Rock Creek Ranch

Rock Creek Ranch is one of only three private properties that occupy the secluded top of Range Valley Mountain, located high above the fabled Book Cliffs of Utah’s Carbon County.

The mountain top is a gently rolling plateau about 20 miles long and one to two miles wide, with incredibly steep, rugged approaches on two sides. There is only one road in, and no public access to the over 50,000-acre mountain top.

The other two ranches are the Preston Nutter Ranch, controlling the north end of the mountain, and the Tavaputs Ranch, controlling the south end of the mountain. Rock Creek Ranch is tucked between them in the center and overlooks Range Creek Valley, 2,200 vertical feet below.

The ranch was acquired by a local family in 1957, and carefully improved with fencing, a nice set of corrals, and multiple runoff water ponds. The first structure on the ranch, the ‘Cow Camp’, was dragged to the mountain top and still serves today as one of several guest accommodations. The ranch house, built in 1960, is clad in beautiful native stone, matching many of the other improvements that came later.

The ranch is self-contained, with ample propane storage, two diesel-electric generators, and a private water well. There is also a grass airstrip conveniently located next to the improvements. Parties of over twenty people are easily accommodated at the ranch.

The exclusivity of this property is exceptional. Its availability represents the opportunity to become one of only three property owners secluded behind locked gates that have isolated over 50,000 acres of magnificent land and prime big-game habitat for decades.

Contact Listing Broker, Sam Sanders, for additional information.

This remarkable property is located high atop Range Valley Mountain in Carbon County, Utah, about a 1.25-hour drive from Price, the county seat.

The pavement ends four miles beyond Sunnyside, a small historic coal mining community located about 23 miles southeast of Price. From the end of the pavement, it’s a 5.5-mile, 2,860 vertical foot climb to the top, and Bruin Point, a 10,100-foot-high landmark adorned with multiple communication towers. High-clearance vehicles with four-wheel drive are a must.

From Bruin Point, it’s an easy 9.3-mile drive through the Preston Nutter Ranch and its massive, locked gates to Rock Creek Ranch.

Provo is about a three-hour drive to the northwest.

AIRSTRIP

The ranch can also be accessed via its grass airstrip, conveniently located near the ranch house and other improvements. The airstrip, which sits at an elevation of 9,600 feet, is approximately 2,400 feet long and 100 feet wide. There is a windsock pole at the southwest end of the airstrip.

The Carbon County Regional Airport is located just outside Price at an elevation of about 5,812 feet. The runway is paved, about 8,300 feet long, and 100 feet wide. 100LL and Jet-A are both available.

Approximate highway mileages from the property are as follows:

DEEDED ACREAGE

425± Deeded Acres

The ranch encompasses about 425 acres and is perimeter-fenced except for the southwest boundary, which drops very steeply to Range Creek below. The land is covered in native grasses interspersed with large groves of aspen, with gentle swales here and there. The scenic views are exceptional in every direction. There are several runoff ponds carefully created to maximize water retention from rain and snowmelt, creating a valuable resource for wildlife and cattle.

RANCH HOUSE

The 1,480-square-foot ranch house, built in 1960, was constructed of stone collected from the surrounding lands. This solid stone structure with a metal roof includes one bedroom, one bathroom, a full kitchen, and an open living space. The home is heated with a wood-burning fireplace and propane.

GENERATOR BUILDING

Adjacent to the ranch house, this 150-square-foot stone building houses a 25kW Shindaiwa kWiet Power Generator. This diesel-powered electric generator supplies single-phase electric power to the ranch house and lodge, and three-phase power to the wood shop.

LODGE

This 1,900-square-foot building, including four bedrooms and two bathrooms, is located at the western edge of the property and overlooks Range Creek Valley, 2,400 vertical feet below. The lodge offers exceptional views of the Henry Mountains, 150 miles to the south, and the Castle Valley Rim, 100 miles to the west.

WOOD SHED

Firewood is stored in this 170-square-foot structure.

BIG GAME STORAGE

This stone building is about 270 square feet in size and is used to hang big game, utilizing an overhead I-beam rail.

SLEEPING QUARTERS

Three small buildings, each about 165 square feet, used for hunters and guides, are heated with propane. One of the buildings has an associated chain-link dog run.

WOOD SHOP

This solid-wood-framed building has three-phase 220-volt power and is used to house a variety of woodworking equipment. There is also a backup electric generator. This building is currently vacant.

COW CAMP

This was the first structure on the ranch and remains very usable. The entire building, which measures 420 square feet, was dragged up the mountain by teams of horses. It served as a shelter for the cowboys overseeing cattle and sheep in the high mountain pastures. It is heated and lit with propane.

At 9,600 feet of elevation, spring comes around the first week in June, and winter can come early. The road to the ranch typically opens by around June 5, and the ranch is usually winterized by mid-October.
During summer months, the high elevation provides surprisingly moderate conditions, with daytime temperatures averaging 70°F to 80°F (21°C to 27°C) before dropping significantly to 40°F to 50°F in the evenings. Winter brings much harsher conditions typical of high-elevation plateau environments, with daytime temperatures ranging from 25°F to 35°F and nighttime lows plunging to 0°F to 15°F.

The plateau receives 15 to 20 inches of annual precipitation, primarily from late spring rains and summer thunderstorms, while snowfall can accumulate anywhere from 60 to over 100 inches each year. With the 100-mile-plus views to the southwest, you can watch the storms as they sweep across Castle Valley.

Electricity is supplied to the ranch house and its associated buildings, the Cow Camp, the Wood Shop (3-phase 220), and the Lodge by a 25 kW Shindaiwa ‘Kwiet Power’ Deisel Electric Generator backed up by a second diesel electric generator.

The ranch has five 1,000-gallon propane tanks: two for the ranch house, one for the three sleeping cabins, one at the Cow Camp, and one for the Lodge.

Water is provided for the ranch house and its yard, the lodge and its yard, and the stand-alone dual lavatory from a well. Each of these buildings also has its own septic tank.

Several runoff ponds are located on the property. The runoff water is used to catch snowmelt as a resource for wildlife and cattle.

Cell phone service is sometimes available near the flagpole located at the edge of the Range Creek drainage.

Please download the offering brochure for additional information, including mineral rights, zoning, and real estate taxes.

Offering Price & Condition of Sale

Rock Creek Ranch in Carbon County, Utah, as previously described herein, is offered at US $3,500,000.00 Cash or Terms acceptable solely at the discretion of the Seller. The property is being sold inclusive of all furniture and accessories located in the dwellings; this personal property will be conveyed via a bill of sale. The conditions of sale are as follows:

1. All offers to purchase or letters of intent must be in writing.
2. All Prospective Buyers must demonstrate to the sole satisfaction of the Seller and Listing Agent the financial capability to purchase the property prior to scheduling a personal tour of the property.
3. Within three (3) business days of acceptance of an offer, earnest money of $100,000.00 shall be deposited to First American Title in Salt Lake City, Utah, and will be placed in escrow with First American Title.
4. The Seller will provide and pay for a standard owner’s title insurance policy issued by First American Title in Salt Lake City, Utah. Title to the real property will be conveyed by a special warranty deed.
5. The Seller will convey the property without reservation, but makes no representation as to the quantity or quality of any mineral or other subsurface property rights.
6. Buyers’ Brokers are welcome and invited to contact Sam Sanders with Swan Land Company for additional information and to set up a private tour of the property.

This entire Offering is subject to errors, omissions, prior sale, change, or withdrawal without notice and approval of purchase by the Seller. Information regarding land classifications, acreages, carrying capacities, crop yields, potential profits, hunting districts, and regulations, etc., is intended only as general guidelines and has been obtained from sources deemed reliable; however, accuracy is not warranted or guaranteed by the Sellers or Swan Land Company. Prospective Buyers should verify all information to their sole and complete satisfaction.

TERMS OF INSPECTION

A 48-hour notice is requested to make proper arrangements for an inspection of Rock Creek Ranch.

Swan Land Company has been authorized by the Seller to act as their Exclusive Real Estate Broker on the sale of Rock Creek Ranch. Since 2002, we have focused on the brokerage of significant ranches, farms, and recreational properties throughout the Rocky Mountain West.

This Offering is based on information believed to be correct; however, it is subject to errors, omissions, prior sale, change, or withdrawal without notice. Information contained herein has been provided by the Seller or obtained from other sources deemed reliable. The Agent does not, however, guarantee accuracy and recommends that any Prospective Buyer conduct an independent investigation.