Jartop West Ranch

The Jartop West Ranch is truly a legacy sporting and cattle ranch. Formerly known and operated as Jay Novacek’s Upper 84 Ranch, this is as well rounded of a recreational property as you will find on the market. Totaling 3,268 deeded acres plus leased ground, the ranch offers big game hunting and great fishing for the distinguished sportsman. The habitat and topography make the ranch feel like it is in the mountains not central Nebraska. The entire east side of the ranch borders a lease on Jeffrey Reservoir with over 3 miles of lake shore. 1,600 acres of the ranch is in a high fence allowing the owner to hunt exotic species like Elk, Pere David’s Deer, Audad Sheep and other stocked species all while never feeling like you are in a high fence. The remainder of the ranch offers tremendous hunting for White Tail Deer, Mule Deer, Elk, Turkey, Ducks & Geese. The property features a recently remodeled luxurious 7,875 square foot custom home that could easily be used for a lodge or corporate retreat and the property is very well equipped as a working cow ranch with high end working facilities and a 20,000 square foot barn with heated stalls and indoor riding arena.

Locale

The Jartop West Ranch is located about 30 miles southeast of North Platte, Nebraska. The ranch is 5 miles south and 3 miles west of Brady, Nebraska, and 4 hours east of Denver on I‐80. Jartop West Ranch is located 30 minutes from North Platte’s Lee Bird Field airport. The property can be accessed by taking exit 199 off of I‐80 and going south on the Brady‐Moorefield road approximately 10 miles.

North Platte is the county seat of Lincoln County. According to the 2010 Census there were 24,733 people living in the city. North Platte offers all services including great restaurants, shopping, lodging and an airport. North Platte Regional Airport has an 8,000’ runway, FBO and offers daily commercial flights to Denver. It is a vibrant community and a great place to live! Some of the best golf courses in the country are located in the Sandhills just north of North Platte and in Gothenburg just north east of the ranch at Wild Horse Golf Club. In addition, annually North Platte is host to NEBRASKAland Days which is a 10 day celebration that brings people from all over the region, hosts great concerts and boasts the famous Buffalo Bill Rodeo.

Land Overview

The ranch features varied terrain of rolling hills with yucca plants, wild sage, cedar trees and extensive prairie grass valleys and meadows. From its highest peak, June’s Point, the ranch overlooks Jeffrey Reservoir providing a panoramic view that few people would ever believe was in Nebraska. The entire property is fenced and cross-fenced which allows for rotational grazing. 1,600 acres of the ranch is contained in a high fence for trophy hunting but it is also fully utilized as grazing for cattle.

The ranch has a lease with Central Nebraska Power Company that includes exclusive access and use of approximately 300 additional acres of land and more than 3 miles of lake shore frontage. The lease includes recreational rights as well as grazing rights for cattle.

Climate

North Platte gets an average of 21 inches of rainfall per year.  The average annual snowfall is 30”.  The average high temperature in July is 87 degrees and the average low temperature in January is 14 degrees. On average, there are 227 sunny days per year.

Improvements

The two‐story house on the ranch is a magnificent 7,825 sq. ft. structure that is nothing short of first class. The house features an indoor water feature, huge great room, three fireplaces and outside decks with spectacular views. The house has five bedrooms with baths, large kitchen and great room, an office, a game room, an exercise room, three-car garage, outdoor kitchen for entertaining and extensive landscaping. The decks on the front and back of the house were recently replaced with composite wood to withstand the elements. The expansive back deck also features a cement and flagstone patio with gas fire pit. There are new flagstone walkways and steps as well as an outdoor stream water feature. The heat pump pond out back features a beautiful water fountain. The newly planted lawn was hydro seeded and features an underground sprinkler system with its own well. The house has been recently remodeled inside and out and is meticulously maintained.

The ranch also features a 20,000 sq. ft. barn. The horse lover and enthusiast will fall in love. It includes a huge heated indoor riding arena with sprinklers, heated horse stalls with waterers, office, wash bay, game cleaning facilities and walk‐in freezer. The barn also features a huge RV and equipment storage area, and state of the art cattle working facilities, part of which is undercover. Upstairs there is lodging capable of sleeping 12 or more guests. There is a kitchen, living room, rest rooms and additional storage.

Hunting

The Jartop Ranch has boundless recreational opportunities for your private use or commercial operation. Historically the ranch was previously operated by Jay Novacek as a hunting ranch and preserve featuring exotic big games species in the 1,600 acre high fence area. The beautiful, but rugged, cedar covered hills make you feel like you are hunting in free range mountains in an area a lot bigger than 1,600 acres. The topography and vegetation has previously provided excellent habitat for Elk, Pere David’s Deer, Audad Sheep, Tahr, Corsican Sheep, Fallow Deer and other species. If desired a new owner working with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture can obtain permits to re-introduce these animals and others to the property if desired. Currently the ranch has a herd of more than 100 Pere David’s Deer and some Aoudad Sheep.

The current owners have only used the hunting personally for friends and family but they have continued to carefully manage the habitat for big game inside and outside of the high fence area. The ranch is a turn-key operation for someone wanting to offer trophy hunting with lodging onsite. Outside of the high fence there is more than 1,600 acres that provide great hunting for Mule Deer, White Tail Deer, Turkey and Elk. Wild turkeys and deer are thick on the ranch! The owner has planted food plots and utilized feeders throughout the property. They have also fed protein and supplements to promote antler growth. Due to the tremendous water sources throughout the ranch, additional food plots could be planted in numerous locations. Apple trees have also been planted throughout the area for deer. The ranch also offers waterfowl hunting for ducks and geese along the banks of the reservoir. You can also try your luck pheasant, grouse & quail hunting.

In Nebraska, statewide White Tail Deer tags are available over the counter for residents and non-residents. The ranch is in a Mule Deer Conservation area so applicants have to enter the draw in June every year but the draw odds are very high. Landowner tags are also available for the ranch and can be used for the owner’s immediate family members. Turkey and small game tags are over the counter.

Fishing

If fishing and boating is your thing you have it right out your back door bordering over 3 miles of Jeffrey Reservoir. The reservoir is known for walleye, white bass, crappie, largemouth bass and catfish. Swimming, jet skiing and water skiing can also be enjoyed on the lake. As part of their lease with Central Nebraska Power Company, the ranch has a building site on the reservoir with power run to it that would be the ideal location for a fishing cabin and boat dock.

Ranch Operations

The ranch also serves as a very productive cattle operation. Historically the ranch has run approximately 350 pairs.  There are very nice working facilities, including Pearson working chutes & alley, sweep tub, as well as multiple pens and corrals with automatic waterers. If you are not an owner operator for cattle there is income potential from leasing the grazing to other ranchers. Area grazing leases are estimated at $60 per month per cow/calf. The ranch is very well watered featuring 7 working windmills, 2 new solar wells with 3 tanks per well, 3 stock damns, miles of underground water lines and cattle can water in Jeffrey Reservoir in the east pasture. The property sits on the renowned Ogallala Aquifer and has approximately a 200’-275’ water table.  The ranch puts up very good grass in its hard canyon pastures and meadows. There are currently 6 fenced and cross-fenced pastures to allow efficient rotational grazing.

Mineral Rights

Mineral Rights are not owned by the Seller and therefore are not included in the sale.

Taxes

2016 property taxes were $39,072.48.