True Montana Lifestyle | Deep Canyon Ranch

A blog by Vinny Delgado, Sales Associate, Licensed in MT

Deep Canyon Ranch: A Legacy Ranch with Substantial Conservation Easement Value

Listed at $4,995,000, Reduced from $5,200,000 | 580± deeded acres with a 360± BLM lease

The unencumbered Deep Canyon Ranch resides along the coveted Rocky Mountain Front and Teton Canyon River Valley which boasts landscapes that inspired America’s greatest artists and authors alike. Private and incredibly historic, the ranch sits just south of spectacular Glacier National Park. Deep Canyon Ranch consists of 580± deeded acres and 360 BLM leased acres. Sitting on the brink of over 1.5 million acres of National Forest and wilderness lands, this ranch provides incomparable acreage for hunting, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, biking and other outdoor activities that define a true Montana lifestyle. Stunning landscapes and ample room to recreate make this property the pinnacle of what a great American West Ranch represents.

The History of Deep Canyon Ranch

Oscar Olney, who came to Montana with a trail herd from Texas, moved into the vacated house that the sawmill people left, and took up homestead rights to the land along Pamburn Creek. Shortly after he “proved up” his land, Joe White and “Society Slim” Lestrud struck a deal with Oscar to gather up a few head of horses and begin packing people into the mountains, later named the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, and invite easterners into Teton Canyon for a real riding vacation.

Dude ranching was not an easy business to get started in. There were many lean years. Oscar left and sold his interest to Joe and Slim, and shortly later, Slim left, and Joe was on his own. By the mid-thirties, and during the depression, the Great Northern Railroad was working with these ranches, advertising and booking guests who, of course, would ride the trains out and spend a month at a time or longer on these dude ranches. Many of these folks came from cities such as Minneapolis and Chicago to experience the romance of the western way of life, and to revel in the wide-open spaces and the magnificent Rocky Mountains of which they had nothing to compare to at home.

Chuck and Sharon Blixrud, owners of the Seven Lazy P Guest Ranch, purchased Deep Canyon Ranch in 1975. Chuck and Sharon leased Deep Canyon Ranch out until 1985, at which time they closed it down and began a rebuilding program, tearing down many of the old structures and building new ones in their places. Most of the work was done in the winter after their outfitting season was over. Having their own sawmill enabled them to produce their own materials and special pieces that are hard to find on the market today.

As a result of spending the greater part of their lives in Teton Canyon, it has been their desire to keep their place intact, to provide a place for friends to come and enjoy, and to experience a tradition that is rapidly becoming history. To ride the “quiet trails”, fish the pristine Teton River and its still pools, feel the unbounded freedom of space, and capture momentarily the spirit of the west.

For additional information on the property, please visit https://fayranches.com/property/deep-canyon-ranch-montana/.