Jim Manley Shares his Journey to Owning the World-Class Ranch at Rock Creek Luxury Resort and his Commitment to Conservation

By Karen Keene

Raised in Fair Haven, New Jersey, Jim Manley dreamed early on of living on a ranch in the American frontier, as depicted on his favorite Western TV shows. He and his wife, Marybeth, now own the 6,600-acre Ranch at Rock Creek, a Relais & Châteaux, all-inclusive property, and the world’s only Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star guest ranch, located in one of Montana’s most pristine valleys. The Manleys and their entire Ranch staff are dedicated to conservation and are making great strides to incorporate sustainability initiatives on their property, while engaging their guests and community in unique eco-tourism experiences.

Paying homage to their New Jersey roots, the Manleys have donated an all-inclusive package for four valued at $50,000 to Monmouth Conservation’s Foundation Fall for Conservation Cocktail Party Live Auction. The event is being hosted by Arthur and Jill Kontos on September 23, 2023 evening at their historic, preserved Fairway Farm in Middletown, New Jersey overlooking Jim’s hometown of Fair Haven. At the event, MCF is honoring the late James J. Truncer (1936-2023), Director of Monmouth County Parks for 58 years, who grew the park system during his esteemed career from 350 acres across three parks to over 18,000 acres of parkland.

One of nine children, Jim grew up watching shows like Bonanza, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, and The Big Valley. His heart was set on owning a horse and a gun, and by age ten, he pledged to his father that he would someday own a ranch. Jim’s dream of ranch life was a far stretch from his childhood suburban home in central coastal New Jersey, with a small yard and houses all around. He yearned for beautiful open spaces, expansive landscapes, lush greenery, and abundant wildlife.

Jim fondly remembers life in New Jersey in the late 1950s and 1960s, when Delicious Orchards in Colts Neck was just a farmstand selling apples, cider, pies, and donuts, and the town was largely farmland and what he viewed as “the country.” Middletown was also much more rural, with dirt roads and quaint family businesses like Cedar Hill Farm & Nursery having a much larger footprint than today. He recalls visiting Cedar Hill often with family to get milk, apples, and peaches.

His quest for a ranch began at age 33 and took more than 20 years to come to fruition. Jim went on scoping trips twice per year, visiting hundreds of ranch properties across the Canadian Rockies, Montana, Idaho, northern California, Colorado, and Arizona. He ended up focusing on Montana, where it is greener but not as dry, and the latitude affords the high alpine feel at lower elevations. Throughout his search, Jim devised a set of criteria for his dream ranch, including the following characteristics:

• Valley location with unobstructed views

• Surrounded by national forest or parkland or other ranchlands

• Ringed by white-capped mountains

• Ski resort nearby

• Low elevation

• River running through the property with no paved road

• Historical feel of old mining town

• Minimum of 26 inches of annual precipitation, allowing for green summers and snowy winters

• Habitat for diverse wildlife, excluding poisonous snakes and grizzly bears

Two decades into his search, in 2007, Jim received a call from his realtor, Bill McDavid, who was confident he had finally found the perfect property. McDavid was familiar with the site since he had sold it to the last owner ten years prior. Jim flew in, toured The Ranch at Rock Creek grounds by horseback, and bought it that same day!

Jim and Marybeth, their son and three daughters, and friends enjoyed The Ranch for several years before deciding to share the experience with others. They transitioned their ranch in 2008 to 2010 during the Great Recession, and many people told Jim he was crazy and discouraged the family’s efforts. The Manleys persisted, and The Ranch welcomed its first guest in 2010.

By adding accommodations and restoring historic buildings, it became The Ranch at Rock Creek luxury guest ranch it is today. It took a few years to get going but began making a profit in 2015. That same year, The Ranch at Rock Creek became a founding member of National Geographic Society’s Unique Lodges of the World—a designation held by no other ranch or resort in the US.

A Commitment to Sustainability
The Ranch is unique because sustainability has been central to the property’s plans since it opened. They eliminated most single-use plastics in 2019 and offer guests refillable water bottles and bathroom amenities and hay straws as eco-friendly alternatives. The Ranch prioritizes local sourcing, with 75% of dining sourced from local farms, and 90 to 100% of meats, summer produce, grains, and dairy products coming from Western Montana.

The Ranch is engaged with professional consultants in a forest management project to improve the health of its forests and wildlife habitats. It contributes to waterway protection through river and highway cleanups to help keep trash out of the riverbeds, practicing catch and release fishing, and installing fish screens on the property. Use of bikes or walking is promoted on site to minimize vehicle use, and numerous, additional sustainability measures are implemented by every department at The Ranch. In addition, The Ranch’s philanthropy efforts are focused on giving back to the frontier community that supports them.

"My vision for The Ranch has always been as a place for guests to disconnect from the daily distractions of modern life and reinforce vital relationships while enjoying five-star amenities and activities,” said owner Jim Manley. “As a destination rooted in the landscape, there isn’t a day that goes by where we don’t consider the importance of the natural world that surrounds us."

The Manleys should be commended for pursuing a long-term conservation outcome for The Ranch. Their vision is to work with a local Montana land trust, to preserve the property and prevent any further, future development. The Ranch at Rock Creek aims to preserve its environment for future generations, while giving guests a meaningful adventure in the still wild West. Jim aims to keep The Ranch in their family for hundreds of years, employing preservation options that allow families like theirs to maintain property but forego development rights to protect the natural attributes.

Fans of the one of the most popular series on cable – Yellowstone – may recall a similar storyline that played out on the show in part 1 of season 5. The Paramount Network drama centers around the Dutton family, owners of the largest contiguous ranch in the United States – the fictional Yellowstone Dutton Ranch in Montana, commonly called “the Yellowstone.” Kevin Costner portrays John Dutton III, the fifth-generation patriarch who operates the Yellowstone, and he and his family will stop at nothing to protect their land from continual disputes with developers and neighboring Broken Rock Indian Reservation and Yellowstone National Park. The latest and seemingly sure-fire tactic is for the Duttons to place their land in a conservation easement with a land trust.

While there is certainly not as much drama at the Ranch at Rock Creek, Jim credits the popularity of Yellowstone with attracting even more interest from guests around the world to visit The Ranch. Montana has also seen additional interest from people wanting to own ranches in Montana, as a result of the show’s popularity. This has driven up property values and increased sales across the state.

Between world-class farm-to-table meals and fireside relaxation, The Ranch’s year-round activities program provides access to ten square miles of ranchland, mountain peaks, and trails. Fitted with the finest gear, guests accompany their knowledgeable guides on daily Western adventures, choosing from over 20 on-ranch activities and optional off-ranch excursions including horseback riding, stagecoach and sleigh rides, a rodeo, snowmobiling, skiing, hiking, mountain biking, zip lines, Flint’s Forest Rangers Kids Club, and more, tailored to their expertise and comfort levels. Guests can absorb Ranch culture and breathtaking scenery, relax at The Spa at Rock Creek, or enjoy evening entertainment in the Silver Dollar Saloon with bowling, billiards, karaoke, a private movie theatre, and more. Everything is included!

For full details, visit theranchatrockcreek.com and be sure to attend MCF’s Fall for Conservation Cocktail Party this year for your chance to bid on the exclusive Ranch package. All proceeds will support MCF’s work to #KeepMonmouthGreen and our mission to acquire and preserve open space and farmland and conserve natural habitats throughout Monmouth County in support of outdoor recreation, agriculture, clean water, and wildlife for long-term sustainability.

Grand Luxury and All-Inclusive Adventures Rooted in the Storied West