Land Report Top 10: Flying Dog Ranch

Nestled into the pastoral Woody Creek, Flying Dog Ranch is one of the last remaining original ranches in the Aspen area.

Comprised of four parcels totaling 245 acres, the backyard of Flying Dog Ranch is the 2.3 million-acre White River National Forest, which provides countless riding and hiking possibilities, along with ample hunting opportunities for deer and elk. Featuring excellent views south of the property to the distant mountain ranges, this ranch is an idyllic setting to hitch up horses in the existing stable near Woody Creek Road.

Available for the first time after nearly 40 year, other property highlights include water rights, miles of private trails and roads, multiple barns, fields, a historic homesteader’s cabin, a straw bale house, and freestanding living structures.

Flying Dog Ranch is listed with Morris & Fyrwald Sotheby’s International Realty.

Click here to see the full list of Land Report’s Top Ten priciest properties.

For Sale: Northern California Recreational Ranches

World Class Hunting and Ranching in Mendocino County, California

Located at the southern end of the scenic Round Valley, the historical Hop and Barley Ranch (pictured above) features fertile farm land on the valley floor, beautiful lush forests and meadows in a mountain-like setting, with rolling grasslands and a mile-and-a-half river frontage.

At 6,420± acres, this legacy ranch is teaming with an array of wildlife, from trophy blacktail deer, Tule elk, and cougars to pigs, bears, quail, turkey and dove.

Well-rounded improvements complement the ranch built of redwood siding with corrugated metal roofing for the classic rustic ranch look, reminiscent of a John Wayne movie. A ranch of this size and diversity is a rare find and only a four-hour drive from the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Available for $14 million, this property is listed with The Chickering Company. For more information, contact Terry Hundemer at (503) 265-5774 or at ranches@chickeringco.com.

Spring Creek Ranch in Fall River Mills, California

Located near the Fall River Valley in California, Spring Creek Ranch is one of America’s finest trophy trout ranches.

At 1,346± acres, this ranch is one of the best fly-fishing ranches with private fishing water on the headwaters of the most prolific spring creek wild rainbow trout fishery in the country, with the average catch in the 3-6 pound range. This ranch also fronts a second spring creek, Lava Creek, as well as frontage on the world renowned Fall River and is home to abundant migratory waterfowl including ducks, geese, pelicans, egrets, herons and swans.

Spring Creek Ranch is a true wildlife refuge in a beautiful mountain area featuring stunning views of Mount Shasta to the north.

This property is listed for $12 million. For more information, contact Terry Hundemer at (503) 265-5774 or at ranches@chickeringco.com.

South Battle Creek Ranches in Mt. Lassen Foothills, California

The Oasis Springs Lodge and the Rocky Springs Ranch, collectively known as the South Battle Creek Ranches, are a quintessential sportsman’s paradise.

Oasis Springs Lodge
Situated near the small foothill community of Payne Creek, the Oasis Springs Lodge overlooks a private crystal clear trophy-trout stream on the lower flanks of Mount Lassen.

Encompassing over 1,100 acres of range-land and meadows interspersed with blue oak woodlands, this ranch is punctuated by fresh water springs, ferns, alders and willows along the South Fork of Battle Creek. A true fly-fisherman’s oasis, the Oasis Springs Lodge boasts some of the most productive fly-fishing streams in California.

Surrounded by some of the richest wildlife habitat in the Western states, it’s common to observe one of the state’s largest migratory deer herds traveling through the area. Other wildlife includes bears, mountain lions, eagles, hawks, quail, dove and wild turkey.

Rocky Springs Ranch
Located in the Mount Lassen foothills of northern California, Rocky Springs Ranch features world-class deer, dove and quail hunting, plus amazing trout fishing.

With nearly 3,000 acres of rolling meadows and blue oak woodlands, this ranch is home to one of the largest migratory deer herds in the state and also provides prime habitat for dove, quail, and wild turkey.

Panoramic views of Mount Lassen to the east and the adjoining ranches and the Sacramento River Valley below can be enjoyed from most areas of the ranch.

Totaling 4,137± acres, these two ranches can be purchased together for $9.39 million (The ranches are each owned by separate entities and are also available separately for $4.895 million and $4.495 million, respectively). Contact Terry Hundemer with The Chickering Company at (503) 265-5774 or at ranches@chickeringco.com for more information.

Vistas: Montana’s Broken O Ranch

Located just east of the stunning Rocky Mountain Front in Augusta, Montana, the Broken O Ranch is considered to be one of the Rocky Mountain West’s most grand and significant ranches.

At 123,000 acres, this ranch has been in the making for the past 20 years. With its expansive cattle and farming operation, this ranch currently carries 3,500 mother cows plus 800 replacement heifers and 200 range bulls. The Broken O Ranch also contains Montana’s largest block of irrigated land, approximately 13,000 acres, and has historically averaged 25,000 tons of alfalfa hay and 700,000 bushels of small grain crops annually.

The Broken O Ranch also features outstanding recreational opportunities, including exceptional brown and rainbow fishing plus antelope, whitetail and mule deer hunting.

According to broker Mike Swan of Bates Sanders Swan Land Company, “The Broken O Ranch is one of the Rocky Mountain West’s most significant holdings to come on the Western real estate market in decades.”

Broken O Ranch is listed with Bates Sanders Swan Land Company for $132,500,000. For more information, contact Mike Swan at (406) 522-7342 or mike@bateslandco.com.

Land Report Top 10: Dana Ranch

Encompassing almost the entire Hound Creek Valley, Dana Ranch in Cascade, Montana is considered by many to be the finest combination cattle and recreational ranch in the Rocky Mountain West.

At 59,000± acres, this ranch features an incredibly rich environment that includes strong grasses and an amazing diversity of terrain and habitats. Supporting approximately 3,000 head of cattle, this ranch is also home to huge elk herds and substantial populations of mule deer, whitetail deer and antelope. Additionally, with over 18 miles of “Blue Ribbon” quality fisheries, this property includes extensive upland bird, water fowl, and pheasant habitat.

With only two distinguished owners in nearly 100 years and an unmatched record of profitability, Dana Ranch is true “Legacy Ranch.” According to broker Dave Johnson with Hall and Hall, Dana Ranch “combines the very best features of an outstanding operating ranch with the aesthetic qualities, wildlife and fisheries resources of a more recreationally oriented ranch.”

Dana Ranch is listed with Hall and Hall. For more information, contact Dave Johnson at (406) 587-3090 or davej@hallandhall.com.

Click here to see the full list of Land Report’s Top Ten leading land listings.

Land Report Top 10: Rockpile Ranch

Situated along the scenic loop in the Davis Mountains in West Texas lies Rockpile Ranch, which was named for the massive geologic formations located at the entrance of the ranch.

Comprised of 55,374 acres, this historic ranching operation represents some of the best cow/calf range in the West Texas cow-country. This ranch features some of the most spectacular scenery in West Texas, ranging from rugged interior mountain crags and slopes to expansive rolling grasslands between picturesque high peaks within Rockpile’s boundaries. There is also a very large, spring-fed canyon that nurtures some of the most remarkable old-growth wild black cherry and rare Texas madrone groves in Texas on this ranch.

The mature pine, alligator juniper, and large native oak woodlands on this property create an exceptional habitat for wildlife, including a diverse resident bird population and several migratory bird species during the spring and fall seasons. The dense grasslands provide excellent habitat for an extensive wildlife population, from Texas mule deer, pronghorn and white tail deer to hogs, grey fox and javelin.

Available for only the third time in over a century, this historic ranch is listed with King Land and Water. For more information, contact James King at (432) 426-2024 or via email at james@kinglandwater.com.

Click here to see the full list of Land Report’s Top Ten priciest properties.

Sold! Montana’s Historic Horse Ranch

Nestled in the rolling hills of Central Montana, the historic Horse Ranch sold in December 2011. According to listing broker Mike Swan of Bates Sanders Swan Land Company, the ranch is “a rare combination of privacy, beauty, and scale in a contiguous block of deeded acreage that is very difficult to find in today’s western land market.”

Ryan Flair of Fay Ranches represented the buyer. The initial owners, a prominent Fergus County family,  began assembling this magnificent property in the 1880s to supply remount horses for the U.S. Cavalry.  The new—and only the third—owner of the Horse Ranch looks forward to continuing the land stewardship of these two preceding Western pioneers.

Comprised of 25,323± acres, this ranch contains sufficient hay meadows and summer pasture to comfortably run 700 to 750 head of brood cows on a year-round basis plus a full complement of heifers and bulls. The deep timbered draws and grassy plateaus on this property also provide prime habitat for the resident elk herds, trophy mule deer, antelope, wild turkey and upland game birds, including sharp-tailed grouse, pheasant and sage grouse.

Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.

 

 

Land Report January 2012 Newsletter

Here’s a great way to start your year: the January edition of The Land Report newsletter.

This issue is chock full of stories and links to essential resources, including the Winter 2011 issue of The Land Report and of course January’s Land Report Top Ten.

As you might imagine, December wrapped up with a slew of end-of-the-year closings, and several key ones are detailed in the January newsletter, including the sale of Montana’s Horse Ranch and the sealed-bid auction of the Robert Mondavi Estate in Napa.

For more up to the minute reports on listings, auctions, sales, and breaking news pertaining to land and landowners, be sure to follow The Magazine of the American Landowner on Facebook and Twitter.

P.S. Our award-winning quarterly magazine is available in a print version via subscription.

Our Holiday Gift to You: The Story of Taylor’s Trees

Most everyone who knew Taylor Emmons marveled at his athletic abilities, sense of sportsmanship, love of the outdoors, and his empathetic nature. His untimely passing was felt by thousands, as evidenced by the capacity crowd at his celebration of life service. Thanks to his purpose-driven father, a ton of collective effort, and some foresight from Taylor himself, the passions that marked this great kid’s life will be perpetuated through the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund and Taylor’s Trees. At the heart of these dual philanthropic tributes is a rich parcel of Maine timberland.

This whole process started before Taylor died, and it just kind of dovetailed into his legacy,” says his father, Mike Emmons. Some seven years ago, the family moved from Maine to Sarasota so that Taylor’s older brother, Mikey, could develop his baseball skills at the world renowned IMG Academy. Taylor was enrolled at The Out-of-Door Academy (ODA), and he flourished at the college prep school. The National Honor Society member was captain of the golf team, co-captain of the baseball team, and named Homecoming King by his schoolmates. “He loved The Out-of-Door Academy,” says his dad. “He did well academically, did very well in sports, and was just a very popular kid.”

Taylor graduated from ODA and was a University of Miami sophomore when he was fatally struck by an SUV near the Coral Gables campus in December 2010. He was 19.

“The thing about Taylor — and it’s easy for me to say because I was his dad — but you talk to anybody and they’ll tell you that even though he was a really good looking kid and a good athlete, he treated everybody the same. He liked everybody, and everybody liked him. I don’t know what the final number was, but when he died, the funeral home had never seen a crowd that big.”

Emmons, a 30-year veteran of the land game, got his start with Harry Patten in 1980 (see Land Report Summer 2009). He also pursued investments on his own. A few years ago, he came across the parcel of timberland from which Taylor’s Trees would evolve.

“I had an acquisitions guy who was out looking for property,” Emmons recalls. “I had moved to Florida and went up to Maine for a week to Sugarloaf to go skiing, and he said, ‘Mike, I think you ought to come take a look at this piece of property. It seems like a pretty good deal.’

“So I skipped a day of skiing and went and looked at this piece of property in Maine. It was a great deal, and I bought it. It was 9,000 acres. It didn’t really have any timber value. About 2,000 acres had been put into a conservation easement to protect the two streams. I took the other 7,000 acres and subdivided it into some 500-acre tracts and just never got around to selling it. The more time I spent up there, the more I fell in love with the place. The idea of owning 7,000 acres and growing timber on it and passing it on to my kids started appealing to me. So I decided not to sell it,” he says.

During his junior year, Taylor had participated in an Out-of-Door Academy program in which the school’s students stuffed backpacks with basic school necessities for kids without the means to buy them themselves. The experience was an eye-opener, and the teen expressed concern about the thousands of homeless kids in otherwise affluent Sarasota.

“Taylor said, ‘there seems to me there’s something we ought to be able to do,’” recalls his dad. “It really bothered him.” The thought stuck with Mike as well:

“I got to thinking about it from time to time, and then one day I got a call from Josh Rhodes, who hunts bear on our property in Maine. Josh says, ‘do you mind if my wife goes tipping on your property?’ I said, ‘Under one condition. You’ve got to send me a wreath.’ So two weeks later, I get this absolutely beautiful wreath from the clippings off my property, and it smells just like Maine. I got to thinking that maybe we could grow some Christmas trees and ship them down here and the kids from the academy, in conjunction with the underprivileged kids, could sell them [as a fundraiser].” After factoring in the logistics of clearing the land, planting 1,000 trees per acre, and shipping the harvested ones from Maine to Florida, Emmons realized it could be more than a moneymaker. As Taylor had hoped, it could be a great way to help others.

While the first crop of trees grew in, wreath sales would provide a little cash flow. At the same time they would help develop a customer base.

“Originally my thought was to raise money for the school as well as the disadvantaged kids,” he says.

Emmons and David Mahler, headmaster at ODA, held a series of meetings to discuss the project. Mahler was intrigued with the idea and encouraged Emmons to pursue it. “We talked about it before Taylor’s passing, the idea of using some of the proceeds from the tree farm to help these kids,” says Mahler. Today, Emmons’s long-term goal is to create a place in Maine where students from ODA and underprivileged kids from Sarasota can experience the great outdoors while hunting, fishing, pulling lobster traps, and, of course, planting trees.

“It takes about six years for a planted pine to become marketable,” Emmons says. “My daughter, Samantha, was moving from the Lower School to the Upper School, and I said, ‘wouldn’t that be cool if the kids who were in sixth grade actually participated in planting the trees, then six years later, when they’re harvested, they’re actually selling the trees that they helped plant six years before?’”

As summer 2010 got underway, Emmons’s crew cleared the land and planted the first 4,000 trees. Six months later, Taylor’s life was tragically cut short. In lieu of flowers or other tokens of sympathy, the family established the Taylor William Emmons Scholarship Fund and asked for donations in Taylor’s name.

“We’ve received over $136,000 in donations from family, friends, and people we didn’t even know,” Emmons says. “The outpouring was just incredible. To this day the money still pours in.”

In keeping with the legacy, the memorial foundation has partnered with All Faiths Food Bank to sell handmade wreaths from Taylor’s Trees in Maine. All proceeds from the sale of the 22-inch double-sided wreaths will go to the Taylor William Emmons Scholarship Fund and the corresponding backpack program, which feeds hungry children through the food bank.

This past June, the ODA’s baseball field was dedicated in Taylor’s honor. Topping off the ceremony was the announcement of Desmond Lindsay as the first recipient of a Taylor William Emmons Scholarship.

“Desmond possesses a lot of Taylor’s qualities. We have no doubt … he is going to carry on his name perfectly,” says Taylor’s mom, Katie.

“What I want is that every year a kid gets to go to the academy because of Taylor,” Mike Emmons says. “I want to have four kids in the school on scholarship in Taylor’s name. One in every class.” To that end, Emmons has set a goal to generate $1 million so that the scholarship fund can be self-sustaining.

Says David Mahler, “Taylor was a great kid: a strong student, an exceptional athlete, fun-loving, friendly, and outgoing. The Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund is an incredible way to maintain Taylor’s legacy. It’s really a testament to Mike and Katie and the strength of the Emmons family that in a time of such sorrow and sadness, they’ve decided to changes lives for the better. This scholarship will change innumerable lives going forward.”

The Emmons family also has a living, breathing memento of Taylor’s big-heartedness. Through a Facebook connection, Taylor rescued a dog while in college. When he brought Bella home for Thanksgiving, Mike insisted that Taylor take her to the local shelter in Bradenton. His message was a simple one: college is no place to raise a pet.

The day after Taylor’s tragic accident, his older brother, Mikey, rallied the family to call the shelter and get Bella back. Though she had already been adopted, the shelter understood the family’s circumstances, and made the necessary arrangements for Bella to come home. Another timeless reminder of this wonderful life. — Nancy Myers

To place a wreath order, log on to www.temmons.org. To learn more about the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund, call Executive Director Sandy Albano at (941) 915-9249 or send her an email at salbano@temmons.org.

Sold! Wyoming’s Bighorn Lodge

Surrounded on three sides by Grand Teton National Park in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the Bighorn Lodge sold last week in an auction that included bidders from eight states; the winning bidder is from New Hampshire.

Sitting on 5.32 acres, Bighorn Lodge features breathtaking and unobstructed mountain views. As a premier mountain residence built with “museum quality” Western Cedar logs from British Columbia, Canada, this luxury property is considered to be the most beautiful log home in Jackson Hole and the entire Rocky Mountain region.

Its proximity to Jackson Hole allows for endless outdoor activities, from world-class alpine skiing and fishing to hunting, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing.

Auctioned by Concierge Auctions, the final price and buyer are confidential.

Land Report Top 10: Hana Ranch

Situated in the tropical setting of eastern Maui, Hana Ranch is considered one of the most beautiful locations in the world.

Featuring two miles of Pacific oceanfront that rises over 2,200 feet up the slopes of Haleakala, this 4,500± acre working cattle ranch sits in one of the last places in Hawaii that remains untouched by the stresses of urbanization and over-development.

As a founding member of the Maui Cattle Company, which is known for its all-natural grass fed beef, the ranch’s cattle operation includes a cow herd of approximately 1,200 and produces 1,000 calves per year.

Hana Ranch is listed with Island Sotherby’s International Realty. For more information, contact Dan Omer at (808) 281-2100.

Click here to see the full list of Land Report’s Top Ten priciest properties.

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