Property Overview
The Hart Ranch (formerly known as the Bath Ranch and much earlier known as the Heart Ranch, Hutton Ranch, and Hutton Home Ranch) is an approximately 8,200-acre tract of land located at 166 Hart Road in Albany County, Wyoming. The Hart Ranch is one of the oldest deeded ranches in Wyoming. This ranch was established in 1866, when pioneer Charles Hutton first settled and began operations on the land, which was then located within the original boundary of Fort Sanders, By 1868, Charles Hutton was contracted to furnish meat for the personnel at Fort Sanders, which would help to establish his name as one of the earliest ranchers of the Laramie Basin. Charles Hutton was granted his homestead patent on June 4, 1872, and this ranch is noted as having the oldest recorded water rights on the Big Laramie River. The ranch was purchased by Henry Bath in 1928 and remained within the Bath family until 2022 when the City of Laramie purchased a portion of this property through a cross-contingent purchase agreement for $7,583,400. The City owns 4,600.74 acres of the Hart Ranch property, buildings, improvements, crops, timber, mineral rights, and water rights. Municipal bonds will finance $7 Million with the remaining $583,400 to be paid by the municipal water system. The City's primary interest is the water rights associated with the land but will manage the property for open space, recreation, and other public purposes in the future.
The Laramie River meanders through the property from the southwest to the northeast. Entering from the northwest corner of the ranch, the river flows for approximately seven miles across the property.
The City of Laramie is currently producing hay and leasing the property for cattle grazing. In addition to water rights on the property, the City of Laramie is exploring other potential uses of the land such as public access, hunting, and fishing. The City has partnered with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to consider these uses.
The ranch sits adjacent to the Hutton Lake National Refuge and, with sustaining water as a prominent feature, is home to many species of birds and a variety of big and small game species.
The historical significance of this property is notable and some of the current structures on the ranch have the potential to be a unique opportunity to preserve the history of Laramie and the region. These buildings include an old bunkhouse and a blacksmith shop from the late nineteenth century and a historic barn built in 1920. The Overland Trail Stage Station was located just across the river on the west bank and adjoining ranch. The City has partnered with the Albany County and State Historical Preservation Offices, the Office of the Wyoming State Archaeologist, and other professionals to assess and develop these treasures.