Billings MLS #345036

Nestled in Montana’s picturesque Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River Valley, the Cottonwood Equine Center stands as a testament to equestrian excellence and western heritage. This premier facility is designed for the elite in western equestrian sports, offering specialized amenities for cutting, reining, barrel racing, and team roping enthusiasts. Property is being offered in three purchase options. Option 1: Equestrian Center only. List price $3,500,000 Option 2: Equestrian Center and Lodge Parcel. List price $4,500,000 Option 3: Equestrian Center, Lodge Parcel and Manager House Parcel. List price $5,500,000 See survey and maps for breakout and boundaries. Call for further information.

History of the Brand

Cottonwood Equine Center

Let’s face it, organizing an equine event is no small feat. You’re on the hunt for a top-tier venue that’s both accessible and suitable for your event, without compromising on profit. This journey can be daunting, filled with stress and high emotional stakes. But here’s the good news: The Cottonwood Equine Center understands these challenges intimately. Having been attendees, competitors, and organizers, they bring a comprehensive perspective to equine event planning, ensuring a seamless and successful experience for all involved. At Cottonwood, they’re dedicated to delivering an exceptional venue that elevates every participant to star status, ensuring that both competitors and guests have a memorable and enjoyable time. Why gamble with your event’s success elsewhere when The Cottonwood offers guaranteed quality and satisfaction?

In today’s fast-paced world, finding a safe, family-friendly space for relaxation and fun can be challenging. The Cottonwood stands out as a sanctuary of wholesome entertainment, offering everything from equine events to live concerts. We provide a unique, authentic Montana experience, complete with unmatched facilities, a steadfast commitment to safety, and a promise of unforgettable moments. Become part of the Cottonwood community, where safety, entertainment, and comfort converge to create the perfect home away from home. At The Cottonwood, you’re not just hosting an event; you’re crafting lasting memories in a place where every visit feels like coming home.

Just the Facts

  • The Cottonwood is being offered in Part or in Whole, more or less consisting of three parcels: The Managers Home, The Cottonwood Resort and The Equine Center.
    • Managers Home
    • Private Access Turn-in
    • Custom-built Home and Carport
    • Two Outdoor Arenas w/Crows Nest
    • Round Pen
  • Cottonwood Resort
    • The Lodge
    • Heated Shop
    • Resort Indoor Stalls
    • Resort Outdoor Pens and Horse Shed
  • Equine Center
    • Main Indoor Equestrian Arena
    • Warm-up Barn
    • Rehab & Hay Barn
    • 35 – 12 x 12 fully matted stalls
    • Outdoor Covered Stalls
    • Yellowstone River Frontage

Overview

Where Excellence Meets Tradition, Montana’s Premier Equestrian Estate
Discover the essence of equestrian luxury and function at the Cottonwood Equestrian Center. Nestled along the banks of the Yellowstone River. The Cottonwood Equestrian Center offers unparalleled facilities and vast landscapes, Cottonwood stands as a monument to equine excellence and Montana’s majestic beauty.


The Cottonwood Equine Center is a fully customizable, Western-style event venue. With a hands-on staff and plenty of experience, it’s structured to make event planning stress-free and easy. The Cottonwood is located on a Montana ranch with a Managers Home, Luxury timber hewn lodge, and full equine complex with RV/trailer hookups for on-location preparation and stays, making it perfect for equine events such as roping, barrel racing, horse shows, concerts, and more. It has more than enough room for livestock housing and event attendees.

Matterport Links ~ Virtual Tours

Lodge: https://tinyurl.com/45a4ymd2

Main Barn: https://tinyurl.com/2fb3aunb

Main Arena: https://tinyurl.com/392fk4wt

Warm Up Arena: https://tinyurl.com/jcd762tz

Location & Access
Location: Joliet, MT

With a population around 609 people, Joliet is a small Montana ag town in Carbon County, Montana, United States. It is part of the Billings, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area. The construction of the Rocky Fork & Cooke City Railway in 1892 made Joliet a shipping point. The Joliet Post Office was established on June 10, 1893, with Maud Smith as its first postmaster. The town was named for Joliet, Illinois.

The Cottonwood Equine Center is only minutes from the town of Silesia, MT, but mail comes through a Joliet address. Laurel and the West End of Billings, MT, the fastest growing part of the city, are a short drive up HWY 212. Far enough to grant unrestricted privacy, yet close enough to run into town for any and all needs that may be had. It makes for an ideal launch point for western exploration. Excellent skiing, snowboarding, fishing, hiking, hunting, and horseback riding are only a stone’s throw from this property.

Access: Richardson Road

The Cottonwood Equine Center is accessed from Richardson Rd off of the Main Street out of Silesia. To get to Silesia, head south on Highway 212 out of Laurel. An all-season paved county road. Laurel is 7 miles to the north and provides direct access to Interstate 90. Red Lodge, the gateway to Yellowstone National Park is approximately 45 miles to the south.

Both Laurel and Red Lodge have paved airstrips capable of handling small aircraft. Billings, is Montana’s largest commercial airport providing air service through United, Delta Allegiant, Cape Air, and Alaska Airlines.

Improvements
  • Custom Home built in 2002
    • 2-story, 5-bedroom, 5-bath (3 full, 2 half)
    • 3,632 square feet of living area
    • Attached 960 sqft 3-car garage
  • Outdoor Equestrian Arena
    • 160 wide x 150 long
    • All-pipe construction
    • Attached holding pens and return alleys
    • Automatic Preifert chute
    • Performance Arena Lighting
  • Round Pen/Warm-up Arena
  • Practice Arena
    • Preifert Chute
    • Return Alley
  • Cottonwood Resort – Custom built in 1999
    • 1-story, 4-bedroom, 4-bath (sleeps 16 people)
    • 6,493 square feet of living area
    • Attached 3-car garage
  • Heated Shop
    • 30 wide x 90 long
    • Full Concrete Floor
    • Location for both residential RO systems
    • 2 Post Floor Lift
  • Mare Barn
    • 35 Wide x 50 Long
    • Stalls and Tack Room
  • Open-sided shed & Pen 1
    • Easternmost outdoor holding pens
  • Equine Rehab and Hay Barn with indoor stalls
  • 140’ x 220’ steel framed Indoor Arena
    • Automatic Preifert roping chute
    • Comprehensive outdoor livestock handling facilities
    • Semi-truck and Pickup truck loadout compatibility
    • Large overhead doors
  • Warm-Up Barn
    • 80 wide x 150 long
  • Covered Outdoor Stalls
    • 180 Stalls under 9 buildings
    • Frost free Hydrants at each and power
  • 24 RV and Trailer Hookups
    • 50A, 30A, and 20A plugins
General Operations

The cottonwood equine center is located in Joliet – Montana. It intends to offer our various services to horse owners and lovers who seek quality and well run quality instruction and equine center. The horse industry is stable but is said to be progressing as more people are showing interest either in learning to ride a horse or owning one for whatever reasons they might think is
possible. The Cottonwood Equine Center is an American-owned business-to-customer (B2C) Equine Company with a fully customizable, Western-style event venue. With a hands-on staff and plenty of experience, it’s structured to make event planning stress-free and easy. With the latest owners, and well-trained staff, the Cottonwood Equine Center has generated its revenue from Equine-related services.

Leases

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT: None 

STATE OF MONTANA: None

Disclaimer: All water rights and mineral rights owned by the Seller will convey to the Buyer at closing and all required filings with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) will transfer the current water rights as they exist – with no warranty of future viability. Water rights in the State of Montana are subject to re-adjudication by the DNRC and may be determined by the court to be modified in validity, amount, priority, date, and place of use. All mineral rights owned by the Seller for the subject property will convey to the Buyer at closing.

Recreation

Situated in the scenic Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River Valley, the Cottonwood facility offers a versatile array of uses, from luxury vacation rentals to grand equine events. Its year-round appeal makes it a prime location for equestrian activities, corporate retreats, weddings, and holiday stays, catering to a high demand in the commercial sector. This could be your private equestrian haven or a recreational ranch, set in a serene location by the Clarks Fork, boasting fertile meadows, ample water and irrigation rights, and a rich array of fishing and wildlife opportunities. The property commands stunning views of the Beartooth Mountains and the Red Lodge ski slopes, encapsulating Montana’s finest landscapes and outdoor amenities.

Hunting

Huntable species in Montana include black bears, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, elk, Shiras moose, mountain goats, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, turkeys, wolves, and bison. There is also excellent hunting for upland birds and waterfowl in most of the state.

Montana’s wildlife is well managed, with excellent trophies of nearly every big-game species being taken in the state every year. Some of the largest bighorn sheep in the world come from Montana, especially the Missouri Breaks region; however, drawing odds are extremely low.

The retreat offers the potential for passing big game and birds along the creek. The additional available acreage could provide great opportunities to hunt trophy deer and antelope.

Fishing

From cold water to warm water, big prairie rivers to high mountain lakes and fly-fishing to trolling, Montana offers angling opportunities for all to enjoy. Whether you’re seeking solitude, fish for the supper table or the trophy of a lifetime, you can find it here.

Many of these opportunities can be attributed to the quality of the fisheries habitat in Montana. Still, there are numerous challenges facing Montana’s fisheries including climate change, habitat alteration and dewatering of streams. FWP is tasked with managing the state’s fishery resources and addressing these challenges.

Hiking

Billings and the rimrocks around town offer abundant hiking opportunities. Check out this link https://www.alltrails.com/us/montana/billings to see all 25 designated trails in the area. The retreat also has a wealth of game and stock trails that traverse the rims of the cache.

Outdoor

Skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling are all less than an hour away. The resorts of Red Lodge, Bridger, and Big Sky are home to some of the best winter sports destinations Montana has to offer.

Conservation

The Cottonwood does not have a conservation easement in place.

“We are thrilled to have found the Johnson Brothers to represent us. They earned our trust through honest professional advice, recommendations and support throughout the process. We always felt that they were looking out for our best interest and not just trying to make a sale.”

Hurley Family | Client Testimony
“They embody the western value of doing a great job on time. I love their can do attitude.”

Charlie Powers | Powers Land Brokerage
“From the moment they said hello to the day of closing on our property, they were highly professional and showed a great skill of knowledge and experience in their field. ”

E. H. Guptill | Client Testimony
“They went above and beyond to provide a comprehensive appraisal needed in a short turn time.”

Darla Larson | Farm Credit of Western Arkansas
“The Johnson Brothers have brought a fresh energy and enthusiasm to an industry that is very difficult to get started in as young professionals.”

Andy Rahn | Montana Land Source
“With a history embedded deep in agriculture, the Johnson Brothers not only know agriculture, they know the market.”

Bethany Toews | Warren Land & Livestock
“We were blown away. So clear, concise, just very pleasant. We just enjoyed showing them our property!”

C. Killebrew | Client Testimony
“They are professional, communicative, efficient and deliver thorough and comprehensive appraisals.”

Tina Hamm & Scott Moran | Hall and Hall