Impending auctions of key parcels, record-setting new listings, fire-sale prices on bankrupt holdings – the number of transactions taking place in all sectors is quite encouraging and, as you will soon read, in all parts of the country.

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.

Related posts:

1. Land Report July 2011 NewsletterThere’s a lot of ground to cover in the July...
2. Land Report March 2011 NewsletterTake a look at this month’s edition of The Land...
3. Land Report April 2011 NewsletterConsider the plight of Chantelle and Michael Sackett. In 2007,...
4. The Land Report Summer 2011The Summer 2011 issue of the Magazine of the American...
5. America’s Top Brokerages and Auction Houses: Farmers National CompanyFarmers National Company was begun in 1929—historically not a banner...

This week, Ultra Resources confirmed that the company had purchased 18,000 acres of the Banning Lewis Ranch for $20 million. With the sale now complete, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and the City of Colorado Springs will need to determine whether the city land-use agreements related to the city’s 1988 annexation of the ranch should remain intact.

Confirming the purchase of the ranch, an Ultra spokeswoman said that the company expects to drill for oil and natural gas on the ranch. And it appears that the Banning Lewis deal may be just one part of Ultra’s plans for drilling in the area, as the company paid $1.67 million in July and August to Denver-based Pine Ridge Oil & Gas for leases on nearly 100,000 acres of land in eastern El Paso County and an exploratory well east of Fountain.

According to Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach, the sale of most of Banning Lewis Ranch to Ultra means “there is a real possibility that the Banning Lewis Ranch will not be built into residential and commercial neighborhoods as previously expected.”

In a statement, Colorado Springs City Attorney Chris Melcher said that the city will continue negotiations with Ultra “to reach a satisfactory resolution of the annexation issues, but if that effort is not successful the city intends to seek enforcement of all rights and responsibilities under the agreement in the Colorado bankruptcy court of Colorado state court.”

Click HERE to read more.

Related posts:

1. Sold! Texas’s Camp Cooley RanchSEPTEMBER 6 UPDATE: Camp Cooley Ranch sold at auction for...
2. For Sale: Colorado’s Dallenbach RanchSpring 2011 Pricing Update: Colorado’s 130-acre Dallenbach Ranch now offered...
3. On the Block: The Yellowstone Club’s 160-Acre Family CompoundNestled in the heart of the world’s only private ski...

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.

Related posts:

1. On the Block: Oklahoma’s Bird Creek Ranch“This land is ideal for the investor seeking to increase...
2. For Sale: Canadian River RanchAnyone familiar with the history of the American West knows...
3. Land Report July 2011 NewsletterThere’s a lot of ground to cover in the July...
4. For Sale: Texas’s Beck RanchThis diverse Texas Panhandle ranch has been owned by the...

There’s a lot of ground to cover in the July edition of The Land Report newsletter: auctions, equities, timberland, and several political developments affecting landowners, ranging from the passage of key legislation by the Texas Legislature to the appointment of Dan Ashe to head the federal agency that many landowners know on a firsthand basis, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

From a research standpoint, a new frontrunner has emerged atop The Land Report Top Ten, which features the country’s leading investment quality land listings. Count on The Magazine of the American Landowner to follow the $100 million listing of Wyoming’s Walton Ranch by Ranch Marketing Associates in the months ahead.

For more up to the minute reports on listings, sales, and countless other stories 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.

Related posts:

1. Land Report April 2011 NewsletterConsider the plight of Chantelle and Michael Sackett. In 2007,...
2. Land Report March 2011 NewsletterTake a look at this month’s edition of The Land...
3. The Land Report Summer 2011The Summer 2011 issue of the Magazine of the American...
4. For Sale: Vermont’s Teal FarmSet at the western base of Camels Hump State Park,...
5. The Land Report Spring 2011NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana headlines the Spring 2011...

Nestled in the heart of the world’s only private ski and golf community, the 160-acre Family Compound is without question the most unique offering ever presented in the history of the Yellowstone Club. The story of the property dates to the founding of the club itself when Tim and Edra Blixseth retained ownership of a 160-acre site inside its boundaries. The couple built two 2,240-square-foot, 3-bedroom residences that were to serve as guest homes for a main residence that was never constructed.

Situated at the end of a long, secluded driveway, each of the cabins features an open floor plan, vaulted ceilings, massive wood-burning fireplaces, and large floor-to-ceiling windows. Beautifully appointed bathrooms and well-designed kitchens round out the interiors, while an expansive outdoor living area creates an ideal setting for nights out beneath the Montana sky. Yellow Mule Creek runs year round through the property’s western boundary.

It is this acreage and improvements that are to be auctioned by Edra Blixseth’s bankruptcy estate pursuant to a court-approved bidding and auction process. CrossHarbor Capital Partners has tendered a stalking horse bid of $10,850,000, consisting of $850,000 in cash and $10 million in a credit bid against CrossHarbor’s lien on the Family Compound. Per the court’s order, the minimum required for qualified competing bids by third parties is $11.1 million. Deadline for submission of the $11.1 million is 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time on May 16. The receipt of qualified competing bid(s) will result in an open outcry auction to be held at 9:00 a.m. Mountain Time on May 20, 2011 at the offices of Datsopolous, MacDonald and Lind in Missoula, Montana.

Membership to The Yellowstone Club is not included as part of this offering. The buyer may apply to The Yellowstone Club for membership, however, membership is not guaranteed. Independent investigation is advised. Additional information about the auction and the rules governing competing bids will be made available upon request.

To obtain a due diligence package and schedule a private viewing of the Family Compound at Yellowstone Club, please contact:

Bill McDavid
Hall and Hall
406-542-3762
mcdavid@hallandhall.com

Related posts:

1. Bank of America Buys Kluge’s Virginia EstateBank of America paid $15+ million for Patricia Kluge’s legendary...
2. America’s Top Brokerages and Auction Houses: Farmers National CompanyFarmers National Company was begun in 1929—historically not a banner...
3. Trump Buys Kluge Winery at AuctionDonald Trump has increased his holdings in the heart of...
4. For Sale: Montana’s Engwis RanchThree and a half miles of the Yellowstone River course...

Bank of America paid $15+ million for Patricia Kluge’s legendary Virginia horse country estate at a foreclosure auction on the steps of the Albemarle Circuit Court House in February. The lender filed a foreclosure lawsuit last month after Kluge defaulted on $23 million in loans.

Among the bidders were representatives of Donald Trump from the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Trump has already acquired 200 acres abutting the 100-acre estate and is rumored to be negotiating for Kluge’s 900-acre winery.

Completed in 1985, Albemarle is an eight-bedroom, thirteen-bath manor and was originally listed with Sotheby’s International Realty for $100 million in 2009. The price subsequently dropped to $24 million.

Related posts:

1. America’s Best Brokerages: Harrigan Land CompanyDave and Hunter Harrigan (pictured here) are the father-and-son team...
2. America’s Best Brokerages: Hall and HallSince 1946, Hall and Hall has done it all: mortgages,...

Charlotte-based Crescent Resources filed for bankruptcy protection in Austin on June 10 listing assets and liabilities in excess of $1 billion. Founded in 1969, the developer is owned by Duke Energy and Morgan Stanley’s real-estate fund unit and has interests in 35 residential and commercial projects in 10 states, including country-club communities, mixed-use developments, and Class A office space in the Southeast and Southwest.

Crescent lost $420 million in 2008, according to the Charlotte Observer, and will seek protection from as many as 10,000 creditors.

The company issued the following press release at its website:

Crescent Resources announced that, as part of its ongoing strategy to reduce the company’s debt level and improve its capital structure, Crescent Resources, LLC and certain of its subsidiaries have filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Western District of Texas, Austin Division.

The company intends to operate its continuing businesses without any significant interruption during the restructuring process. In addition, the company has obtained a Debtor-in-Possession financing facility of $110 million from a group of its existing lenders, which will provide sufficient funds to operate its ongoing business activities.

Crescent also announced today that Arthur Fields, chief executive officer of Crescent Resources, has retired from the company and will continue to work with the company in an advisory capacity. Effective immediately, Andrew Hede, Crescent’s chief restructuring officer, will also serve as chief executive officer. Mr. Hede, a managing director with Alvarez & Marsal North America, LLC, has more than 15 years of financial restructuring and business experience. Mr. Hede has worked with numerous companies, including national and regional homebuilders and real estate developers, to develop and implement financial and operational restructurings and recapitalization strategies.

“We have been in active discussions with our lenders and other stakeholders as we work towards an agreement that will bring our capital structure in line with the current economic environment,” said Andrew Hede. “Those discussions are continuing, and we are pleased with the ongoing support we have received from our lenders. We believe this process will lead to a stronger financial foundation for the company and its stakeholders and that it will better position us to serve our customers and partners over the longer term.

“Despite the unprecedented challenges facing the real estate industry, we believe Crescent’s underlying business model is solid, and our assets remain very attractive. We are encouraged that our lenders have agreed to provide additional funding to support our continued operations and allow us to maintain the high level of service and amenities our customers have come to expect. We intend to reach an agreement on our new capital structure and emerge from bankruptcy quickly,” Hede continued.“

On behalf of the Board and all the employees of Crescent, I would like to thank Art for his tremendous service to Crescent and the entire real estate industry over his long and successful career,” continued Mr. Hede. “He was instrumental in building Crescent into one of the leading real estate development companies in the country, and we are pleased that he will continue to serve as an advisor to the company.”

“Crescent Resources has the best assets and more importantly the most dedicated and passionate employees in the industry. I am confident that this restructuring will position the company better for the future,” said Mr. Fields. “It has been a privilege to work with such a talented team. I can move on secure in the knowledge that Crescent will build on its track record as one of the leaders in the real estate industry.”

As part of its Chapter 11 filing, the company is seeking Court approval to make certain payments and to maintain key agreements with employees, customers, vendors and partners of continuing operations to ensure the company can maintain its commitment to delivering a high level of amenities and services.

About Crescent Resources

Crescent Resources, LLC, is a land management and real estate development company with interests in 10 states in the southeastern and southwestern United States. Based in Charlotte, Crescent Resources is a joint venture between Duke Energy and Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund. Established in 1969, Crescent creates mixed-use developments, award-winning country club communities, single-family neighborhoods, apartment and condominium communities, Class A office space, business and industrial parks and shopping centers. Visit www.crescent-resources.com for more information.

Read the complete announcement at the Crescent Resources website, June 10, 2009.

No related posts.

CrossHarbor Capital Partners LLC paid $115 million to buy Montana’s Yellowstone Club out of bankruptcy court yesterday. The Boston-based private-equity firm agreed to pay $35 million in cash and assume $80 million in debt owed to Credit Suisse. CrossHarbor will also infuse up to $75 million in working capital.

CrossHarbor’s principal, Sam Byrne, is a Yellowstone Club member, and has been closely following its fortunes. In 2008, CrossHarbor attempted to acquire the club for $450 million.

According to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the sale capped a week of non-stop negotations in the court of federal bankruptcy Judge Ralph Kirscher. The only other bidder was Credit Suisse, which in 2005 loaned $375 million to Tim and Edra Blixseth, the now divorced couple who jointly founded the club.

As part of the final deal, Credit Suisse will be allowed to co-invest in the club with CrossHarbor. Credit Suisse also received additional assets, including Yellowstone Club real estate and a castle in France that the Blixseths had acquired. Unsecured creditors were recognized by the court as $19 million was set aside to pay local vendors, tradesmen, and others.

This marks the second major bankruptcy ruling in as many months involving Credit Suisse. In April the Promontory Club outside of Park City, Utah, sold to the Pivotal Group for $30 million. Credit Suisse had put together a $350 million loan package for Pivotal, which it used to develop the resort community before seeking bankruptcy protection.

According to the CrossHarbor website, the LLC “is an active investor in the distressed securities market. We invest in a wide variety of securities including real estate loans, corporate loans, and structured securities that are suffering from stress including monetary and/or technical defaults.”

Read more at:
“Cross Harbor Wins Yellowstone Auction,” Bozeman Daily Chronicle, May 18, 2009.

No related posts.

The world’s only private ski and golf community has sought bankruptcy protection. The Yellowstone Club, an exclusive 13,400-acre retreat in Montana’s Gallatin Mountains whose members include Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates and former vice president Dan Quayle, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in federal bankruptcy court yesterday.

It wasn’t too long ago that the Yellowstone Club was making headlines of a different sort. Just last year it announced the construction of the world’s most expensive residence, a $155-million monstrosity whose 53,000-square-foot mansion sat on 160 acres and featured a private ski lift. Its extravagance, A-list clientele, and gorgeous setting made the club a media darling. Its website features links to articles in the Robb Report, Conde Nast Traveller, and The New York Times Magazine.

But a string of bad news has plagued the club’s founders, Tim and Edra Blixseth, who rank No. 33 on The Land Report 100 with estimated landholdings of 213,895 acres, including 180,000 acres of former Boise Cascade land in Idaho.

In August the club paid $39.5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by a group of members, including Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, who alleged that the Blixseths had tried to buy out their stake in the club for less than its true value. The Blixseths themselves have recently divorced. And, on Monday, the club announced that it had been unable to secure financing arrangements with its creditors and bondholders. It plans to reorganize its finances and emerge from bankruptcy “as soon as possible,” the statement said.

According to the Associated Press, the move comes two months after the club announced an ambitious expansion plan in conjunction with Arizona-based Discovery Land Co.

No related posts.