Drift Creek Ranch

Details & Features

Drift Creek Ranch represents one of the last great strongholds of wild salmon, steelhead and sea-run cutthroat trout in the lower 48. Comprised of 126 +/- acres of pristine, completely private, Oregon Coast Range forest, the ranch contains approximately 15 acres of cross-fenced pasture, a 3,932 sqft custom creekside home with mature landscaping, large barn, tack room and more. In addition to the approximate 1-mile exclusive, secluded stretch of Drift Creek frontage, the property affords adjacent access to an extra 1.2 miles estimated of private fishing on exclusive timberland upstream of the ranch. This provides an incoming owner with access to nearly exclusive use of over 2 miles of riffles, runs and deep pools that hold 10-50 pound fresh, wild steelhead and salmon. Drift Creek is a very unique fishery in that it supports large runs of three species of salmon and three distinct runs of steelhead, yet it is labeled as non-navigable and therefore completely private with no drift boats or public access. With healthy runs of fall Chinook and Coho salmon and large runs of wild winter, spring and summer steelhead, complimented by a population of sea-run cutthroat trout and documented Chum salmon, Drift Creek can out-rival any wild anadromous fishery and keep any angler entertained year-round.

Located south of Lincoln City on the northern Oregon coast, the ranch is 10 minutes from the renowned Salishan Spa and Golf Resort in Gleneden Beach. With fine dining, spa, tennis courts, conference rooms and a stunning 18-hole Jacobsen-designed golf course overlooking Siletz Bay and the Pacific Ocean, Salishan offers endless resort recreational opportunities for both business and pleasure. While the ranch is nearby many high-end amenities, the property feels private and secluded. Resident Roosevelt elk herds call this property home, along with other wildlife including Blacktail deer, bobcat, raccoons, beaver and otters. With epic fishing and hunting, close proximity to recreational amenities including sailing, deep sea fishing and crabbing, sea kayaking, whale-watching and exploring the many beaches, Drift Creek Ranch is a magnificent offering.
The Main House – The main house is a custom 3,932 sqft, three-level home along the banks of Drift Creek. It was constructed in 1990, with a new roof in 2010. The three-bedroom, two-bath house has a finished basement that can support an additional bathroom and bathroom. The surrounding property is well-manicured and comprised of professionally-laid mature landscaping that is pruned by the local elk herd. A 1,200 sqft, 3-bay attached garage provides ample room to store toys, and there is over 900 sqft of decking overlooking Drift Creek to enjoy watching the elk graze and the salmon and steelhead swimming upriver.

Drift Creek Ranch is located in the heart of salmon and steelhead country. While Drift Creek alone can provide the serious angler with years of entertainment (as well as bouts of frustration) due to the multiple runs throughout the year, there are many classic steelhead and salmon rivers within a short drive of the ranch, not to mention the endless fishing opportunities for halibut, rockfish, lingcod, tuna, and salmon in the ocean.

Drift Creek – Fishing Drift Creek can be compared to two things: 1) fishing for salmon and steelhead in the northwest 60 years ago, and 2) fishing small streams in Alaska. Currently managed as a completely wild, catch-and-release fishery for the last 15 years, Drift Creek supports substantial and healthy runs of both fall Chinook (September through December) and Coho (October through January) salmon. Fall Chinook range up to 60 pounds and Coho average from 10 to 15 pounds. The winter steelhead run is equally impressive, beginning in December with a few stray Siletz hatchery fish, and the bulk of the wild run lasting from December through March, peaking in February. These fish average from 6 to 18 pounds with fish over 20 pounds caught on the property. The spring steelhead run is comprised of larger fish entering the river from February through April. These fish only stay in the river for a week to spawn and head back out to the ocean just as chrome as the day they entered. A summer steelhead run also occurs from May through September. These fish are more challenging to catch in the lower flows of summer. Finally, the property is host to a sustained population of sea-run cutthroat trout, which can grow to over 20 inches and are quite aggressive. The cutthroat follow the salmon and steelhead into the rivers to feed on eggs and can be caught just behind their bigger cousins. There are also documented sitings of Chum salmon on the property but these are a listed fish and are known to occur in only two other rivers in Oregon in any sizable number. Fishing for steelhead closes on April 1st through May 25th to allow the smolts to migrate to the ocean. Anglers at Drift Creek can average 3 fish per day where 7-10 fish days are not unheard of.

The secluded Drift Creek Ranch has an ideal wildlife habitat with Drift Creek pouring out of a steep and rugged canyon into an open pasture. Two large distinct herds of Roosevelt elk call Drift Creek Ranch home for a large portion of the year. Roosevelts do not migrate great distances and will sometimes spend their entire lives in a single drainage. The herd sizes on the ranch can be over 100 animals. Roosevelt elk do not always sport as impressive racks as their Rocky Mountain cousins, but they are much larger in body. Drift Creek Ranch is located in the Stott Mountain Unit and has two general centerfire rifle seasons. The first season is from November 10th through 13th. The second rifle season begins November 17th and lasts through November 25th. Each hunter is allotted one bull elk with a visible antler per year. For bow hunters, an elk bow tag is general season that lasts from August 25th through September 23rd and affords the hunter to take one elk either sex.

Golf – Two 18-hole courses are located within 15 minutes of the ranch. The Salishan Resort golf links is a Scottish-style 18-hole course that plays out between the Pacific Ocean and Siletz Bay and was designed by Peter Jacobsen. The 5,000-yard Chinook Wind Resort’s challenging course is located off Highway 101 in Lincoln City. The Chinook also has the largest indoor driving range in the Pacific Northwest at over 12,000 sqft. Additionally, there are three 9-hole courses within a 30 minute drive of the ranch.
Drift Creek Ranch represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase a pristine salmon and steelhead fishery in the lower 48 and in close proximity to Oregon’s metropolitan areas. With exclusive access to such large and diverse runs of wild salmon and steelhead for year-round enjoyment, it would be difficult to find any property in the Northwest to compare with Drift Creek Ranch. With its close proximity to Salishan Spa and Resort, the restaurants and shops of Lincoln City, and the many recreational activities within a short drive, Drift Creek Ranch represents the ideal retreat for family, friends and business partners.