In search of a homestead where the buffalo roam? Look no further than the legendary Pitchfork Ranch in Meeteetse, Wyoming, nestled within the captivating Bighorn Basin region of the state and currently available for a listed price of $67 million.
Established in 1878, the Pitchfork Ranch predates Wyoming itself by a notable 12 years, standing as an enduring testament to the state’s history. Functioning as a working cattle ranch to this day, it boasts an illustrious past intertwined with renowned photographer Charles Belden. His captivating snapshots chronicling life on the ranch garnered widespread acclaim, gracing the pages of national magazines from 1914 to 1940. A piece of Belden’s legacy endures within the ranch to this day, with his dark room preserved within one of its homes. Over the years, the ranch attracted luminaries such as aviator Amelia Earhart, and actors Tim McCoy and Wallace Beery.
While its pinnacle was in the early to mid-1900s, today, the ranch is being presented as a turnkey operation, capable of accommodating 1,300 cows annually and facilitating a thriving hay enterprise. The sale encompasses not only an operational business and facilities (inclusive of the cow herd, feed, and equipment) but also the esteemed reputation the ranch holds within the region and across the entire state. Its extensive facilities encompass top-tier working spaces, numerous barns, an orchard, and a spring-fed yard. Among its amenities are eight residences, ranging from quaint cottages to expansive houses, along with a tennis court and a shooting range populated by wildlife such as mule deer, moose, whitetail deer, and grouse.
The centerpiece of the property, the 5,400-square-foot Stone House, boasts eight bedrooms and five bathrooms, while the 3,500-square-foot River House, constructed in 1948, offers four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and an attached indoor swimming pool. Additionally, the Manager’s House spans 2,600 square feet, featuring two bedrooms and a loft, while the Carriage House with two bedrooms and a three-car garage adds to the estate’s allure. Other accommodations include the former Pitchfork Post Office, artfully transformed into a charming one-bedroom cottage, alongside several smaller homes and two log barns dating back to the 1930s that remain in active use.
Encompassing nearly 7.5 miles of the Greybull River, renowned for Yellowstone cutthroat trout, the ranch also boasts breathtaking views of the Absaroka Mountain Range. Notably, the land harbors endangered species like the black-footed ferret, alongside inhabitants such as wolves and grizzly bears.
With a plethora of outdoor activities available—ranging from boating, camping, and fishing to horseback riding, hunting, hiking, and off-roading—the land offers a diverse array of pursuits. Uncommonly rich in irrigated acres, Pitchfork Ranch’s elevation of 6,400 feet renders it ideal for grass meadows and orchard grass.
Rarely does a contiguous expanse of land of this magnitude enter the market. Listing agent Ben Anson of LandWatch, who has overseen ranch management for the past four years, notes that this marks only the third time the ranch will change hands since its founding. This unique opportunity presents the chance to own not just a piece of Wyoming but a slice of American history. Prospective owners can either renovate existing homes or create an entirely new ranch compound to manifest their ‘Yellowstone’ dreams.
Pitchfork Ranch sprawls across 96,000 acres, encompassing 13,886 acres of deeded land, 31,600 state-leased acres, 5,645 BLM acres, and 44,984 forest service acres—an expansive haven poised to grace new owners with its storied past and endless possibilities.
