Crow Hollow Ranch is situated in Montana’s legendary Paradise Valley. This majestic property which was once inhabited by the Crow Indians encompasses a diverse topography with 198 +/- deeded acres, over a half mile of Suce Creek, a beautifully designed period-style farm house, historic caretaker’s home, and log cabin…all tucked privately into a dramatic valley with National Forest, and BLM lands surrounding the ranch. List Price $3.6 Million
Five Great Outdoor Towns
In their book 101 Best Outdoor Towns (The Countryman Press, 2007) Sarah Tuff and Greg Melville provide a list of great places for visiting, playing – and perhaps staying. Most of the towns make for great family travel destinations. You’ll find tips on where to bunk for the night, rent great gear, find local favs and often affordable dining spots.
Here are five of my favorites:
1. Livingston, MT – Oozing western charm, this historic town is home to fly fishing enthusiasts, writers, artists and mountain lovers. As the scenic backdrop for many Hollywood movies, Livingston is a popular stop over for families heading into Yellowstone Park just 60 miles to the south. One of the country’s most important professional rodeos takes place here over the Fourth of July holiday. Contact: www.LivingstonMontana.com.
2. Taos, NM – Nestled against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, this artsy town is steeped in Native American history. Enjoy galleries, great Southwestern food as well as hiking, kayaking, down hill and cross country skiing. The adobe architecture and stunning light also make it a photographer’s paradise. Contact: www.TaosChamber.com.
3. McCall, ID – The 5,500 acre glacial Payette Lake is the summer centerpiece in this mountain enclave of fewer than 3,000 full time residents. Surrounded by miles of pristine wilderness the whole gang will enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, rafting and paddling. Once the more than 300 inches of annual snow begins to fall, head to Brundage Mountain Resort or Tamarack Resort for some family friendly skiing. Contact: www.McCallChamber.org.
4. Girdwood, AK – Strap on crampons and hike the glacier or enjoy the mid-summer blueberry festival. This funky and fun town just 40 miles south of Anchorage offers year-round outdoor excitement. Plan now for winter heli-skiing, snow cat and dog-sledding trips led by Iditarod veterans. Contact: GirdwoodAlaska.com
5. Peterborough, NH – Here mountain climbers, hikers, paddlers and skiers are proud of their high energy crossroads and their well-known home town peak Mount Monadnock. At 3165 feet, the pinnacle provides stunning views that compete only with the picturesque town’s winding roads, churches and taverns that are right out of a Currier & Ives print. Trails of nearly every length lead out of town. Contact: www.TownofPeterborough.com
Source: Familytravel.com
Raich Montana Properties LLC Listed in the “2011 America’s Best Brokerages” issue of The Land Report
This publication is known as “The Magazine of the American Landowner”. In this issue leading land brokerages in the US are listed by region. Raich Montana Properties LLC is listed under brokerages in the West (page 49). Each real estate firm is required to provide a compilation of transactions for the year, and share the firm’s business philosophy and provide market insights.
Here’s a recap of the magazine listing for Raich Montana Properties LLC:
Who: Raich deals in ranches and recreational properties in Livingston Montana’s Paradise Valley.
Philosophy: As a one-person firm, her focus is on personal attention for each client instead of handling a large volume of transactions.
Raich’s Market Insight: Raich enjoyed a steady business during the year. She predicts there will be continued investment in this market which may result in a depletion of inventory leaving a scarcity of truly amazing ranch and recreational properties in Livingston’s Paradise Valley.
2011 Sales: <$50 Million Category, with transactions totalling $17.1 Million in 2011 (The Land Report’s computation method).
Mission Field Airport – Montana’s Airport of the Year
Mission Field Airport recently received the “Airport of the Year” award from the Department of Transportation. Mission Field was one of a handful of airports nominated for the award in 2011. There are 120 public-use airports in the state. Mission Field which was built in the 1950’s underwent a $3.5 million renovation project last summer. The Federal Aviation Administration funded most of the project cost.
Twenty-five planes are based at Mission Field, and the runway services approximately 9000 take-offs and landings per year. Livingston HealthCare uses the airport for approximately 6-10 emergency flights each year and the National Park Service, National Forest Service and the Army Corps of Engineers also use the airport.
http://tracyraich.com
http://www.fltplan.com/AirportInformation/LVM.htm
Swiss Billionaire Puts $35 Million into Montana Conservation
A Swiss billionaire enamored with the wild landscapes of the American West has donated $35 million toward one of the largest private conservation land purchases in U.S. history.
Philanthropist Hansjorg Wyss told The Associated Press that he wanted to build a natural legacy people still could enjoy in 100 years. His donations to the Trust for Public Land and Nature Conservancy helped fund the recent purchase of 310,000 acres of timber land in Montana. The land is being transferred to the U.S. Forest Service and Montana’s Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department.
Wyss’s fortune estimated by Forbes magazine at $6.1 billion came largely from Synthes, the medical devices company he ran for three decades and still oversees as chairman.
He has donated to a large range of causes, with the largest single gift apparently a $125 million donation two years ago to create a bioengineering institute at Harvard University.
In an exclusive interview with the Associated Press, Wyss 75, said he first became enamored of the Rocky mountains as a college student who toured the region in 1958. “Look at these beautiful landscapes,” Wyss said. “There was controversy when Yellowstone National Park was created and when they declared the Grand Canyon as a National Monument. But there are places in the US that must be protected”.
Many billionaires and megamillionaires have come to Montana and decided to claim a piece of it as their own – from media mogul Ted Turner and software entrepreneur Tom Siebel, to former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who have all purchased ranches in the state.
Source: The Associated Press • December 12, 2010; Livingston Enterprise