A Montana conservation group purchased a 70,000-acre ranch formerly owned by Texas billionaires, bringing its total land holdings to more than half a million acres. American Prairie announced the acquisition of Anchor Ranch in central Montana in 2025. The nonprofit aims to create the largest nature preserve in the Lower 48.According to Montana Public Radio, the ranch had been listed for about $36 million, although the organisation declined to disclose the purchase price. The acquisition also included a portion of Bullwhacker Road, a key access route to 50,000 acres of public land in the Upper Missouri River Breaks area. American Prairie said it planned to keep the route open to the public, while ranching families leasing the land would remain in place.
American Prairie purchased 70,000 acres of Anchor Ranch in Montana
American Prairie acquired Anchor Ranch, which was formerly owned by Texas billionaires the Wilks Brothers. The ranch was listed for about $36 million, but the nonprofit did not disclose how much it paid for the property. The purchase added 70,000 acres of land in central Montana to the organisation’s existing holdings.The acquisition brought American Prairie’s total land holdings to more than half a million acres. The group aims to establish the largest nature preserve in the Lower 48. Spokesperson Beth Saboe said, “We saw a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure an important piece of ecologically and culturally significant land.”
How the ranch purchase secured access to 50,000 acres of public land
The newly acquired property included a portion of Bullwhacker Road, a primary access point to 50,000 acres of public land in the Upper Missouri River Breaks area. Access along the route had been a longstanding point of contention because former landowners had restricted its use. American Prairie said it planned to keep the road open to the public.Saboe described improved public access as a significant benefit of the acquisition. The organisation also confirmed that ranching families who had leased land on the property would remain in place.
American Prairie’s land purchases drew criticism over rising land values
American Prairie’s earlier land acquisitions had generated considerable controversy among residents, and the Anchor Ranch purchase was no exception. Former state legislator Dan Bartel of Lewistown had attempted to pass legislation in 2023 that would limit the amount of agricultural land nonprofits could purchase.Bartel argued that large acquisitions increased land values and made ranching uneconomical for local operators. He expressed disappointment that some of the land might never be used to its full agricultural potential. His concerns centred on the effect of large-scale purchases on local ranching and agricultural activity. Although Bartel said he supported conservation, he wanted conservation efforts to come directly from local ranchers rather than nonprofit organisations.
American Prairie’s 70,000-acre purchase expanded its planned nature preserve
American Prairie’s purchase of Anchor Ranch increased its total land holdings to more than half a million acres as it continued pursuing its goal of creating the largest nature preserve in the Lower 48. The organisation described the newly acquired property as ecologically and culturally significant.Its spokesperson also emphasised the importance of securing public access to the area. The nonprofit planned to keep the portion of Bullwhacker Road on the property open to the public, while existing ranching families leasing the land would remain in place.