HORSETHIEF BASIN RANCH
Lewistown, MT | 7,000 +/- acres
$19,500,000
PROPERTY OVERVIEW
ON THE GRASSLAND MOUNTAINS OF MONTANA, IMMERSED DEEP IN THE WESTERN LANDSCAPE, LIES THE KEYS TO A LIFE.
On the grassland mountains of Montana, immersed deep in the Western landscape, lies the keys to a life. The Old West history and tradition suffusing the handsome expanses in Lewistown, Montana - a certain kind of living keeps people closer to the land. True freedom requires that - a closeness to something bigger, to an idea that stretches your soul and makes you feel part of a way of life. It transcends everyday complexities, tapping into the touchstones of culture and mystique.
Mort and Donna Fleischer found just that kind of freedom. When on his home ranch in Montana, Mort likes to say he “borrows freedom.” The truth is, he built it. He earned his space in the intense pressure cooker of Wall Street, assembling financial empires for almost four decades. But that world comes at a cost; by the time you realize you’re burning out, it might be too late to rehabilitate your life.
Mort and Donna built their freedom by embracing a way of life defined by authenticity and loyalty, forthrightness and honest work.
He found a way to extend his life and amplify his enjoyment of it. Now he’s offering that to you. It’s not the chance of a lifetime. It’s the chance for a lifetime.
ABOUT THE LAND
HORSETHIEF BASIN ENCOMPASSES WHAT EVERYONE WANTS IN A MONTANA RANCH. FROM HIGH COUNTRY MEADOWS TO PRODUCTIVE HAY COUNTRY. FROM WILDFLOWER FILLED GRASSLANDS TO DEEP DARK ASPEN THICKETS THAT ROAR WITH THE THUNDERING BUGLES OF BULL ELK IN SEPTEMBER.
True gem in Big Sky Country with plentiful water and abundant wildlife. Horsethief Basin encompasses what everyone wants in a Montana Ranch. From high country meadows to productive hay country. From wildflower filled grasslands to deep dark aspen thickets that roar with the thundering bugles of bull elk in September. All this plus the exquisitely designed
log built main house and guest cabins that give the aura of 1880 on the outside, but the luxurious feel of 2020 on the inside. This ranch has been impeccably maintained and has many additional amenities Including a 6-stall barn, numerous corrals, and a shooting range.
• Equally balanced Hay meadows, rolling grasslands and high country timberlands
• Abundant water supports healthy elk, deer, antelope, turkey, grouse and pheasant populations
• Luxury 8,000 SF owner’s residence with two matching guest cabins, each with two suites and full kitchen
• Manager’s home and outbuildings
• 6-stall horse barn with two outdoor riding arena and steel working corrals
• Can support 400± animal units plus replacements
• All water & mineral rights owned by seller convey
• 6,300± deeded and 700± leased acres
OWNER’S RESIDENCE
THE 8,000± SF HANDCRAFTED LOG HOME EXUDES AN AURA OF HISTORY AND TRADITION.
The 8,000± SF handcrafted log home exudes an aura of history and tradition. 1880’s on the outside and 2020 on the inside. Expansive entertaining and hosting capability; the vaulted great room with the massive, locally quarried fireplace opens to the chef’s kitchen, dining area, and large outdoor living spaces. Equally charming are it’s private living areas. Master bedroom wing with everything you need to relax after a long day outdoors in the Montana air. Two large guest suites with their remarkable private baths, kitchenettes and reading nooks allow for graceful hosting of family and friends. A business office, storage, collection vault, laundry and everything else you need, round out this beautiful home.
RANCH OPERATIONS
HORSETHIEF BASIN RANCH ENCOMPASSES SOME OF THE STRONGEST GRASS COUNTRY MONTANA HAS TO OFFER. THE RANCH CAN CONSERVATIVELY SUPPORT 400± COW/CALF PAIRS PLUS REPLACEMENT HEIFERS.
Horsethief Basin Ranch encompasses some of the strongest grass country Montana has to offer. The Ranch can conservatively support 400± cow/calf pairs plus replacement heifers. Additional yearlings can be run on a year to year basis depending on rainfall and grazing management. The Ranch has 500± tillable acres currently all in alfalfa and alfalfa/ grass hay mix. 400± of the tillable acres has been freshly renovated and are in peak production years. The Little Snowy Mountains on average get stronger and more consistent rainfall than surrounding lower elevations, thus providing needed moisture for hay and grazing pasture production.
In the past, Horsethief Basin has been run as a commercial cow/calf operation. Cattle are fed hay throughout the winter months and turn onto Summer pasture after branding in late Spring. The cattle go on a grazing rotation until Fall, when the calves are weaned and shipped. You won’t find sage brush or prickly pair cactus at Horsethief Basin Ranch, and the current owner has been diligent on weed management. The Ranch has a very efficient and well designed steel pipe corral system. All interior and perimeter wire fences are in good condition and consistently maintained.
Water is the most desirable of all Montana’s resources. Horsethief Basin Ranch has an abundance of water and has excellent water development. There are several live creeks on the ranch and cattle and wildlife also receive water via ponds, developed spring tanks, and pipelines.
On the southern end of the ranch lies an additional set of buildings and improvements currently entitled the “Fischer Place”. Improvements there include a large shop, metal fenced roping and riding arena, and a pistol and rifle shooting range complete with a shooting shack.
FLY FISHING/CENTRAL MONTANA FLY FISHING DISTRICT
Big Spring Creek is a stream of extraordinary beauty and is a superb fishery. It is a great nymph and dry fly stream, but wet flies also work well. Open to year round fishing, it is fishable when many other streams are blown out from runoff. A wade and walk stream, Big Spring Creek is not a float and fish strea m. It is easily wadable, but chest waders are recommended. If you wade wet, shorts are not recommended due to brush, thorns and sun reflection. Originating seven miles southeast of Lewistown where it bubbles out of the ground near the state trout hatchery, Big Spring Creek runs almost twenty-six miles to where it joins the Judith River. With nine state fish and game public access sites within ten miles of town, Lewistown is one of the few towns of some size (population approximately 6,500) that you can often catch fish within the city limits.
4, DISTRICT 420
Lewistown sits in the center of antelope country. All of the pronghorn hunting is restricted to permit only, but several of the surrounding areas have liberal quotas so interested hunters have a reasonable chance of drawing a tag. Central Montana antelope hunting gets you out on the wide open plains of the west during one of the prettiest times of year. This is an excellent place to attempt the challenge of taking a pronghorn with a bow. For the hunter looking for the ultimate challenge, you can spot-andstock. Either way, the antelope population is rebounding in our area, access is readily available via public lands (mostly BLM) , and the challenge awaits!
ANTELOPE/REGION
ELK & DEER/REGION 4, DISTRICT 411
Many opportunities exist in Central Montana for hunting elk and hunters are sure to find a deer that meets their expectations. Archery opens in early September and continues until midOctober. There is a week hiatus of closed season before the rifle season opens in later October. Crossbows are not allowed during archery season, but one can hunt elk during rifle season with archery equipment, including crossbows. Most all of the elk hunting is by permit only. Because elk herd numbers are above o r at management plan objectives, the Montana FWP has instituted a number of special hunts to try and control the population.
Archery Only Elk, 900-20 Region has an 82% Draw General Season Elk, 411-20 Region has a 19% Draw Drawing odds greatly increased for landowners via the Landowner Preference with Montana FWP.
The upland bird hunting opportunities in central Montana are abundant, yet varied. Our region has excellent habitat for 2 species of mountain grouse (ruffed and blue), 2 species of prai rie grouse (sharptails and sage), Hungarian partridge and pheasants .
UPLAND BIRDS
AREA MAP
LEWISTOWN, MT | HISTORY
The area that is now Lewistown was once the territory of the Blackfoot Native Americans. In 1874, Fort Lewis was establishe d there by Company “F” of the 7th U.S. Infantry to provide military protection for people traveling on the Carroll Trail, then the shortest route between Carroll, Montana and Helena. Lewistown is named after this fort. The first permanent settlers of Lewistown were Métis. The Metis established Lewistown in 1879. Pierre Berger is credited with being the founder of Lewistown. Berger, along with his wife Judith Wilkie Berger, so n Isadore Berger, Isaie Berger, Jean Baptiste Berger and Jacques Berger, as well as several other families made the trek into th e Lewistown area in 1879. Francis Janeaux came with the second group. Janeaux founded the first public school house in 1883. Lewistown became an incorporated city in 1899. Lewistown was also the site of a gold rush when gold was discovered in the nearby Judith Mountains in 1880. Before the gold rush,
Maiden was the largest city in central Montana. When the gold supply ran out, many of the miners gained new employment in Lewistown and settled there permanently. Lewistown was the eastern terminus of the Montana Railroad which connected with Lombard, Montana, a distance of approximately 157 miles (253 km). The railroad connected with the national railway network via a connection with the Northern Pacific Railway at Lombard. The Montana Railroad line was constructed between 1895 and 1903, and operated independently until 1908, when it was acquired by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (“the Milwaukee Road”). During World War II, in 1942 the US Army Air Corps established a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress training base just west of Lewistown to train aircrews for missions in North Africa and Europe. The former airbase is now the Lewistown Municipal Airport.
LEWISTOWN, MT | PRESENT DAY
Perfectly positioned in the center of Montana, Lewistown is a family friendly community that combines the ambiance of Montana’s natural beauty with the authenticity of our rural western lifestyle. Lewistown has a true four-season climate, with an abundance of events, activities and recreation to keep you busy no matter what the weather. The surrounding farm and ranch lands provide a rich base for a solid agricultural economy. A strong hub of construction and manufacturing businesses provide diverse opportunities for employment. A growing healthcare industry is stimulating a demand for jobs in the local medical markets. With spring-fed Big Spring Creek quietly meandering through town and five island mountain ranges encircling the community, a multitude of recreational
opportunities are readily available. Easy access to public lands and plentiful rivers, lakes and streams ensure worldclass hunting, year-round fishing, and plenty of choices for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and more. Lewistown is an agricultural community located at the geographic center of Montana in the vast Judith Basin. The town features many well-preserved historic businesses and homes. Although mostly rolling prairie, farms and ranches, the Lewistown area features five beautiful mountain ranges, the Snowies, the Judiths, the Moccasins, the Belts, and the Highwoods from which grand 100-mile vistas stretch out below. Picturesque landscapes, mountain terrain, and small quiet towns typify the area.
CONSERVATION & WATER RIGHTS
HORSETHIEF BASIN RANCH, WITH ITS 41 SEPARATE PARCELS AND PROXIMITY TO LEWISTOWN, HOLDS TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL FOR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.
CONSERVATION EASEMENTS
Horsethief Basin Ranch, with its 41 separate parcels and proximity to Lewistown, holds tremendous potential for conservation easements. Conservation easements are voluntary, private agreements between a landowner and a qualified organization like Montana Land Reliance. They are carefully crafted to help achieve a landowner’s vision for conserving the agricultural, wildlife, and scenic resources on their property. Each is customized to the landowner’s goals and will protect their property from unwanted or inappropriate future development. Conservation easements run with title to the land and last in perpetuity.
MINERAL RIGHTS
All Oil and Mineral Rights Owned by the Seller Convey.
WATER RIGHTS
Horsethief Basin Ranch has fully adjudicated water rights that also convey.
PROPERTY TAXES
2018 Property Taxes for Horsethief Basin Ranch are $27,521.96 for the 41 separate parcels.
• Pristine ranch land 10± miles east of Lewistown, Montana
• Equally balanced hay meadows, rolling grasslands and high country timberlands
• Abundant water supports healthy elk, deer, antelope, turkey, grouse and pheasant populations
• Luxury 8,000 sq ft owner’s residence with two matching guest cabins, each with two suites and full kitchen
• Manager’s home and outbuildings
• 6-stall horse barn with outdoor riding arena and steel working corrals
• Can support 400± animal units plus replacements
• All water & mineral rights owned by seller convey
• Big Spring Creek nearby; One of Montana’s premier trout streams
• Manager’s Residence: 4,500± SF, 5 beds, 3 baths, and a large kitchen
OFFERED @ $19,500,000
The information provided by Western Ranch Brokers for this property is subject to errors, omissions and is intended as a general guideline provided by sources deemed reliable. The accuracy of this information cannot be guaranteed and prospective buyers are encouraged to perform their own research. Offers are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal without notice, and approval of purchase by owner.
