Agricultural and Energy-Development Opportunities
Johnson County
M&M RANCH
M&M Ranch is situated in the eastern foothills of the Big Horn Mountains just minutes north of Buffalo, Wyoming. The Ranch is comprised of approximately 12,388 total acres. In addition to the land, approximately 62,000 acre feet of water rights in Lake DeSmet and all appurtenant mineral rights are included in this offering.
As M&M Ranch comes to market, the large-scale agricultural producer will be pleased to find this unique opportunity to put a large block of land into serious agricultural production. With over 4,000 acres of adjudicated irrigation rights in combination with Lake DeSmet storage rights, the irrigation potential on the Ranch is astounding.
Owned by energy companies for the past 60 years, the historical interest in the Ranch has been for future mineral development. With over one-billion tons of estimated coal reserves underlying the property, in combination with the Lake DeSmet water rights, M&M Ranch has been identified by reputable energy companies as one of the best places in the world to construct a coal conversion facility. However, through all the cycles of global energy markets, the Ranch and the minerals remain largely undeveloped. This presents a new owner the opportunity to utilize the Ranch’s resources to meet their strategic goals.
In addition to the agricultural and energy development opportunities, the recreational aspects of the Ranch are not to be overlooked. With mule deer, white-tail deer, antelope, sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge, pheasants, turkeys, ducks, geese, brown trout, rainbow trout, tiger muskies, largemouth bass, and perch, M&M Ranch offers an amazing variety of outdoor sporting opportunities.
Located just 1.5 miles north of Buffalo, Wyoming on Rock Creek Road, the Ranch Headquarters are convenient to the amenities of town. Buffalo, with a population of 4,585±, is located in the eastern foothills of the Big Horn Mountains and at the intersection of Interstate 90 and Interstate 25 which facilitates efficient transportation of product to potential markets. The Ranch itself has excellent access via Interstate 90 and Highway 16 East. The northern boundary of the Ranch lies just south of Lake DeSmet with grand views of the lake and the Big Horn Mountains.
Approximate distances to nearby towns are as follows:
Buffalo, Wyoming Sheridan, Wyoming Gillette, Wyoming Casper, Wyoming Billings, Montana Rapid City, South Dakota Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming |
1.5 miles 32 miles 73 miles 115 miles 161 miles 213 miles 235 miles |
Johnson County Airport (KBYG), a well-improved airstrip capable of handling good-sized aircraft, is located in Buffalo, Wyoming. The asphalt runway is 6143’ x 75’.
Buffalo also has all the essential services needed before heading to the Ranch. With a modern hospital and clinic, two grocery stores, sporting goods store, four banks, several agricultural supply, hardware, and lumber stores, a movie theatre, fine dining, and an excellent public school system, Buffalo is able to provide all of the essentials.
Sheridan, Wyoming, 30 miles north of Buffalo via Interstate 25 along the Big Horn Mountains, provides additional services including exceptional restaurants, large building-supply stores, Walmart, commercial flights connecting to Denver, and a fine downtown shopping experience. Sheridan provides a great mix of the old west and modern conveniences.
Gillette, Wyoming, east of the Ranch on Interstate 90 has commercial air service with connecting flights to several major hubs including Denver and Salt Lake City. Gillette also offers additional services for building supplies and equipment to satisfy nearly all the needs on the Ranch.
The Ranch has heavily sodded pastures and is very productive. The native pastures are comprised of both cool-season and warm-season grasses including western wheatgrass, blue grama grasses, bluegrasses, prairie junegrass, and several varieties of sage. The irrigated fields are comprised of alfalfa with a mix of smooth brome, timothy, and garrison creeping meadow foxtail. Historically, the current management has harvested about 600 tons of hay annually from the irrigated fields. However, a significant portion of the irrigated acres is currently being grazed during the summer months. In the Ranch’s current state, there is ample tonnage to feed a herd of cattle consistent with the Ranch’s Animal Unit (AU) rating of 350 AUs, while providing an opportunity to sell hay or graze some of the irrigated pastures.
The past owners have maintained the fences in good condition which has facilitated grazing yearling cattle efficiently. With adequate stock watering points throughout the Ranch, the forage utilization is considered to be good.
Acreage Breakdown
Deeded |
9,986± |
Wheel-Line Irrigated Acres |
80± 60± 360± |
Native Pasture
|
9,486±
|
LEASED |
|
State of Wyoming Leased Acres |
2,122± 280± |
The Ranch is divided into two units which are separated by a span of one mile.
The Main Unit, located between Buffalo and Lake DeSmet, consists of approximately 8,000 deeded acres. The Ranch Headquarters is approximately 1.1 miles of Rock Creek, and most of the irrigable land is located within the Main Unit.
The Healy Unit is located east of the Main Unit and consists of approximately 1,986 deeded acres, 2,122 State of Wyoming Leased Acres, and 280 acres of BLM leased acres. Healy Reservoir is located within the Healy unit along with approximately 2 miles of Clear Creek, the Clear Creek Diversion Dam, and the Healy Pump Station.
CARRYING CAPACITY
Historically the Ranch has been rated at 350 animal units. Approximately 600 tons of hay have been produced annually with some of the irrigated base being grazed. This takes into consideration that only a portion of the adjudicated irrigated acres is currently being irrigated. With thoughtful development of the Ranch’s irrigation infrastructure in combination with the direct-flow irrigation rights and Lake DeSmet storage rights, the production potential on M&M Ranch is astounding. With a focus on large-scale agricultural production, M&M Ranch has tremendous upside potential.
The Ranch is well watered by two wells, 33,000 feet of stock watering pipeline, 28,000 gallons of water storage, and 18 rubber tire stock tanks. Along with the stock-watering pipeline, irrigation ditches, and stock reservoirs provide adequate watering locations for livestock year-round on the majority of the Ranch.
The Seller will convey with the Ranch 100% of whatever mineral, oil, gas, geo-thermal, hydro-carbon, and gravel rights they actually own, subject to reservations by previous owners. The Seller makes no representation as to the quantity or quality of any mineral or other sub-surface rights appurtenant to the Ranch.
The Ranch contains well-maintained and very functional improvements. In today’s ranch market, it can be difficult to find a large-scale agricultural operation free of an overvalued trophy home. M&M Ranch improvements are modern but modest and complement the Ranch nicely. The Ranch provides a unique opportunity for its next owner to create improvements suitable for their needs.
Manager’s Home
The Ranch Manager’s Home, constructed in 2007, has approximately 2,600 square feet of living space with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a large two-car attached garage, and a comfortable office with an outside entrance.
Shop
The main shop building, a 40´ X 60’ metal-sided structure was completed in 2013. The shop has electric power, is well insulated, heated with a natural gas fired heater, and has a sealed-concrete floor.
Historic Barn & Corrals
The large horse barn was constructed in the early 1900s and refurbished in the 1990s and again in 2007. A smaller shop building, also remodeled in 2007, is fully insulated and heated.
The corrals are all in good working condition with the main wooden working corrals located in the middle of the Main Unit. The pipe corrals at the Ranch headquarters were completed in 2009, and the pipe corrals at the Healy Unit were completed in 2011.
The fences are in good condition with approximately a mile of new fence replaced every year for the past 10 years.
The 2015 real estate taxes were $16,284.32.
The Buffalo, Wyoming area is rich in history as multiple battles took place in the region. The Johnson County War, a battle between large cattle barons and homesteaders, took place just south of Buffalo. Also just a short drive from Buffalo is the Fort Phil Kearney historic site, the Fetterman’s Massacre Site, Wagon Box Fight, and the infamous “Hole in the Wall”- which was the hideout of the notorious Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid along with the rest of the Wild Bunch. The Jim Gatchell Museum in Buffalo is a must-see with over 15,000 artifacts from the old west. The historic Bozeman Trail marked its path through M&M Ranch and served as an overland route connecting the gold rush territory of Montana to the Oregon Trail.
The Basque culture is very rich in Johnson County. Many families in the area emigrated from the Basque country of the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France and made this area their home. Watching over large flocks of sheep they became a cornerstone of the local culture.
The area’s economy is driven by agriculture, tourism, and energy development. However, through the boom and bust of energy development, agriculture has remained the backbone of the local economy. Tourism remains a viable economic factor as Buffalo is located at the intersection of Interstate 90 and Interstate 25 and is a logical stopping point for visitors heading to Yellowstone National Park. As a result, Buffalo has excellent hotel amenities and restaurants.
M&M Ranch has significant recreational components. With over one mile of Rock Creek, two miles of Clear Creek, and the two-hundred-acre Healy Reservoir, fishing opportunities are abundant. Whether it be fishing for perch, largemouth bass, or tiger muskies in Healy Reservoir, or fly fishing Rock Creek and Clear Creek for brown trout and rainbow trout, both the avid and novice fisherman are sure to be pleased. Along the cottonwood-lined river bottoms of Rock Creek and Clear Creek, whitetail deer, turkeys, pheasants, ducks, and geese can be found. In the rolling hills and draws above the creeks, mule deer, antelope, sharp-tailed grouse, and Hungarian partridge are often seen.
M&M Ranch is well situated in one of the most desirable areas of Wyoming and is comprised of 12,388± total acres, of which 9,986± are deeded. The combination of stunning views of the Big Horn Mountains, convenient access, extensive direct-flow irrigation rights, extraordinary water storage rights in Lake DeSmet, and significant mineral rights which include a massive coal resource presents a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to invest in a highly diversified asset.
Opportunities to acquire a ranch with abundant water resources are challenging to find in today’s active real estate market. Being meticulously maintained during the period of the current ownership, the new owner will have the opportunity to create and develop their own vision to utilize the abundant resources on M&M Ranch.
The potential irrigation expansion alone may be the single most compelling reason for buyers in the market looking for quality production ground to take a serious look at M&M Ranch.
OFFERING PRICE AND CONDITIONS OF SALE
M&M Ranch, originally offered at $21,000,000, has been reduced in price and is available at $16,500,000 Cash. The Conditions of the Sale are as follows:
- All offers to purchase must be in writing and accompanied by an earnest money deposit check in the amount of 5.00% of the Purchaser’s offering price;
- All Prospective Buyers must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Seller unquestioned financial capability to purchase the Ranch prior to scheduling a showing;
- Earnest money deposits will be placed in escrow with Johnson County Title, Buffalo, Wyoming;
- The Seller will provide and pay for a standard owner’s title insurance policy issued by Johnson County Title, underwritten by First American Title Company. Title to the real property will be conveyed by special warranty deed;
- All of the water rights controlled by the Ranch will be transferred to the Purchaser at Closing;
- All of the Ranch’s mineral rights appurtenant to the property and currently owned by the Seller will be transferred at Closing;
- Buyers’ Brokers are welcome and invited to contact Scott Williams in our Wyoming Office for information regarding Cooperation Policies and Commission Splits.
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 Sellers 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.
TERMS OF INSPECTION
Scott M. Williams
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