SOLD: Montana Wilderness Lodge & Outfitting | Fay Ranches

MONTANA WILDERNESS LODGE & OUTFITTING

Spotted Bear, Montana

$1,500,000

Montana Wilderness Lodge & Outfitting | Spotted Bear, Montana

INTRODUCTION

With over 50 years of experience, Montana Wilderness Lodge & Outfitting is known for providing guests with exceptional wilderness adventure throughout one of the world’s most well-preserved ecosystems, Montana’s famed Bob Marshall Wilderness. This is a unique opportunity to acquire an established business with highly coveted and exclusive commercial use permits allowing hunting, fishing, and packing in some of the wildest and most beautiful wilderness in the lower 48.

The operation is based out of Spotted Bear, Montana, and includes the Montana Wilderness Lodge, guest cabins, and various outbuildings, all located on National Forest Land along the South Fork of the Flathead River. Built in 1950 and renovated in 2017, the lodge features old-Montana rustic charm and provides a launching point for wilderness adventure and a comfortable stay for guests miles away from civilization.

The business is one of only three permitted to guide wilderness float fishing trips on the South Fork of the Flathead River. Their elk hunts are highly sought after and based out of a prime backcountry elk camp adjacent to the Sun River Game Range, where guests enjoy the rare opportunity of hunting bugling bulls with a rifle during the peak of the rut. Winter lion and spring bear hunts ensure business operations during all four seasons. Additional revenues are generated by offering packing services to doit-yourselfers. Broad and extensive permitting allows for growth and opportunity for expansion.

Montana Wilderness Lodge & Outfitting has an outstanding reputation for its expertise in providing unmatched wilderness experiences. The sale includes the lodge and guest cabins, all necessary equipment, vehicles and trailers, mules & horses, special use permits, branding, website, and client list.

Seldom do we see opportunities like this come available on the open market. Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast looking to make the jump into the outfitting world, or an established outfitter looking to diversify and expand operations, Montana Wilderness Lodge & Outfitting is a rare opportunity to purchase an established business operating under highly coveted permits in one of the last best wild places on earth.

QUICK FACTS

• Established business with over 50 years of successful operation

• Coveted special use permits allow inclusive operations throughout Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness Area and the Spotted Bear District of the National Forest

• Turnkey guest lodge with 6 guest cabins, outbuildings, and corrals, located on Forest Service land, and only a few steps from the South Fork of the Flathead River

• Lodge features old-Montana rustic charm and provides a launching point for wilderness adventure and a comfortable stay for guests miles away from civilization

• Operations through all four seasons - Spring bear hunts, summer fishing, fall and winter hunting

• One of only three outfitters permitted to float, fish, and camp on the South Fork of the Flathead River

• Prime elk camp location for early season rifle elk hunts

• Extensive commercial use permits allow a broad spectrum of wilderness operations and room for expansion

• All equipment, stock, trucks, stock trailers, branding, and established client base included

• Strong and reputable business known for providing the highest quality wilderness experiences

ACREAGE

• 6± total leased acres

Montana Wilderness Lodge is located on Forest Service land and operates under permits with the U.S. Forest Service. The Lodge is the perfect jumping-off point for endless wilderness adventures.

4 Montana Wilderness Lodge & Outfitting | Spotted Bear, Montana

IMPROVEMENTS

The Montana Wilderness Lodge facilities offer comfortable amenities far away from civilization. The main lodge was built in 1950 and renovated in 2017 and acts as the central hub for guests and guides to gather, share stories, and enjoy family-style dining. In addition to the main lodge, there are six guest cabins, each offering a private bathroom, shower, and propane heat. An outdoor covered bar, deck areas, and a fire pit are the perfect place to relax before and after wilderness adventures. There are several storage areas, sheds, and a corral with gated areas to provide plenty of room for the horses and mules. The lodge facilities have running water, propane heat, and electricity provided by a generator, allowing all the creature comforts, despite a remote location.

BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Montana Wilderness Lodge and Outfitting’s primary focus is to provide the highest of quality wilderness experiences for its guests.

W ilderness F ly F ishing

Montana Wilderness Lodge & Outfitting is one of only three outfitters allowed to operate on the South Fork of the Flathead and offers both multi-day overnight wilderness floats and lodge-based fishing trips. The South Fork is renowned in the fly fishing community as an excellent destination for dry-fly cutthroat trout fishing. The river is formed from the convergence of Danaher Creek and Young’s Creek and flows north for 45 miles, fed by numerous small tributaries, before exiting the wilderness near the Lodge.

B

h unting

Montana Wilderness Lodge offers wilderness elk hunts out of their designated base camp, located in a prime area deep in the backcountry along the Continental Divide near the head of the Spotted Bear River. In addition to elk hunts, they offer mule deer, lion, bear, and wolf hunts. The area they are permitted to hunt encompasses a seemingly endless expanse of Wilderness and National Forest.

l odging o perations

The business operates with a resort permit from the US Forest Service, which allows commercial lodge-based activities. Montana Wilderness Lodge & Outfitting’s primary goal is to provide exceptional backcountry experiences, using the lodge as their starting point. However, there is the opportunity to expand into other lodge-based enterprises within the permitted uses.

10 Montana Wilderness Lodge & Outfitting | Spotted Bear, Montana

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Montana Wilderness Lodge & Outfitting employs their team of stock to comfortably transport guests and all their gear far into the wildest of places. A team of 45 mules and horses allows access deep into the backcountry, where all motorized and mechanical travel is prohibited. They also offer packing services to DIY anglers and backcountry explorers.

o ther B ackcountry a dventures

At Montana Wilderness Lodge & Outfitting, there is an opportunity to offer additional services beyond hunting and fishing. The serene location of the lodge is appealing to all types of backcountry enthusiasts, and there is room within the permits to accommodate other types of wilderness activities.

INCOME OPPORTUNITY

The Montana Wilderness Lodge, guest cabins, outbuildings, and all of the business assets, including the special use permits, are included in this offering. A detailed list of assets and financial statements are available to qualified buyers upon the execution of a Non-Disclosure Agreement.

Montana Wilderness Lodge & Outfitting | Spotted Bear, Montana

CONSERVATION | STEWARDSHIP

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.

LOCATION

Outfitting and guiding operations are based out of the Montana Wilderness Lodge, which is located in the Spotted Bear Ranger District at the gateway into the Bob Marshall Wilderness, just south of Hungry Horse Reservoir, along the South Fork of the Flathead River.

t he B o B M arshall W ilderness a rea

A significant portion of the business operations takes place in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, which was congressionally designated as a wilderness area in 1964. The “Bob,” as the locals call it, is made up of over 1 million acres and is one of the most well-preserved mountain ecosystems in the world today. It’s the kind of wilderness that most people can only dream of. Its unique beauty is highlighted by towering peaks, wide open river drainages, and dense forests, and the area is home to a vast array of wildlife, including grizzly and black bears, elk, moose, deer, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, wolves, and bald eagles. The fisheries in the Bob are similarly bountiful and provide unparalleled opportunities to catch native west slope cutthroat and bull trout.

GETTING THERE

The lodge is accessed by driving just over 50 miles along Hungry Horse Reservoir on East Side Road. Just past mile marker 51, take a right at the junction and go down the hill, crossing the river. Take the first left just after the bridge, and Montana Wilderness Lodge is immediately on your right. The lodge can also be accessed by small airplane. The Spotted Bear USFS airstrip is located only minutes from the lodge.

SUMMARY

Rarely do such opportunities present themselves on the open market. Whether you are an individual who loves the outdoors and wants to venture into the outfitting industry or an established outfitter looking to broaden and grow your operations, Montana Wilderness Lodge & Outfitting offers a unique chance to acquire a well-established business that operates under highly sought-after permits in one of the last remaining pristine wilderness areas on the planet.

Montana Wilderness Lodge & Outfitting | Spotted Bear, Montana

$1,500,000

Cash, Conventional Financing

Please contact Daniel Mahoney at (406) 360-7373 | dmahoney@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.

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.