Historic Wyoming Ranch Hits The Auction Block

If you have several million dollars burning a hole in your pocket, here's your chance to own one of Wyoming's most prestigious properties. The Spring Gulch Ranch near Jackson, once owned by former Wyoming Governor Matt Mead and his grandfather former Governor and United States Senator Cliff Hansen, is on the auction block.

Located five minutes from downtown Jackson, the historic 580-acre ranch borders the National Elk Refuge and features six individual parcels with unobstructed views of the Grand Tetons, Sleeping Indian, the Snake River, and water rights to two streams flowing through the property.

The ranch was originally settled in 1897 by Peter Hansen, who passed the property down to his son, former Governor and Senator Cliff Hansen. The ranch remained in the Hansen family until 2004, when it was sold to real estate mogul and former Dallas Mavericks owner Ross Perot, Jr. following the death of Hansen's daughter Mary Mead. Perot, Jr. split up the land to form the Bar BC Meadows development and later sold 580 acres to investment banker John Tozzi.

“I originally purchased and developed the six ranches...with the idea that family members would eventually build out the parcels,” Tozzi told Jackson Hole News & Guide. “However, over time plans change and life changes as children work and live in other locations and as a family, we’ve become somewhat scattered."

Tozzi hasn't set a price for the ranch, but estimates range in the $75 million neighborhood all six parcels, which are being offered together or separately. Icon Global Group is handling the auction and has set an October 14th deadline for online bids.

"My instinct tells me this will go to somebody who has a philanthropic philosophy, a big-picture vision of leaving it the way it is," Icon Global broker Bernard Uechtritz said.