Anchor Ranch Purchased by American Prairie
September 2025 — The American Prairie Foundation (APR) recently purchased the Anchor Ranch in Blaine County, Montana. The sale has attracted significant public interest because of the parties involved, and the large amount of public land access controlled by the property that will now be available to the public.
The Anchor Ranch is a large cattle ranch located just north of the Missouri River and adjoins the Upper Missouri River National Monument. Access to 50,000 acres of public land is controlled by the property. The ranch totals 67,960 acres, with 22,837 acres deeded and 45,123 acres of public lease, including the Bullwhacker Grazing Allotment which makes up 39,700 acres.
Transaction Overview
The Anchor Ranch was listed in July in 2022 for $35,969,850 by the owners, Texas billionaires Dan and Farris Wilks. The Wilks brothers are one of Montana's largest landowners, owning approximately 273,000 deeded acres in the state. The ranch listing was marketed by their own real estate company, Wilks Ranch Brokers. The property was purchased in August 2025, and he purchase price has not been pubically disclosed. This acquisition brings American Prairie’s total land base to 603,657 acres (167,070 deeded + 436,587 leased).
The ranch was purchased in 2012 by the Wilks brothers for $15,500,000. Reportedly, the property was purchased for the purpose of facilitating a land swap with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Public Access and Land Use
According to American Prairie, the 3.8-mile section of Bullwhacker Road will be reopened, restoring public access to nearly 50,000 acres of adjacent public lands. Grazing operations are expected to continue under existing lease agreements with local lessees. The organization cited improved conservation outcomes, enhanced wildlife habitat connectivity, and restored public access—particularly through the reopening of the previously closed section of Bullwhacker Road.
Wilks Brothers and Land-Swap Proposals
In 2014–2015, the Wilks brothers proposed a land swap with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which included the Anchor Ranch. The plan included:
- Transferring more than 5,000 acres of private land (within or adjacent to the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument) to the BLM.
- Receiving in return public land inholdings, including the Durfee Hills, a 2,700-acre parcel surrounded by the Wilks’ N Bar Ranch.
Supporters argued the swap would improve public access and simplify management, while critics raised concerns about elk habitat and the true extent of access improvements. The BLM ultimately declined the proposal after public opposition and access concerns.
While the Anchor Ranch portion of the proposed swap included substantially more deeded acres and acres of public access, the hunting quality and value relative to prime elk hunting was not considered comparable to the Durfee Hills.
Summary
The Anchor Ranch purchase underscores ongoing tensions in Montana between private landownership, conservation initiatives, and public access. While some see the reopening of Bullwhacker Road as a win for recreation and hunting, others have concerns about the expanding role and footprint of the American Prairie Foundation in the region.