By Gerelyn Terzo, Global AgInvesting Media
A true gem of the American West is coming to the market. Cato Ranch, nestled just outside Sheridan, Wyoming, has been listed for sale. This iconic property, set within the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains, embodies a rare convergence of traditions, including the storied practice of cattle ranching, a commitment to conservation, access to critical water resources and a rich history evoking cowboys and the untamed West. Icon Global’s owner — the rainmaker of real estate Bernard Uechtritz — is representing the listing from the local Sheridan office.
The ranch’s legacy stretches back to the late 19th century. Shortly after Sheridan, Wyoming, was founded in the early 1880s, the PK Soldier Creek Ranch—as it was then known—was homesteaded in 1890. It gained a reputation as a key stagecoach stop along the historic Bozeman Trail. The property became known as the Cato Soldier Creek Ranch following its acquisition in 2001 by Henry Cato, Jr.
Throughout his lifetime, Cato harbored a deep and abiding respect for the land and its expansive open stretches. Driven by a lifelong aspiration to own a Western cattle ranch, he and his wife Marion secured this Wyoming property when he was 78 years old. The couple revitalized the historic ranch, transforming it into what now stands as a thriving and highly regarded Black Angus cattle operation.
For Ranch Manager Dennis Elchlinger, the legacy of Cato Ranch runs deep, representing more than just cattle operations. He described its enduring impact on the region, saying, “Ranches like this represent a tradition and they’re part of these communities because that’s what established this area.”
This expansive 6,440-acre ranch boasts substantial water rights, ensuring irrigation conditions across the ranch. It also includes an additional 1,000 acres of adjacent state and privately leased ground. The property is a productive hub, yielding cattle along with irrigated hay and various other forage crops.
Historian and horseman Sam Morton, who is the author of “The Rivers Run North,” said of the Cato Ranch, “The culture of the animals and the mountains and grasslands combine to raise the greatest horses in the world.”
Beyond its stunning mountain backdrop, the property sits minutes from conveniences of the modern world like Sheridan Memorial Hospital and the Sheridan County Airport. It also offers nearby access to Sheridan’s historic Main Street District, a bustling hub of shops, museums the WYO Theatre, restaurants and some of the Mountain West’s most storied watering holes. Interested parties can access the listing here.
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