Split Rock Ranch€¦ · component that is very unique for its location. Split Rock Ranch presents the opportunity to own a large and diverse Wyoming ranch with strong production

H u n t i n g | R a n c h i n g | F l y F i s h i n g | C o n s e r v a t i o n

Split Rock RanchM U D D Y G A P , W Y O M I N G

IntroductionThe Split Rock Ranch is a vast, productive Wyoming cattle ranch, strong on

production and wildlife and steeped in western history. Located in south

central Wyoming along the Oregon Trail, the ranch spans more than 35 miles

from north to south, encompassing three counties and running on 196,962

total acres.

Primarily operated as a cattle ranch, the Split Rock Ranch has a

conservative carrying capacity of 1,200 animal units. The deeded lands

include 16,891 acres of diverse landscape including lush river bottom, rocky

outcroppings and miles of rolling sage flats and meadows. The Sweetwater

River courses through the deeded land for approximately 14 miles providing

secure private river frontage. The river delivers irrigation water to four center

pivots, which irrigate 614 acres of cropland.

Strong on the recreational front, the river is the lifeblood for area

wildlife including elk, mule deer, white-tailed, deer and pronghorn antelope, all

that are present in prolific numbers supporting a well-managed ranch hunting

program. The Sweetwater River provides onsite fishing and adds a live water

component that is very unique for its location. Split Rock Ranch presents the

opportunity to own a large and diverse Wyoming ranch with strong production

and spectacular recreational attributes.

Split Rock RanchM U D D Y G A P , W Y O M I N G

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ContactsM A T T M A C M I L L A N

a s s o c i a t e b r o k e r

3 0 7 . 4 1 3 . 3 5 8 2

T O B Y G R I F F I T H

3 0 7 . 2 7 2 . 8 6 2 9

Split Rock Ranch lies in Natrona, Fremont, and Carbon counties in south central Wyoming. The ranch

is roughly 35 miles from north to south, and over 20 miles wide from east to west. Split Rock Ranch has

three distinct camps or headquarters: The Block, Cross L and the Hook. Each of these were independent

ranches prior to the assemblage of the Split Rock. The closest town to the ranch is Muddy Gap, Wyoming,

which is home to a service station and small market. The ranch is positioned 80 miles southeast of Lander

and 80 miles southwest of Casper; both towns provide all the services one needs. The current population

of Casper is shy of 60,000 while the recreational mecca of Lander is home to 9,500 residents. The Casper/

Natrona County Airport provides the closest commercial air services, a little over an hour drive from the Cross L Headquarters. This portion of Wyoming

looks much the same as it did hundreds of years ago. This is big Wyoming cattle country that is rich in wildlife and long on views and open spaces.

Hunting | Ranching | Fly Fishing | Conservation

LocationS P L I T R O C K R A N C H I S

R O U G H L Y 3 5 M I L E S F R O M

N O R T H T O S O U T H , A N D

O V E R 2 0 M I L E S W I D E .

Improvements

The hunting lodge is a modern style lodge with 6 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. The lodge setting is spectacular,

located on the banks of the Sweetwater River overlooking the irrigated hay fields. The lodge has all

modern finishes and systems, complete with a large great room, gourmet kitchen and recreational room with

a bar and pool table. The deck provides front row seating to watch the elk, deer and pronghorn feed in the

irrigated fields, and the trout rise on the Sweetwater River. The additional improvements provide support for

the cattle operation, with onsite housing for managers and staff.

Hunting | Ranching | Fly Fishing | Conservation

Hunting lodge 6,500 sqft.

Manager’s home 1 1,500 sqft.

Manager’s home 2 1,500 sqft.

Bunkhouse 1 1,000 sqft.

Bunkhouse 2 1,300 sqft.

Workshop 4,000 sqft.

Calving barn 12,000 sqft.

The ranch currently leases out the cattle grazing to a tenant who runs approximately 1200 cow/calf pairs

on the ranch. In addition to the 16,891 acres of deeded land, the ranch grazes on 168,447 acres of BLM

leased land and 11,624 acres of Wyoming State lease. There are 13 different BLM allotments and 6 separate

state allotments that benefit the ranch. Traditionally run as a cow/calf operation, Split Rock Ranch has been

successfully able to calve their heifers and mother cows near the headquarters during the early spring, turn

out the livestock in late spring thru the summer to early fall, effectively rotating pastures according to the

lease agreements. During late fall, the cow/calf pairs are gathered, sorted, the calves weaned and shipped, and

mother cows trailed back toward the headquarters where they finish out the late fall and winter grazing on

residual alfalfa growth and/or supplemental hay previously cut from the pivots.

There are 4 center pivots which irrigate approximately 614 acres. The current crop is alfalfa hay, the average production has been in the 4-5 ton per

acre range on 2 cuttings. The hay production is currently managed separately from the grazing. Depending on cattle feed requirements, the hay is either sold

to the cattle lessee or sold to market.

The hunting on Split Rock Ranch has been leased to the same tenant, a top outfitter, for several years. The current outfitter’s conservative management

strategy has ensured the harvest of top end animals which has generated an auxiliary income stream to supplement the hay and grazing operation.

Operational Income Component

T H E S P L I T R O C K R A N C H

G E N E R A T E S I N C O M E

F R O M 3 D I S T I N C T A R E A S ;

C A T T L E G R A Z I N G , H A Y

S A L E S A N D H U N T I N G .

Split Rock Ranch offers a variety of outstanding big game hunting opportunities for trophy elk, mule

deer, whitetail deer and pronghorn antelope. The quality and quantity of game is obvious immediately

upon arriving at the ranch headquarters. While looking out over the river, it is common to see hundreds

of deer, pronghorn and elk feeding in the alfalfa fields.

Due to the exceptional hunting component, Split Rock Ranch currently leases out the hunting to a well-

respected outfitter who carefully manages the big game herds for high quality animals. The ranch has

qualified for elk, deer and pronghorn tags in the past.

During the spring, summer and early fall months the elk spend most of their time in the high elevations near Green Mountain in the southern portions of

the ranch. The Green Mountain unit is a well-known trophy elk area with resident and nonresident tags offered on a limited quota basis. Archery elk hunting

during the September rut in the Green Mountain unit can be incredibly special on the Split Rock Ranch, where there is an abundant amount of water, good

cover and no hunting pressure. Later in the fall, when the majority of elk begin to move north to lower elevations and eventually cross Highway 287, they

enter the general elk unit. Here the elk will find irrigated alfalfa fields, river bottom protection and rough, rocky terrain for escape. Since the ranch has

deeded land in the two units, the owner has the choice to hunt the mountain or lower country.

Hunting & Wildlife T H E G R E E N M O U N T A I N A R E A

O F F E R S H I G H E L K A C T I V I T Y

I N T H E F A L L M O N T H S .

Wyoming is known for its huge numbers and trophy quality

antelope. When it comes to producing the biggest and

the best, Unit 68 is always amongst the leaders. Split Rock Ranch

is located in the epicenter of Unit 68 and has produced bucks

exceeding 85” Boone and Crocket records regularly. Archery

hunters can also enjoy great success either by spot and stalk

methods or setting up blinds along fence lines, water holes or

travel corridors.

With over fourteen miles of the Sweetwater River

flowing through the Split Rock Ranch and four

productive pivots located adjacent to this rich riparian

corridor, white-tailed and mule deer populations are

thriving. Trophy scoring mule deer and white-tailed deer

are harvested on the ranch regularly.

The Sweetwater River itself is a productive fishery supporting

populations of rainbow and brown trout as well as native cutthroat

trout. Fish in the section of river flowing through the property average 12

to 18 inches in length; at times fish in the 20 plus inch range are caught.

The prolific insect hatches in early spring and the

arrival of summer hoppers make dry fly fishing

quite enjoyable. Located east and an hour’s drive

of the ranch, is the famed tailwater sections of the

North Platte River, which include Miracle Mile

and Grey Reef. Together with Seminoe, Pathfinder

and Alcova Reservoirs, these fisheries are known

to produce “monster” trout as well as some warm

water species in the reservoirs.

It is important to note that the fishing on Split Rock Ranch is 100%

private. Unlike some other western states, in Wyoming the landowner owns

the streambed and the public does not have any access rights along the river

corridor. This allows the incoming ranch owners the luxury of managing

the fishing program as they see fit.

Live WaterT H E S W E E T W A T E R R I V E R

B I S E C T S T H E S P L I T R O C K

R A N C H A N D O F F E R S

C O M P L E T E L Y P R I V A T E

F I S H I N G R I G H T S .

History

The Sweetwater Valley contains three distinctive granite landmarks: Independence Rock,

Devil’s Gate and Split Rock. The last of these, Split Rock, with its unforgettable gun sight

notch, was visible to emigrants for two days or more as they approached and then left it behind

them. Some emigrants on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trail, all one road at this point—

found this landmark in the Rattlesnake Range a useful navigational tool as they made their way

west up the Sweetwater. Rising 1,000 feet above the sagebrush prairie, Split Rock aimed westbound

emigrants directly at South Pass still more than 75 miles away. The relatively gentle landscape

offered them a short, but much needed, respite in their long journey. Emigrants were struck by the

rock’s beauty, too. “The picture was worthy the pencil of an artist,” William Carter wrote late in

1857. “Our camp was near what is called the Split in the Rock, a remarkable cleft in the top of the

mountain which can be seen at a great distance in either direction.”

Split Rock Station is located a short distance west of Split Rock between Cranner Rock and

the south bank of the Sweetwater River in what is now a hay meadow. In the early 1860’s, the site

served as a Pony Express station, stage station and telegraph station. Legend says that Pony Express

rider William “Buffalo Bill” Cody exchanged horses here on a record ride from Red Buttes Station

to Rocky Ridge Station and back. Due to another rider’s untimely death, Cody was forced to add an

extra leg to his relay and eventually covered a total of 322 miles in 21 hours and 40 minutes using 21

horses. On another occasion, he rode one horse top speed for 24 miles when chased by Indians from

Horse Creek Station east of Independence Rock to Plant’s Station, east of the Split Rock Ranch.

Diarist Henry Herr reported that, in 1862, 50 soldiers from the sixth Ohio Regiment were

encamped here to protect the emigrants. A crude log structure and pole corral that were part of the

station are now part of Split Rock Ranch homesite.

“Yesterday,” Joseph Middleton wrote in 1849,

“from the time we started we steered to this cliff

with a steadiness that was astonishing, never

deviating from it more than the needle does

from the north pole, excepting once for a short

time—I think this cleft or rent or chasm is very

conspicuously seen from the Devil’s Gate, which

I think is 11 miles from here; and I think it is still

at least 6 or 8 miles ahead.”

Pioneer photographer William Henry

Jackson made these two pictures in

1870, when he camped near Split Rock

with members of the Hayden Survey.

- USGS photo

Picture: Wyoming State Archives

https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/split-rockWyoming State Historical Society: www.wyshs.org

Water & Mineral Rights

Split Rock Ranch has 614 acres of irrigated land which is watered by 4 center pivots. There are multiple adjudicated

water rights, which benefit the ranch and provide approximately 1.5 acre-feet of water across the 614 acres. A full list of the water rights will be made available to qualified buyers.

Mineral rights owned by the seller will be conveyed to the buyer at closing. Buyers concerned about the status of the mineral estate should consider conducting a mineral search.

Summary• +196,962 total acres, including +16,891 deeded acres• 1,200 animal unit carrying capacity with grazing lease

in place• +614 acres of center pivot irrigated hay ground• Excellent hunting with established revenue generating

hunting program in place• Landowner tags available for elk, deer and pronghorn• +14 miles of Sweetwater River frontage • 6,500 sqft. main lodge, along with manager’s home,

bunk houses and cattle handling facilities• Significant historical location with Oregon Trail,

Mormon Trail and Split Rock Mountain, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

• Elevations vary from 5,000 feet to nearly 7,000 feet

LISTING PRICE: $12,400,000TAXES: $25,354 IN 2019

CONTACTSFor more information please contact

Matt MacMillan at 307.413.3582, or email [email protected]

Toby Griffith at 307.272.8629, or e-mail [email protected]

Hunting | Ranching | Fly Fishing | Conservation

Notes:1) This is an exclusive listing of Live Water Properties LLC; an agent of Live Water Properties must be present to conduct a showing. The owners respectfully request that other agents and/or prospective buyers contact Live Water Properties in advance

to schedule a proper showing and do not attempt to tour or trespass the property on their own. Thank you. 2) Offering subject to errors, omissions, prior sale, change or withdrawal without notice, and approval of purchase by owner. Information provided herein is intended as a general guideline and has been provided by sources deemed reliable, but the accuracy of which we cannot guarantee. 3) Live Water Properties LLC represents the Seller as a Seller’s Agent.

Split Rock Ranch - Aerial Map••Maps are for visual aid only accuracy is not guaranteed.

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