Marsh Island Ranch-Klamath Wildlife Refuge

Locale
The Klamath Basin is a wildlife and recreation paradise, as well as an agricultural region that supports livestock, alfalfa, grain, and other crops.
Klamath Falls, Oregon, has a population of approximately 21,000 and offers a range of major retail shopping, restaurants, and other essential services.
Crater Lake–Klamath Regional Airport is a public-use airport, five miles southeast of Klamath Falls. It is used for general aviation and military aviation. The nearest commercial airport is in Medford, Oregon, approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes away, or in Redding, California, approximately 2.5 hours away.
Siskiyou County is the fifth-largest county in California by area and features spectacular natural beauty.
Greater than 60% of the land within the County is currently managed by agencies of the Federal and State
governments. Next to the Appalachian region, Siskiyou County is one of the most ecologically diverse regions in the world.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Marsh Island Ranch is an award-winning property offering a retreat, wildlife habitat, and a waterfowler’s paradise.
Its 160 acres feature a series of ponds and other water features that attract migrating wildfowl, including ducks, geese, and other shorebirds.
An approximately four-acre ranch compound sits atop a 200-foot “island” formed by an ancient volcanic cinder cone. Under a big sky, the view from the top of the property over the Klamath Basin can be truly spectacular. The night sky is something to behold, thanks to complete darkness with no artificial light.
The ranch compound includes a lodge, master cabin, guest cabin, library cabin, and multipurpose building with a garage, workshop, darkroom, and wood storage. The lodge features a great room with a large stone fireplace, modern kitchen, and more.
The compound has a barbecue and plenty of covered decks to take in the view.

WATER RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
When Tupper acquired the ranch, he applied for and received a Conservation Easement and enrolled it in the United States Wetland Reserve Program, which provided funds to build dykes, ponds, and more to restore critical wetland habitat for migrating birds. The Federal program was designed to counteract the alarming rate at which wetlands were being destroyed and repurposed for agriculture and other uses. According to Blake, the first year after he completed his project, thousands of ducks, geese, and shorebirds flew into his ranch to rest, feed, and prepare to continue their migration to the Sacramento Valley.
The ranch holds rare riparian water rights, and, along with irrigation wells, it maintains 4 large wetland units.
In 2018, the main well at the base of the hill was rebuilt entirely. A new power supply was brought to the well with a new pump and service panel.
Then, in 2024, the ranch completed an extensive restoration project, which rebuilt the levees, swales, and potholes for a water-efficient managed wetland. Ninety percent of the water control structures on the ranch have been replaced.
The owners personally use the ranch as an outdoor recreation getaway. The ranch is not enrolled in the Williamson Act and is zoned “EA” Exclusive Agri-cultural for recreation and agricultural use.

RECREATION
The ranch offers excellent waterfowl hunting. Historically, the ranch accommodates up to four hunters, two days a week. Pheasants are hunted as well. The wildlife viewing on the property is excellent as it is home to bald eagles, deer, quail, rabbits, and more.
The Klamath Falls area offers hiking, biking, fishing, camping, boating, golfing, and more.

HISTORY
Tupper Ansel Blake was a true naturalist, and his passion for preserving wildlife habitats and appreciating the beauty of the natural world is embodied in the ranch. From his work building the wetland environment to the 100-year-old cabins he rescued from a nearby ranch to accommodate his extensive collection of books and artwork, the ranch has a very special vibe.
He owned the ranch for several years before deciding to retire and live there permanently in 2007. Blake has written five books, including his autobiography, which discusses his history and the history of the ranch. He conducted five major photographic surveys that explored Western American habitats. These resulted in large traveling exhibitions hosted by major museums in the US, Canada, and Mexico. His photography has appeared in nearly every major U.S. Museum, as well as in magazines such as National Geographic, Newsweek, Smithsonian, and Ducks Unlimited, among others.

Improvements
Lodge
The Marsh Island lodge features beautiful open-beam ceilings and hardwood floors. The great room features a leather couch and comfortable chairs, facing a classic, exquisite natural stone fireplace, as well as a game table, dining area, and kitchen.
The fully equipped kitchen has a large island and is designed to feed a crowd. The farmhouse sink, built-in dish racks, top-quality Wolf gas stove, and other appointments are both beautiful and functional. There is a special spigot on the sink hooked up to a hidden 5-gallon water jug that provides spring (or bottled) water for drinking.
The lodge has covered decks with chairs that have an unobstructed view of the basin and sky above. A second room in the lodge is ideal for a variety of uses. The space can be utilized as a traditional entryway, an additional seating area, a home theater, a dance or yoga studio, a gym, a classroom, or an exhibition space.

Master or “Cliff” Cabin
The rustic log Cliff Cabin features a stone fireplace, a bedroom, and a stone-walled bathroom with an antique sink and shower pan. This cabin sits on the edge of the hill with stunning views of the ranch wetland and Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.

Guest or “Bunk” Cabin
The rustic log guest cabin features two bedrooms separated by a shared bathroom. It was, at one point, a classic bunkhouse and still retains that charm.

Library
The library was once the place where Tupper and Madeleine displayed their photography, art, and memorabilia from years of traveling the world. Is it now set up as additional guest quarters with a bathroom. (Please note: Seller and broker are unsure if this building is permitted to be used as guest quarters. Buyers should investigate their intended use as part of their due diligence.)

Multipurpose Building
A large, multipurpose building sits below the raised island and has served as the original living quarters for Tupper and Madeleine when they were building the lodge and cabins. It now serves as an art studio and workshop, featuring a darkroom, loft space, carport, and storage for wood. Its use could be expanded or repurposed to provide additional guest accommodations, with proper approvals.

Utilities
The ranch has access to electric power, a propane tank, and multiple wells, providing both drinking and irrigation water. Cell service from many providers provides access to the outside world if needed.

Broker’s Comment
This ranch presents a remarkable opportunity for a new owner to preserve and enjoy the years of work Tupper and Madeleine invested in restoring this amazing wildlife habitat. Whether used for waterfowl hunting, enjoying the expansive views of the Klamath Marsh, bird and wildlife viewing, and/or as a retreat, this place must be seen and experienced to gain a true understanding of its special and unique appeal.