How much would it cost to walk a mile in John Dutton’s cowboy boots?
If you’ve been fantasizing about living the life of Yellowstone’s famed patriarch (flawlessly portrayed by Kevin Costner in the hit TV series), and found yourself wondering how much it would cost to run a sprawling ranch that spans thousands of acres, we have the answer — but spoiler alert, it’s pretty expensive!
The historic Antlers Ranch near Meeteetse, a massive Wyoming ranch that features an impressive total of 16,532 deeded acres and control of more than 40,000 acres of pristine land, seems plucked right out of a Yellowstone episode (if we are to replace the horses with bison).
Much like the Dutton ranch, Antlers has been owned by the same family since 1895.
Now, it’s being offered for sale for the first time in well over a century. The price tag? A hefty $85 million.
Latham Jenkins, a top-producing broker with Live Water Properties in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, holds the listing, and we’re here to give you a quick overview of everything you might find there.
A legacy ranch
One of the West’s legacy ranches, the massive Wyoming ranch has been owned by the same family since 1895.
Started at the turn of the 20th century as an outfit to feed miners prospecting for gold in nearby Kirwin, the property was acquired by Ernest May Sr. — who traded his interest in the mining company that owned Antlers for sole ownership of the ranch — and it has been in the stewardship of the May family ever since.
“I can only guess, but I think my great-great-grandfather saw a possibility for a family legacy. Antlers was, and is, not only a business, but a lifestyle,” says Sam May, a fifth-generation Antlers owner. “During my tenure here I hope I have done that legacy justice.”
Rightfully dubbed “Little Yellowstone”
The ranch is part of the 22 million-acre Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, one of the last remaining large, nearly intact temperate ecosystems in the world.
As such, it serves as home to about 330 species of wildlife, ranging from grizzly and black bears to gray wolves, deer, elk, moose, pronghorn, and coyotes to Merriam turkeys, bald and golden eagles, or peregrine falcons to Clark’s nutcrackers. Its location also earned it the moniker of “Little Yellowstone”.
Consists of 16,000+ deeded acres
With 16,532 deeded acres, control of more than 40,000 acres, and approximately 63 miles of shared border with federal- or state-protected lands, Antlers Ranch functions as both a working ranch and a wildlife sanctuary.
The property has a diverse topography and habitats, ranging from river bottoms to irrigated pastures and timbered alpine peaks, with 18 miles of private creeks and rivers.
Antlers Ranch in a nutshell
To try to sum up this sprawling property in a few easy-to-follow bullet points, the Wyoming ranch offers:
- A sanctuary for 330 species of wildlife
- ±16,532 deeded acres with control of more than 40,000 acres
- Diverse topography: river bottoms, irrigated pastures, and alpine peaks
- 63 miles of border with federally or state-protected lands
- 18 miles of private live water, ideal for fly fishing
- Territorial water rights ensuring sustainable hay production and resource preservation
A living ecosystem and wildlife sanctuary
Per the listing, “Antlers Ranch is more than just a property but it’s a living ecosystem and a legacy that reflects the enduring spirit of the American frontier,” with listing agent Latham Jenkins describing it as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of history — a working ranch that also serves as a wildlife sanctuary.”
The ranch has several revenue streams
Antlers Ranch is as diverse in its revenue generation as it is in topography, with 5 distinct income streams:
- Bison: formerly a horse ranch, the Wyoming property now runs approximately 650-750 head of bison year-round
- Minerals: the ranch benefits from income-producing oil wells governed by lease agreements with Breitburn Operating, LP
- Hay: yields have typically been in the 2 1/2 – 3 tons per acre in recent years
- Hunting & fishing: the ranch currently has a year-to-year hunting lease with a well-respected outfitter that allows for the harvest of 5 bull elk and 5 whitetail bucks, as well as limited fishing on a fee basis
- Gravel
The existing homes on the ranch
The ranch’s living quarters include quite a few structures, including two owner’s homes — one built in 1937 (remodeled recently in 2012), and another historic home that dates back to 1916. Both of them offer great views of the Absaroka Mountains, and benefit from mature landscaping and proximity to a sizable fishing pond.
There’s also a bunkhouse, a duplex, and 2 ranch-style homes to accommodate staff and guests.
Antlers Ranch’s production headquarters
Located 2 miles up from the owners’ houses, the production headquarters consists of a 7,200-square-foot heated shop with multiple bays and a bathroom, a similarly sized equipment shed, a 3,072-square-foot Quonset hut for storage, 2 hay sheds spanning 9,000+ sq. ft., and a large butcher shop/meat processing facility, among others.
Great for big game hunting
Thankfully, the May family has long prioritized the quality of wildlife over monetary gain, severely limiting the amount of hunting that took place here over the years.
“We’ve taken a much more balanced way of caring for the land,” says owner Sam May, before rightfully pointing out that “There aren’t many ranches where you will see deer or moose in the middle of your livestock. I like to think everything is working like it’s supposed to. Everything is at peace.”
This has helped propagate optimal genetics for the wildlife on the ranch, including bull elk over 380 inches, whitetail deer over 170 inches, mule deer over 190 inches, and antelope surpassing the minimum score set by the Boone and Crockett Club.
An even better spot for fly fishing
The property is also being touted as a “fly-fishing paradise”, with 18 miles worth of private creeks and one river. Future owners can grant public access agreements, but there are currently none in place, helping create some of the finest dry fly fishing in the West.
Wyoming’s most expensive ranch
Given its massive acreage, diversified revenue streams, wildlife ecosystem, and its location in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Antlers Ranch is being offered for sale at a hefty $85 million. Latham Jenkins, a top-producing broker with Live Water Properties in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, holds the listing.
The price tag makes it Wyoming’s most expensive ranch, with the runner-up being another Meeteetse-area property, the 13,886-acre The Pitchfork ranch.
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