Jacks Valley Ranch sells for $18 million

A trust has purchased John Ascuaga’s Jacks Valley Ranch for $18 million, according to Chase International’s Mike Dunn.

The final price was $3 million over the asking price of $15 million.

The purchaser was The Bunker Trust with an office in Las Vegas, according to the Douglas County Recorder’s Office. The sale was finalized on Wednesday.

“I am honored to represent the Ascuaga family with my partner Megan Lowe in setting an all-time record sale with Jack Valley Ranch,” Dunn said on Wednesday. “It has been an absolute privilege to represent the sale of such a historic property and honor the late John Ascuaga and his preservation of Nevada's ranching heritage. The Ranch, mostly in a permanent conservation easement, is being passed on to an absolutely wonderful Nevada family that intends to enjoy this iconic landmark for generations to come.”

The 1,230-acre working cattle ranch located in northwestern Douglas County was purchased by then Sparks Nugget owner John Ascuaga in 1969 and was previously owned by philanthropist Max C. Fleishmann.

Ascuaga died in June 2021 after selling the Nugget in 2013.

In 2016, 1,169 acres of the ranch was preserved in a conservation easement purchased through the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act.

The property includes 737 acres of irrigated pasture, 4,112 acre feet of deeded water rights, some dating back to the 1860s, more than 100 acres of sage, four residences and four buildable parcels.

There are two 150-year-old barns on the property.

The ranch has nearly two miles of frontage on Water Canyon, Jacks Valley and Chedle creeks.

This was the second large agricultural purchase in a year with the 904-acre Long Field between Muller and Mottsville lanes selling to a California trust for $7 million in October 2023.

Development rights on that property were part of one of the first transfers in the county and were used to construct the projects around the Genoa Lakes Ranch Golf Course on Harvey Gross’ former property in the northwest part of the Valley. The final piece of that project, The Preserve, is under construction.

Long Field was one of the first properties put up for sale by the Bently Family

While still raising cattle and growing hay, Park Ranch Holdings’ 755 acres north of Minden is on the market for a total of $110.9 million. The property is approved for 2,216 units.