Discover a place bursting with character.
The iconic Marlborough Man has now found its roots in the market, as Pitchfork Ranch in Wyoming is listed for a staggering $52.8 million. This nearly 100,000-acre working cattle ranch, located near Meeteetse, has been a part of the western frontier for nearly 150 years.
Sellers, Fran and Lennox Baker, who are retired doctors, bought the ranch for $13 million back in 1999. They enjoyed life there for over a decade before moving to Park City, Utah.
“We saw it as an investment and were curious about that part of the country,” said Lennox Baker, now 83. “I really enjoyed learning how to ride horses, managing cattle, the ins and outs of irrigation, and so much about Park County’s history.”
The Bakers first listed the property for $67 million last year but have since adjusted the price. According to Latham Jenkins of Live Water Properties, if it sells at the current asking price, it would become one of the highest ranch sales in Wyoming’s history.
“Properties like this don’t come on the market often,” Jenkins stated. “Pitchfork offers a unique chance to own a piece of a historic brand and a remarkable cultural site.”
“It’s distinctly western,” Jenkins continued. “This ranch is a true symbol of the American West. It was established early in the state’s history and is deeply intertwined with Wyoming’s identity.”
The ranch spans nearly ten times the size of Manhattan, featuring eight homes, a barn, and over 1,100 irrigated acres.
Real estate appraiser Jonathan Miller suggests this factor should be taken into account.
Founded in 1878 by Otto Franc von Liechtenstein, a Prussian nobleman, this ranch was established even before Wyoming was a state. Accounts suggest the site was chosen for its optimal grazing conditions, including heavy snowfall and resilient winter grass.
Later, the ranch came into the hands of the Phelps family and Charles Belden, a photographer whose work captured cowboys in action, enriching the ranch’s cultural narrative and appearing in magazines like Life and National Geographic.
Interestingly, it became part of the “Marlboro Country” brand back in the 1980s, embodying a rugged cowboy ethos that resonated with many.
Today, Pitchfork remains a functional cattle ranch, hosting around 1,300 cows and over 1,100 acres dedicated to irrigated hay. In addition to its agricultural function, the ranch also supports activities like hunting, fishing, and horseback riding, along with conservation efforts focused on endangered species.
“What makes Pitchfork unique is that it feels like time stands still,” Jenkins remarked. “It’s still an active ranch but also a significant cultural landmark. Few places manage to retain both identities so authentically.”
The listed ranch is about 45 minutes from Cody Regional Airport, valued for its solitude as much as its accessibility. Jenkins summed it up well: “Owning a place like this is more than just a property; it’s about carrying forward a legacy that has shaped the West for nearly 150 years.”
The Bakers are planning to divide the property, but they’ll keep a small 3,400-acre parcel nearby, where they have rebuilt a lodge for friends and family.
