Rocky Mountain Living
The landlocked western US state of Montana is known for its varied natural environment. The terrain there is spectacular, with the Rocky Mountains and numerous other ranges in the west, and western prairie terrain and Badlands in the east.
Montana is the United States’ fourth largest state by area, and is home to around 1.1 million people, making it the eighth-least populous state. Helena is the state’s capital, while Billings is its most populous city.
However, things are slowly changing there. The state has experienced a boom of newcomers in recent years, particularly to places like Bozeman.
The popularity of the TV series Yellowstone could be an interesting factor, with its stunning depiction of life on a fictional Montana ranch (supposedly to the east of Bozeman and west of Livingston) encouraging more people to think about calling a similar place home.
With many farms and ranches across this agricultural state, totalling around 57.6 million acres in all, Montana is one of the premium destinations in the world for ranch living. Unsurprisingly, it’s home to huge and incredibly impressive ranches.
We’ve rounded up a selection of some of the largest ranches in the state they call ‘Big Sky Country’. So, whether you’re looking to make the move to Montana yourself, or simply learn more about the remarkable scale of the properties in this part of the United States, read on to find out more.
Broken O Ranch
This 124,000-acre ranch, located in Augusta, east of the Rocky Mountain Front and west of Great Falls, is one of Montana’s largest. Broken O Ranch was originally created by William and Desiree Moore, who founded the Kelly-Moore Paint Company, and turned it into a major cattle producer and agricultural operation. Today, it’s owned by billionaire Stan Kroenke. He purchased the property for what was thought to be a then-record Montana sale price of $132.5 million in 2012. As well as its agricultural production, the ranch offers incredible recreational facilities, including brown and rainbow trout fishing and hunting for mule deer, whitetail, antelope, wildfowl, and game birds.
Beaverhead Ranch
Wall Street Journal and Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch bought Beaverhead Ranch in southwest Montana for $200 million in 2021. This purchase took the title of the biggest ranch sale in the state’s history. There is plenty of space for Murdoch and visitors to explore as the working cattle ranch spans an area of almost 340,000 acres, 113,000 working and 226,000 with grazing rights. Fred Koch, founder of Koch Industries, was the previous owner (and founder) of the ranch. The site is said to be home to around 7,000 cow-calf pairs, 15 families who are employed on the ranch, and a huge mix of wildlife across its varied terrain.
Elk, antelope, mule deer, moose, and many other species live on the land here, and such is the scale of the site that it has been described as its own ecosystem. Murdoch has also purchased the Selkirk, a neighbouring ranch, meaning he now owns one of the country’s biggest cattle operations.
Flying D Ranch
Flying D Ranch is a 113,000-acre property located near Bozeman, southwest Montana. It’s owned by media mogul Ted Turner, and is home to an incredible selection of wildlife, including black bears, moose, wolves, elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, mountain lions, and pronghorn antelope. This working ranch, in the Gallatin and Madison Valleys, is surrounded by hills and is considered Montana’s second biggest. The ranch is mostly known for its bison production, although it is also said to offer excellent trout fishing in its streams and rivers.
Climbing Arrow
Climbing Arrow Ranch covers almost 80,000 acres in Manhattan, Montana. The property was established in 1905 and purchased by Buck and Marcia Anderson in 1959. It has a long association with cattle and is home to a cow herd of almost 2,000 commercial Black Angus cattle. This ranch sold in 2021 for $136 million, which was the United States’ fourth-highest property sale of the year. The sale included the expansive land, as well as the owner’s home, several employee residences, the historic Francis Barn, guest homes, corrals, workshops, sheds, mechanic shops, calving facilities, horse barns, and more.
Swan Land Company, which listed the property for sale, notes that Climbing Arrow is spread across four counties – Gallatin, Broadwater, Madison, and Meagher – and organised into five ranch units.
It also points out this is a legendary spot for elk hunting and fishing, as “the North Fork, Middle Fork, and the main channel of Sixteen Mile Creek serpentine through the Francis Unit for over 17 miles, and nearly 3.5 miles of the acclaimed Madison River form the western edge of the Valley Unit”.
N Bar Ranch
N Bar Ranch in Grass Range is located in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains. It has a varied landscape and an abundance of wildlife spread across its 62,000 acres, including 51,409 deeded acres. The timbered areas of the ranch are home to elk herds and deer, while game birds, wild turkeys, pheasants, and antelopes, populate some of the more temperate lower areas.
The ranch has a history going back to the 1880s and in 1991 was put on the National Register of Historic Places. Its most historic buildings are an old barn and cookhouse, which were constructed soon after wealthy Helena banker, Thomas Cruse, bought the ranch in 1885.
Wilks Ranches has owned the property since 2012, and has continued to focus on cow-calf black Angus operations.
Of course, these are just some of the many ranches across Montana, all with their own unique qualities. We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about them and perhaps even feel inspired to visit the state yourself.
