Rocker John Fogerty’s former eastern Oregon ranch sells fast to steelhead fishing fan

The eastern Oregon ranch with a rustically cool house that rock star John Fogerty built on the banks of the Grande Ronde River after the 1970s breakup of his band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, sold for its $1,950,000 asking price Dec. 26.

An offer for the 274-acre ranch in Wallowa County was accepted after 13 days on the market.

“The property did exceptionally well in terms of activity, receiving upwards of 100 leads per day which resulted in multiple offers,” listing broker Caleb Howard of the LandLeader real estate network told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

The new owner, whose name has not yet been made public, and his real estate agent Ryland Moore of Livewater Properties told Howard the new owner plans to preserve the home, land and history.

“He immediately fell in love with the property and the area thanks to the beauty and his strong love for steelhead fishing,” Howard said.

Howard said the new owner read The Oregonian/OregonLive’s story “Swamp rock star’s Oregon ranch is for sale at $2M” on Nov. 24 and drove more than five hours to see the property. The next day he submitted an offer that bested other offers, Howard said.

Howard, who represented the sellers who bought the property from Fogerty in 2002, joked he hoped to hear from the rock star but never did.

California born and raised Fogerty, now 79, discovered the remote land near the unincorporated community of Troy in the 1970s while elk hunting.

He owned the ranch, a short stomp to the Wenaha Bar & Grill in Troy, for almost three decades and was well known for his hours-long impromptu jam sessions. Word would get out, local musicians would join in and the honky-tonk and rock hootenannies would go on well into the night.

Fogerty’s “Born on the Bayou,” “Proud Mary” and other hit songs are a blend of rockabilly, country, funk and swamp blues, with lyrics evoking Southern settings and tales.

Fogerty helped build the single-level, vaulted ceiling house that was completed in 1974, two years after Creedence Clearwater Revival, the successful band he formed with his older brother Tom and others, broke up. Fogerty then started a solo career.

Most of the ranch home’s 1,698 square feet of living space is a time capsule of 1970s decor — vintage orange shag carpet and the two bathrooms have either a turquoise or mustard colored tub, sink and toilet.

There are also rustic touches like wagon-wheel chandeliers. Steel plates connecting the exposed ceiling beams were made by Fogerty, who modeled them after gussets used in an old sawmill.

Behind the rock fireplace is a hidden stone stairway to a secret loft overlooking the open living room, dining room and kitchen. Two of the three bedrooms also have lofts. Some appliances and the heating-cooling system have been updated.

A canoe left behind by Fogerty, who sold the property in 2002 to brothers Patrick and Michael Burns, was hoisted into the open rafters in the living room to be on display. The Burnses used the property for family gatherings and rented it out as a vacation getaway.

An attached one-car garage is used as a gaming room and a 1,500-foot-long grass runway allowed Fogerty’s pilot and later the Burnses to land a small plane.

The Burns brothers, retired commercial fishermen who live in Washington state, own other ranch properties and founded Alaska-based Blue North Fisheries, one of largest Pacific cod harvesters in the country.

They listed the property Nov. 12 and accepted an offer Nov. 25.

The Burnses’ Grande Ronde Lodge and Cattle Ranch was marketed as Fogerty Ranch by listing broker Howard.

In November, Howard told The Oregonian/OregonLive that Fogerty Ranch is an investment that will interest a wide range of buyers. In addition to the well-built home having a famous first owner, the land has income opportunities and 1.5 miles along the Grande Ronde River.

“The ideal buyer is an outdoorsman wanting to utilize both the property and surrounding area for the fishing, hunting, hiking, rafting and other outdoor activities while enjoying the remoteness this getaway offers,” Howard said.

The property is in Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Sled Springs Hunting Unit and qualifies for landowner preference hunting tags, Howard said.