Casey Ranch hits the auction block

RAPID CITY, S.D. - It was an ugly legal battle between siblings.  The Casey family split over management of Bear Country USA, a popular drive-through wildlife park.  But just as that battle was settled, another one began.  This time over the family ranches, land that's considered some of the most desirable property  in the West. As part of a court-ordered auction, nearly 8-thousand acres in the Southern Hills were sold off Wednesday, that land selling for a total of $9.27-million but the Casey family didn't have to say goodbye to it altogether.  Gates Watson and the rest of the Conservation Fund can say they're successful bidders.  The Conservation Fund, on behalf of the National Park Service, bought about two-thirds of the Milliron Bison and Casey Ranches today during a court-ordered auction.

Brendan Casey says, "When you have problems with minority partners, this is the only way to settle it."   Nearly 8,000 acres were up for sale. The bidding started slow with about half a dozen potential buyers. Within an hour, the group dwindled down to three and the waging war began.  The back and forth lasted for about three hours, but in the end the Conservation Program came out on top, walking away with more than 5,500 acres and a bill of $7.5-million.

Watson says, "This is of highest importance for the park system throughout the U.S. and so we feel good that they're going to do everything in their power to complete the transaction and buy that property from us." The Conservation Program will own the property which borders Wind Cave National Park on an interim basis while the park service gathers funding to buy the property.Watson says it was a great day for the American people. But it was also an emotional day for the Casey family. The historic ranches have been a part of the family for more than 30 years. Brendan Casey says today all worked out for the best. He and his two brothers bought back about a third of the acreage and plan to carry out his late father's vision of conserving the pristine ranching land.

Brendan Casey says, "I think we can, you know, some of our ideas and plans with the ranch, our portion of it, are going to work perfectly hand in hand with Wind Cave, and it's nice to know that we can retain some of what my family started."