Bing Crosby's former Nevada ranch, known as Lawson Ranch, was put up for sale in 2019 with an asking price of $7.28 million. This 2,971-acre property, located 45 miles north of Elko, Nevada, was one of seven ranches Crosby owned in the area, which he used as a retreat from Hollywood starting in the 1940s. The ranch features a nearly 5,000-square-foot main house, which has been converted into a five-bedroom, five-bathroom bed and breakfast, along with three guesthouses, a private airstrip, an airplane hangar, two barns, and a repair shop. It operates as a fully functioning cattle ranch, including approximately 600 head of Angus beef cattle.
Crosby's connection to the Elko area was significant; he was made the honorary mayor in 1948 and frequently visited with his four sons, who even worked as cowhands on the properties. The ranch is characterized by its flat terrain, ponds, creeks, and views of snow-capped mountains, including McAfee Peak. It also boasts some of the oldest water rights in the state and borders Humboldt National Forest. Todd Renfrew of California Outdoor Properties was the listing agent for the property in 2019.
Crosby sold his ranches after his first wife, Dixie, died in 1952, and his sons showed no interest in continuing the operations. The Lawson Ranch, which was homesteaded in the 1860s, was previously sold in 2010 for an undisclosed amount, having been listed then for $4.25 million. The recent sale, at a price significantly higher than its 2019 asking price of $7.28 million, indicates a substantial increase in its market value.
