This column is part of a regular weekly series highlighting the largest land sales recorded each week through the Lands of America Comparable Sales program. To learn more and participate in the program, or to subscribe, click here.
Congratulations to John Kurtz of Kurtz Auction & Realty Company for the sale this week of 3,159 acres in Hamilton County, Illinois. Outland Ranch is a scenic recreational and equestrian property in the southern portion of the state near McLeansboro and southeast of the St. Louis metropolitan area.
View property listing on Lands of America
The ranch is characterized by an array of rolling hills, lush pastures, fertile farm ground, over 1,500 acres of mature timber and a dozen ponds and lakes. The centerpiece is the secluded ten-acre Eagle Lake named for the pair of resident bald eagles that nest nearby year-round.
Extensively managed for wildlife, dozens of species of native grasses, wildflowers and bushes have been reintroduced over the years to provide both food and cover. During the spring and summer months there are hundreds of acres of wildflowers in bloom making for a truly spectacular setting. Food plots for deer, quail and turkey dot the landscape. The ranch also has over 500 acres of tillable farmland and an additional 540 acres that are enrolled in CRP contracts.
Outland Ranch was thoughtfully assembled, designed and managed to host horseback dog trials. The 17-mile course that meanders its way through the property has hosted dozens of field trials including the National Amateur Invitational and the America Derby Invitational.
The property boasts two stables, capable of holding over 70 horses, a clubhouse with a commercial-grade kitchen, large dining hall with a fireplace and a large covered porch to enjoy the views. The main lodge is a 3,564-square-foot home with four bedrooms and four bathrooms. This two-story structure has stone fireplaces in both the family room and the large master bedroom.
McLeansboro is the county seat of Hamilton County, a mostly agricultural region comprising cornfields and small Midwestern farming communities. This often-overlooked area of southern Illinois is also home to a few surprising attractions, including the country’s largest archaeological site, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, over 100 wineries and outdoor recreation like bouldering and mountain biking in 280,000-acre Shawnee National Forest.
View Kurtz Auction & Realty Company’s other land listings on Lands of America
View the largest and most expensive land sales for the period between February 15-21 below:
Largest Land Sales: Feb. 15-21 2018
Most Expensive Land Sales: Feb. 15-21, 2018
Land buyers can access Lands of America’s comprehensive database of historic sales information by purchasing a LandsInsight account ($199/year), while platinum and basic sellers receive complimentary access through the Land.com Network’s Property Control Center. Click here for more information about participating in the Comparable Sales program.