Combine the likely most well-known overland travelers on the globe, an epic 500-acre property in Montana, and big aspirations. What you get is the XOverland Ranch. This facility will likely develop into one of the epicenters of overland training in North America.
I was lucky enough to be there for the grand opening, along with about 300 other overlanders. Here’s the inside scoop on what this new venture by XOverland is all about.
XOverland Ranch
First, I want to give you an idea of what this expansive property has to offer. The 500-acre property had 1,500 horses on it until not that long ago. It was then sold to a developer and turned into a wedding venue, which kicked off in 2019. That venture only lasted about a year, but saw over 50 weddings.
The property hit the market right when XOverland was thinking about trying to find a property for its next business venture. With a sweet Montanan-to-Montanan handshake deal, the Crofts were able to secure the property for a great price, with the help of some close friends and family as investors in the venture.
The Property
There are three main sections of this property, which is located just 30 minutes from the Bozeman airport. It is situated along the headwaters of the mighty Missouri River.
The first area, next to the road, is flat, mostly forested, and has a large grouping of cabins and glamping tents. It also has an old office building and a freshly remodeled communal building called The Roadhouse.
The second main area is an expansive flat area, separated from the first by a small marsh. It has two lakes, big fields, and a short airstrip. The lakes are even stocked with bass for fishing.
Buildings-wise, it has a large old workshop, a massive events building called The Hub, a classroom building called The Lab, a podcast studio and garage called the Armory, and some covered vehicle parking. And, this area has a large technical off-road course, which is being developed into a world-class training facility by Overland Training Canada and a host of top off-road training experts.
The third main area of the property, which is over 250 acres, is the hilly back section. It offers short- and long-range gun ranges and a network of off-road trails. It also offers some wild camping options with expansive views of the rest of the property and the surrounding hills.
The property lies in the “banana belt of Montana,” an area that offers much more mild weather than much of the rest of the state. Don’t be mistaken though. It still gets over 100 degrees in the summer and can hit temps of -50 in the winter. While still rugged, it gets less snow than much of the rest of the state and should work year-round for events.
The Vision
While continually changing, Rachelle, Clay, and the rest of the XOverland Ranch team have a few steadfast visions for this facility. The big goal is to create an event and training center that can develop the next leaders in the overland space. Creating a location and curriculum to become the “apex training for overland travel” is a lofty goal, but one that is likely achievable with this place and the team of experts it has attracted.
The main use of the XOverland Ranch will be to host a series of trainings to help develop the next leaders in the overland space. These trainings will cover things like off-road skills, vehicle maintenance, trip planning, and so much more.
They will span lifestyle, technical, and planning aspects of overland travel. Educating overlanders on how to be self-sufficient in all ways is a throughline theme of the programs. The curriculum for these trainings is being built out now, with dates likely to be announced soon.
The second main use of the XOverland Ranch will be corporate events. These will range from leadership training, team building, and experiential programs to private event site rentals. Automotive brands will also use the property for media first-drive and vehicle experience events. GMC has already held an event, with others already in the works.
The XOverland Ranch is an all-inclusive controlled environment for training in off-road, overland, and firearms skills. It can be used for such diverse programs as fly-in events for bush pilots to overland vehicle expo/rally like events, up to a few thousand people. It will likely also be a stop-over campground for overland travelers in the region, once some infrastructure and permitting to allow it is figured out.
XOverland Ranch Grand Opening Event
The grand opening event I attended was the first overland rally-style event on the property. It was a 2-day affair with the typical classroom instructional programs, tech course driving experiences, trail driving experiences, communal meal opportunities, nightly gatherings around the campfire, and camping. People also took advantage of much that the property had to offer, like swimming and fishing in the two ponds.
So many top overland industry personalities and companies were on site to share in this exciting event. And, everyone was smiling, enjoying the low-key atmosphere, and networking like I haven’t seen in years at overland events like this.
The XOverland Ranch grand opening was just a small taste of what this place and these people have to offer. It was also very much a family affair, with tons of passion and hard work being put into the project by everyone involved.
The teenage kids of many of the XOverland crew worked harder than I’ve probably ever seen an events crew work, and looked like they were having a blast doing it. The future of this property and XOverland are bright!
Expect an event like this to be an annual occurrence on the XOverland Ranch. While many events on the property will be private, at least one a year will invite a much larger cross-section of the greater overland community.
XOverland Ranch: What’s Next?
The XOverland Ranch is open for business, with tons more programming on the way.
Everything I saw and experienced was top quality, in all regards. From the comfy mattresses, rain showers, and metal light switches in the cabins to the modern safari-style Roadhouse communal space, the impressive tech course, and everything in between. All at the XOverland Ranch is being done to a high standard.
I can’t wait to see the results of the next round of property upgrades and to visit again to see it myself.
To get in on a training, rent the property for your next corporate event, or just keep up with the happenings at the XOverland Ranch be sure to check out the property’s website.
