Xu-Be Ranch

Farm Description

Xu'Be the Osage word for sacred, roughly pronounced ko-bay is a ranch in the heart of the Osage Nation, approximately mid-way between the towns of Pawhuska and Barnsdall, Oklahoma-about ten miles to each. It consists of 1100 acres of low wooded hills and open prairie, excellent grazing land. A substantial portion of the land, to the south of the ranch house and bottom land along Birch Creek, is formerly arable, now fenced and used for hay. There are several ponds, some quite recently made. The house itself is approximately 4,000 sq ft on two storeys, and is built of dressed sandstone with porches and balconies. It is shaded by large elms. The original house, built around 1900, was extensively restored about twenty years ago, when the large kitchen was added together with a guest wing in matching stone containing bedroom, bath and additional living room. This guest wing is separated from the main home by the kitchen and formal dining room. The guest wing can be consider as the mother in law quarters or perfect for guest. The original house has a large living room and a study with, upstairs, four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The house is of historical interest. It was built by Thomas Louis Rogers who was Chief Justice of the Osage Supreme Court established under the 1882 Osage Nation Constitution. Of mixed-blood descent with French, Scottish, Cherokee and Osage ancestry, Rogers, known within the tribe as 'Blackbeard', led his full-blood associates on the bench in dispensing justice of a kind he hoped would inspire respect for the newly inaugurated judiciary. Terry P Wilson, The Underground Reservation Osage Oil. A book-length survey of Osage County by Philip Dickerson privately printed, 1906 contains a photograph of the Pawhuska residence of Judge Thomas L Rogers, Main St with a vignette photo of the ranch house, with members of the Rogers family gathered on the porch. The house on the ranch is located in a private setting with massive shade trees that can only describe the vintage setting this home offers. Views from the back porch gives a very peaceful and picturesque scenery that one can only appreciate. With the historical features of the ranch and home this makes an opportunity for a possible bed and breakfast with other recreational opportunities. Commercial opportunities could easily be established with all this ranch has to offer. The ranch consists of excellent water sources with Birch Creek trans versing through the southern portion of the farm. Fenced and cross fenced the ranch can be utilized for excellent cattle grazing and hay production. There is a large vintage barn on the ranch and a cattle sorting pen located near the ranch headquarters. The construction of the barn only adds to the integrity of the ranches history with vintage construction materials and setting. The Xu-Be Ranch has significant wildlife habitat values and in the year 2000 the owners placed some portions of the ranch into a Conservation Easement. This easement was to protect or enhance forever the natural wildlife habitat, agricultural productivity, open space, ranching and scenic qualities this ranch offers. The ranch constitutes a valuable element of the natural habitat of the Birch Creek Watershed that is of great importance to Osage County and Oklahoma. Good range stewardship and proper management of livestock are integral to the conservation goals of this easement. There is active cattle ranching currently on the ranch with rotational pastures being utilized. Maps and the easement documentation are available upon request. Wildlife and hunting on the ranch is excellent as the hunting pressure has been a minimum over the lifetime of current ownership. Over the years the ranch has created some excellent natural habitat for wildlife with thick edge cover and heavy timber. The abundant game population is supported by whitetail deer as well as all native game and wildlife in this region of Oklahoma. The Xu'be is a diverse ranch offering both farming recreation and hunting uses. The ranch is unique in many ways with high elevated hills of timber to the north and valleys of rich soils and native grasses to the south. Land stewards and successful ranchers make up the surrounding area and that is what makes up Osage County, Oklahoma. Please call and set up an appointment to see this fine ranch. Qualified inquiries only.