Aubrey Spring Ranch

Details & Features

The Aubrey Spring Ranch consists of approximately 285 acres of relatively flat topography in the shape of a triangle. The ranch rests at an elevation of 4,880 feet and provides excellent sunset views of Marble Hill over the Lower Big Wood River Valley. The abundant spring water resources present make it an ideal recreational ranch for the fly fisherman and waterfowl enthusiast. Rio Creek, a spring creek that feeds Loving Creek, runs through the northern tip of the ranch for ½+ mile. Rio Creek and Loving Creek wetland areas account for much of the northeastern boundary of the ranch, and Loving Creek flows through the southeastern section for ½+ mile. Aubrey Spring has been developed into a two pond, re-circulating water system with a spawning creek connecting the two ponds and lies in the center of the ranch surrounded by a 20-acre grove of mature aspens. The majority of the property consists of 220 acres of high quality farmland under irrigation. The tillable ground is best suited for the production of small grains (barley and wheat) and alfalfa hay.

The main home lies on the banks of Loving Creek providing private views of the creek and surrounding mountains. The home is approximately 2,000 sqft in size and was built in 1989. It features 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, and an inviting living room with a wood-burning fireplace opening to the deck. The deck overlooks the landscaped yard leading down to the creek bank. Next to the main home lies a detached 3-car garage building that is architecturally compatible with the home. Mature landscaping and perennial gardens surround the main home and garage building.

Loving Creek is a large spring creek that flows through the ranch for just over ½ mile providing a classic dry fly fishery right off the back deck of the home. The wild brown trout and rainbow trout from Silver Creek use both Loving Creek and Rio Creek for spawning habitat and due to the premium holding water, these larger trout remain as year round residents. On average, this stream measures 40 feet across and consists of glassy surface water flowing over a mixture of silt and gravel on the stream bottom. Almost imperceptible depressions in the substrate provide subtle differences in the current, and the trout utilize these slight depressions as feeding stations. It is not uncommon to look off the back deck and witness a dozen large trout (16-24 inches in length) feeding on the surface in either the upstream or downstream direction. Loving Creek is home to a variety of mayfly and caddis fly species as well as an abundance of terrestrials during the summer and fall months.

Rio Creek is a tributary to Loving Creek with an estimated flow of 5 cubic feet per second, and the portion of Rio Creek on the ranch has been enhanced to provide both better spawning gravel and holding water with small grass islands and undercut banks. Traditionally the trout from the Silver Creek drainage run up Loving Creek and Rio Creek to spawn in the gravel beds every fall and spring. The enhancement measures created additional holding water and summer fishing opportunities in this stretch of water on the ranch. The additional bends and holes have transformed a ¼ mile of spring creek wetlands and spawning gravel into a stretch of premium fishing water ½ mile in length. Waterfowl also heavily utilize this area of the ranch, and there is a four-man metal pit blind entrenched in the banks of Rio Creek.

In addition to the spring creek resources, the presence of grain on the preserved landscape of the ranch create the ideal food source and loafing grounds for several species of waterfowl. Mallards, Green-winged teal, and Canada geese are present in significant numbers during the fall migration. The buffer zones left wild between the creek banks and the farm ground provide additional nesting cover for the numerous birds that are permanent residents. Upland bird species such as Hungarian partridge, Chukar partridge and Ring-necked pheasant are abundant in the valley and surrounding hills and are seen on the ranch from time to time. Superb upland hunting opportunities for these species is found on public ground within a half-hour of the ranch.

The Nature Conservancy owns the 883 acre Silver Creek Preserve along Silver Creek and has protected more than 9,500 acres in the immediate area through conservation easements, making this one of the most successful stream conservation efforts ever undertaken.

A rare opportunity in the heart of Silver Creek Basin, this premium ranch provides ideal amenities to position the fly fishing angler and waterfowl enthusiast exceptionally well for world-class recreational opportunities. Daylight hosts many sporting and outdoor pastimes and with the proximity of Sun Valley Resort, evenings could be filled with world-class dining and a wide range of cultural activities. This exclusive property delivers excitement for the up-and-coming ranch owner.