North Fork Horse Creek Ranch | Fay Ranches

NORTH FORK HORSE CREEK RANCH

Wilsall, Montana

$2,000,000

284± Acres

INTRODUCTION

North Fork Horse Creek Ranch sits between the Bridger, Absaroka, and Crazy Mountains in the heart of the picturesque Shields River Valley. The 284± deeded acres combine riparian creek bottom along the banks of the North Fork of Horse Creek with farm ground interspersed with upland sage meadows and native grasses to the north. Boasting 0.4± miles of the North Fork of Horse Creek, this unspoiled Southwestern Montana land sits about 10± minutes east of the Shields River, a guide favorite for fishable trout water. Breathtaking views stretch as far as the eye can see of the three surrounding mountain ranges from various points on the property, with the primary view looking up at the majestic Crazy Mountains. Whitetail, moose, antelope, upland birds, and other Montana wildlife wander through the ranch. Close to basic amenities, this modest three-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch home and guest home, along with associated older buildings for horses and livestock, is situated about 15± minutes east of the small town of Wilsall and 20± minutes northeast of Clyde Park. Livingston and Bozeman, both highly coveted Montana towns, are a short drive away. For private jet travel, Mission Field Airport is 35± minutes south. Montana’s biggest airport, Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport, is slightly over an hour away. This land checks all the boxes with abundant wildlife, ample grass for livestock, and hundreds of acres to recreate on.

QUICK FACTS

• 284± deeded acres in two parcels accessible yearround off North Fork Horse Creek Road

• 0.4± miles of the North Fork of Horse Creek

• Three bed, two bath main home

• One bed, one bath guest home

• Excellent populations of whitetail and mule deer, with elk and moose passing through

• Stunning views of the Absaroka, Bridger, and Crazy Mountain ranges

• 10± minutes to fishing on the Shields River

• 15± minutes to Wilsall for private air travel with a 3,100-foot turf runway

• 20± minutes to Clyde Park, Montana

• 35± minutes to Livingston, the Yellowstone River, and Mission Field Airport for private air travel with a 5,701-foot asphalt runway

• 40± minutes to Bridger Bowl Ski Area, a little over two hours to Big Sky Resort

• An hour to Bozeman and a little over an hour to Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport

ACREAGE

This 284± deeded acre property ranges in elevation from 5,140± feet near the creek to 5,420± feet to the north. The perimeter-fenced property comprises two parcels: one northern parcel of 156.53± acres and one southern parcel of 127.46± acres. About 25± acres lie east of North Fork Horse Creek Road, while the home, historic outbuildings, small creek, and more land lie west of the road. The land consists of rolling hills, mature cottonwood trees along the riparian area, junipers, sage meadows, and native grasses mixed with alfalfa. Recent hay production (alfalfa/grass) totaled 323 bales, each weighing approximately 1,350 pounds, for a total of about 218 tons. The ranch has been wellmanaged and owned by the same family for the last 42 years, from its lush creek bottom to rolling meadows and stunning views of the Crazies. The ranch encompasses 0.4± miles of the small North Fork of Horse Creek, which flows into Horse Creek, a tributary of the Shields River, which in turn flows into the Yellowstone River.

IMPROVEMENTS

MAIN HOME

Initially built in 1910, the 2,971± square foot Sears home on the ranch embraces simplicity while offering functional living spaces that cater to the needs of ranch life. While modest in size and condition, the home provides essential amenities for comfortable living, including a well-equipped kitchen, a cozy living room, a large office, three comfortable bedrooms, and two bathrooms. The home has been modestly upgraded over the years, with an addition that includes a large office and kitchen expansion. Most of the home is heated with propane forced air, while the kitchen and large office are heated by hot water radiant heat. A large, detached garage, steps away from the main house, includes a spacious, heated shop/work area. The home is serviced by a well that also supplies water to the guest home.

GUEST HOME

The 1,199± square foot, one-bedroom, one-bathroom modest guest house is located within a short walking distance from the main home. The guest home features a living room, kitchen area, and a small loft, and is heated by a propane Rinnai wall unit.

OUTBUILDINGS

The older ranch buildings are simple, including a large barn and modest associated historic outbuildings for horses and other livestock.

RECREATION FISHING

About 10 minutes west of the property, the Shields River is home to native cutthroat, brown, brook, and rainbow 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 most picturesque river valleys 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 less than a half-hour south of the property and is the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48 states. The Yellowstone is considered significant 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 located about 45 minutes south of the property. Nelson’s, Depuy’s, and O’Hair’s (Armstrong’s) offer fee fishing 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 supports an enormous array of aquatic life, including abundant wild trout.

A little over an hour 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, converge to form the Madison and Gallatin Rivers. The park offers a lifetime of fishing opportunities, with over 100 lakes and a thousand miles of stream. Nowhere in the world are so many public rivers and streams within such a small area.

HUNTING | WILDLIFE

Located in Hunt District 315, North Fork Horse Creek Ranch is home to excellent populations of whitetail and mule deer, antelope, elk, upland game birds, and the occasional moose. Nearby public land offers endless hunting opportunities for elk, mule deer, mountain goats, and other Montana wildlife.

WINTER ACTIVITIES

An easy 40± minute drive from the property, Bridger Bowl Ski Area is considered “Bozeman’s resort,” offering an intimate atmosphere with fantastic powder. Eight lifts service 2,000 skiable acres with a 2,600-foot vertical drop. The “ridge” presents some of the most challenging skiing and riding within any ski boundary.

About two 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 39 lifts in the winter. Summer is the time to enjoy 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.

LOCATION

CLYDE PARK AND WILSALL

Peaceful, quiet, and surrounded by magnificent scenery, North Fork Horse Creek Ranch feels private, yet necessary amenities are just a few minutes away in the small towns of Clyde Park and Wilsall. 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.

LIVINGSTON AND BOZEMAN

About 35 minutes south is Livingston (population 8,300+). Rich in history and noted in western 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 the town and is at the heart of the community’s spirit.

North Fork Horse Creek Ranch is 45± minutes from the vibrant university town of Bozeman (population 56,550+), 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, fishing, hunting, skiing, mountain biking, or hiking.

GETTING THERE

For private air travel, North Fork Horse Creek Ranch is only 15± minutes to Wilsall Airstrip, with a 3,100-foot turf runway, and 35± minutes to Mission Field Airport in Livingston, with a 5,701-foot asphalt runway.

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Montana’s busiest airport, is a little over an hour away for commercial air travel. The airport is served by Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Sun Country, and United Airlines, offering direct flights to many major cities.

North Fork Horse Creek Ranch| Wilsall, Montana

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

Each of us at Fay 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 has guided owners toward a legacy of conserving wide-open spaces, enhancing and creating fisheries and wildlife habitats, and implementing sustainable agricultural operations. Fay 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.

20

www.fayranches.com | 800.238.8616 | info@fayranches.com

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. 21 North Fork Horse Creek Ranch| Wilsall, Montana

North Fork Horse Creek Ranch is a quintessential Montana property encompassing 284± deeded acres just minutes from the small towns of Wilsall and Clyde Park, and within easy reach of Livingston and Bozeman. The ranch features 0.4± miles of the North Fork of Horse Creek, a tributary that ultimately connects to the Yellowstone River. With the Crazy Mountains rising to the east, the Bridger Mountains to the west, and the Absaroka Range to the south, the ranch is framed by spectacular scenery. This is an ideal property for a new owner seeking to embark on a genuine Montana adventure.

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, Inc. must be present at all showings, unless otherwise noted or other arrangements are made. To view other properties we have listed, please visit our web page at www. fayranches.com.

$2,000,000 Cash

Conventional Financing 1031 Exchange

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.

Scan the QR code to learn more.