered for sale along Montana’s coveted Crazy Mountains. The ranch is contiguous to National Forest land, providing direct access to thousands of acres of pristine wilderness, plus unparalleled views of 10,000± foot snowcapped peaks, whose heavily timbered slopes run down to meet the surrounding valley. To the west, take in 100+ mile views of the vast western landscape and Montana’s legendary “Big Sky” while enjoying 360-degree views at the base of towering peaks. Lush mountain meadows, aspens, conifers, and almost three miles of clear mountain streams make this a unique and sought-after property. Enjoy big game hunting on the ranch and contiguous public lands. The ranch feels very private yet is only about an hour from Livingston’s Mission Field airport and an hour and 15± minutes from Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport, allowing easy access to and from the property. Montana Eagle Ranch is the quintessential rocky mountain ranch and is a true river-to-mountain property, which is exceptionally hard to find in today’s market. The property is plug-and-play for the next owner to begin their Montana adventure.

$9,975,000

PRICE TERMS

CASH

CONTACT NOTICE

Please contact Branif Scott at (406) 579-9599 | bscott@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 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.

24 Montana Eagle Ranch | Wilsall, Montana

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.