L & M Angus Ranch
Idaho - Custer County - Challis
The vast, pristine L & M Angus Ranch, located near historic Challis, Idaho offers many ranching as well as recreational opportunities and has close proximity to the famous Salmon River and the Sawtooth Mountains. With 3,167 deeded, fenced acres and 20,000 BLM leased acres, L & M Angus Ranch enjoys abundant water rights, vast beauty, four homes, two hydro-electric plants, a fish farm and a warm spring. The elevation of the property ranges from 5,000 ft. to 6,200 feet.
Improvements:
The ranch features a two-story, 4,500 square foot home with 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, family room and office plus a lighted tennis/basketball court. Three are three additional homes on the property including a 2 bedroom, 1 bath home, a mobile home with 2 bedrooms, and 1 bath and a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, double-wide manufactured home. Outbuildings include a 50' x 120' shop, a 50' x 100' calving barn, two graineries, a calf pen (with video set- up), and additional calf pens on upper and lower ranch.
Operational Considerations:
This unique property has two hydro-electric plants which generate approximately $120,000 in annual income and a 54,000-9,000 gallons per minute (gpm) warm spring which supplies water for a fish farm and irrigation for the upper fields (fish farm is currently being leased to an outside party). The ranch itself is 3,167 deeded acres, 20,000 BLM leased acres with 2,200 AUM (1,100 spring and 1,100 fall) plus an additional 500 acres leased from a private party. This ranch is currently running 600 head of cattle inside deeded acreage and produces an average of 3.200 tons of hay in three cuttings, leaving the fourth cutting to graze. The current owner reports a surplus of approximately 1,000 tons of hay which could be sold. Current owners will sell farming equipment and some of the cattle under private treaty. All cattle equipment goes with the sale, except custom-made calf chute. A portion of the depreciable assets are two hydroelectric plants, approximately 50,000 feet of buried mainline, approximately 40 miles of fence, approximately 15 miles of road, $150,000 of paying, 7 pivots, numerous wheel lines, approximately 7 miles of private canal, 4 houses, 50' x 120' shop, 50' x 100' calving barn, corrals and scales.
Water Resources:
One of the largest warm water springs in the United States (reported by owner) is located on the upper portion of the ranch. Spring produced 5,000 to 9,000 gpm (depending upon season), of crystal clear water at 96 degrees. This spring supplies water for a Talapia fish farm (currently leased to an outside party) as well as irrigation water. The property is comprised of an upper ranch which has approximately 800 acres under irrigation through a ditch system and wheel lines. The lower ranch has 700 acres irrigated primarily with 7 large pivots.
Recreational Opportunities:
A world of recreational opportunities surround the ranch with the nearby Salmon River and the Sawtooth Mountains. Rafting, hiking, fishing, hunting, golfing, wildlife and bird watching are amongst a few of the activities within a short drive. The seasonal changes provide four distinct natural displays of color; from the warm autumn hues, to the cool winter white of snow-capped mountain tops to the first flush of green in the spring and the wildflower show in early spring. The area has a reputation for being one of the best upland bird habitats with chuckers, pheasants and ducks in abundance.
Area:
Challis was founded in 1876 as a supply center for the Salmon River area mines, including the Yankee Fork, Bayhorse, and Clayton mining districts. Daily temperatures can fluctuate up to 40 degrees year round, even after the hottest day you can expect a cool comfortable evening. The area averages approximately 8 inches of rainfall per year and the winters have minimal snowfall. Challis is the Custer County seat and is still the economic center of mines, ranches and farms. Major agricultural products include livestock, hay, grain and seed potatoes. Mineral resources include gold, silver, molybdenum and 40 other minerals in sufficient quantities to be mined commercially. It's been said if you flatten all the mountains in Idaho, the state would be the size of Texas. Idaho covers two time zones, runs from Canada to Nevada, and encompasses the western side of the continental divide of the Rocky Mountains. Rivers, mountains and farmland dominate the state's landscape. The panhandle has emerald green hillsides, timbered mountains and pristine lakes. Idaho's history lies with its native tribes, the Lewis and Clark Expedition and determined pioneers on the Oregon Trail. Today's Idaho is both cosmopolitan and small-town friendly. Agriculture, manufacturing and tourism are Idaho's major industries. Abundant outdoor recreation opportunities and scenic vistas around every turn attract over 20 million tourists annually.