10,738 Acres in Wheatland, WY - $17,800,000

The Twin Pine Ranch is a historic 10,800 +/- acre ranch in the Laramie Range of the Rocky Mountains, framed beneath Laramie Peak and resting about 35 minutes from Wheatland, Wyoming and located in Platte and Albany Counties.  This historic property is amazingly diverse with variable terrain, geology, wildlife and stunning beauty.  The ranch has a rich history with many well documented stories of time gone by, such as Native American Indian teepee rings, remnants from outpost camps from Fort Laramie, prehistoric campsites, caves and caverns, and the people who have lived on and loved this land so much.  This is a rare opportunity to acquire a ranch that has been owned by the same family for 75 years and managed by such great stewards of the land.Diversity is the first thing that comes to mind when you’ve had the chance to tour Twin Pine Ranch.  Whether it’s the pine covered hills, sweeping views, majestic herds of bison or the streams running off the high mountains, this ranch will take your breath away.  The current owners run a very successful bison hunting operation that encompasses almost all of the 10,800 acres, enclosed by one strong and well kept perimeter five-strand fence. The herd knows and stays within the boundaries of the ranch, so this philosophy has worked very well.    With a healthy herd of beautiful bison adding to the elk, deer and pronghorn opportunities, the hunting operation has thrived.Twin Pine Ranch has a unique, successful and noted bison hunting business, having marketed yearlings for meat hunts for 17 years, all of which sell out one year in advance of each season.  Trophy bulls are a regular added draw.  Long time hunters as well as many new ones come annually from all over the United States for well guided and run day hunts.  The Twin Pine business enterprise includes their well-established and trusted name brand, web site, and hunter contact lists.  The overall hunting on the ranch is second to none for quality.  Located in Wyoming's coveted Game Management Elk Unit 7, the ranch has an incredible Rocky Mountain elk herd with trophy class bulls.  This unique and desirable hunting unit consistently puts out bulls that score 350-400 and careful management is the key to that success.  Trophy mule deer and white-tailed deer also frequent the ranch in good numbers.  Pronghorns, black bear, Merriam turkey, sharp-tailed and blue grouse and the occasional flock of ducks also add to the wildlife diversity of this property. The ranch is well watered with streams, springs, and reservoirs.  Beautiful Cottonwood Creek meanders through the ranch meadows and holds excellent populations of brook trout and big rainbow trout. Large narrow leaf, or “bitter” cottonwoods, willows and chokecherries line the stream, helping to reduce soil erosion and provide shade for trout in the warmer months. This freestone creek has been very well cared for by the current owners and the established streambed is in excellent condition. The creek bottom was fenced out of the meadows during early cattle raising years and has been well managed since that time, establishing stabilized shores that protect the fish and streambed from flooding as well as enticing bees, butterflies and myriad wildlife ….coons, badgers, beavers, great blue herons, hummingbirds and eagles.   In contrast to cattle, bison move daily, similar to elk or deer, going to water, then moving back to upper bluffs and grass hills the remainder of the time to graze and ruminate. Because they do not loiter in riparian areas, the streams remain clean, clear and optimized as a healthy fishery throughout the ranch.The homestead rests in a beautiful mountain valley setting and is exactly what you would expect of a quintessential Wyoming ranch. It has the right mix, rugged and refined, with history you can feel as you step out of the truck. The main home is well appointed with all of the comforts you would want. There are plentiful outbuildings and a rustic guest lodge for a stay in Wyoming your friends will never forget.  The ranch is like taking a step back in time with buffalo roaming, elk and deer in the hills and turkeys picking in the yard next to Cottonwood Creek.  The property comes with early first water rights for irrigation of the hay meadows, which encompass approximately 185 acres of harvested hay fields. Four main irrigation systems and ditches weave their way through the valley, providing water to the various fields, including one that has birdsfoot trefoil, a super-high protein perennial legume. Annual yield for hay is roughly 300 big round bales.Privacy is prevalent on this ranch with many secluded valleys and areas. The acreage on this property lives big because the ranch adjoins BLM land that is virtually inaccessible to the public. Well maintained county roads lead from the ranch so that it is 20 minutes to I-25 and another 15 minutes to Wheatland, Wyoming. The ranch is just over one hour to Cheyenne, Wyoming, and two hours to the front range of Colorado.  Twin Pine Ranch is a turnkey operation with approximately 300-400 bison, subject to change depending on the time of year due to hunting and calving seasons. The ranch has four homes or cabins, many outbuildings and barns, equipment and other assets that will be sold in as is condition. The operation is very well run with the owner and one employee. Together, they handle the hay production, herd management and the hunting aspects of the ranch.  For a private showing please contact Dax Hayden at 970-674-1990 or 303-619-6774.