BC Ranch For Sale
After being operated for 100 years by four generations of the Cecil family the Bridge Creek Ranch is for sale. This is a true "Trophy Ranch" rich in history. Bridge Creek Estate Ranch is an historic equestrian and cattle ranch located in the beautiful Cariboo region of British Columbia. Its 2,400 acres of deeded land and about 2,700 acres of grazing and woodlot license combine to about 5,000 acres of prime real estate. Extensive conservation projects around natural springs, waterways and wetlands, and care to support species at risk in our ecosystems, make Bridge Creek Estate a visually stunning nature preserve.
Operated Organicaly:
For the last 100 years, the ranch has been managed without the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. This property might be of interest to individuals or businesses interested in organically certified farms and ranches for the purpose of raising organically grown produce and livestock. It is in impeccable repair and located close to commercial and community services with good transportation access. Read more about the history of the ranch, it's contribution to the development of 100 Mile House and the current owners Lord Exeter Michael Cecil and his son, Lord Burghley, Anthony Cecil. If you click these links use the Back button to return to this website.
Location:
The core of Bridge Creek ranch is located in the valley surrounding Exeter Lake, stretching west of the town of 100 Mile House. With its excellent location, the ranch has easy access to all the services and amenities of town such as schools, hospital, movie theater, new library, modern skating arena, restaurants and shops. The South Cariboo region is known as an outdoor paradise with fishing lakes, groomed cross-country ski trails, snowmobile routes, and golf courses. Access to 100 Mile House is on Highway 97, the primary north-south route though BC, and Vancouver is an easy 5 hour drive away along main roads. For access by air, the municipal paved airstrip is directly next to the ranch and is suitable for small private aircraft. The 108 Mile airport is 10 minutes away and is large enough for small jets. There are scheduled commercial flights into Williams Lake, one hour to the north, and Kamloops, two hours to the south. Click here to view mapsRanchland:
Bridge Creek Estate currently operates on about 2,400+ acres of deeded land and 1,300 acres of grazing licenses. There is also a 1,400 acre woodlot license that partially overlaps with the grazing license area for a total operating area of approximately 5,000 acres (2,000 ha), making Bridge Creek one of the largest remaining ranches in the South Cariboo. Cattle and horses graze in the native grasslands, forests, and sedge meadows. Sedge/grass hay is also cut on the meadows while alfalfa/grass hay is cut on the irrigated hayland, suitable for the use of the horses over the winter.Environmentally Sustainable:
The ranch is blessed with beautiful natural surroundings, including Exeter Lake, Little Bridge Creek and over 500 acres of wetlands. In conjunction with Ducks Unlimited and various Government agencies, Bridge Creek Estate has taken a leadership role in environmental stewardship.Buildings:
Having moved the ranch-facilities to a new location in the late 1990s, Bridge Creek had the opportunity to build truly modern buildings and corrals over the last 12 years. The impressive locally-designed main building is log-built with horse stalls on the main floor. There is a professional office upstairs complete with high-speed internet wiring. A beautiful second-floor two-bedroom caretaker suite overlooks the valley and provides an on-site presence for the ranch buildings. A separate heated heated two-bay machine-shop as well as several storage buildings, keeps equipment protected and well-maintained.The two main hay-sheds are ground-level and easily accessed by tractor. The property has several building sites with a view overlooking Exeter Lake and Heron Ridge, perfect for a custom executive home offering both privacy and easy access to amenites.
Pastures and Corrals:
Over the last 15 years, Bridge Creek has developed an extensive system of rotation pastures so that the ranch can board more cattle yet keep the grasslands healthy. The fenced corridors and pastures make moving the animals much easier than traditional methods of handling. The corrals adjacent to the ranch yard provide a streamlined system for sorting and loading cattle. In addition, there are pens for training horses and hosting cutting events. There is access to municipal water, so all the pens and pastures around the ranch yard have heated water-feeders. Each of the horse pastures is provided with a shelter to keep animals dry and healthy. As well as many new fences, the Bridge Creek ranch has taken a pro-active approach to maintenance and has worked to replace and upgrade important infrastructure around the property.Equipment:
In 2007 Bridge Creek modernized its haying operation with the addition of a brand new 75hp John Deere tractor,
center-swing swather, and computerized net-wrap round-baler. Taking advantage of both extensive natural meadow-land and well-irrigated hay-fields, the ranch provides hay for its own horse boarding operation as well as selling into the local market. For quick travel around the property, there is a two seat ATV, used for fencing and maintenance duties. A full-sized horse trailer, flat deck-trailer, post-pounder, log-splitter and numerous other pieces of ranch equipment round out the operation.
