Description
This premier mountain ranch is nestled on the western slope of the Bear Lodge Mountains within 20-minutes of Devils Tower National Monument. The Rocking H is a picturesque and secluded recreational setting with 1.25 miles of live water, where the entire eastern boundary adjoins the expansive Black Hills National Forest. The diverse landscape provides excellent wildlife habitat and qualifies for coveted landowner elk tags.
As one of the most scenic and private settings in the Bear Lodge Mountains, the property encompasses 1,229 total acres, which includes 1,080 deeded acres and an additional 149-acre USFS Special Use Permit. This unique holding offers endless outdoor adventures with easy access to a vast amount of public lands.
With its mixture of open spaces, spectacular Black Hills scenery, unobstructed views, a mountain stream, and direct access to National Forest, the Rocking H Ranch is a legacy ranch offering recreational appeal, lasting investment potential and it has significant potential for a conservation easement candidate.
Rocking H Ranch
Hulett, Crook County, Wyoming
1080 deeded acres, 149-acre USFS Special Use Permit
$5,724,000
Property & USFS Permit:
The property consists of
1,080 +/- deeded acres,
149 +/- acres of Special Use Forest Service Permit.
1,229 +/- total acres.
The ranch has historically been used for a cow/calf operation and is currently transitioning into a yearling program. Approximately 200 acres of tillable land are dedicated to hay production, with a mix of alfalfa and grass hay.
The Special Use Permit lands are located adjacent to the ranch on both the northeastern side and southwestern corner. The permit lands are fenced in conjunction with the deeded property, integrating them into the overall operation.
Terrain:
The property features a striking blend of topographical elements creating outstanding scenery and sweeping panoramic vistas. Ponderosa pine covered hills, steep canyons with rugged rock bluffs, open parks, aspen groves, high plateaus with long-range views, rolling hay meadows, pretty creek bottoms and bur oak draws combine to provide an exquisite landscape. Birch, box elder, chokecherry, service berry, Oregon grape, currant, wild rose, juniper, buffalo berry, wild raspberry, and many other native varieties of bushes and wildflowers complete the backdrop. The pine timber has been strategically thinned to benefit forest health. Several sites on the ranch provide a view of Devils Tower and the Missouri Buttes.
The elevations range from 4,700 feet above sea level in the lower valleys to 5,200 feet in the upper plateaus. A good trail system connects the upper and lower elevations. According to the NRCS 30-year average annual precipitation data, the property is estimated in the range of 16 to 20 inches.
Water:
Lytle Creek flows through the southern end of the ranch for over 1.25 miles creating great habitat for wildlife and livestock grazing. Native beavers have taken advantage of the surroundings to create ponds along the creek. The ranch has several springs, one of the larger springs was developed to supply water for the improvements and several stock tanks. The spring development feeds three-1,700 gallon storage cisterns and has approximately 3,600 feet of buried pipeline. There are also two stock reservoirs.
Improvements:
The headquarters is situated on a wide plateau in the north central part of the ranch, accessible via a county road. This mesa lies between the Blacktail Creek Valley and the Lytle Creek Valley. A comfortable three-bedroom home, a hunter’s cabin, along with several outbuildings and corrals, providing make an adequate set of working improvements. Stunning views are available in every direction near the headquarters, with vibrant sunrises and sunsets frequently visible on horizons. On clear days, the outline of the Big Horn Mountains can be seen in the distance.
The headquarters improvements include:
2002 Manufactured Home (Lexington 27’x52’ with 14’x24’ addition) - 3 bedroom, 2 bath.
2009 Hunter Cabin—pole barn construction (24’x30’) - needs a septic tank.
1988 Machine Shed—30’x64’—dirt floor, electricity.
1970 Shop - 24’x48’—concrete floor, wood stove.
1948 Barn 34’x38” -- tie stalls
1950 Shed 28’x55’.
Several utility sheds, a chicken coop and a metal granary.
Utilities:
Electricity - Powder River Energy, Sundance, WY.
Landline Telephone – Range. Cellphone service is limited in the area.
Propane – 2 propane tanks are included with the purchase of the ranch.
Wildlife:
With a diverse terrain, a strong feed base, multiple water sources, plenty of cover and browse, the ranch offers ideal wildlife habitat. Many species of wildlife frequent the area including Whitetail deer, some mule deer, elk, turkey, beaver, fox, coyote, mountain lion, eagles, hawks, and the occasional bear. In recent years the elk herd in the Bear Lodge has been growing.
The property is currently eligible for landowner elk tags and is located in Elk Hunt Area 116 and Deer Hunt Area 2 for residents or Region A for non-residents. More information is available at the Wyoming Game and Fish Website. https://wgfd.wyo.gov/hunting
Recreation:
The Black Hills and northeastern Wyoming are renowned as a year-round recreation, vacation and hunting destination. Most of the region's major attractions are conveniently located within a one to two-hours of the ranch.
With the Black Hills National Forest accessible right out the back gate, the outdoor recreational possibilities are virtually endless. Bear Lodge District Snowmobile Trail “O” runs southeast of the property through the National Forest, connecting to a network of groomed trails that lead deeper into the Bear Lodge to places like Cook Lake and Reuter Campground Parking Area near Sundance. Local highlights in Crook County include the world-class Golf Club at Devils Tower located at Hulett, Devils Tower National Monument, and Keyhole Reservoir and State Park.
Wyoming has one of the most attractive tax structures in the country with no personal state income tax, no corporate income tax and low property taxes.
Access and Location:
The property is situated on the western side of the Wyoming’s Black Hills, along Lytle Creek, just 20-minutes southeast of Hulett. There are two access points into the ranch. The north ranch entrance is 11.4 miles from Highway 24, accessible via Black Tail Road and Huesby Road, both county-maintained gravel roads. From the end of the county road, it’s 4/10th of a mile of private ranch road to the headquarters location. The south access from Highway 24 is via Lytle Creek Road, then Forest Service Road #847, which runs the full length of the southern side of the property. In the winter Forest Service Road #847 is impassable due to seasonal closures and snow depths.
Commercial airline service is available in Gillette, Wyoming and Rapid City, South Dakota. Additionally, Hulett offers an airport with a 5,500 x 75 ft. asphalt runway. For more information, please visit: http://www.airnav.com/airport/W43
Approximate Mileage to nearby towns and destinations:
Hulett, WY – 12.4 miles,
Devils Tower – 20 miles,
Sundance, WY – 46 miles,
Gillette, WY – 77 miles,
Spearfish, SD – 63 miles,
Deadwood, SD – 78 miles,
Rapid City, SD – 105 miles,
Billings, MT – 270 miles,
Cheyenne, WY – 310 miles,
Denver, CO – 410 miles.
Remarks:
The Rocking H Ranch is a rare opportunity that has everything you could want in a Black Hills property. With majestic panorama, live water, “end of the road” privacy, abundant wildlife and access to public lands, this ranch stands out as an exceptional ranch offering.
