Exceptional Fishing on Private Ponds, Spring Creeks and the Gallatin River
Gallatin County
BAKER SPRINGS
Tucked along the lush riparian corridor of the world-famous Gallatin River sits an angler’s paradise in a private community – Baker Springs. The Property consists of approximately 20± acres of deeded ground on the banks of trout-rich Middle Pond capturing spectacular views of the surrounding mountain ranges and wildlife-rich riparian corridor. This small, exclusive development incorporates the finest attributes of a sporting property with private home sites offering maintenance-free living on 200± acres of shared open space in a spectacular location. The angling opportunities at Baker Springs are what set it apart from any other land offering in the Gallatin Valley. With private access to almost a mile of famed Baker Creek, direct access to the blue-ribbon fishery of the Gallatin River, five private ponds, and three private spring creeks, owners have exceptional fishing year-round.
Baker Springs sits in one of the Gallatin Valley’s most traditional agricultural locales – only 2.4 miles from charming downtown Manhattan, Montana, and within an easy 15-minute drive of the amenities of the thriving city of Bozeman. Residents of Baker Springs enjoy Montana living at its finest. A short stroll delivers residents to a diverse array of exceptional fishing options on the Property. As an added enhancement, the on-site caretaker and riverkeeper ensure residents’ privacy as well as provide exceptional fisheries management, property maintenance, and property enhancement.
Very rarely does a property become available that is in a secluded country setting with tremendous angling opportunity, while also providing easy access to the many amenities of a larger community. The Property allows the next fortunate owner to design and build their custom Montana home. Residents wanting out-the-door access to on-site sporting opportunities while being surrounded by open space requiring a minimum amount of maintenance will appreciate the quality of life at Baker Springs.
Approximate distances to other Montana cities and attractions are as follows:
Manhattan, MT Belgrade, MT Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport Bozeman, MT Bridger Bowl Ski Area – Bozeman, MT Big Sky Resort – Big Sky, MT Helena, MT Yellowstone National Park |
2.4 miles 7 miles 10.5 miles 18 miles 33 miles 60 miles 80 miles 96 miles |
The community of Baker Springs consists of 200± acres of common area with open meadows interspersed with ponds and spring creeks ranging from meandering Baker Creek to the cottonwood-lined banks of the world-famous Gallatin River. The deeded acreage is situated in the center of the community – the Property topography can generally be described as a river corridor setting with open meadows bordered by riparian areas along Middle Pond and Middle Creek. Middle Creek, a spring creek originating on the acreage, feeds the middle pond with cold, clean, nutrient-rich water to support the exceptional brown trout fishery. Numerous willow and cottonwood trees have been recently planted along the creek further enhancing the Property by providing shade, bank stabilization, and aesthetic value. Numerous maintained recreational trails can be found on the Property and numerous game trails exist within the river-bottom land. Willows and cottonwoods are prolific in the riparian bottoms and many species of wildlife frequent the Property including whitetail deer, moose, bald eagles, Canada geese, ducks, sandhill cranes, and wild turkey.
The community of Baker Springs consists of 200± acres of common area with open meadows interspersed with ponds and spring creeks ranging from meandering Baker Creek to the cottonwood-lined banks of the world-famous Gallatin River. The 20 acres are situated in the center of the community – the Property topography can generally be described as a river corridor setting with open meadows bordered by riparian areas along Middle Pond and Middle Creek. Middle Creek, a spring creek originating on the Property, feeds the middle pond with cold, clean, nutrient-rich water to support the exceptional brown trout fishery. Numerous willow and cottonwood trees have been recently planted along the creek further enhancing the Property by providing shade, bank stabilization, and aesthetic value. Numerous maintained recreational trails can be found on the Property and numerous game trails exist within the river-bottom land. Willows and cottonwoods are prolific in the riparian bottoms and many species of wildlife frequent the Property including whitetail deer, moose, bald eagles, Canada geese, ducks, sandhill cranes, and wild turkey.
The on-site angling opportunities at Baker Springs are unsurpassed in any property offering in the Gallatin Valley. The unique combination of Baker Creek, Gallatin River, spring creeks, and five ponds allows residents exceptional angling opportunities year-round. Baker Springs sits in a riparian area rich with abundant water resources providing excellent trout habitat. The vision for the private community was to provide a select few owners with outstanding and unpressured angling opportunities. The water resources, previously underutilized when the land was used as a working cattle ranch, have been restored and enriched to provide maximum angling opportunity while providing additional spawning habitat, cover, and healthy riparian vegetation. The numerous springs in the area provide cold, clean water necessary to sustain healthy aquatic insect and fish populations. The ponds were carefully designed by Joseph Urbani and Associates providing the correct attributes of cover, depth, structure – both onshore and below the water line – and necessary inlet flows. All too often, carefully-designed fisheries’ resources are not maintained or managed to provide optimum-angling opportunities – such is not the case at Baker Springs. The fisheries are very carefully managed for water quality, fish size, and aesthetic value by an on-site riverkeeper and property caretaker who continually monitors the resources.
Middle Pond
This spring-fed pond of approximately one acre is located on Lot 6. Brown trout thrive in this self-sustaining fishery.
Middle Creek
Also located on Lot 6, this small spring creek feeds Middle Pond and provides additional oxygen and spawning habitat for the pond.
Baker Creek
Providing anglers with over one mile of spring-creek frontage, Baker Creek provides cold, consistent water through meandering bends punctuated with deep-cut bank holding water and classic pool/riffle sequences. Baker Creek can produce some excellent hopper fishing for large brown trout.
Trout Creek
A small spring creek that meanders through the Property, Trout Creek has been restored with additional stream-side vegetation and enhanced cover, depth, and holding water. Primarily a rainbow trout fishery, Trout Creek offers anglers a small creek experience.
Baker Pond
This two-acre pond consists primarily of rainbow trout. Gentle banks make for easy casting.
Entry Pond
This small half-acre pond is located just inside the gates of the community.
Baker Spring Creek
Originating with cold-spring water near North Pond, Baker Spring Creek flows through the Property and returns into Baker Creek. Baker Spring Creek provides exceptional spawning habitat for Baker Creek fish. Good hatches occur in this creek and numerous “reds” can be found in the fall as the brown trout spawn.
Gallatin Pond
Located at the head of the trail leading to the Gallatin River frontage, this spring-fed one-acre pond provides anglers with a backdrop of large cottonwood trees and the river corridor while fishing for rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, and the occasional cutthroat trout.
Gallatin River
The world-famous Gallatin River runs through the Property providing multiple braided channels, riffles, runs, and deep pools. Open year-round, the Gallatin offers anglers seasonal hatches of caddis, March browns, blue-wing olives, and midges. It also offers the opportunity for trophy trout in an area of the river that is seldom fished.
North Pond
The largest and most fish-rich pond on the Property, North Pond provides consistent fishing for feisty Rainbow Trout and the chance at some very large Brown Trout. A small spring creek feeds North Pond providing additional oxygen and spawning habitat.
Electricity is installed underground to the lot line and available through Northwestern Energy.
The Property has a designated 2.6-acre building site within the deeded 20-acre parcel. A set of well-thought-out architectural guidelines are in place in conjunction with the community covenants to protect owner investment. Owners are allowed a primary residence, guest house, and one small outbuilding for temporary housing of horses. Underground utilities are installed on the lot line. Owners would be required to install their individual well and septic system. With only 11 total lots in the Community, privacy and views are preserved for the benefit of all owners.
The original ranch house now serves as the on-site caretaker’s residence. There is a “fly shop” for storage of owners’ fishing gear on the banks of Trout Creek and the old barn adds character and reflects the ranching history of the Property.
The Property is very simple to own with the natural landscape of Lot 6 largely maintained in an undisturbed state. In many similar offerings, considerable amounts of money have been spent on ill-designed homes and ancillary buildings which the buyer must uncomfortably assume and, to one extent or another, pay for. The Property is free of this distraction allowing the new owner to tailor future improvements to their own discriminating taste for family and friends to enjoy for many decades.
As if the exceptional angling experience at Baker Springs was not enough, Southwest Montana is in the heart of the finest fly fishing in the lower 48 States. With several of Montana’s premier trout rivers only 45 to 75 minutes away, the Property would be an outstanding home base, providing the devoted angler miles of rivers and streams to relish for a lifetime on a comfortable “day trip” basis. Owners at Baker Springs could comfortably fish many of the most storied rivers in the West including the Yellowstone, Missouri, Jefferson, Madison, Beaverhead, Big Hole, and all of the more secret locations abundant in this area of the State.
For the non-angler, Baker Springs provides over six miles of trails for hiking. Additionally, owners are encouraged to use the common ground for horseback riding – although permanent boarding of horses is not allowed. The many surrounding mountain ranges provide almost limitless opportunities for high-mountain recreation, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, mountain biking, camping, and overall enjoyment. Some areas are also open for the motorized-recreational user as well.
Baker Springs provides the sportsman with the option for limited hunting on the Property with the permission of all owners in residence. Additional hunting opportunities abound throughout the State.
Exceptional skiing is in close proximity to the Ranch with the “cold smoke” of Bridger Bowl up the nearby Bridger Canyon and the larger terrain of Big Sky Resort an hour and a half drive up the beautiful Gallatin Canyon. Ranked as one of the Top 10 ski towns by Skiing Magazine, Bozeman offers a comfortable, small-town feeling with big-city amenities.
The area around Manhattan was originally settled by the Dutch, or Nederlanders, in the late 1800s to grow barley. Originally called Moreland, the town was renamed Manhattan in 1890 by a group of New York City investors who operated the Manhattan Malting Company. The Company bought thirteen thousand acres for barley production. The businessmen then invested in the West Gallatin Irrigation Company which bought another twenty-eight thousand acres. Many of these Easterners built summer homes as a retreat from their east coast urban lifestyle. The malting facility, the largest from St. Paul to Seattle with a capacity of 475,000 bushels, shipped the majority of the malt via rail back east to be utilized for brewing. The remaining barley straw was utilized by the Gallatin Valley Pulp and Paper Mill to create paper. Unfortunately, the final product, due to too much silicon in the straw, resulted in an inferior paper compared to the national market suppliers. Manhattan Malting Company stayed in operation until the passage of the Volstead Act, the federal prohibition act in 1916. Thankfully the farmers were able to generate enough business from other markets for their grain to be able to survive. Today, the tight-knit community of Manhattan continues to flourish due to its strong agricultural foundation primarily centered on seed potatoes, dairy and wheat farms, commercial beef, and registered cattle.
The Property is actively managed to provide owners with the finest on-site fishing opportunities coupled with maintenance-free enjoyment of the common area. In order to ensure that the Property is managed properly, an on-site caretaker/riverkeeper is employed by the Homeowners Association. The caretaker not only manages the ecosystem at Baker Springs but also provides security and monitoring of the Property – further protecting owner privacy and investment.
Baker Springs’ 220 acres are actively managed to support the best possible fishing experience for its owners as well as provide additional recreational opportunities year-round. The fisheries include five ponds, three creeks, one of which is a spring creek, almost a mile of famed Baker Creek, and just over half a mile of the Gallatin River. The fisheries are managed for water quality, fish health, and size, and for aesthetic appearance. These are not simply holes dug, filled with water, and then stocked with fish. The entire ecosystems of the ponds and creeks are monitored and managed with the goal of supporting the best fish and best fishing in the area.
The benefit of having so many varieties of fishing opportunities at Baker Springs means owners can have the best chance of catching fish almost every single day of the year. When the creeks are closed, or high from run-off, or too warm in the summer for fishing, owners can choose one of the five ponds to wet a line. If the ponds are iced out or owners prefer bigger waters, the Gallatin River frontage on Baker Springs allows access to parts of the river rarely fished by local fishermen.
Aside from the fisheries, the common-space grasslands are managed with the idea of creating a beautiful place for owners and wildlife alike to call home. The open grasslands are managed for weeds, irrigated, and hayed seasonally. The common-space grasslands have over six miles of trails cut that are maintained for owners to hike or bike around the Property. In the winter the trails are an excellent place to cross-country ski. Additionally, there are two picnic areas – one on Baker Creek and one on the banks of the Gallatin River. The river spot has a dug fire pit ringed with river rock and several cut logs for seating. This place is a summer-time favorite for owners and their families.
An extensive tree-planting project has been underway for the past few years, and as of this spring, there will have been close to 200 native species of cottonwoods and willows planted along several creeks. These trees not only benefit the fisheries by providing cover and shade for fish but they also enhance the beauty of Baker Springs by transforming the look of what once was a working cattle ranch 50 years ago.
The neighboring properties surrounding Baker Springs are large ranches of 200, 400, and 600± acres. So while those acres are not owned by Baker Springs, the community receives the benefit of the surrounding wide-open spaces. The same is true but on a smaller scale for Baker Springs owners. Each owner has a 20-acre parcel but they get the benefit of all 220 acres encompassing Baker Springs. That is around 1,500 acres in all directions with only a few homes here and there.
Baker Springs Homeowner Dues are approximately $650 per month. All of the work done to enhance the fisheries and the open spaces at Baker Springs is funded by the Association Dues. The management of the ecosystem at Baker Springs is an investment in maintaining the value and integrity of such a special place.
Baker Springs enjoys a premier location in the Gallatin Valley – one of Montana’s most desirable locales – and is graced by privacy, stunning views, and outstanding fisheries resources. The Property has the unique attribute of being in a country setting but is located just minutes from the small-town services of Manhattan and a short 15-minute drive to the dynamic community of Bozeman.
Baker Springs consists of 20 deeded acres and shares a boundary with an additional 200± acres of common community land. Located on the banks of Middle Pond and with Middle Creek frontage, the next owner of Lot 6 has a designated 2.6-acre building envelope in which to design and build their Montana residence on a previously undeveloped parcel.
The on-site angling opportunities at Baker Springs are unsurpassed in any Property offering in the Gallatin Valley. The unique combination of Baker Creek, Gallatin River, spring creeks, and five ponds allow residents exceptional angling opportunities year-round.
Baker Springs will provide the next fortunate owner with exceptional angling opportunities, privacy, views, easy access to city amenities, and maintenance-free living in a spectacular country setting.
Conditions of Sale
Baker Springs, a Montana property for sale, as described herein, previously offered at $445,000 has been reduced in price and is now available at $375,000 Cash. The conditions of the sale are as follows:
- All offers to purchase or letters of intent must be in writing and accompanied by a wire transfer of 5.0% of the purchase price to the escrow account at Security Title Company in Bozeman, Montana;
- Earnest money deposits will be placed in escrow with Security Title Company, which may place the funds with local banks at nominal rates of interest accruing to the benefit of the Buyer until Closing;
- All Prospective Buyers must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Seller absolute financial capability to purchase the Property prior to scheduling an inspection of the Property;
- The Seller will provide and pay for a standard owner’s title insurance policy. Any endorsements requested by the Buyer or any lender will be at Buyer’s expense. The title to the real property will be conveyed by a deed;
- All of the water right claims controlled by the Property will be transferred to the Buyer at Closing, and all of the mineral rights which the Seller actually owns will be conveyed to the Buyer at Closing;
- Buyers’ Brokers are welcome and invited to contact Stephen Leibinger in our Bozeman Office for information regarding Cooperation Policies.
The Seller reserves the right to effect a tax-deferred exchange for other real property in accordance with provisions in Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Buyer will not be required to incur any additional expenses nor to step into the chain of title on any property which the Seller may acquire.
This entire Offering is subject to errors, omissions, prior sale, change, or withdrawal without notice and approval of purchase by the Seller. Information regarding land classifications, acreages, carrying capacities, crop yields, potential profits, etc., are intended only as general guidelines and have been obtained from sources deemed reliable; however, accuracy is not warranted or guaranteed by the Seller or Swan Land Company. Prospective Buyers should verify all information to their sole and complete satisfaction.
Stephen Leibinger
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