Sold! Texas’s Camp Cooley Ranch

SEPTEMBER 6 UPDATE:

Camp Cooley Ranch sold at auction for $28.5 million to Circle X Land and Cattle Company August 4. Twenty-two qualified bidders, along with their families, attorneys, lenders, and consultants, attended the auction, which was held at the Robertson County ranch. The $28.5 million sale price included surface and mineral/royalty interests. All equipment and personal property was offered through a separate transaction.

According to Bernard Uechtritz of Great Estates Ranches, Camp Cooley ranks as one of the most beautiful ranches in the nation, thanks to its topography, abundant waters, and multi-million-dollars of improvements. “In the cattle industry, Camp Cooley is a major brand name,” he said. Uechtritz coordinated the extensive marketing campaign leading up to the auction; the auction itself was overseen by Hall and Hall Auctions.

Read more details HERE.

JULY 25 UPDATE:

In the midst of a statewide drought that is crippling Texas farms and ranches, Camp Cooley Ranch continues to thrive.

“Camp Cooley is an oasis,” says Bernard Uechtritz during a telephone conversation from the headquarters of the Central Texas ranch. “Every other ranch I’ve seen over the last few weeks has browned up, but not Camp Cooley. It continues to irrigate, to fertilize, and to bale hay. Take a look at that aerial video at Camp Cooley.com. We shot that two weeks ago, and everything was still green. Still is. Name another ranch in Texas that is baling hay in late July.” According to Uechtritz, Camp Cooley Ranch has a year round carrying capacity of 4,000 head, and as recently as two weeks ago was running 4,700 head.

As the August 4 auction deadline approaches, Uechtritz reports that multiple stalking horse bids have been received for specific assets as well as for the entire ranch. “The action has been terrific. We’ve easily had 20-plus parties tour the ranch and given it a serious look,” Uechtritz says.

Leading the list has been a large number of cattle companies that recognize Camp Cooley’s turnkey potential. “Readers of The Land Report would immediately recognize the names of many of these famous ranch operators. These guys know what a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity Camp Cooley presents,” Uechtritz says. Other parties who have toured the ranch have eyed the mineral rights, the water rights, royalty revenues, the hunting preserve, and the possibility of developing a wetlands mitigation bank.

“Watching the interest build around Camp Cooley has been extremely exciting for Hall and Hall,” Scott Shuman says, head of Hall and Hall’s Auction Division. “When you get a property with the history and the potential of Camp Cooley and combine it with such close proximity to major metropolitan areas such as Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio, it’s bound to generate a ton of interest. And we’re definitely seeing that. I expect the pace to pick up even more as the auction date approaches.”

Buyer’s registration forms and bidder’s packets for the invitational auction are being released on Friday, July 22. Bidders must pre-qualify and be invited to attend the August 4th auction, which is presently scheduled to take place at Camp Cooley Ranch. Through the protected buyer process that was approved by the court, there is also the possibility of a private treaty sale prior to the August 4 auction.

Learn more HERE.

JULY 15 POST:

A Texas icon goes on the block this August as Camp Cooley Ranch is to be auctioned off by Hall and Hall Auctions. At 10,600± acres, Camp Cooley is one of the largest properties in close proximity to Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. A sophisticated multi‐level turnkey cattle and commercial hay operation, Camp Cooley generated more than $700,000 in grazing revenues, more than $1.5 million from commercial hay operations, and more than $1.4 million in gas royalties in 2010. In addition, there are considerable untapped revenue streams associated with existing gas and water rights. Located in the heart of the Lone Star State near Franklin, Camp Cooley will be auctioned by Hall and Hall as a single tract on August 4, 2011.

Download a comprehensive presentation with complete details via PDF HERE, or take a tour online at Camp Cooley.com.

LOCATION

Camp Cooley Ranch is located in Robertson County in the heart of Central Texas and is bounded by the Navasota River to the east. Approximate drive times are as follows: Bryan-College Station, 30 minutes; Austin, 90 minutes; Houston, two+ hours; Dallas, two+ hours; San Antonio, three hours.

HISTORY

The ranch takes its name from the Civil War

Houston entrepreneur Bert Wheeler assembled Camp Cooley from dozens of neighboring tracts. As Camp Cooley’s renown grew, Wheeler hosted such Texas luminaries as John Connally and Lyndon Johnson.

Under current owner Klaus Birkel, Camp Cooley Genetics has become one of the country’s best known seedstock cattle operation, running up to 4,500 cow/calf pairs and as many as 2,000 bulls.

ASSETS

Ranch headquarters is a 8,590-square-foot lakeside main residence. Improvements include a 15-suite executive office complex, meeting rooms, and security and communication systems to monitor the ranch.

The entire ranch is served by a computer-monitored water well system, including all residences, barns, workshops, a multi‐use sale pavilion, and the breeding and cattle workstations. There are approximately 84 miles of roads in place on Camp Cooley.

Camp Cooley boasts rolling terrain that boasts numerous lakes, abundant woodlands, as well as wetlands that are ideal for development as a mitigation bank. The ranch’s 1,000‐acre exotic game preserve is among the oldest in the state and could be increased in size.

OPPORTUNITY

Qualified bids need to be submitted by Wednesday, July 27 at 5 p.m. (CST). For more information on this auction, contact Bernard Uechtritz at (214) 608-8567 or Scott Shuman at (800) 829-8747.

For Sale: Canadian River Ranch

Anyone familiar with the history of the American West knows the legend and lore that surrounds the historic XIT Ranch, whose 3 million acres encompassed the bulk of the western edge of the Texas Panhandle. The Canadian River Ranch covers some 111 square miles of the old XIT, including substantial frontage on both sides of its namesake, the Canadian River. The ranch’s varied topography rises from wide river bottoms to iconic mesas, but throughout its history it has been operated as a commercial cattle outfit.

Located 65 miles northwest of Amarillo, the ranch can also be accessed via a paved 4,500-foot land strip situated close to the headquarters. The ranch’s 7,000-square-foot, 6-bedroom, 6½-bathroom lodge is just one of many well maintained improvements, which include a ranch manager’s house, pilot’s quarters, barns, pens, and housing for the hands.

These 71,059 acres combine to form one of the largest contiguous land holdings inthe Texas Panhandle. The ranch is watered by 26 miles of the Canadian River. Not surprisingly, the Canadian River Ranch boasts exceptional hunting. Two state record mule deer have been recently harvested, and elk, bear, and mountain lion have also been sighted.

$33.753 million ($475 per acre)
(806) 763-5331
www.chassmiddleton.com

Texas Bans Private Transfer Fees

Gov. Rick Perry signed into law legislation that bans private transfer fees to developers. With Perry’s signature, Texas joins 33 other states in banning or restricting private transfer fees.

A transfer fee is a percentage of a property’s sales price – typically 1 percent – that is remitted to a property’s original developer each time it sells.

Although not common in Texas, transfer fees are seen as a means to improve cash flow in down markets. The bill passed unanimously in the Texas Senate and 142-1 in the Texas House. Under the new legislation, new private transfer fees will not be allowed. Developers who have existing fees on properties must file a notice of the obligation in county property records by Jan. 31, 2012. Unless notice is filed and updated every three years, existing transfer fees will be voided.

Read more HERE.

On the Block: Oklahoma’s Bird Creek Ranch

UPDATE: Bird Creek Ranch sold as one parcel for $1.995 million ($1,304/acre) at public auction in Tulsa on May 23. The 1,530-acre holding was offered in 11 tracts ranging from 20 to 320 acres. More than 70 individuals attended the auction with 36 registering as bidders.

“The local real estate community seemed to be impressed with the outcome of the auction and many registered bidders expected the land to sell for under $1,000 per acre,” said Scott Shuman. “As a result of the auction we have now been asked to look at several other parcels of land for potential auctions. It was a great way to introduce the auction division of Hall and Hall.”

ORIGINAL POST: Hall and Hall Auctions will open the bidding on Bird Creek Ranch Monday afternoon, May 23, at one p.m (CST). The ranch’s 1,530± acres, which are located just minutes from downtown Tulsa, will be offered in 11 tracts ranging from 20 to 320 acres. All tracts have extensive frontage on paved Tulsa County roads. The southeast side of the property borders Bird Creek.

“Bird Creek is ideal for the investor seeking to increase his or her portfolio, or a local farm operator expanding an operation,” says Scott Shuman, who heads up Hall and Hall Auctions. “For the hunter or outdoor enthusiast, this property offers a tremendous opportunity.”

The multi-parcel method of sale will be used to allow ranchers, farmers, investors, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts to bid on individual tracts or the combination of tracts that best suits their needs.

Scott Shuman
Hall and Hall
(800) 829-8747

Southwestern States Enduring Extreme Drought

More than three-quarters of the Lone Star State is enduring extreme or exceptional drought conditions. Parts of the Oklahoma panhandle have gone without rain for over eight months. Some 9,000 wildfires have ravaged 2+ million acres of Texas terrain, including a substantial amount of pasture land.

Old timers are saying that the only difference between today’s drought conditions and the Dust Bowl days is they had water back in the 1930s.

“You hope God gives you the strength to get over the drought,” Matt Farmer, 51, told the Los Angeles Times. “If I fail, I’ve let my father and my father-in-law down. They all made it.”

Climatologists are blaming the current conditions on shifting rainfall patterns.

“‘Global weirding’ is the best way to describe what we are seeing,” said Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist at Texas Tech University. “There is a lot going on these days that’s not what we are used to seeing. What’s happening is our rainfall patterns are shifting. In some places it means more heavy rainfall, in some places it means more drought, in some places it means both.”

Read the complete story HERE.

For Sale: New Mexico’s Southern Cross Ranch

The Southern Cross controls over 70 square miles of the finest trophy elk habitat in North America: a total of 47,309 acres of which 33,514 are deeded. On this trophy property in western New Mexico, geography, genetics, and habitat combine to create an ecosystem that produces some of the largest bull elk anywhere. The Southern Cross is renowned for amazing numbers of 350- to 400-class bulls.

The Southern Cross has been superbly managed to maintain its status as one of America’s premier hunting destinations. A spectacular 6,000-square-foot log lodge is the centerpiece of the ranch. With six bedrooms, five and one half baths, and wraparound deck, the lodge treats guests luxuriously. A caretaker’s house, corrals, barn and meat cooler completes the outstanding facilities on the ranch. Southern Cross Ranch was recently allotted 49 bull elk tags and 14 cow elk tags.

Straddling both sides of the Continental Divide, the Southern Cross ranges in elevation from 7,300 to 8,200 feet, which makes it ideally situated for supporting thousands of acres of pinion pine and alligator juniper forest, interspersed with grassy meadows. Parts of the eastern portion of the ranch adjoin the Cibola National Forest. Much of the ranch’s terrain is rolling, and a good network of ranch roads provides vehicular access throughout. With wildlife and livestock management in mind, dozens of water sources have been developed throughout the ranch, utilizing both wind and solar power.

The Southern Cross is best known for its elk hunting, but its superb mule deer and antelope hunting are also available. As a combination cattle/hunting ranch or a hunting resort alone, the potential for this spectacular piece of western New Mexico may be unmatched anywhere in the United States. With excellent year-round access, the “land of giants” is located only 2.5 hours from Albuquerque and 3.5 hours from Santa Fe.

Dave Harrigan / Hunter Harrigan
www.harriganland.com
(800) 524-1818

America’s Top Brokerages and Auction Houses: Farmers National Company

Farmers National Company was begun in 1929—historically not a banner year for starting new businesses, but over 80 years have passed and the company is thriving. Originally, the company’s core business was farm management, and today it’s the largest, fastest-growing and most successful farm management company in the U.S. The full-service real estate company offers traditional listing services as well as auction services.

Where: Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Operates in 23 states, covering a wide swath of the middle of the country. Its newest office was just added in Washington state.

Why: “We completed nearly 200 successful auctions of over 41,000 acres in 2010,” say Lee Vermeer, VP of Real Estate Operations. The sheer reach of Farmers and impressive closed sale numbers are overwhelming.

Wow: “Farmers National Company has sold over 2,600 farms and ranches and completed 750 successful auctions, resulting in over $1.25 billion in sales in the last four years,” says Vermeer. “We have over 200 licensed agents, all of whom can offer full auction services.”

Farmers National Company
$135 million (2010 auction revenues)
www.farmersnational.com

For Sale: Texas’s Beck Ranch

This diverse Texas Panhandle ranch has been owned by the same family for 75 years and consists of 33,871± contiguous deeded acres. The Beck Ranch is a proven cow/calf or stocker operation with considerable irrigation development potential. Some 45 sections – 29,245 acres – are nutritious native grasses that are well divided with good cross fencing. In addition, 20 center pivot irrigation sprinklers cover another 2,700 acres. Punte de Aqua Creek traverses the Beck, providing excellent habitat for native whitetail and mule deer, blue and bobwhite quail, pheasant, and antelope.

$20 million
(806) 244-5121 • (806) 333-2346 mobile
www.CliftLandBrokers.com

Land Report 100: William Noble Lane II

Bill Lane believed in taking the “steeper path to the farther goal.” A visionary with an independent spirit, Lane’s love of the land and the Western lifestyle led him to resurrect New Mexico’s legendary Bell Ranch and return it to its former grandeur. The Bell and Lane’s other significant landholding, 7,600-acre Eldon Farms in rural Rappahannock County, Virginia, have been enjoyed by generations of the Lane family and have also served the public by preserving two beautiful and historic natural resources.

Lane’s road to the Bell Ranch began in 1947. A naval aviator during World War II, Lane, his brother, and a close friend made a modest investment in a struggling manufacturing company with sales of $250,000 and 20 employees. Under his leadership, General Binding Corporation grew into an industry giant. By 1967, the company, which by then had gone public, operated 17 plants around the world with offices in more than 50 countries and sales in excess of $20 million.

But business wasn’t Lane’s only strong suit. The Milwaukee-raised mogul possessed an uncanny ability to identify one-of-a-kind properties. His first major foray was in Virginia’s Piedmont Country. In the early 1960s, he discreetly acquired farm after farm in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains: Rappahannock, Culpeper, and Madison counties. Through more than 40 purchases, he assembled almost 9,300 contiguous acres. Devoted primarily to cattle as well as orchard and row crops, Eldon Farms evolved into one of Virginia’s largest private land holdings.

In 1969, Lane’s search for a sprawling spread led him to Northern New Mexico and the iconic Bell Ranch 150 miles east of Santa Fe. The Bell’s 130,855-acre headquarters had been the keystone of the historic Pablo Montoya Land Grant, a massive 655,468-acre holding whose storied past dated back to 1824. When Lane purchased the tract in 1970, it was the largest sale in the Southwest in decades. Lane made clear his intention to “keep the ranch running like it has been in the past—a real working ranch for the production of fine cattle.” The Bell Ranch became his passion, and, within a few years, he had increased its size to over 290,000 acres, almost half the size of the original Montoya grant.

Bill Lane’s ability to start small but think big was echoed in many aspects of his life, including his business career and his land holdings. Beginning with Eldon Farms and subsequently on the Bell Ranch, his wisdom in selecting properties with enduring value is even more apparent today than when he acquired them 40 and 50 years ago—a testament to his love of land.

America’s Best Brokerages: Harrigan Land Company

Dave and Hunter Harrigan (pictured here) are the father-and-son team who run Harrigan Land Company. Based in Colorado, the two cover a far-ranging territory that includes Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

Last week The Land Report caught up with Harrigans en route from their Colorado headquarters to Southwest New Mexico, where they have the listing on the $25 million Southern Cross Ranch, one of the finest elk hunting properties in the Lower 48.

“We’ve been real lucky these last few years. We specialize in elk hunting. That’s what we enjoy doing. That and fly-fishing. We only list ranches that we like, ones with big bulls and trout fisheries,” Hunter says.

A recent trend that Dave singles out is the focus by buyers on large parcels at low per-acre prices. “When you start putting big elk into the picture, if the price per acre seems reasonable, you get bigger bang for your buck. Plus, it’s a great place for people to park some money,” he says.

Hunter concurs. “Larger recreational ranches at a low price-per-acre is the trend we’re seeing. Like the Mangas Ranch. We just closed on it – 12,000 deeded and 60,000 leased – and it’s right next to the Southern Cross in Southwest New Mexico.

2010 Sales: < $50 Million

What Attracts Clients:“We deal only in larger fly-fishing and elk-hunting properties,” says Hunter.

Market Observation: “We’ve seen buyers looking for somewhere to park their money and ride the storm out.”

Harrigan Land Company
www.harriganland.com
(800) 524-1818

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