About 8 West Fork Road
Ekwortzel Legacy Ranch 1896 is a rare and remarkable offering, blending historic Western heritage with recreational opportunities. Originally homesteaded in 1896, this working ranch has been owned and operated by the same family for 129 years. It has earned distinction as a Montana Historical Ranch and is a treasured part of the state’s ranching heritage. Spanning approximately 566± acres in the heart of Montana’s Stillwater Valley, this legacy property is defined by its pristine waters, abundant wildlife, and limitless potential.
The ranch boasts over one mile of the Stillwater River and 0.6± miles of the West Fork Stillwater River, two crystal-clear trout streams that meander through the property, offering exceptional fishing and breathtaking scenery. Thermal waters and natural springs flow throughout, presenting opportunities for stream restoration and enhancing the property’s ecological richness.
The ranch’s habitat diversity supports excellent waterfowl hunting, while 160± acres of irrigated and sub-irrigated meadows produce creeping meadow foxtail and orchard grass. Currently, the ranch supports 160 cow/calf pairs from October through May, with additional summer lease ground for 12 bulls and 30 replacement heifers, and a forest service permit for 39 head from late July through September.
With no zoning restrictions and no conservation easements, Ekwortzel Legacy Ranch 1896 offers the rare freedom to build, preserve, or evolve the land to match your vision. Located adjacent to a charming, historic one-room schoolhouse still in use today, the property is just minutes from Woodbine Falls and a Custer National Forest trailhead, and within 20± air miles of Yellowstone National Park. Accessible yet secluded, it lies 45± minutes from Columbus, 1± hour from Red Lodge, and 1.5± hours from Billings and Billings Logan International Airport.
Timeless and versatile, Ekwortzel Legacy Ranch 1896 embodies the spirit of the American West — a place where natural beauty, agricultural tradition, and boundless opportunity converge.
