Robyn L. Erlenbush is a third-generation Montanan who lives in Bozeman, MT. She is the broker/owner of ERA Landmark Real Estate (with offices in Bozeman, Big Sky, Livingston and Clyde Park), NAI Landmark Commercial and Intermountain Property Management. She can be reached at [email protected].
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In 1883, a young New Yorker named Theodore Roosevelt visited the badlands of the Dakota Territory and fell in love. He leapt into the cattle ranching business by purchasing two local cattle operations in two years. Established in 1947, Theodore Roosevelt National Park pays homage to a man whose time spent in the area led to many of his conservation efforts once he became the 26th President of the United States in 1901.
Charles Marion Russell is most well known as being a talented, internationally respected artist. However, the reason that his art resonated so clearly with people is that he lived among and knew his subjects personally. Russell came to Montana as a teenager and worked as a cattle herder, wrangler, cowboy and more before turning his attention full time to art. His close observation of the Northern Plain Indians truly comes to life in his work. The C. M. Russell Museum in Great Falls has grown to a large scale attraction in Montana since its inception in 1953. It is renowned for American Western art in general and includes an impressive array of Russell’s own work.
Charles Bair established a successful wool empire in the early 1900s throughout southern and central Montana, and at one point was North American’s biggest wool producer and shipper. The Bair family moved throughout the area with the family ranch home located near Martinsdale. After his death, Charles’ daughters, Marguerite and Alberta, were left with their family’s fortune and had an affinity for philanthropy. They left millions of dollars, as well as the Martinsdale home as a museum, to charitable organizations and schools alike. As an added note of interest, Alberta knew Charlie Russell and sat on the museum’s advisory board at one point. One further lovely reminder of the family’s gift to Montana comes in the form of the Alberta Bair Theater in Billings. The (then) Fox Theater was in desperate need of renovations and fortunately had been built on land originally owned by the Bair family. In fact the home that Alberta was born in was on the building site, and therefore Alberta assisted with a large financial contribution and provided momentum in the renovation campaign. This performing arts center is able to bring musical and theatrical performances and outstanding educational programming to the Northern Rockies area.
An inspiring story of humble beginnings leading to philanthropy and community spirit comes in the person of Harold Schafer. Throughout his lifetime in North Dakota, he diligently worked at entry level jobs and later began a fledgling business which turned into a very successful venture in the name of the Gold Seal Company. After selling this venture, he turned much time and capital to the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation in order to promote the town of Medora. He was described as “a unique blend of flamboyance and humility” and a man who was “much more interested in sharing than in accumulating wealth.” His impact on the state of North Dakota as a whole certainly does not go unnoticed by locals or those who have the opportunity to visit the area.
The common tie of the four individuals above is their pure love of the land and area that they called home. They believed in reinvesting in what was important to them so that it could be preserved while being promoted for its potential.
Large land holdings by wealthy individuals have long been a preferred form of tangible assets. The reasoning behind the ownership can be production, recreation, or investment stability. The top five largest landowners, as reported earlier this year in the Billings Gazette, certainly possess more than your average size ranch. Brothers Farris and Dan Wilks have accumulated 278,001 acres throughout seven counties over the last two years to give them the top position in Montana's land ownership category. The historic N Bar Ranch in Fergus County was their most widely publicized purchase. Second in line is the Galt family's limited partnership and the 248,023 acre 71 Ranch LP with land near Martinsdale, Townsend and Ingomar. At 190,634 acres, Sunlight Ranch Co. and owner Robert Earl Holding come in third place with land in both Big Horn and Carbon counties. The Coffee-Nefsy limited partnership holds the fourth place with 168,188 acres in the Miles City area. And finally in the fifth spot is Ted Turner (Turner Enterprises Inc. and Turner Ranch Properties) at 154,681 acres. Most commonly known for the Flying D Ranch near the Gallatin River, he also holds property near Dillon and Maudlow. Furthermore, Turner is the second-largest landowner in the US with approximately two million acres in twelve states. Another landowner worth mentioning is Stanley Kroenke who purchased the Broken O Ranch by Augusta at 124,000 acres. Also owning property near Ennis, Hysham and in Wyoming, he ranks 10th on America's largest landowner list.
In today’s world, leaving a legacy is as important as when our region was just forming. Modern legacies now often include purchasing and holding prime real estate for generations to come. In fact, the concept of legacy properties has become so main stream in the real estate industry that companies are renaming their businesses or assigning divisions to cater to this unique, premiere niche. Our region lends itself well to this category of properties which most commonly consists of recreational ranches, river properties, ski resort getaways, and family retreats that can promote an endless amount of activities such as hunting, snowmobiling or hiking. While these properties can be enjoyed today, the property owners view them as an investment that their heirs will consider a part of their heritage.
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