Located only three miles from the Medicine Bow National Forest boundary, Sierra Madre Mountain Retreat is a rustic mountain getaway on 19± deeded acres. This retreat offers privacy, seclusion, and 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains and valleys without any neighbors in sight. Wildlife is abundant, including elk, deer, and antelope, both on the property and in the surrounding hills and nearby forests. The property features a stunning 3-bed 2-bath log home with an additional loft, attached garage, shop, and horse barn. Relax on the covered porch and enjoy spectacular sunsets across the rolling hills to the distant forests and mountain ranges.
Sierra Madre Mountain Retreat is located just four miles south of Riverside near Encampment, Wyoming. Three miles off of Highway 230, the property is accessible year-round on Blackhall Mountain Road, a maintained gravel county road.
Encampment, with a population of 426, and Riverside, with a population of 52, are two small towns that combine to have a K-12 school, and a few great small-town restaurants including the Bear Trap, and The Divide. The towns sit between the Snowy Range Scenic Byway and the Battle Mountain Scenic Byway which are beautiful seasonal routes that attract many travelers in the summer months. Encampment holds the annual Woodchopper’s Jamboree and Rodeo every June. This event showcases the talents of loggers and cowboys into a fun-filled family weekend, reminiscent of the early days of Encampment and how people made a living years ago. Other annual events include the Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering, as well as Living History Days, and the Sierra Madre Mountain Man Rendezvous.
Saratoga, Wyoming, with a population of 1,623 is one of Wyoming’s best-kept secrets. Saratoga’s blue-ribbon trout fishing is world-renowned with the North Platte River running right through the middle of town. It boasts several incredible restaurants, shops, and summer activities that make this a desirable community to live in and a prime tourist location. There are two golf courses including the famous ‘members only’ Old Baldy Club and Saratoga Inn. Saratoga is home to the free mineral hot springs, known as the Hobo Pool which is open year-round and is a draw for locals and tourists alike. Outdoorsmen will appreciate the local Case IH and Polaris dealership that sells and works on many models of ATVs, side-by-sides, and snow machines. There is also a full grocery store, Valley Foods, as well as a Family Dollar store.
Shively Field Airport (Saratoga Jet Center, KSAA) is located in Saratoga at 7,104 feet in elevation. The lighted runway is 8,801’ x100’ and has a beacon that operates from sunset to sunrise. The airport provides full-service fuel, hangar, lavatory cart, GPU, and rental-car services. Contact for Saratoga Jet Center: 307-326-8344.
Laramie, home to the University of Wyoming, is a friendly college town with a population of approximately 32,000 and provides all the essentials with a modern hospital, multiple grocery stores, sporting goods stores, banks, agricultural supply, hardware and lumber stores, a movie theatre, modern restaurants, and an excellent public school system.
Laramie Regional Airport (KLAR) is located near Laramie, Wyoming (approximately 90 miles east of the property) at 7,283 feet in elevation and handles several commercial flights to/from Denver each day. With a well-improved lighted asphalt/grooved runway of 8,502’ x 150’, flying into Laramie is the nearest commercial flight.
Approximate distances to nearby towns are as follows:
4 miles
5 miles
22 miles
90 miles
108 miles
170 miles
220 miles
Approximate distances to nearby areas are as follows:
Medicine Bow National Forest
Encampment River Access
North Platte River Access
3 miles
6 miles
14 miles
The elevation of the property is approximately 8,160 feet above sea level, while the nearby town of Riverside sits at 7,142± feet.
The Encampment and Riverside areas experience a semi-arid climate with cold winters, wet springs, and moderate summers. The average annual precipitation in nearby Encampment is approximately 13.9 inches.
Sierra Madre Mountain Retreat consists of 19± acres. The vegetation is mostly sagebrush, buck brush, and scattered with juniper trees and unique rock outcroppings. This less dense vegetative landscape provides a better fire barrier than dense forest living. The county road provides incredible access to the property and splits the property into two parts. The house and outbuildings sit on approximately two-thirds of the property, the other third across the road is entirely fenced.
Sierra Madre Mountain Retreat sits on a convenient location on Blackhall Mountain Road, on the way to Blackhall Mountain. The county road provides year-round access and is maintained all the way to the short driveway. The road continues to access hundreds of thousands of acres of public land that reach up to 10,000 feet in elevation at some of the peaks. This large block of public land starts with BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and combines with the Medicine Bow National Forest Service Land. Encampment River Wilderness and Huston Park Wilderness are part of this vast public land block as well. The BLM is less than a half mile away, and the Forest Service Land begins only three miles from the property.
The centerpiece of this beautiful property is the log-cabin style home with rustic architecture throughout and wood accents that make this home everything you would expect in a mountain retreat. The house was built in 2003. The main living area consists of 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms with a loft that can function as either a fourth bedroom or office area for a total of 2,200 square feet of living space. In addition, there is a 528 square-foot attached garage, and a 468 square foot basement for extra storage and serves as a mechanical room for the utility needs of the house.
Heat sources include propane-fueled in-floor radiant heat, a wood fire box, and a propane-fueled dual forced-air furnace system. The second forced-air system has never been needed by the current owner but was installed by the original owner to serve as a backup in case of an emergency. Another feature with a similar idea is the combined 556 gallons of water storage that works with the property’s well system in case of a power outage. This system, as well, has never been needed, but was originally planned in case of emergency situations.
Outbuildings include a 1,144 square-foot pole barn, with all-metal siding and roof, that was built in 2003. The rustic barn built in 2008 consists of 1,296 square feet, plus a lean-to for additional equipment storage. The barn, which has 3 horse stalls with exterior doors, lends itself to install individual horse runs for each stall. The house has its own kennel to create a comfortable space for family pets.
House
Attached Garage
Basement
Barn
Shop
2,200 sq ft
528 sq ft
468 sq ft
1,296 sq ft
1,144 sq ft
Encampment, originally called Grand Encampment, was named because it was just that: an encampment for miners in the late 1800s who originally mined for copper. The Grand Encampment Museum, a very well run and maintained attraction, stands as a reminder of the early days of this settlement. Other reminders of such days can be found roaming throughout the forest and wilderness areas. Stumbling across old cabins, mine shafts, rail cars, and various other remnants is not uncommon.
The annual Woodchoppers Jamboree and Rodeo celebrates other past-times and the way of life that helped shape the area in the Upper North Platte Valley.
The property attracts many species of wildlife because of its location. Deer, elk, and antelope can be routinely seen from the house. And a good spotting scope or pair of binoculars broadens the view to enjoy wildlife across the rolling hills in the distance. The owners have also seen black bear and even tracks that mountain lions have passed through the property on occasion. The Encampment River bighorn sheep herd is very close by, as well as some great moose habitat along the river.
The Medicine Bow National Forest is only 3 miles from the property. This public land provides much sought-after elk hunting on a general (no draw) tag for Wyoming residents, and draw areas for deer, bighorn sheep, and moose. Though hard to draw, this area is arguably the best moose hunting in the state of Wyoming. Snow machining, hiking, fishing, camping, and shed-horn hunting are a few other great outdoor activities that can be done right up the road from the property.
Water is provided by two wells.
Electricity is provided by Carbon Power and Light.
The propane tank is leased from AmeriGas.
Internet is provided by Mountain West Technologies at 50 Mbps.
The main part of the property is fenced on all sides with rustic but functional buck-and-pole fence (except where bordering private property). The east part of the property, across the road, is entirely fenced with buck-and-pole and wire fence. This portion of the property could be used as a horse pasture or a second building site. There is a separate well and electricity already running to this part of the property.
Boundaries shown on any accompanying maps are approximate. The maps are not to scale and are for visual aid only. The accuracy of the maps and information portrayed therein is not guaranteed nor warranted.
The 2021 real estate taxes were $2,067.28.
There are two wells on the property. The main well services the house, and there are two hydrants, one by the house and one near the garage. The second well serves the east part of the property with a separate hydrant.
The Seller will convey with the property 100% of whatever mineral 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 property.
The rustic look and feel of this property are the real thing. Not only does it have the genuine log architecture that makes you feel like you are in nature, the abundant wild-game watching will also leave you no doubt. These private mountain getaways are few and far between. This property will get you away from people and neighbors, but still close enough for a short drive into town for amenities. Guests will appreciate the seclusion the property offers without a daunting drive to get there. Since the house is not surrounded by trees, it allows for much better views and significantly reduces the fire danger of living in the middle of a forest.
With 10,000-foot peaks or nearby river access, whatever you still want to see is just a short drive away. With the property near public lands, hiking, camping, snow machining or even hunting can be spur of the moment. Within minutes, you are in the wild and then home again!
OFFERING PRICE and CONDITIONS OF SALE
Sierra Madre Mountain Retreat, as previously described herein, is offered at US $1,200,000.00 Cash or Terms acceptable solely at the discretion of the Seller. The conditions of sale as of May 2022 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 Offerors must demonstrate to the Seller’s satisfaction unquestioned financial capability to purchase the Ranch prior to scheduling a showing;
Earnest money deposits will be placed in escrow with First American Title, Rawlins, Wyoming.
The Seller will provide and pay for a standard owner’s title insurance policy issued by First American Title Company. Title to the real property will be conveyed by special warranty deed;
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 cordially invited to contact Swan Land Company 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 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.
TERMS OF INSPECTION
A 48-hour notice is requested to make proper arrangements for an inspection of Sierra Madre Mountain Retreat.
Swan Land Company has been authorized by the Seller to act as their Exclusive Real Estate Broker on the sale of Sierra Madre Mountain Retreat. Since 2002, we have focused on the brokerage of significant ranches, farms and recreational properties throughout the Rocky Mountain West.
This Offering is based on information believed to be correct; however, it is subject to errors, omissions, prior sale and change or withdrawal without notice. Information contained herein has been provided by the Sellers or obtained from other sources deemed reliable. The Agent does not, however, guarantee accuracy and recommends that any Prospective Buyer conduct an independent investigation.
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I was raised on my family’s ranch outside of Saratoga, Wyoming, where I gained experience in every aspect of the ranching operation, from riding my pony as a toddler to full-time work after graduating college. Throughout my time on the ranch, I developed a passion for every level of work and play offered, particularly the ...
