A cowboy who won the lottery just sold a sprawling 50,000-acre South Dakota ranch for over $37 million

Robert DavisJan 12, 2023, 04:16 IST

The main house of the Bismarck Trail RanchCourtesy of Hall and Hall

Neal Wanless bought this ranch in 2009 after winning more than $230 million from the Powerball lottery.
Waneless is selling the ranch so he and his wife can spend more time at her family's ranch in Canada.

Neal Wanless' dreams of becoming a cowboy came true after he won a $232.1 million Powerball jackpot at just 23-years-old and purchased this ranch with more than 45,000 acres in South Dakota, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The entrance to the Triple U Ranch.Courtesy of Hall and Hall

Neal Wanless' dreams of becoming a cowboy came true after he won a $232.1 million Powerball jackpot at just 23-years-old and purchased this ranch with more than 45,000 acres in South Dakota, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The Bismarck Trail Ranch has three homes on the property and also includes a working slaughterhouse, a covered arena, and multiple storage buildings, the real-estate listing shows.

The Bismarck Trail Ranch comes with three additional properties, including a slaughterhouse and a working pen.Courtesy of Hall and Hall

The Bismarck Trail Ranch has three homes on the property and also includes a working slaughterhouse, a covered arena, and multiple storage buildings, the real-estate listing shows.

Wanless recently sold the ranch to a Kansas-based company called J-Six South Dakota Land Holdings for $37.5 million, which is more than double what he paid for it in 2009, listing agent Robb Nelson of Hall and Hall told the Wall Street Journal.

There are multiple shops and storage buildings on the property.Courtesy of Hall and Hall

Wanless recently sold the ranch to a Kansas-based company called J-Six South Dakota Land Holdings for $37.5 million, which is more than double what he paid for it in 2009, listing agent Robb Nelson of Hall and Hall told the Wall Street Journal.

Wanless had the five-bedroom, 6,500-square-foot main house added to the property in 2012.

The main house comes with a four car garage.Courtesy of Hall and Hall

The property was named Bismarck Trail Ranch after the trail that brought pioneers from Bismarck, North Dakota to Deadwood, South Dakota during the gold rush in the 1870s.

The owner's taxidermy collection is displayed in the main room of the ranch.Courtesy of Hall and Hall

The property was named Bismarck Trail Ranch after the trail that brought pioneers from Bismarck, North Dakota to Deadwood, South Dakota during the gold rush in the 1870s.

Wanless told the Wall Street Journal that he is selling this ranch so he and his wife can spend more time at her family's ranch in British Columbia.

The kitchen at Bismarck Trail Ranch includes a breakfast bar big enough to feed a small army.Courtesy of Hall and Hall

The $37.5 million sale set a record in South Dakota, which was previously held by media mogul Ted Turner's $32.5 million purchase of the Triple U Ranch near Fort Pierre in 2015.

The main dining room at Bismarck Trail Ranch.Courtesy of Hall and Hall

The $37.5 million sale set a record in South Dakota, which was previously held by media mogul Ted Turner's $32.5 million purchase of the Triple U Ranch near Fort Pierre in 2015.

Wanless initially listed the ranch for sale for a steep $41.15 million in 2020.

The living room connects to the kitchen and breakfast area.Courtesy of Hall and Hall

In a blog post about the sale, Nelson said that it is "heartwarming to see a Midwest farming and ranching family purchase the Bismarck Ranch and continue the cattle and agricultural operation."

One of the five bedrooms at the Bismarck Ranch.Courtesy of Hall and Hall

In a blog post about the sale, Nelson said that it is "heartwarming to see a Midwest farming and ranching family purchase the Bismarck Ranch and continue the cattle and agricultural operation."

Wanless told the Wall Street Journal that he personally designed the home.

The downstairs room at the Bismarck Trail Ranch includes a movie screen with built-in bookcases and a working fireplace.Courtesy of Hall and Hall

The ranch includes 38 pastures for livestock and its pivot plots can produce about 150 bushels of corn and six tons alfalfa per acre, the listing notes.

The ranch comes with more than 46,000 acres of land.Courtesy of Hall and Hall

Whitetail, mule deer, and pronghorn antelope can also be found roaming the property.

The listing says the ranch is "well-watered with an extensive pipeline system, numerous stock tanks, dams, and water wells."Courtesy of Hall and Hall

The Belle Fourche River borders the property on the west side.

50% of the seller's mineral rights were conveyed with the property, according to the listing.Courtesy of Hall and Hall

The Bismarck Trail Ranch includes grazing leases that support approximately 2,500 yearlings,1,200 cow/calf pairs and 1,000 wild horses currently on several large pastures, according to the listing.

Wanless told the Wall Street Journal that he leases most of the land to other ranchers and to the federal Bureau of Land Management.Courtesy of Hall and Hall

The Bismarck Trail Ranch includes grazing leases that support approximately 2,500 yearlings,1,200 cow/calf pairs and 1,000 wild horses currently on several large pastures, according to the listing.

Hilton just unveiled a new hotel brand for budget travelers with free bagels — see what it'll be like to stay in one of the more than 100 locations coming soon

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

A cowboy who won the lottery just sold a sprawling 50,000-acre South Dakota ranch for over $37 million

Neal Wanless' dreams of becoming a cowboy came true after he won a $232.1 million Powerball jackpot at just 23-years-old and purchased this ranch with more than 45,000 acres in South Dakota, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The Bismarck Trail Ranch has three homes on the property and also includes a working slaughterhouse, a covered arena, and multiple storage buildings, the real-estate listing shows.

Wanless recently sold the ranch to a Kansas-based company called J-Six South Dakota Land Holdings for $37.5 million, which is more than double what he paid for it in 2009, listing agent Robb Nelson of Hall and Hall told the Wall Street Journal.

Wanless had the five-bedroom, 6,500-square-foot main house added to the property in 2012.

The property was named Bismarck Trail Ranch after the trail that brought pioneers from Bismarck, North Dakota to Deadwood, South Dakota during the gold rush in the 1870s.

Wanless told the Wall Street Journal that he is selling this ranch so he and his wife can spend more time at her family's ranch in British Columbia.

The $37.5 million sale set a record in South Dakota, which was previously held by media mogul Ted Turner's $32.5 million purchase of the Triple U Ranch near Fort Pierre in 2015.

Wanless initially listed the ranch for sale for a steep $41.15 million in 2020.

In a blog post about the sale, Nelson said that it is "heartwarming to see a Midwest farming and ranching family purchase the Bismarck Ranch and continue the cattle and agricultural operation."

Wanless told the Wall Street Journal that he personally designed the home.

The ranch includes 38 pastures for livestock and its pivot plots can produce about 150 bushels of corn and six tons alfalfa per acre, the listing notes.

Whitetail, mule deer, and pronghorn antelope can also be found roaming the property.

The Belle Fourche River borders the property on the west side.

The Bismarck Trail Ranch includes grazing leases that support approximately 2,500 yearlings,1,200 cow/calf pairs and 1,000 wild horses currently on several large pastures, according to the listing.