US farm with 93,000 hectares for sale: 10,000 cattle on 2 islands.
10,000 cattle, deer, bison, and a slaughterhouse in the middle of nowhere. One of the largest slaughterhouses in Alaska is located on the storm-battered Umnak Island.
10,000 cattle, deer, bison, and a slaughterhouse in the middle of nowhere. On the storm-battered Umnak Island in Alaska, one of the most extraordinary cattle farms in North America is up for sale for $11.7 million.
While XXL cattle farms are usually found in the dusty plains of Texas or along the Rocky Mountains, this ranch is located elsewhere: Bering Pacific Ranches, one of the most remote and westernmost ranches in the USA, is situated on Umnak Island, over 1,100 kilometers southwest of the mainland of Alaska, closer to Russia than the Lower 48.
The approximately 93,077-hectare ranch comprises four separate grazing lease areas and can accommodate up to 10,000 cattle without supplemental feeding, making it one of the largest extensive livestock operations in North America.
XXL livestock farming on a freezing volcanic island
Umnak Island is part of the Aleutian Islands, a chain of islands that stretches like a green ribbon between the Bering Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The region is known as the "Cradle of Storms." This designation is no wonder, as some of the continent's most intense storms occur where the cold Bering Sea meets the warmer Pacific currents. The island itself is approximately 1,776 square kilometers, with snow-covered volcanoes like Okmok, and is largely uninhabited. The nearest neighbors live in the village of Nikolski over 60 kilometers away. In addition to the main house, the ranch includes cowboy accommodations, a slaughterhouse, and stables. They are located on the site of the former Fort Glenn, a decommissioned World War II airbase.
By helicopter to the cattle
Have you ever wanted to herd cattle by helicopter? On Umnak Island and Unalaska Island in Alaska, 8,800 cattle and 200,000 acres are waiting for new owners. The challenge of the topography can only be overcome with technology: Instead of horses, the ranch uses an R22 Beta helicopter to herd cattle from up to 80 kilometers away to the pens. The ranch only keeps eleven riding horses, as even they are not suitable for travel in rugged terrain. In the summer, the animals roam freely on the island. In the fall, they are gathered and processed over several weeks: 40 to 60 animals are slaughtered daily, totaling 500 to 1,000 per season. In addition to around 10,000 cattle, the island is also home to approximately 10,000 reindeer, a small herd of bison, and some wild horses.
Organic slaughterhouse and rustic ranch life
A highlight of the property is a certified organic slaughterhouse. This was built on the foundation of an old army building. In addition to the main building, the ranch includes three log cabins, a hangar with a workshop, various vehicles, machinery, and the complete equipment for ongoing ranch operations. The land is leased from Native Corporations and the Alaska Department of Transportation. The operation is fully permitted and organic certified.
The ranch is currently for sale through the Icon Global Group. The official purchase price is not disclosed, but it is clear that anyone looking to invest here needs more than just capital. They are seeking a buyer who is not afraid of extreme isolation and has a real passion for adventure, wind, and vastness.
With material from landwatch.com; farmandranch.com