Bull Springs Skyline Forest: A Treasure of Central Oregon

Travel just a few minutes outside of Bend, Oregon and you’ll find yourself in the Bull Springs Skyline Forest, an expansive recreational timberland considered by many to be one of the most beautiful contiguous forests in Central Oregon Currently listed for sale at $95 million by Mason & Morse Ranch Company and POLVI Real Estate (down from $127 million), the 32,995-acre Bull Springs Skyline Forest is a worthy investment for anyone desiring a private paradise in the American west. Here’s what to know about this stunning property, including the unique history of the Skyline Forest and the promise it offers for potential investors.

History of the Bull Springs Skyline Forest

The Bull Springs Skyline Forest is currently managed for active timber harvesting, zoned Forest Use F1 by Deschutes County. This is an important designation for the property, which is home to an abundance of natural resources and wildlife reserves. Historically, Skyline Forest was an important tree farm overseen by Shevlin-Hixon and Brooks-Scanlon. Beginning in 1916, the area saw massive timber harvesting as a result of these logging efforts, eventually switching hands to other logging companies in 1946, after which operations continued. In 2004 the local Deschutes Land Trust and other local stakeholders took a marked interest in the property to protect it as a Community Forest. In 2009 the Oregon State Legislature approved House Bill 2228 designating approximately 30,000 acres as a Conservation Tract in exchange for allowing high-density development on the remaining Development Tract. Unfortunately, the project was not completed. Between 2010 and 2014, wildfires in the area lent further support to the Land Trust’s initiative to establish the property as a Sustainable Community Forest to protect critical wildlife habitat, and the local water resources, improve fire resiliency and protect the high-value Central Oregon viewshed.

Make the Skyline Forest Your Own

There are still talks among many local conservation groups and stakeholders about supporting specific and targeted development in exchange for designating a large portion of the property as a Community Managed Forest, but if you’ve ever thought about owning your own big slice of forested paradise next to a high growth area, that can significantly contribute to the adjacent cities and local community, then the Bull Springs Skyline Forest is worthy of consideration. This Oregon forest is a recreational investor’s dream, offering an epic landscape dominated by trees, creeks, springs, abundant wildlife, and stunning views. Enjoy expansive views of the nearby Cascade Mountains and Deschutes River Basin, plus year-round access to the surrounding Bend, OR community. The Bull Springs Skyline Forest is a lively habitat all its own, providing shelter for birds, deer, elk, bears, mountain lions, and more among its deep live water canyons and wooded acres. Hunting opportunities are abundant across the entire property, where you’ll find a steady population of trophy Mule deer and Rocky Mountain Elk. A large portion of Skyline Forest is designated as a critical Mule Deer and Rock Mountain Elk winter range.

Want to Learn More?

The recent 25% price drop in the Bull Springs Skyline Forest comes after three years of market activity. The desire for a private sale has significant local support, including a Save Skyline Forest conservation campaign from Central Oregon LandWatch that has furthered the fight to keep commercial and residential development off of the property. The community vision for the Skyline Forest includes a place where locals and visitors can safely and respectfully enjoy the scenic surroundings and all it has to offer. With tens of thousands of acres, there’s more than enough room for everyone. Contact Mason & Morse Ranch Company and POLVI Real Estate to inquire further about the Bull Springs Skyline Forest, and don’t miss your chance to own one of the most coveted – and most beautiful – timberland properties in the west.