Historic North Fork ranch up for sale for $30 million
Elk graze on the Rocky Bar O Ranch.
By CHRIS PETERSON
Hungry Horse News
A historic North Fork Ranch is up for sale. The Rocky Bar O Ranch, founded by the Ladenburg family in the 1800s is being listed for $30 million.
It’s the second high profile property with views into Glacier National Park listed this summer. Separately, a cabin on Lake McDonald was also listed for $15 million in May.
Much of the ranch, which is a favorite roadside stop for folks heading to Polebridge in the spring because of the elk herd that grazes in its fields, is under conservation easement.
Then owner Tom Ladenburg put an easement on about 1,050 acres of property back in 2000 through the Nature Conservancy. The Forest Service also has an easement on about 513 acres, noted agent Matthew Hohnberger of PureWest Christies Real Estate.
Ladenburg died and his family sold the ranch. It is listed as being owned by Rocky Bar O Ranch LLC. Hohnberger declined to identify the individual owners.
The ranch was established as a homestead by Ladenburg’s uncle, Mike Berne in 1890. Ladenburg took over the ranch after World War II.
The owners have added on to the acreage since they bought it from Ladenburg’s heirs about 16 years ago. The adjacent Downes property is part of the ranch, which totals just over 2,000 acres.
Hohnberger said there has been interest in the parcel, one prospective buyer recently flew into the ranch on a helicopter to take a tour.
The ranch has great views into Glacier National Park and 2.6 miles of frontage along the North Fork of the Flathead. It is off the grid and the homes onsite remain primitive. The ranch, for the most part, looks like it did when Ladenburg operated it as a cattle ranch 24 years ago.
It has an elk herd, plenty of whitetail deer and is home to a whole suite of other wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, black bears and mountain lions.
Most of the ranch is bordered by Forest Service or state lands.
The listing is at: matthewhohnberger.com