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THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN LANDOWNER $15

ND RE LA PO E R H T T DEAL OF THE YEAR

2013

SPOTLIGHT: THE TOP DEALS OF 2013, INCLUDING AG, TIMBER, CONSERVATION, & RANCHLAND

Ranchland Deal of the Year Camp Warren Oates From historic holding to Hollywood hideout.

Text by Corinne Garcia

Photography by Lynn Donaldson

ver a decade ago, David Couch, a real estate devel- oper from North Carolina, was Oflipping through a copy of Architectural Digest when he saw a story about Dennis Quaid’s Montana ranch. He found him- self drawn to the main house. The Chief Joseph stone and wood accents, stellar views, and tasteful, yet casual décor were perfect. “It was exactly what I wanted to build someday. It was like I didn’t need to look any further, that was it,” he says. Tucked away in Paradise Valley at the foot of Emigrant Peak, Quaid’s 418-acre getaway sits 13 miles from Yellowstone National Park. Known as Camp Warren Oates, the ranch is a patchwork of 14 properties that Quaid spent decades stitching Oates was best known for After working with Quaid, together. Steeped in history, it’s acting in Westerns, including Thanks to Six Mile Oates invited the up-and-coming been home to generations of The Wild Bunch (1969), which actor to visit the ranch. The Native Americans, pioneering was directed by Peckinpah. On native Texan fell in love with settlers, and, for the last 50 years the ranch, it was almost as if Creek and miles of Montana. Quaid eventually or so, Hollywood types escaping this dynamic duo lived out their bought both properties after the hustle and bustle of L.A. films, complete with cowboy and surrounding forest, Oates and Peckinpah passed Thanks to Six Mile Creek Indian lore, hunting and fishing, away with much of their and miles of surrounding forest and wide-open, starlit skies. Camp Warren Oates memorabilia intact in their two land, Camp Warren Oates is Peckinpah’s rustic cabin — with respective cabins. He remodeled well-insulated from Hollywood no electricity or running water is well-insulated from the two-bedroom cabin and put hype. And that’s exactly what — is tucked in the woods, a screened-in bunkroom right Warren Oates and Sam Peckin- surrounded by national forest. on Six Mile Creek. In the years pah were looking for when they Oates’s quaint cabin sits a few Hollywood hype. to come, he built a 5,300-square- bought adjacent properties, some miles away next to a rustic wine foot main house, the one Couch from writer Tom McGuane. cellar tucked into a hillside. remembered so fondly.

64 TheLandReport | SPRING 2014 LANDREPORT.COM After almost 30 years of own- Couch was captivated by the was really important to him. “This is what happens at ership, Quaid decided to put his setting, intrigued by the history, Sam’s Cabin is like a museum, high elevation with lightning ranch on the market. Ultimately, and the main home was even and Dennis never moved any- storms. If buyers want to he relied on Tracy Raich of Raich better than he remembered. thing. It’s so special and near enjoy our Western way of life Montana Properties, one of the With its many cabins, not only and dear to his heart,” Raich says. in the Paradise Valley they top brokers in the coveted could Camp Warren Oates Within days of a first look, have to accept this. That’s Paradise Valley market. accommodate plenty of family Couch made an offer. Not long what I told David. This is “It’s a complicated property and friends, but his 17-year-old afterwards there was a meeting Mother Nature,” Raich says. with all these different parcels, son, Andrew, loves hunting and of the minds. Everything was on By September, Couch moved different types of land, and fishing, and his 20-year-old track for a smooth closing. in. He still can’t believe the irony structures from different eras. daughter, Sara, would enjoy Then Mother Nature struck. of owning the ranch he read I spent a full week crunching the close proximity to Livingston A wildfire had been smolder- about years ago. “I plan to keep numbers and talking to ranch and Bozeman. ing high on Emigrant Peak. After this in the family and share it appraisers,” Raich says. “There was great energy and lingering for weeks, it blew up, with friends,” he says. “It brings When Couch found himself history here, and it was just threatening to engulf Camp me a lot of joy to be able to share in Montana last summer, he begging for people to enjoy it,” Warren Oates. The Emigrant Fire this with people who have been decided to check out properties. Couch says. was a nail-biter for all involved. instrumental in my life.”

Opposite page: Well watered, Camp Warren Oates has served as a sanctuary for centuries.

Left. Blue Ridge Companies CEO David Couch is proud to carry on the legacy of steward- ship that dates back to Tom McGuane and includes Sam Peckinpah, Warren Oates, and, of course, Dennis Quaid.

CHLA AN ND R DEAL OF THE YEAR

2013

Camp Warren Oates On a friend’s recommendation, he Another big appeal was the “It looked like an atomic bomb Montana called Ryan Flair of Fay Ranches. fact that Quaid was selling the went off behind the ranch. The “David knew what he wanted ranch as is. “It was a turnkey fire went from 600 acres to 8,000 Seller: Dennis Quaid Listing Broker: Tracy Raich, to look at: properties with views, opportunity, furnished and acres in five hours,” Flair says. Raich Montana Properties water, and within a good proxim- stocked. All I needed to do was Firefighters responded ASAP. ity to cultural centers,” Flair says. pack a toothbrush, and I could Sprinklers were turned on all Buyer: David Couch “He’d heard about the Quaid move right in,” Couch says. over the ranch. It was all hands Buyer’s Agent: Ryan Flair, Fay Ranches Ranch and remembered seeing Quaid decided to leave every- on deck. A furious effort was it in Architectural Digest. He thing from the bedding and the required to save Sam’s Cabin, Ranchland Deal of the Year was more than a little curious workout equipment to dishware which came perilously close to sponsored by: to take a look and see it firsthand. and memorabilia from the Oates catching on fire. Fortunately for We ended up spending four and Peckinpah days. He even everyone, the only casualties or five hours walking the prop- included the ranch vehicles in were burned brush and charred erty and learning about its rich the bill of sale. trees. Quaid made a point of per- www.stoamanagement.com history. The next day we went “Dennis wanted to make sure sonally thanking every right back.” to leave the history intact. That firefighter for saving the day.

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