This Sprawling $79 Million Montana Ranch Is the Ultimate Out-West Trophy Estate

The allure of the American West continues to grow, and Montana is home to some of the country’s most picturesque ranch properties . If you’re in the market for a ranch that pairs luxury living with the great outdoors, Running Elk Ranch may be for you. Not only is this one of Montana’s priciest ranches, but it’s primed to become a trophy estate that is passed down generations.

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Located in Bozeman Running Elk Ranch is listed for just shy of $79 million and spans a whopping 1,940 acres. The sellers are Bandel Carano, a California-based venture capitalist, and his wife, Paula Carano, who purchased several parcels of adjacent land here in Gallatin Valley in the early 2000s and completed the property’s cabins in 2005. The ranch gets its name after the abundant local elk population; in fact, one herd has made the ranch its home and roams the property. The property also plays host to nearly every Rocky Mountain West animal and bird species, from deer to antelope and eagles. It’s situated at the base of the Bridger Mountains, a subrange of the Rocky Mountains, and is bordered by 72,000 acres of Gallatin National Forest. It’s conveniently located, however, just 11 miles from downtown Bozeman.

Comprised of rolling hills strewn with Alpine trees and Aspen-filled meadows, meandering creeks and springs that spill into scenic ponds with majestic mountain backdrops, the ranch has two residences: a main house and an Alpine cabin.

Designed by Locati Architects, the main residence spans just under 3,600 square feet and has four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, plus a two-car garage. It’s built with steel, reclaimed wood, and local stone and is artfully designed with vaulted, wood-beamed ceilings, plaster walls, alder wood trim and doors, and large windows framing mountain and meadow views. The great room encompasses the spacious living room with soaring ceilings and a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, the dining area, and a roomy kitchen with dual islands and top-of-the-line appliances. Rustic flair is seen in every room, including the sumptuous bedrooms. Other amenities include a gym and an outdoor fireplace with a seating area.

The two-story Alpine cabin, set at a distance from the main house and nearer to the Bridger Mountains, measures almost 3,000 square feet with two bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and a separate six-bed bunk room. There’s also a lofted library with stunning views over the property, a fireplace, a patio, a dining nook, and a full kitchen.

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Perhaps the biggest draw to Running Elk Ranch is the 30,000-square-foot equestrian and entertainment complex, which includes an eight-stall barn with outdoor runs, a tack room, and space for large equipment storage, along with an office, a large bunk room, and two full bathrooms. The equestrian-oriented features also include indoor and outdoor arenas, numerous corrals with steel fencing, and multiple pastures, while the complex’s entertainment spaces include a Montana Rock Adventures-designed climbing wall, a gallery and dining area, a bar, a kitchen, and additional event catering space.

Elsewhere on property, there’s an equipment shop, a 1,000-yard gun range, a trap/skeet range, and a fenced children’s playground. Those looking to create a multi-generational legacy compound can continue to expand and build; there’s a site prepped for a spacious blufftop home.

Running Elk Ranch is listed by Valerie Johnson, Mike Schlauch, and Trent Lister of Platinum Properties/Pure West Christie’s International Real Estate.

Click here for more photos of Running Elk Ranch.

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