Lost Willow Horse Ranch

Three Purchase Options

Option One: Entire Ranch

Option Two: House & 200 Acres

Option Three: 465 Acres & 125 Head Forest Permit

The Lost Willow Horse Ranch is located 24+/- miles north of Dillon, Montana and 40+/- miles south of Butte, Montana. This 665+/- acre ranch lies at the foot of the Pioneer Mountain Range on the west side of Interstate 15. Dillon supports a population of 5,000 people and is rich in small town atmosphere, mining history, railroad history, ranching history, and the Lewis and Clark Trail. The tiny towns of Glen and Melrose, Montana lie just a couple of miles north of the ranch on Highway 91 North providing great food, shops, fly fishing, and friendly people. Butte is home to Bert Mooney International Airport and provides major airline service. Dillon’s private airstrip has a runway of 6,500 feet and can handle most any private aircraft. The valley is surrounded with beautiful mountain ranges including the Blacktail, Sweetwater, Ruby, Pioneer and Tobacco Root Ranges.

Access:

Lost Willow Horse Ranch access is provided via Interstate 15, approximately 24+/- miles north of Dillon at the Glen Exit. After exiting Interstate 15, travel several feet west under the freeway and take an immediate left which will take you south, parallel with the interstate. Approximately 1/4 mile after heading south on the frontage road, you’ll take a right through the ranch entry way. For a land mark you can use the little log structure right by the road.

Acreage:

The Lost Willow Horse Ranch consists of 665 +/- acres in a contiguous block at the foot of the beautiful Pioneer Mountains. Numerous acres on this property are irrigated, two pivots in good working order, irrigate two of the hayfields and historically there have been other acreage under hand-line or wheel-line. The rest of the ranch consists of native pasture in grasses and sage brush. A large spring is located just behind the house and would offer the owner numerous opportunity for development. Irrigated Acres—200 +/- Sub-Irrigated Acres—75 +/- Native Pasture—390 +/-

Improvements:

The Lost Willow Ranch is very adequately improved for a ranch of this size. The main residence is a beautiful 4,000 +/- square foot log home. Three bedrooms and two bathrooms with a large covered deck on the front and a great rear deck, this house has all the comforts you could ask for. Next to the main residence is a small log guest cabin. This cabin is perfect for family or friends. A newer modular home with two bedrooms and one bathroom in excellent condition is just behind the guest cabin. Below the modular is a heated metal shop with large bay doors, perfect to pull any equipment in for repairs. Finally the heated metal barn with cement flooring and a nice set of corrals rounds off the improvements for this property.

Recreation:

Although the Lost Willow Ranch does not have any fishing on the property, it’s location gives the ranch that aspect. The Big Hole River and numerous access points are within minutes of the property. The Beaverhead River, one of Montana’s best tail water fisheries, is a 20 minute drive. Within an hour or two are numerous other blue ribbon rivers such as the Madison, Jefferson, Clark Fork, Yellowstone, Gallatin and others. In the Forest Service behind the property you’ll find numerous lakes and streams teeming with small trout. What a great feeling to ride in from your own property and spend a weekend camping out at these incredible mountain lakes.

This is a true hunting ranch. The deeded property itself sustains a healthy population of both species of deer. The public lands behind the ranch have a nice population of elk which frequent the property. As the winter comes, the animals find the irrigated hay fields to good to resist and being able to access the forest at a point the rest of the public can’t is also a great advantage.

This property lends itself to other recreation as well. Horseback riding, camping, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, and hiking can all be found on or near the property. The area surrounding the ranch is rich in mining and ranching history. Take a drive through Birch Creek into Argenta and then over Badger Pass to the town of Bannack. This property is centered perfectly for anyone looking for a great recreational property.

Leases & Permits:

The cattle leases involved with this particular ranch are very handy to say the least. Both the BLM and Forest Service Permits are 125 head each. The BLM permit occurs first and is right out the back boundary of the ranch. Once your time is up on the BLM, you are required to move them on to the forest, which lies right behind the BLM. With everything running contiguous, the cattle never have to be trucked anywhere making this very convenient. BLM—Turn on May 15th and come off June 16th Forest Service— Turn on June 16th and come off September 30th.

Broker's Comments:

"The Lost Willow Ranch is a great opportunity for a small agricultural cattle operation or a great horse ranch mixed with excellent recreation."