Moore River Ranch

Description

Location: Moore River Ranch is located approximately 3.5 miles north of Clifton, Texas, on scenic FM Highway 1991, the property is an easy 1.5 hours southwest of Dallas and Fort Worth, and only 35 minutes northwest of Waco.

Summary: The Moore River Ranch is an outstanding combination property that winds along the banks of the Bosque River for over a mile. This riparian land is generally noted for its fertile soils and crop production, while also promoting heavy stands of timber that are known to draw and hold an abundance of wildlife. The ranch offers peace and solitude in its quiet setting, making it an ideal hunting retreat, perfect weekend getaway, or just the spot for a permanent residence in the country. Considered "The Norwegian Capital of Texas", the charming town of Clifton is only minutes south of the ranch, offering shopping, dining, and a movie theater in its historic downtown district along with the Bosque Art Center, Bosque Museum, comfortable hotels and unique inns, grocery stores and fuel, Goodall-Witcher general hospital, and the highly regarded Clifton schools.

Terrain: The landscape is comprised of rolling to gently sloping topography with approximately 80' of overall elevation change as the land rises from west to east, creating scenic views of the ranch, river, and river valley. Roughly 50% of the land consists of native pastures with scattered woods and bands of densely wooded acreage that border the river. Giant centuries old river bottom live oaks are present along with towering pecans and cottonwoods, as well as an outstanding diversity of additional tree cover with post oak, bur oak, red oak, and elm. Brush species include varieties such as redbud, cedar elm, hackberry, sumac, bumelia, elbowbrush, American beautyberry, cedar, and mesquite. The remaining ~50% is fertile river bottom cultivation spread across 5 individual fields ranging in size from 20-130+/- acres planted in milo, maize, wheat, and cotton. A combination that equates to prime habitat for wildlife, excellent hunting, and productive farming.

Bosque River: The crown jewel of this Bosque County treasure is the ~1.2 miles of outstanding live water Bosque River frontage. "Life is in the water" and as early settlers moved west they quickly recognized the flowing tributaries and flourishing lands that lay within this river valley. Carving its way from north to south through portions of Erath, Bosque, and McLennan County, the Bosque River influenced numerous early trading post and settlements including present day Stephenville, Hico, Iredell, Meridian, Clifton, Valley Mills, and Waco where it intersected the Brazos River. The desirable stretch of river here is about as good as you will find on the Bosque today, offering exceptional fishing for catfish and bass, excellent swimming holes, and is a heavily travelled corridor for all types of wildlife.

Hunting and Wildlife: This portion of Bosque County is known for producing outstanding hunting and the ranch has produced some quality native whitetail trophies scoring in the 150"-160" B&C range. The aforementioned combination of wooded cover and cultivated land along with an abundance of browse and forbs consistently draw in and hold game that also include turkey, dove, hog, and varmint. For the bow hunter, there are numerous untouched areas of thick forest just waiting to be scouted and ready for your tree stand. There are also multiple fields with small stands of native sunflower that could be expanded upon to create even better dove hunting.

Water: In addition to the river, surface water is provided by 3 stock ponds and multiple wet weather branches that wind their way through the landscape toward the river. Underground well water is generally easily attainable in this area if a good trinity water well is desired. There are two old windmill water wells on the property of unknown condition.

Roads and Fencing: The ranch's east boundary fronts along quiet FM Highway 1991 for ~1.4 miles with 3 gated entrance access points off of pavement. The numerous interior roads and trails provide good travel throughout the property, including a unique railroad bridge crossing that leads to a winding river view trail through the woods. Perimeter and cross fencing range in condition from good to poor. The fence along the fm road consists of rare concrete post construction.

Houses and Barns: There are two old frame farm houses located on the property. These structures don't offer any contributory value to the sale, but may have fixer-upper potential. There are also several barns/sheds in similar condition.

Leases: The ranch is currently leased for farming through October of this year.

Minerals: Minerals are negotiable.

Easements: A pipeline easement runs through the property from north to south. There are no large electric transmission line or neighboring land owner access easements encumbering the property.

Railroad: In the early 1880's the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway line was laid through Bosque County with a station near Clifton. Today, Burlington Northern Sante Fe operates the rail line that runs through the ranch from north to south. There are two private crossings that provide passage over/under the rail line and access to either side of the property.

Electricity: United Cooperative Services provides electrical service to the ranch.

School District: Clifton Independent School District

Taxes: Moore River Ranch is ag-exempt and annual property taxes are estimated to be ~$1,500 for 2019.

Asking Price: $3,550 per acre ($1,988,000)

Contact: Bret Polk, 254-965-0349 mobile

Additional Acreage: Also available For Sale and located to the east just across the fm road is the 464+/- acre Moore Mountain Ranch with over 160' of highly desirable elevation change and big Bosque County views. See 464 acre listing for additional details.

Property History: We are honored to offer the Moore Family Farm For Sale. The family's roots in Bosque County go back generations. Elif A. and Torese Moore had a great love and respect for the land and passed that love to later generations. Elif often brought his grandchildren to the farm creating cherished memories as they rode in the back of his pickup truck, chased lambs, watched the cattle grazing the pastures, learned to shoot, picked pecans and figs, and even fresh corn from the fields for dinner. Other memories of making homemade ice cream and hearing a thunderstorm off in the distance, all instilling a fondness for those simpler times spent in Bosque County and a great appreciation of the natural features found here.

Elif Albertson Moore came from a family of multiple talents. His father was a trained and well respected medical doctor, a banker, a mercantile store owner, farmer and rancher. His mother, Amelia Moore, daughter to Danish immigrants, was trained in music at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

Torese Jorgenson Moore was the daughter of Norwegian immigrants who farmed land near Clifton. She put herself through school to become a teacher in a one room schoolhouse and took particular delight in Math, doing sums in her head well into her 90's.

Understanding the significance of the heritage and history of the region, Elif's Master's Thesis was dedicated to documenting the settlement of Bosque County by Norwegian immigrants. Titled "The History of Clifton College", it was published in June 1927. It was donated by the family to the Bosque Museum in Clifton and is listed in the online Library Record of the Bosque Museum. Elif became a science professor at Clifton College. In his spare time, he began acquiring relics from the settlement of Clifton and curated the collection in the Clifton College basement. Later, this became the foundation of the Bosque Museum.

During that time, Elif and Torese expanded their land holdings near Clifton.