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10/01/2006
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| [Real Estate] |
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| When experienced developer Ted Gildred acquired 2,000 acres in southwest Montana nearly 20 years ago, he wanted to do something meaningful with it. |
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When experienced developer Ted
Gildred acquired 2,000 acres in southwest Montana nearly 20 years ago, he wanted
to do something meaningful with it—something that would allow a limited number
of like-minded families to experience the onetime working cattle ranch as well
as preserve the pristine land. What resulted was Sun West Ranch, an innovative
project based on the concept of shared ranching.
 Sun West Ranch has dedicated
1,600 acres of its property to shared ranching and 400 acres to
homes. Photograph by Stephen Simpson. (Click image to enlarge)
While the shared-ranch community concept—where people mutually
own common areas or open space and enjoy the benefits of ranch ownership without
the maintenance—is not new, what sets Sun West Ranch apart is the location.
"Other shared-ranch communities are close to big resorts, like Vail, Aspen or
Sun Valley. Or, if they are remote, then there is a golf course with a big
lodge, which gives it a country club atmosphere—I like to call it ‘bringing
Beverly Hills to the ranch,’" says Heidi Gildred, who is co-developing the
property with her husband, Ted. "Right now, ours is the only one I’ve seen that
keeps things low-key."
Located 40 miles northwest of Yellowstone National Park in the
Madison Valley, Sun West Ranch was founded in 1990 and was one of the first
communities to take a conservation approach by selling smaller deeded
homesites—55 lots ranging from four to 11 acres—and preserving 1,600 acres as
common ranch land collectively owned by residents. Additionally, residents that
buy into the community must agree to protective covenants and architectural
guidelines that conserve the land, wildlife habitat and the rural character of
the property, which is highlighted by three miles of private access to Madison
River’s renowned fly-fishing.
Of the 23 lots left at Sun West, eight were made available at
the beginning of this year, starting at $555,000. The most expensive
property—priced at $1.38 million and named "This is the View"—comprises
four-and-a-half acres and includes a 5,000-square-foot, three-bedroom home that
overlooks the Madison River. With granite-slab countertops, two fireplaces and a
large, open great room with expansive glass windows, the home blends in well
with its rugged surroundings.
"The idea is for people to enjoy a real-world ranch environment," says
Gildred. "We want them to under-stand what life is really like away from the
city."
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