A plot of land close to Prineville is ideal for anyone seeking amazing views of the mountains, plenty of room to walk around, and no neighbors. But to consummate the $60 million sale, a big piggy bank is required.
In exchange, you will receive 40,040 acres of land located 11 miles east of Prineville in the Ochoco Mountains. For contrast, Bend is about twice as large as 40,040 acres.
Large land sales coincide with property owners’ struggles to mitigate the risk of wildfires and climate change. However, opportunities also accompany the risks. Potential tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Canadian timber might make investing in commercial logging in the United States more alluring.
Businesses aiming to lower their carbon footprint are drawn to woody land tracts because they provide the possibility of investment as carbon forest initiatives. Additionally, these places are becoming more and more well-liked as preserves for large game hunting.
Ochoco Ranch, the property up for sale, is one of many sizable private land holdings in Central Oregon that are currently for sale. Opal Mountain Ranch, a 16,981-acre estate located 25 miles northeast of Prineville, is one of the others.
Animals such as elk, mule deer, antelope, black bears, and cougars abound in Ochoco Ranch. There are 19 miles of creeks and streams in the thickly forested area, some of which are home to brook and rainbow trout. There are 65 springs that are open all year round.
For the past eight months or more, Ochoco Ranch has been for sale. According to Jake Polvi, principal broker at rural real estate firm Polvi Real Estate, selling a large property often takes 12 to 18 months.
Shearing off a portion of a larger ranch is an additional possibility. For instance, the bigger Ochoco Ranch includes the 3,685-acre Pilot Butte Ranch ($6.5 million) and the 9,091-acre Valpey Butte Ranch ($14.5 million).
Skyline Forest, a 32,000-acre tract of land west of Bend that is selling for $95 million, is another sizable property in Central Oregon.
Known as Carbon Ranches, the properties include logging, hunting, recreation, and livestock. Through the sale of carbon offsets, these carbon projects produce additional yearly revenue flows in accordance with guidelines published by the Washington State Department of Ecology and the California Air Resources Board.
According to Polvi, real estate investors are increasing their holdings in the current market. According to him, big ranches or forestry tracts are frequently listed for sale.
Land transaction activity is in line with what we have observed during the last five years. According to Polvi, having some homes truly up for public sale is beneficial since it expands the pool of potential buyers. Buyers from all around the United States and the world are showing interest.
According to Polvi, since most buyers in this market pay cash, high borrowing rates usually have no effect on large houses. In the case of Skyline Forest, Chinese billionaire Tianqiao Chen last bought it in 2015.
The Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 2025. Check out Bendbulletin.com. Tribune Content Agency, LLC is the distributor.
