Carefully managed for the past ten years for its wildlife values, big game hunting on the ranch is world-class, with its trophy mule deer being particularly impressive. Numerous bucks scoring 180 – 200+ inches are seen every year on the ranch, and multi-day hunting trips can be made without ever leaving the ranch property. Iron Mountain receives landowner tags for elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, and pronghorn, and bear, turkey, and mountain lion tags are available over the counter. Big horn sheep tags are awarded on a draw basis. Even the most experienced big game hunters will be impressed with the quantity and quality of the big game roaming throughout the broad expanses of Iron Mountain Ranch.
Water is the secret to Iron Mountain’s productivity, and the ranch boasts six named creeks, several springs and ponds, and a sprawling 40-acre lake. Small stream fishing for brook and rainbow trout is possible in the streams, with Middle Chugwater Creek having excellent potential for habitat improvement and development as a blue ribbon fishery. The large lake is already a superb stillwater fishery, with rainbow, brown and brook trout present. Anglers who know this lake speak in hushed tones of trout over 30 inches in length, so the quality of the stillwater fishing and potential for other trophy lakes here is obvious.
The cattle operation at Iron Mountain is second to none, in part due to senior water rights capable of irrigating up to 1400 acres. Historically, the ranch has easily supported a year-round cow/calf operation, and in recent years, 1400 yearlings have grazed on the rich grasses here in the summer months. More cattle could conceivably be supported, but the ranch management has made a conscious effort to limit cattle grazing to permit more grass for wildlife, and the results have been spectacular. Ranch improvements include full fencing and cross-fencing, and a network of roads that allows access to nearly every corner of the property.
The history of the area is rich. Once the domain of the Cheyenne tribe, the area was settled by cattle ranchers in the late 1800s. John C. Coble purchased the ranch about 1890 and partnered up with millionaire Frank Bosler to create the Iron Mountain Ranch Company, which eventually owned several large ranches in the area. Coble and Bosler became prominent open range cattlemen, and the name of Iron Mountain Ranch was renowned throughout the West. Three historic cabins were built on the ranch about 1900, and one of them was occupied by Coble’s friend, famous gunman Tom Horn, who roamed these parts for many years. The cabins have been kept in good order and preserve the historic and rustic character of ranching life here a century ago.
Privacy, yet accessibility, set Iron Mountain Ranch apart. Its 20,000 acres are extremely well-blocked, and none of the BLM lands within the ranch are accessible to the general public. Paved Highway 211 to Cheyenne is but a few miles away, and even Denver is less than three hours’ driving time. Cheyenne is Wyoming’s capital, and has all that such a small city affords, plus its world-famous Frontier Days Rodeo in July. Denver, of course, is the Rocky Mountain’s greatest city, and boasts an international airport and the Broncos, Nuggets and Rockies sports teams.
As the rodeo circuit in the West awards the best “all-around cowboy” trophies, we at Harrigan Land Company would nominate Iron Mountain Ranch for a best “all-around ranch” trophy. Its remarkable history and flourishing herds of cattle and big game are evidence of its claim to such a title, as are its lakes and ponds that produce bragging-size trout. Finally, its investment potential as prime recreational and cattle ranch land in the ever-growing Front Range corridor seals the deal. Iron Mountain Ranch is an “all-around” winner worthy of your serious consideration.
