The Ranch:
Almost 7 thousand acres
Land for sale (Real Estate): Working Cattle ranch: 1462+/- deeded acres that are contiguous with the 5000 acre BLM, out the gate turnout, permit for 104 AUMs from April 1 through Nov 30th.
Private stocked reservoir with steelhead, large mouth bass and trophy rainbow trout.
30.6 acres of water rights
3 Antlered elk LOP; 3 antlered deer LOP, plus cow elk depredation tags available.
Turkeys throughout the ranch.
California quail have been abundant. Have seen some mountain quail and chukar higher up.
2 homes, one old cabin that serves as another building envelope.
Ranching Operations:
The owners have run the ranch as it was intended, as a cow/calf ranch year round.
The 8 month BLM permit is unique, as it is an out the gate allotment for an extended season of use.
The permit is for 104 AUMS from April 1st through November 30th.
There are total of six pastures to rotate livestock through.
The BLM road that accesses the grazing allotment is locked from December 1st through April 15th, to allow for deer and elk habitat that is undisturbed.
Owners have year round access through the deeded headquarters.
The reservoir was created in the 1950s to create the water storage and system of underground pipes and shut off valves that runs the entire gravity flow irrigation sprinkler system to the ranch’s many hay fields. No electricity is required to run the sprinklers.
It is all gravity flow, making hay production very economical, using 3 wheel lines and numerous hand lines. These are included with the sale.
Gravity flow irrigation from Nash Reservoir leads to 4 different hay fields, plus there is a 5th hayfield that is sub irrigated from outside water, not part of the reservoir system.
Hay fields were planted into alfalfa in 2019.
In 2020 they were inter-seeded by the owner with orchard grass in thinner vegetative areas.
In the lower elevation rangeland, the owner has planted crested wheat, intermediate wheat, and basin wild rye grasses to improve the range.
Conservation stewardship practices have been a priority for the owners.
This is evidenced by a juniper removal program that has been in place since the 1980s.
Headquarters home: 2 bedroom 2 full bath. Master bath with a garden tub.
The owner's manufactured home was recently updated with all new windows (including a new bay window) and doors, sits up and off of the main highway on a hill.
This is very uncommon for the valley, as most homes sit right along the road.
An unobstructed view of the valley is had, along with beautiful Picture Gorge looming only a few short miles west of your front door.
Central AC/heat (electric). In addition, a wood stove provides heat for the entire home .
Pine and hemlock trim throughout house.
Newly wired front outlets in the entryway for freezers, with more new wiring for lighting and power in home. All outlets also replaced inside home.
Lighting added and replaced throughout home.
Greenhouse, complete with a diverse garden.
Added outside outlets provide power for major power tools and a welder.
A spring provides water for both the upper house and the rental house below.
It has never gone dry or low in the history of the ranch, even during the summer of 2021, where Grant County experienced severe and historic drought.
New cistern house has been completely rebuilt and rewired.
The road to the pumphouse/cistern house has also been regraded enough to drive a pickup or utility vehicle comfortably to it.
Contained within the yard fence is a garden oasis.
The yard has two mature peach trees, a mature Honeycrisp apple tree, and 3 other apple trees of a different varieties, along with a large Bing cherry tree and a pie cherry tree.
There is also a prolific Concord grape patch, monstrous and prolific thornless blackberry bush, established thornless raspberry canes, assorted currant shrubs, and many shade trees.
The yard has been landscaped, and has seasonal perennial flower beds that change color throughout the growing season.
The east side of the house leads to a completely shaded back porch by a huge elm tree overlooking the grass lawn.
The patio has a hot tub that is clean, functional and has the best view in the valley.
Owners have been able to grow watermelons, pumpkins, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. successfully in the vegetable garden portion of this yard.
With the greenhouse right by the house, you are able to easily start plants even in January!
The greenhouse could easily be powered by grow lights if one wanted to do this, and heat with a small propane heater and have a small collection of table vegetables throughout the year.
The owner has even grown cabbages and broccoli in the winter in the garden and harvested before spring!
So many things for the home gardener and arborist are possible with the upper yard, due to the Dayville climate conditions that are special to the valley.
The home gardener will truly appreciate the potential this beautiful yard area has to offer.
Second Home: 2 bedroom, 1 bath 1930s bungalow
Equipped with modern upgrades, along with partially new floors, all new plumbing, and the original clawfoot tub perfectly re-stored.
Amenities have been added such as ceiling fans in each of the bedrooms, as well as 2 in the living room.
Cadet space heaters have been installed in all rooms of the house, except for the living room, where a very easy to use wood stove provides the main heat for the home.
All windows are original single pane transom that function.
All original doors and trim.
Original all wood floors in the bedrooms and living room are ready to be refinished.
New 50 gallon water heater.
Kitchen has the added value of a Kitchenaid dishwasher, along with original cast iron porcelain farmhouse sink. New countertop and lower sink area cabinets have been installed.
An electric stove and refrigerator are also included.
An entryway/laundry room has been added. This includes a deep utility sink with washer and dryer hookups.
New metal roof.
Connected to the home by a roofed breezeway is an extremely well made historic stone building that is unique in its craftsmanship.
This rock building serves as a place for cool storage. It has power and a light inside.
Most of the time, the rock house is 65-70 degrees during the hottest part of the summer.
Winter temperatures do not get to freezing inside.
An open machine shed with a locked enclosed shop, with power, sits off to the east side of the rock house.
The house’s front porch has been reinforced and the original architectural bungalow features have been saved.
The front porch flooring has all been replaced, and brick pillars were replaced with structural pillars that will be encased with cultured stone..
Large locust trees beautifully shade the hillside behind the home, as well as in the yard. Ceiling fans work very well to cool the home during hot temperatures.
A hydrant has been installed by the machine shed for outdoor water usage.
There is an old heirloom apple tree as you drive into the small yard, that still produces delicious apples prolifically every year.
Another smaller apple tree of a different red variety grows nearby. These apples are equally delicious and produce abundantly .
The foundation is solid with a crawlspace for access.
The owners have planned to open the home as a vacation rental to provide an additional source of income.
Vacation rentals in the lower John Day valley are very limited and in high demand.
Projection models indicate upwards of 30K a year as a vacation rental (Air BNB, VRBO).
The Thomas Condon Paleontological center is located nearby and it serves as a tourist mecca.
The house may be available, as well, to rent to seasonal park employees for the summer.
Long term rental of both homes is also possible. There is an extreme housing shortage in the entire valley for long term rental homes.
Both homes receive high speed fiberoptic internet . This easily supports WiFi cameras for security as well as streaming.
Verizon services the valley for cellular service.
Cabin Building Envelope:
The cabin home near the east end of the property along the highway, next to the corrals, is in disrepair. But sits in its present state to retain a third building envelope.
There is power available and there is a spring behind the old home.
The corrals at the highway are shaded by large, and beautiful healthy, black locust trees. On the west side of the corrals runs Battle Creek which traditionally runs year round.
The corrals have been rebuilt to hold livestock. There is also power available here along with a security light.
Hunting, Cow Camp, Merchantable Timber:
The large deeded parcels beyond the headquarters include 720+/- acres where mule deer, elk, antelope and turkeys, spend time throughout the year.
They not only pass through these deeded parts as a part of their natural migrations throughout the seasons, but they also have been using it for winter habitat.
The upper 400+/- acres, includes the cow camp site with its own spring.
This area that can be rebuilt (the old cabin is in disrepair), complete with a corral area to confine and water horses.
This upper end can be locked definitively (last gate on the BLM road), as there is a dead end and ZERO motorized public access possible from the back end.
There is no thoroughfare network of trails for driving beyond the southern end of the ranch as it falls away into Tunnel Creek at the edge of the Ochocos and South Fork Basin.
This is prime hunting habitat for elk and deer. The east margin of the upper 400+/- deeded acres butts right against the Philip Schneider wildlife refuge.
There is a forest of Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, Tamarack, mountain mahogany and bitter brush where the mule deer and elk spend a lot of time throughout the year.
An unknown volume of merchantable timber is available here.
Thinning occurred in the past, but it was many decades ago. There are a lot of beautiful fir and pines that could be harvested without ruining any of the beauty or hunting aspects.
This location serves as a private access point to Black Canyon wilderness and the Ochoco Mountains.
The wild turkeys roam up here with the occasional black bear, along with a sizeable mountain lion or two, and many bobcats.
Needless to say, mule deer love it in the upper portion of the ranch due to the bitter brush and the secluded habitat.
Elk presence is prolific in upper one third of the ranch.
Coyotes are common in the area. A small antelope herd spends time here, as well.
The ranch itself is unique in many ways, including being on the south side of the valley.
This means that grasses do not dry out as fast and as early due to north facing slopes.
The ranch has a definitive change in flora and fauna as one goes from the headquarters along the highway at roughly 2200 ft to almost 6000 feet in elevation at the far end of the ranch, which has a spectacular view into the south fork basin, Battle Creek Mountain, and to Spanish Peak and the Ochoco Mountains.
Black Canyon Wilderness lies not far off of the south end of the ranch.
There are numerous developed and undeveloped springs as well as a dammed pond for livestock and wildlife watering.
East Fork Battle Creek:
East fork of Battle Creek is geologically and geographically unique compared to the rest of the ranch, as a mini painted hills area crops out there.
This results in a different feel in the landscape. East fork leads to the 80 acres of deeded ground, where an old homestead was once located.
East Fork Battle Creek flows through rim rocks as a waterfall.
Above the headwaters of the falls bald eagles come back yearly to nest and raise their eaglets in the top of a monstrous Ponderosa pine.
Native American artifacts have been found on the ranch.
The old Dalles Military Highway (1864 era) goes right through the yard of the upper house and through the headquarters deeded.
Artifacts have been found by the owners, who are metal detecting and historical enthusiasts.
Battle Creek ranch has a rich history from the paleontological to the geological and archaeological to the present.
The views are some of the most spectacular in the entire John Day valley.
The ranch has varied ways to generate income through vacation rentals, long term rentals, hay production, livestock, and hunting.
More water rights may be available to be applied for, as Battle Creek runs through the entire ranch.
With your own private reservoir, to rental income from one or even 2 homes, hunting getaway, and the ability to grow two weeks to even a month longer that anyone in the valley (Dayville is the banana belt of the John Day valley), to income from cattle ranching with an almost year round grazing season, the income possibilities are extremely diverse for a ranch this size.
The ranch is large enough for these pursuits along with high private adventure throughout the year.
The Battle Creek Ranch is truly a unique and diverse property.
Location, Area Amenities:
The ranch is approximately 3 miles west of the charming village of Dayville (approximatley 140 people), where there is the historic Dayville Mercantile, still in operation, the Dayville Café (famously known for its pies), a gas station with convenience store, post office, and a coffee, sandwich, and higher end gift shop that sells locally made products.
Dayville also has a public school that serves all grades K-12. They also have a pre-school and daycare on site.
A half hour drive through the Gorge and north is Thomas Orchards at Kimberly where a plethora of fruits and local honey are available seasonally, which is more than 6 months out of the year.
Access to the South Fork basin is found here.
Less than 3 miles to the west is Picture Gorge, where ancient Native American petroglyphs can be found.
Not far to the south and east is the Aldrich Mountain range.
John Day is approximately 32 miles east, where almost all necessary amenities can be found, and is the county seat of Grant county.
Mitchell, Oregon lies approximately 45 miles west along highway 26, and Prineville is only 80 miles west of the ranch.
Boise, ID is approximately 220 miles east.
Pendleton is about 150 miles north.
Burns is about 100 miles to the SE by way of John Day.
The ranch makes a great base camp for discovering greater eastern and central Oregon.
