[imagesource: Sotheby’s International Realty]

You might have heard a South Africans talk about how living here sometimes feels like living in the Wild West.

In certain parts of the country, that’s entirely plausible, but if you really want the Wild West experience, look no further than Mellonsfolly Ranch.

Sure, you’d expect a Wild West ranch to be located somewhere in the US, but you’d be wrong.

Located in a rugged part of New Zealand’s North Island, and on the market for NZ $11,6 million (around R130 million), the ranch is actually a meticulous reproduction of an 1860s Wyoming frontier town.

Mellonsfolly Ranch was completed in 2006 by cowboy enthusiast John Bedogni, and currently belongs to Rob Bartley, an aluminium car parts manufacturer.

The 900-acre property comes with 10 period themed buildings and a functioning Manuka honey business.

Below via CNBC:

It features an “authentic and licensed saloon,” a courthouse that doubles as a cinema, a sheriff’s office and a billiards lounge, according to the listing from New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty. There are also three homes — the main residence plus two rental houses — that accommodate up to 22 people, it said.

Located about six hours by car from Auckland, while also accessible by helipad, the site currently operates as a boutique hotel, with nightly hire-out rates starting from $5,000. But it also presents other possible business opportunities…

The native [Manuka] honey has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years due to its unique taste and perceived health benefits.

In 2019, the ranch produced 15.5 tons of Manuka from around 600 hives…

Was making honey a big thing in the Wild West? It seems odd but we’ve seen stranger things.

Here are a few more pictures from the ranch:

Added bonus – you get to move to a country where they have a handle on COVID-19.

Bartley is selling the plot due to health issues, and news of the Wild West replica even came as a surprise to some locals.

This from the Guardian, with an additional string to the property’s bow:

“We’ve even had comments the past couple of weeks from people who live 20, 30, 40 minutes down the road and weren’t even aware of it,” said Glen Jones, a spokesman for New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty…

New Zealand’s government, led by Jacinda Ardern, in 2018 banned foreigners from buying existing homes in the country – with exemptions for Australians and Singaporeans only, due to free trade agreements – in an attempt to tackle a housing affordability crisis.

Jones, from Sothebys, said the price tag for the ranch would qualify the buyer to seek an “Investor 1” visa, which allows residency to people who invest $10m (NZ) or more in the country – and to circumvent the foreign buyer ban.

US migration to New Zealand increased 24-fold following Donald Trump’s election as president, so here’s one way for a rich Yank to start afresh.

Let’s finish with a video tour and be on our way…

[sources:cnbc&guardian]