The Ellsbury Diamond E Ranch is located approximately five miles southwest of Aladdin, Wyoming, 15 miles northeast of Sundance, and 25 miles west of Bell Fourche, South Dakota. Consisting of two parcels — a 320-acre in-holding within the Black Hills National Forest and a larger 2,186.32-acre parcel — the proximity of the Ellsbury Diamond E Ranch is crucial for sustaining habitat within some of the most productive ecosystems in the state.

This area boasts the highest densities of mule and white-tailed deer, mountain lions, wild turkeys, and habitat for more than 2,000 elk. Specifically, this property includes a variety of habitats, such as upland hay meadows, conifer forests, and native rangeland. Portions of the property are also designated as Mule Deer Crucial Range and Aquatic Crucial Habitat Priority Areas by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

The Ellsbury Diamond E Ranch Conservation Easement, held by the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust, highlights the compatibility of agriculture and wildlife co-existing and thriving. Crook County, where the property is located, has seen a consistent increase in rural residential pressure driven by the growth of cities to the east in South Dakota and by recreational landowners drawn to the region for its scenic values and abundance of outdoor pursuits.

This newly established easement will protect habitat for several Wyoming Species of Greatest Conservation Need, including the Black Hills red-bellied snake, Cooper's Rocky Mountain snail, mountain plover, western tiger salamander, golden eagle, short-eared owl, and the rare small-flower columbine.

For the Ellsbury Family, land stewardship is rooted in a set of enduring values shaped over six generations. Their management philosophy places wildlife conservation and the protection of an agricultural heritage at the center of every decision. By placing a conservation easement on the ranch, the family has ensured the property will remain protected from development, preserving its open landscapes, ecological integrity, and working‑lands character. This commitment safeguards opportunities for future generations to continue agricultural production while preventing habitat fragmentation and maintaining vital wildlife corridors across the region.

• Total Transaction Cost: $4,420,000
• Atira Conservation Support: $24,000