|
|
SCENIC LUXURY RANCH HOME IN HUNTING & RECREATION AREA
|
|
Luxury Home Farmstead with 50 acres, North Central Nebraska.
This multi-faceted property is located in the ecological center of the North
American Continent. Plants and animals from north/south & east/west all meet
and cross over in this area. We have Eastern paper bark birch and Western
pine trees. We have a multitude of animals including white tail and mule deer
and cross-breads abound; some elk, a few antelope, and lots of wild turkey.
We are on the main flyway, so approximately 10,000,000 ducks, geese, heron
and an occasional pelican fly over. We have golden and bald eagles, red tail
hawks, great horned owls, turkey buzzards, prairie chicken, grouse, many
pheasants, and beautiful song birds surround the house. Whether you are a
hunter, watcher or gatherer this property offers and abounds with nature's
wildlife and vegetation. Natural herbal remedies from echinacea to
goldenseal, from willow bark to violet leaf teas await your ailments. Or, you
may wish to dine on mallow leaves, stinging nettle or lambs quarters.
If gardening is your passion, then a 55x99 foot vegetable garden, with water
from a hillside windmill and gravity fed storage system, will wet your
appetite. The garden contains a permanent strawberry and raspberry patch,
along with perennials such as Egyptian onions, asparagus, horehound, lemon
mint, basil, rosemary, garlic, chives and chamomile. This is augmented by -
what else ? - an 8 x 32 foot green house! Want more?
Well, how about a carefully planned orchard with a variety of apple, plum,
cherry and crab apple trees, gooseberry and red current bushes and your own
grape vineyard. All is enhanced by the land's natural wild fruit from
chokecherry, black currents, raspberries, old fashion tasting strawberries to
more plums and grapes.
We are more specifically located east of Valentine, Nebraska (The Heart
City). Although we are primarily "Cattle Country," this area has a
flourishing tourist business due to canoeing, floating the Niobrara River and
the numerous hunting, fishing and recreational opportunities this area has to
offer. There is the Fort Niobrara Wild Life Refuge, the Valentine National
Wild Life Refuge with many lakes and "The Nature Conservancy," all in the
vicinity. The total property consists of 574 acres of mixed upland pasture, pine
tree covered canyons deciduous treed meadows, and a small wetland area
leading towards the Niobrara River Valley, which has congressional
designation as "Wild and Scenic." We have a small spring, creek and a
seasonal pond. This property sits just north of the "Sandhills" and is in the
high water area of the Ogalalla aquifer. Pure air and water are plentiful.
Great star filled skies with an occasional sighting of the aurora borealis
each year bring astronomers to Merritt Reservoir and the Samuel McKelvie
National Forest to gaze through our clear skies.
We have taken advantage of this fantastic relaxing view by installing a 64
square foot hot tub to the middle of our main outdoor housing area. For a
more enthusiastic, but delightful way to spend any time in any weather, an
indoor pool and exercise area was built. A beautiful 40 x 60 building with a
hand-crafted aromatic cedar ceiling accommodates a 20 x 40 in ground pool. A
treadmill, various types of stationary bikes, a rowing machine and both a
multi-station weight machine and free weights are available for you to trim
those unwanted pounds and build that perfect body.
The main house, situated in a protective wooded bowl area, was originally
built in 1909 but has been tastefully updated and remodeled and expanded to
include a 20 x 20 master bedroom with a full wall, floor to ceiling window to
watch the creatures and night skies. A guest bedroom and a possible 3rd
private bedroom add to those wanting to share this part of heaven. A warm and
cozy sun room with a forest view and wood burning fireplace make lazy day
reading a delight. Two (2) private office/computer areas, (one with a
library) have beautiful oak desks and bookcases that will remain with the
house. The kitchen is a gourmet's delight. Beautiful custom and matching oak
cabinetry surround all modern appliances. This kitchen even boasts of a
secondary "Canning kitchen" with wash tubs and a separate, new stove/oven and
freezer. A large walk-in pantry and indoor access to a root cellar allows you
to stock up on food from town, your garden, orchard and the land. If
communication is your thing then a ham /CB/ business band and scanner radio
area is for you ear. An antenna array on a hilltop remains. Direct Digital
Satellite (DDS) TV is installed and included. The house is wired in 3 places for DSL (high speed internet).
A guest house completely furnished that accommodates up to 5 is a compact way
to entertain those wanted guests and old family relatives. Or, maybe a dude
ranch or bed and breakfast may be in your plans. An additional furnished
mobile home, located on the opposite side of the ranch from the main house
area could provide those honeymooners with a private setting or, a ranch hand
a place of his own.
Water at the guest trailer and live stock tank area is supplied by an
electric pump and set up for freeze protection. The trailer has an old
propane furnace but electric heat is primarily used. A kerosene back up heat
is also available.
Water at the main house is supplied by a well and electric pump and buried
pressure system. There is a windmill and 4,000 gallon storage tank situated
on a hillside above the house and garden area. This system is generally used
for the garden and lawn but is valved to enable house use. A year round
spring supplies water just behind the main house and could be used in the
winter to cut ice. Two old well hand pumps are also located near the housing
area. All water, phone and electric lines are run underground to various
buildings.
The guest house has 2 heat systems both electric and a cozy propane fire
place. The main house is heated primarily by wood with 2 large wood burning
stoves. Propane and electric heat can be used. In the event of a power outage
(we have been without power for 3 days over 10 yrs) a 17.5 kva generator
(tractor driven with diesel) is available and can easily operate all the
facilities and buildings except the trailer house located about a 1/2 mile
away. There is a 300 gallon storage tank for diesel. The swimming pool has 2
heat systems; the main / winter heat is provided by a wood-fired boiler with
a large but fuel efficient propane pool heater. The shower in the pool house
bathroom is a propane "Insta Hot" style, on demand system; so if you want to
linger in the shower or shower many people this equipment will handle it. The
pool has 2 bottom drains: one specifically set up with a gas fired pumper for
emergency fire fighting, and the second, main drain, using the electric pump
through the filter system could also be utilized. This property would have
been classified Y2K ready.
Both garden and orchard areas are animal protected by 6 foot high fencing. At
the end of the year we open a double set of gates to allow the deer free
access to the garden leftovers. We have four feed bunks for the deer and
additional feeders for the turkey and other birds. They also have year round
water tubs at various locations.
Quite frankly, we love and feed the critters. Raising an orphaned deer was
the most nature rewarding experience of our lifetime.
This property could be a family venture, a corporate or religious retreat, a
vacation escape or resort, a bed and breakfast or just a retirement place to
enjoy the peace and beauty of nature.
|
|
