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Family Loses Ranch After Resort Plans Rejected

By Beacon Staff

MISSOULA — The Missoula County sheriff has turned the deed of a family ranch envisioned as the base of a ski resort over to Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.

Met Life foreclosed on a $23 million mortgage on the 3,000-acre ranch in 2009 and then bought the ranch at a sheriff’s auction in February 2012.

Owner Tom Maclay had a one-year deadline to redeem the loan from Met Life. Sheriff Carl Ibsen signed a sheriff’s deed over to Met Life Agricultural Investments on Feb. 27.

Maclay wanted to lease 11,000 acres of public land in the Lolo National Forest for the resort and use his family’s ranch for the base area, including housing.

The U.S. Forest Service twice rejected Maclay’s plans.

The Missoulian reports Met Life’s plans for the property are unclear.