William Buffalo Bill Cody knew a good thing when he saw it, and when he first saw the Bighorn Basin in 1894, he definitely knew he had encountered a good thing. Shortly thereafter, he and a group of investors founded a town that would soon bear Codys name, and which became the hub of a region incredibly rich in wildlife, agriculture, and scenic beauty. Today, the Rocking JR Ranch, just 35 minutes southeast Cody, exemplifies the best of what Bill Cody loved about this part of Wyoming. With over 16,000 acres (2,795 deeded) in its domain, the Rocking JR Ranch is a strong, diversified agricultural operation with significant bonuses of wildlife and a fishery as icing on the cake.

The Rocking JR Ranch has been a meticulously maintained agricultural operation for years. With abundant water rights that date back to Wyomings territorial days, it boasts of 1,373 irrigated acres that grow a rich diversity of crops including alfalfa, seed hay, timothy, orchard grass hay, barley, oats, sunflower seeds, beans, and corn. Crop rotation, and six irrigation pivots ensures continued productivity and a steady source of income.

Complementing its abundance of crops is a solid cattle operation, which includes13,222 acres of State and BLM grazing leases that are permitted for 1,522 AUMs. The Rocking JR is capable of running over 400 head of cattle year-round and includes a 1,000-head feedlot with six corrals, each with its own heated self-watering system and lighting. Several miles of a quality gravel road system on the ranch keeps the entire operation running smoothly.

Located along two miles of both banks of the Greybull River, the ranch contains well-watered bottomlands of cottonwoods and grasses that are home to an amazing variety of wildlife. In addition, its 5000-foot elevation is relatively low, creating less harsh winters, easier on all types of game. The diversity of wildlife on the Rocking JR Ranch is simply incredible. On the ranch, can be found elk, whitetail deer, mule deer, pronghorn, turkeys, pheasants, quail, chukars, ducks, blue herons, sandhill cranes, bobwhite quail, and Canada geese. Only lightly hunted in recent years, the ranch has not come close to achieving its hunting potential. However, a licensed bird farm has been in operation here, permitting outstanding upland bird hunting for quail, pheasant, chukar and partridge in the fall and winter months.

The coveted Yellowstone cutthroat trout inhabit the two miles of the Greybull River on the property, and provide sport for both fly and lure fishermen. Several ponds already exist on the ranch, and could be developed into trophy fisheries as well.

Two well-maintained residences are currently utilized on the ranch. The owners home is 2,700 square feet and is located not far from the Greybull River. It includes an impressive Great Room with a large stone fireplace, dining area and open staircase. A second home is a recently renovated single wide that serves as employee housing. Additional improvements include miles of fencing, a heated shop, 1,000-head feedlot, and a commercial gravel pit.

Recreational opportunities are rich and varied in northwest Wyoming. Wilderness hunting and fishing can be found in abundance in the Absaroka Mountains to the west, along with backpacking in the summer and snowmobiling in the winter. Yellowstone National Park is under two hours away as well, where a lifetime of enjoying geysers, wildlife, and scenic grandeur awaits. Cody is one of Wyomings great small cities, with fine dining, live music and an extensive schedule of rodeos. Cody is also home to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West which encompasses five world-class museums and includes the largest collection of western artifacts in the world. With a population of 10,000, it is large enough to offer many urban amenities, and is home to the Yellowstone Regional Airport, with convenient connections to the outside world.

Like Buffalo Bill Cody, we at Harrigan Land Company know a good thing when we see it, too. As a ranch with a strong agricultural component and a strong wildlife component, the Rocking JR Ranch stands near the top of the list. If you want to see for yourself what made Buffalo Bill fall in love with this part of the West, just let us know, and we can show you why the Rocking JR Ranch would have been his kind of place.