! White Moose Ranch Hamilton, Montana 1
LOCATION This beautiful custom home is located approximately 65 miles south of Missoula, Montana. To get to the property you drive south out of Missoula on Highway 93, approximately 65 miles passing Hamilton. Turn right on Lake Como Road to property address. Missoula International Airport has several major airlines to get you to the ranch: Allegiant, Big Sky, Horizon Air, Northwest, Sky West and United all service the airport. There is also a small airport in Hamilton for private aircraft. LOCALE Missoula is located in an old, glacial lakebed, which is now cut by Clark Fork River. The Bitterroot River feeds into the Clark Fork on the Southwest edge of town; the famed Big Blackfoot River meets the Clark Fork just east of town. The University of Montana is here, as is the Northern Region headquarters for the U.S. Forest Service. Retail trade is way up, extractive industries like logging are waning. Just as the university students leave each year, the tourists arrive. Missoula is 3 hours south of Glacier National Park and 3-and-a-half hours west of Yellowstone National Park. It is surrounded by National forests and a handful of wilderness areas. 2
Missoula is dubbed the Garden City for its mild winters relative to the rest of Montana. It's no wonder we're suffering some growing pains: Missoula is a pretty good place to live. Depending on the season, we hike, ski, fish, run rivers and ride mountain bikes. We talk politics and shoot pool. We're also a literate town; it's commonplace to chat with a local author about his or her latest book. (John Updike dubbed Missoula the "Paris of the 90's," a flattering but somewhat gross exaggeration.) Hamilton, Montana is located south of Missoula in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley. This is a wide open valley traversed by US Highway 93 and the Bitterroot River. Hamilton is both a very popular traveler's destination and great place to live. This is a paradise for people who love the outdoors, nature, gardening and community. Hamilton has both the small-town feel of rural Montana, and quick access to city services in nearby Missoula. The Hamilton area is a great recreation area for fishing, hunting, boating and hiking. Vast areas of wilderness abound just to the west of the Bitterroot valley with miles of pristine forest, wildlife and views. The Bitterroot River runs through the valley, close to town, creating favorite hiking trails and picnic areas for residents. The town of Hamilton boasts numerous hunting, fishing and outfitting businesses who can show travelers the best local spots. The Bitterroot Selway wilderness areas are near the property comprising over 2.5 million acres of public lands. Lake Como located southwest of Hamilton, Montana at an elevation of 4,500 feet. It is a large irrigation reservoir, which lies in a beautiful canyon. Swimming, fishing, boating and water skiing are popular sports at the lake. The swimming area has beach access and is roped off from the rest of the lake. There is a hikers' trail, which leads along the north side to an unimproved campground above some falls at the head of the lake. Lake Como dam was constructed in 1905 to provide late season irrigation for the Bitterroot Valley. The lake is typically at full pool from early spring through mid-july. 3
The Stock Farm Club, a beautiful, private, golf-based community is in Hamilton, Montana, in the heart of the Bitterroot Valley. Stock Farm is an extraordinary place that has grown into a mature retreat over the past 10 years. Visit once and you'll understand the lure of this special place. You can experience firsthand the endless Bitterroot Mountain Range views, the wonderful climate, the Tom Fazio Championship Golf Course and the incredible history of this grand place. Stock Farm began as a dream that sprang from Copper King- Marcus Daly s vision more than a century ago. Over the years, that legacy has grown under the guidance of visionaries who created and nurtured this place. www.stockfarm.com Delta -round recreation with golf, Canyons Athletic Club, the premier fitness center, is also nearby in Hamilton promoting health and wellness to members and the community. www.thecanyonsathleticclub.com 4
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY In the epitome of the perfect Montana mountain setting surrounded by snow capped peaks, national forest lands, timber, meadows, year-round fishable creek and pond, the White Moose Ranch encompasses 82 deeded acres with all this and much, much more. Centered on the acreage is a stately lodge-style home of cedar, log and rock just completed in 2010 with lavish materials and creative touches that emanate the quality of craftsmanship and materials used throughout. ACREAGE Let s discuss the setting and grounds in more detail. Located in the southern end of the Bitterroot Valley roughly a 15-minute drive south of Hamilton and 10 minutes north of Darby, the property is accessed off Highway 93 by way of a paved county road for four miles and a! mile of gravel road maintained by the Forest Service. This culminates with the property being the closest privately owned parcel to Lake Como, a pristine lake and recreation area held by the U.S. Forest Service and void of any private residences along its shores. The uniqueness continues in that the property is bordered three sides by the Bitterroot National Forest and one side by a large ranch under a conservation easement, giving the White Moose Ranch a limitless and secluded feel. The grounds are loaded with areas of fir and lodge pole pine, lush meadows with aspen clusters, Rock Creek forging through and astounding mountain views, including a picturesque seat directly looking into the Como Peaks. Enhancing what nature bestowed upon the property, the forested areas have been cleaned and trimmed to resemble a park while the boulders act as a natural landscape. Surface and ground water keep the grounds green and fertile. One pond is presently in place. 5
IMPROVEMENTS A grand entrance with custom gate connects into the jackleg perimeter fence. A cleared bluff already supports a landing strip for small private aircraft, and with further work could be enlarged to handle larger planes. Upon a hilltop knoll within the perimeter of the acreage, a masterpiece home as been erected with over 12,000 square feet under the roofline, of which 8,517 square feet of finished living space is contained. The exterior boasts 12-inch log supports, beams and accents against bold rock designs and lots of glass windows and doors to maximize the views. The interior is simply breathtaking. Covering three levels, with an elevator to each handicapped-accessible floor, the amenities offer a refined elegance while in keeping with the rugged western theme. The front entrance opens up onto the main level which has 3,377 square feet and features the great room, dining room, a family room, the kitchen, an office, two powder rooms and the master suite. In the great room are a massive stone wood-burning fireplace and circular-sawn fir flooring, the same flooring leads into the dining room before the switching to the use of travertine in the kitchen and beyond. Sua lighting fixtures and chandeliers have been installed. The kitchen is teeming with a series of top quality appliances like a 36 six-burner gas Viking range, double ovens, warming drawer, microwave drawer, two dishwashers, 48 refrigerator and a wine cooler. In the office there are three built-in stations and the area has been wired for dual computer monitors and televisions. A woodstove bring ambiance to this room that also houses a Bullfrog hot tub on the deck and comes with a word of caution that any work you set out to accomplish here may be distracted by the amazing mountain views seen from within. The master bedroom has a private deck, a Franklin gas stove and a huge closet. The bathroom contained within is covered in travertine and granite and features a soaking tub and travertine shower. The upper level accessed from inside the home has twin guest suites; one mountainside and one creekside. Each spacious bedroom as a private bathroom enclosed. Also on the top level, but with separate exterior 6
access to a space over the attached three-car garage is a studio apartment with full kitchen, bathroom with double vanity and shower, a roomy clothes closet as well as a laundry closet. Added together, the square footage of the upper level is 3,391 square feet of finished living space. The lower level is only partially submerged with the entire front exposed to daylight with a walk-out patio off a large family room and has 1,814 square feet of completed living space. Downstairs has been designed and wired to serve as a home gym, a theatre and has a wet bar that is plumbed to be a complete kitchen if so desired. Another large guest bedroom/bathroom suite is located on this level. From this level is also access into a 356 square foot storage garage that has an exterior door for ease of loading. It would be overwhelming to try to describe the multitude of detail work and features associated with this amazing home. To summarize, let us focus on a few of the main facts: Finished Living Space: Garages: Covered Porches: Balconies & Decks: Bedrooms: Bathrooms: 8,571 square feet 1,516 square feet 1,454 square feet 623 square feet 4 suites, plus one in apartment for 5 total 5 full, 3 half House wide: central vac; stereo systems built into every room; wired for sauna outside the office area; theatre with step-downs wired and ready to customize with electronics; all bedrooms and several additional locales wired for television; four areas wired for computer/internet; wired for an alarm system with 12 cameras and gate camera; forced air propane air conditioning and heat on all levels; hydronic heat in basement and garage; five propane fireplaces, two wood stoves and wood-burning great room fireplace; handicapped accessible on main level and in areas on upper and lower floors. 7
TOPOGRAPHY This custom Montana home is perfectly placed among the fir and lodge pole pines with lush meadows and aspen clusters. The forested areas have been cleaned and trimmed for a park like setting while the boulders act as a natural landscape. Surface and ground water keep the grounds green and fertile. One pond is presently in place. 8
CLIMATE Month Avg. High Avg. Low Mean Avg. Precip Record High Record Low Jan 34 F 17 F 26 F 1.11 in. 63 F (1989) -36 F (1937) Feb 41 F 20 F 31 F 0.86 in. 71 F (1995) -39 F (1899) Mar 50 F 26 F 38 F 0.91 in. 82 F (1941) -14 F (1955) Apr 58 F 32 F 45 F 1.05 in. 90 F (1936) 1 F (1936) May 66 F 39 F 53 F 1.75 in. 102 F (1936) 0 F (1901) Jun 74 F 45 F 60 F 1.62 in. 100 F (1933) 24 F (1924) Jul 83 F 49 F 66 F 1.00 in. 105 F (1895) 31 F (1971) Aug 82 F 48 F 65 F 1.14 in. 103 F (1969) 19 F (1895) Sep 71 F 40 F 56 F 1.07 in. 98 F (1998) 10 F (1895) Oct 59 F 31 F 45 F 0.78 in. 90 F (1901) -1 F (1935) Nov 42 F 23 F 33 F 1.11 in. 76 F (1999) -24 F (1955) Dec 34 F 17 F 25 F 1.14 in. 66 F (1957) -31 F (1972) Hamilton, MT Weather Facts On average, the warmest month is July. The highest recorded temperature was 105 F in 1895. December is the average coolest month. The lowest recorded temperature was -39 F in 1899. The most precipitation on average occurs in May. 9
GENERAL OPERATION This is a perfect Montana mountain setting surrounded by snow capped peaks, national forest lands, timber, meadows, year-round fishable creek and pond. It would make an ideal family retreat, corporate retreat, second home or primary residence in an outdoor recreational haven yet close to modern conveniences. WILDLIFE AND FISHERY Located in Southwestern Montana, The Bitterroot is an excellent river consisting of diverse water and quality hatches. Cutthroat, brown, rainbow, and brook trout can all be found in its waters. The Bitterroot is approximately 75 miles long from the junction of the East and West Fork just below Conner to where it meets the Clark Fork near Missoula. The Bitterroot is well known as one of the finest dry fly fishing rivers in the state. The dry fly fishing season begins sometime in March, depending on the weather, and ends in late November. Spring is always blessed with high water that lasts for two to three weeks in late May and early June. This time of year is always good for the trout because of the abundance of food available when rocks are washed along and nymphs uprooted. Once this is over the river returns to its meandering nature and settles in for the summer fun. The first major hatch is the Skwala (stonefly) in March. If the conditions are right the fish will key on the imitation pattern for a full 6 weeks. One pattern to use for the Skwala is a bullet head fly tied with a black egg sack and dark body. The underwing is dark brown or black and the overwing is tied in bullet head style with dark brown premo-deer hair. The fish seem to look for this hatch to begin their yearly feeding habits and with the size of this stonefly they can build bulk fast. The late fishing, which continues into November, includes patterns such as the October Caddis and Midges. The October Caddis is large and can be fished with an imitator that is size #8 or #10. The Midges on the other hand are from #20 - #24. In between the major hatches include Pale Morning Dun, Blue Winged Olive, Green Drake, Salmon Fly, Golden Stone and several varieties of Caddis. The mayflies are typically sizes 14-18 with the exception of the Green Drake. TAXES TAXES HAVE NOT YET BEEN ASSESSED ON THE HOME 10
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BROKER COMMENTS A showcase of craftsmanship and a perfect pairing of urban elegance meets Montana lifestyle. PRICE! "##$%$&!'(!)*+,-.+///!!"#$%"#&'()*&+,-.//-///&!!"#$%"#&$'()"#*+,'"($-"(,+-,.$ 01!2345'%&!'(!6/78.*98./76!:%!$;'3<!'(!01=>5$2'?45@%:A$%BC4:;!!! 14