North Volney Creek Ranch

Red Lodge, Montana
$3,650,000

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The North Volney Creek Ranch is a well-improved equestrian and/or small cattle operation conveniently located near the resort community of Red Lodge, Montana. The newly constructed facilities are strongly geared towards the horse enthusiast, complete with indoor and outdoor riding facilities and are complimented by a variety of support and living structures of quality construction. The land consists of a lush two-mile long valley with irrigated and dryland meadows set off by rolling, grassy hills and graced by big views of the Beartooth front.

The Volney Creek Ranch is accessed off State Highway 78 along Volney Creek Road, approximately 16 miles northwest of Red Lodge, Montana. Billings, Montana’s largest city, lies approximately 50 miles northeast of the ranch, providing commercial and private air services. Northwest, Delta, United, Horizon, Big Sky and Frontier Airlines provide multiple fights each day from the hub cities of Salt Lake, Seattle, Minneapolis and Denver.

State Highway 78 provides paved access to within approximately four miles of the ranch where Volney Creek Road, a county-maintained road, provides graveled year-round access through the property. The property is split by Volney Creek Road, which is generally used by a small number of local landowners to access their lands.

The greater region encompassing the property is comprised of medium-sized foothill and bottomland ranches that were settled over 100 years ago. Many of these have become recreationally driven holdings over recent decades due to the rich natural resources, aesthetic values and proximity to Billings and the other attractive smaller communities in the immediate area. Traditional ranching still remains strong as this is some of the most productive grass country in the state and even the more recreationally oriented owners find their land to be in strong demand from area ranchers. Many smaller towns are within minutes of the ranch with some providing amenities such as schools, grocery stores, banking and other services. Some of these communities, such as Roscoe, are nothing more than a post office and a bar/restaurant, known in this case as the Grizzly Bar and Café which serves enormous steaks, juicy burgers and micro-brewed beers. Locals gather in these establishments bumping elbows with visiting fishermen, hunters and a variety of travelers that are exploring this very scenic region. Other nearby towns include Dean, Nye and Absarokee, all within a 40-minute drive of the ranch.

The hub of this area is the eclectic small town of Red Lodge. Red Lodge lies on the northern end of the Beartooth National Scenic Byway (also known as the Beartooth Highway) and is the launching or receiving point for those who venture across what is deemed to be the most scenic highway in North America. Downtown Red Lodge hosts a variety of services and includes quality dining, accommodations, galleries and other boutique establishments. Red Lodge Ski Area is also a mainstream attraction for winter enthusiasts. Cultural events extend all year with outdoor concerts, festivals, etc. For an out of the ordinary event, one can attend the pig races at Bear Creek Downs which is also a saloon and steak house located just minutes from downtown.

There is a strong commitment to conservation in the area through easements and also through strong ownership. The Beartooth front is well-guarded by prominent landowners that are dedicated to preserving the landscape and agricultural integrity of their lands. Increasingly this has become an area of the state where large land acquisitions have become a rare event due to the dwindling supply of offerings. The integrity of the ranch’s viewshed is well protected by many of these larger landowners.

Average elevation on the ranch is 4,600 feet above sea level. Winter generally has settled in before Christmas where average temperatures range from 10 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit with occasional Chinook winds that cause 50 degree plus temperatures throughout the region periodically through the winter months. Temperatures in the early winter months can also fall well below zero which, when combined with the Chinooks, can create huge temperature fluctuations. On average 122 inches of snow will fall annually with three to seven inches on average standing on the ground though the colder months.

The transitional seasons always provide dramatic weather patterns and spring time is perhaps the most notable. Average temperatures range from 18 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit with over half of the 21 inches of annual precipitation falling between March and June. Fall tends to be very pleasant in September and October and often through November but dramatic reminders of winter forthcoming are demonstrated by early mountain snows. Average fall temperatures range from 20 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit with a generally predictable “Indian Summer” that occurs in October. Precipitation is drastically decreased during this period and aside from the short prefaces to winter the fall season is generally a pleasant time of year.

The summer months are very comfortable, warm but not excessively hot days are highlighted by cool summer nights. Average temperatures range from 43 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The moisture content in the air is quite low, so even in the colder times most people find the climate here to be very pleasant as compared to most four-season parts of the world.

The ranch sprawls across a rolling landscape approximately nine miles north of the northern front of the Beartooth Mountains. It enjoys massive, panoramic views of this towering range which hosts some of the tallest peaks in Montana. The Beartooth Plateau levels off at 11,000 feet where the famous Beartooth Highway crosses it above the tree line connecting the community of Red Lodge to Yellowstone National Park. A dedicated wilderness area encompasses a large portion of this range including the Beartooth Plateau, ensuring that this pristine region adjoining Yellowstone Park will remain intact and unspoiled.

The ranch is well-blocked and has convenient access off of the county road. The entire property is accessible with a vehicle or ATV. It consists of rolling hills with protected coulees, many of which contain springs that provide water for both livestock and wildlife. Essentially the ranch is defined by the Volney Creek corridor that bisects the valley. Numerous drainages flow out of the surrounding hills down into these fertile bottomlands. These surrounding hills are low enough to take advantage of the outstanding viewshed of the southern range, but also are high enough to provide shelter and privacy from the surrounding landscape. There are a multitude of hidden valleys amidst the rolling grass hills and brushy coulees that give character to this place. Due to its rolling topography the ranch has a much larger feeling than its acreage would indicate. From the hilltops the views of the Beartooths south of the ranch are truly world-class.

If one wished to build an additional residence outside of the main compound, numerous build sites are scattered throughout the property that take into account the southern exposure as well as the magnificent views. There are no deed restrictions to prevent an owner from taking advantage of the landscape, providing an opportunity for an investor buyer to donate a conservation easement to a land trust.

The current owners have undertaken a series of structural and land improvements in recent years. They spent a great deal of time and money redefining the original ranch headquarters to bring it to its current standard. Several of the older original structures were restored and many new ones were constructed.

The main residence is a 2,500± sq. ft. three-bedroom house with a full finished basement. It was tastefully constructed and includes board and batten siding, hardwood floors and many other amenities. Additionally, two small guest cabins were constructed, one of which includes an open floor plan consisting of a open dining-kitchen-living area, bedroom, full bath, washer/dryer, and covered porch. The other cabin has an open kitchen-living-dining area, loft for sleeping, bath and walk-in closet.

Highlighting the compound is a well-designed 80’x150’ indoor riding arena with an attached 40’x72’ stall barn. Both are heated and insulated. The stall barn contains a wash bay, indoor hay storage and eight stalls each with their own outdoor run and heated waterer. Outdoor fencing utilizes continuous welded steel. A 160’ outdoor arena lies adjacent to the facility. Currently this facility is used for training cutting horses and by design the cattle can easily be worked from outdoor corrals into the indoor arena by a single person. This facility would have a variety of uses for the horse enthusiast.

An additional old barn has been maintained and a 50’x80’ shop was built for both equipment maintenance and storage. Rounding off the ancillary improvements to the ranch is a six-run dog kennel with a concrete floor and individual houses.

North Volney Creek Ranch works quite well as a balanced operation capable of supporting 100 animal units on a year-round basis. The ranch’s irrigated fields produce 200 tons of hay annually and are then grazed after the hay is removed. The ranch is divided into nine pastures and has outstanding spring and summer grass. Stock is conveniently rotated through the summer pastures while the hay crop is harvested. The bottomlands are grazed in the fall and then used to feed cattle through the winter months, providing easy access and thermal cover for the animals. The beauty of the North Volney Creek Ranch is that it is extremely well balanced as a small livestock operation but its components could just as easily be leased out to any number of well-run ranches in the area allowing a new owner to concentrate his or her efforts on utilizing the outstanding equestrian facilities. The ranch is obviously best suited for horses because of its top-notch facilities. In addition the topography is wonderful for riding and pasturing horses. In fact the neighboring property also has a livestock operation that augments an equestrian training facility.

Irrigation to the ranch’s hay fields are provided from a delivery ditch on the East Rosebud River and also directly out of Volney Creek which flows year-round. There are numerous springs throughout the property which provide stock water. There are several areas on the ranch that are suitable for aquatic development should an owner desire a pond or wetland. Copies of the filed water rights are available upon request.

Generally speaking, Volney Creek is too warm and carries too much sediment from its rich soil banks to support a cold water fishery. There is, however, a large variety of wildlife that resides on the ranch and surrounding lands. Game species such as whitetail and mule deer thrive in good numbers across the property. Antelope and Hungarian partridge inhabit the rolling hills with a growing population of pheasants in the bottomland riparian areas and adjacent grain fields. Waterfowl also favor the riparian lands and roost along the creek.

There is a good volume of game species that thrive on the ranch making it quite suitable for hunting. A host of non-game species such as raptors, herons, songbirds and other fur-bearing animals also are present in good numbers.

1,085± deeded acres

North Volney Creek Ranch is comprised of 1,085± deeded acres with approximately two miles of Volney Creek meandering through its bottomlands providing irrigation for approximately 88 acres of meadows. There are an additional 90 acres of quality bottomland acres that are used for dryland farming and/or small grain crops. Irrigation water for the ranch comes out of Volney Creek. It originates from the East Rosebud River and runs through the Weast Ditch to Volney Creek. (The owner’s shares in the Weast Ditch Company will transfer with the sale.)

All minerals owned by the seller will be transferred to the buyer at closing.

Property taxes are approximately $2,927 annually.

MANAGEMENT SERVICES – Hall and Hall’s Management Division has a very clear mission – To represent the owner and to ensure that his or her experience is a positive one. Services are customized to suit the owner’s needs. They often begin with the recruiting and hiring of a suitable ranch manager or caretaker and are followed by the development of a management or operating plan along with appropriate budgets. Ongoing services include bill paying, ranch oversight, and consulting services as needed. Even the most sophisticated and experienced ranch owners appreciate the value of a management firm representing them and providing advice on local area practices and costs. Wes Oja and Jerome Chvilicek at (406) 656-7500 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (406) 656-7500      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or Randy Clavel at (303) 861-8282 are available to describe and discuss these services in detail and welcome your call.

RESOURCE ENHANCEMENT SERVICES – Increasingly the value of a ranch is measured by the quality of each and every one of its resources. Coincidentally the enhancement of a ranch’s resources also increases the pleasure that one derives from the ownership of a ranch. Our management services have included the assessment of everything from wildlife habitat to bird habitat to water resources and fisheries and the subsequent oversight of the process involved with the enhancement of these resources. Wes Oja or Jerome Chvilicek at (406) 656-7500 are available to describe and discuss these services in detail and welcome your call.

SPECIALIZED LENDING - Over the past 59 years Hall and Hall has created a legacy by efficiently providing capital to the intermountain west. In addition to traditional farm and ranch loans, we specialize in understanding the unique aspects of placing loans on ranches where value may be influenced by recreational features, location and improvements and repayment may come from outside sources. Our extensive experience and strong relationships with our lenders allows us to quickly tell you whether we can provide the required financing.

Competitive Pricing ● Flexible Terms ● Efficient Processing
In-House Appraisals ● Common Sense Underwriting
Dave Roddy ● (406) 656-7500
Mike Hall, Judy Chirila, or Randy Clavel ● (303) 861-8282
Monte Lyons ● (806) 698-6882