Nestled at the base of the Tobacco Root Mountains along the banks of South Willow Creek sits a secluded 4,590± square-foot custom Benedict built home. Built in 2003, this beautiful three-bedroom stucco-sided home is surrounded by 44 acres boasting breathtaking views of Hollow Top, Jefferson, and Potosi Peaks. A unique strain of rainbow trout known for their size and scrappiness swim upstream from Harrison Lake and stack up on the property in the spring during the spawning season. Fishermen will also enjoy the stocked pond out the back door.

Any horse enthusiast will appreciate the 2,264± square-foot shop/barn with inside stalls and a tack room that opens to an enclosed paddock that leads to a five-acre pasture. Homes on smaller acreage with fishable water within an hour of Bozeman are hard to find and this one will not disappoint.

South Willow Creek Retreat is located halfway between Harrison and Pony on Pony Road. Named after the ranching family that settled in the 1860s, Harrison continues to serve as a hub for ranchers and grain growers in the Willow Creek Valley. The K-12 class C school serves approximately 75 students and is known for its successful extracurricular opportunities. There is a small grocery store in town and the well-known “Town Hall Diner” is always a great place for a meal. It is a short drive to Three Forks or Bozeman for grocery trips and a wider variety of restaurants. Bozeman Deaconess Hospital is a level III trauma center and offers a variety of specialized services.

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport at Gallatin Field in Belgrade (BZN) is about 45 minutes away and offers several full-service FBOs, including the Yellowstone Jet Center, and excellent commercial services through Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, JetBlue, Sun Country and United Airlines. One of the busiest passenger airports in the Pacific Northwest, and the busiest in the state of Montana, BZN offers direct flights to 25 major airports around the nation including direct flights to the West Coast, the East Coast, Texas, the Southeast, and Florida. Bert Mooney Airport in Butte is also only an hour away. The closet private aircraft services are provided in Three Forks which has a 5,000’ runway and Ennis with a 7,600’ runway.

Approximate distances to other Montana cities and attractions are as follows:

South Willow Creek Retreat is set up as a horse property. A five-acre day pasture with native grasses serves as a nice day lot with a perimeter fence around the remaining property.

Over the last 21 years, the current owners have planted over 2,500 trees including evergreens, spruce, cottonwoods, maples, apples, chokecherry, alder, beech, birch, aspens, willows, elms, bur oak, and ash. The well-placed trees create a sense of seclusion and are an ideal habitat for various animals of foot and feather.

House

A custom 200-year-old white oak front door adorns the entry of this Montana modern ranch-style home. The 4,590+ square-foot custom home has three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.

The wide entry opens into a beautiful kitchen with custom cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and concrete countertops. A large picture window lets natural light and afternoon sun into the dining area with unparalleled views of the Tobacco Root Mountains. The attached screened-in porch makes a great sitting/eating area. Across the kitchen through antique swinging doors is a large pantry.

A large sitting area with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams surrounded by big windows opens to a covered terrace with an outdoor fireplace. The 8-foot overhangs keep the house shaded and cool during the summer months.

On the creek side of the house, past the laundry room and office, is the master bedroom, bathroom, and closet. Through the mud room is a large two-car garage, mechanical room, and storage room. Also on the main floor is a dog room leading outside to a fenced area.

On the second level are two bedrooms with a shared bathroom along with a lounge area that opens to the second-floor deck facing toward the Tobacco Root Mountains.

If art is your passion, buyers will appreciate the 390-square-foot studio with vaulted ceilings.

Radiant in-floor heat keeps the house temperature consistent throughout. The exterior beams have been freshly stained.

SHOP/BARN

On the north side of South Willow Creek, roughly 150 yards from the house, sits a 2,264± square-foot barn-style building. The front half of the building is a two-car garage with a workbench area, bathroom, and unfinished loft upstairs. Radiant in-floor heat is the heat source. The building has its own well, septic system, and buried propane tank.

The back half of the barn is set up for horses with three large stalls, a concrete area for storing hay, and a tack room. The horse stalls lead out to a small paddock which is attached to a five-acre pasture. The Bar Bar A waterer system consistently keeps clean cold water in front of horses without worrying about frozen tanks. Board and batten wood siding has a fresh coat of stain. Beside the shop/barn is a 16-foot by 19-foot three-sided pole barn that works great for a garden shed.

Bozeman is an easy drive, within 45 minutes, to name-brand retail stores, fine dining, and shopping. Home of Montana State University, a NCAA Division I-AA university, Bozeman is also home of the Museum of the Rockies, “Montana’s premier natural history museum and home of the Taylor Planetarium.”

NATURAL WONDERS & WILDLIFE

Just 23 miles from Pony, Lewis and Clark Caverns is home to one of the largest known limestone cavern systems in the Northwest. This geological wonder features stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and guided tours through its series of chambers. Yellowstone National Park, under two hours from the property, features half of the earth’s geysers, numerous hydrothermal and geological features, abundant wildlife, and countless opportunities for nature-focused activities.

HIKING, HORSEBACK RIDING & BIKING

Numerous hiking trails around Pony cater to all skill levels. Explore the beautiful terrain on horseback, bike, or foot, immersing yourself in the natural beauty of the region. Located near the property, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest spans 3.35 million acres across eight counties, making it the largest national forest in Montana. Nearby, the Lee Metcalf Wilderness offers stunning landscapes, rugged mountains, remote alpine lakes, and sweeping vistas.

WHITEWATER ADVENTURES

Although world-renowned for fly-fishing, the Madison River is also prime for other water adventures. The property is conveniently situated near the upper section, south of Ennis, and the lower section of the Madison River, north of Norris. The Bear Trap section below Ennis Lake provides challenging whitewater and wilderness fishing adventures. Also, within an easy day trip are the Jefferson, Gallatin, Missouri, and Yellowstone Rivers.

GOLFING

Three golf courses are within an easy 50-minute drive of the property, Headwaters Golf Course in Three Forks, Cottonwood in Bozeman, and Madison Meadows Golf Course in Ennis.

WINTER ACTIVITIES

During the winter months, the region is perfect for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing on the extensive network of trails and surrounding wilderness. Downhill skiing is available at Bridger Bowl, 81 miles away, and Big Sky Resort, 90 miles away.

HISTORIC GHOST TOWN

Less than an hour from the property, Virginia City, a historic ghost town offering a day trip back in time with historic boardwalks, an old-fashioned candy store, and seasonal live performances at the Brewery Follies and the Virginia City Players

At the base of the magnificent Tobacco Root Mountains is situated the historic mining town of Pony. A drifter by the name of Tecumseh Smith, nicknamed “Pony”, had traveled over the mountain range from the Alder Gulch to seek his fortune in the mountain streams of the area. Legend tells us that “Pony” threw his digging pick into a thicket of brush one day, to his surprise, when he retrieved it he discovered gold where it had landed.

During the fall of 1875, quartz deposits were discovered in the mountains behind town and the rush was soon on. Within several years the town had grown to nearly 1,000 people, primarily miners, and merchants. The Presbyterian and Episcopal churches were constructed in 1894, with the Catholic church constructed soon thereafter in 1903. The Northern Pacific Railroad added a spur into Pony in 1889 hauling supplies to the mining town and returning with railcars of ore. By 1878 the gold rush had subsided and the small mountain town dwindled to a mere 100 residents.

Around the turn of the century, the mining industry geared up once again, extracting ore from various mines. During this time Pony thrived with a population fluctuating between 2,500 and 5,000 residents.

In 1920 a horrendous fire swept through the bustling mining town destroying a good portion of the business district and family dwellings.

Today, with a population of about 110 residents, the unincorporated town of Pony has 95 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The elevation of South Willow Creek Retreat is roughly 5,000 feet above sea level. The elevation of Harrison is 4,918± feet.

Harrison is in a relatively arid climate with an average total annual precipitation of approximately 16.95 inches.

Average maximum temperatures in June, July, and August range from 76 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Summer nights average about 52 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit. In December, January and February average maximum temperatures are between 38 and 43 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter average minimum is 24 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, South Willow Creek Retreat owns five water rights. For additional information regarding the water rights, view the offering brochure or contact the listing agent Bill Wood at 406.596.7618 or [email protected].

All water rights in Montana are subject to eventual re-adjudication by the Montana Water Court and, as a result of that process, may be changed as to the validity, amount, priority date, place of use, and other such changes as the Court determines. This water district is currently under the Preliminary-Temporary Decree as classified by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). The seller has made all of the filings currently required and will transfer the water rights as they currently stand with no warranty of future viability.

All water rights appurtenant to and for the benefit of the property will be conveyed to the Buyer at the closing of a sale.

Electricity is provided by NorthWestern Energy. The house and barn/shop each have a 1,000-gallon buried propane tank, which are owned, and can be filled by one of several local vendors. Internet is currently provided by 3 Rivers Communications.

The Sellers will convey with South Willow Creek Retreat 100% of whatever mineral, oil, gas, geothermal, hydrocarbon, and gravel rights they actually own, subject to reservations by previous owners. The Sellers make no representation as to the quantity or quality of any mineral or other sub-surface rights appurtenant to the Property.

The real estate taxes for 2023 were approximately $4,920.

This is a great opportunity for buyers looking to own a piece of Montana in the beautiful Willow Creek Valley. These 44+ acres make for a great horse property in a perfect location to enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities. Private water inside an hour of Bozeman is extremely rare to find, and this has over a quarter mile of South Willow Creek. Come experience South Willow Creek Retreat!

TERMS OF INSPECTION

The Sellers reserve 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 Sellers.  Information regarding land classifications, acreages, carrying capacities, crop yields, potential profits, hunting districts and regulations, etc., are intended only as general guidelines and have been obtained from sources deemed reliable; however, accuracy is not warranted or guaranteed by the Sellers or Swan Land Company.  Prospective Buyers should verify all information to their sole and complete satisfaction.

The Seller is making known to all potential purchasers that there may be variations between the property lines and the location of the existing fence boundary lines on South Willow Creek Estate. The Seller makes no warranties with regard to the location of the fence lines in relationship to the property lines, nor does the Seller make any warranties or representations with regard to specific acreage within the fenced property lines.

The Seller is selling South Willow Creek Estate in an “as is” condition which includes the location of the fences as they now exist. Boundaries shown on any accompanying maps are approximate. The maps are not to scale and are for orientation purposes only. The accuracy of the maps and information portrayed thereon is not guaranteed nor warranted.