Looking to hunt, fish, hike, camp out or explore an historical mining claim … wait, what? That’s right. A chance to own what is known as the Cougar Mine and even more history in rural Granite, Oregon.

The 135-acre piece of multiuse land includes seven patented mining claims including Tame Cat, South Cougar, Excelsior, Eureka, Monte Christo, Wild Cat and Cougar lodes. It was last actively worked and expanded in the 1990s. It is an ATV or four-wheel drive haven for those looking to escape the concrete jungle for an off-grid adventure that could have you hunting elk or deer in the morning and fishing just down the road at Olive Lake until the sun goes down.

This is the kind of land that makes Eastern Oregon attractive to so many as the property borders one private landowner, the Umatilla National Forest on three sides and is in the Desolation Hunting Unit. Good trails are in place for riding on horses or ATV’s, hiking or mountain biking, and it is not far from the old mining town of Granite.

“The good thing about the property is that it is easy to access,” said realtor Julie Mansfield Smith, who has listed the property for $500,000. “The roads are good to get there even though it is secluded. It would be easy to get a camp trailer on the property as there is already an RV pad to park on.”

The property, which has been in the same family for generations, is located on Elkhorn Road-NF 73 to FS road 600.

History abounds

Smith, co-owner with husband Brad of Mossy Oak Properties Cupper Creek Land Company, said it is a property that must be seen to be completely appreciated.

“The concrete pads that are there paint the picture of these miners in their little shanties and you can see it was a little community at one point,” she said. “There are remnants of old, interesting things that show what life was like.”

It will pique the interest of any history buff, but it offers exactly what those interested in off-grid living desire — peace and potential.

“I have sold mines before and it is always a fun opportunity for someone because they don’t come up for sale often,” Smith said.

About Granite

Granite has 12 producing mines immediately around town, including the famous Red Boy, May Queen, Cougar, Magnolia, Ajax, Quebec, Polar Star, Bellevue, Inter-Mountain, Tempest, Buffalo and Intrinsic. There are 2,122 mining locations recorded in the Granite district, and many of them give promise of becoming producers.

Hundreds of tons of machinery are going into the Granite mines, and Baker and Grant counties have and are spending $6,000 to improve the road between Sumpter and the new town. Surveys for the Granite-Hilgard railway have been made, and depot grounds at Granite have been granted and accepted.

During World War II, more than 80% percent of the men in the area were directly employed in the mining industry, but the viability of the area’s economy practically collapsed when gold mining was made illegal. The city had a population of 45 in 1930, 86 in 1940, 40 in 1950 and two in 1960. According to the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 24, up from 10 in 1990. Go to https://cuppercreeklandcompany.com/listings/cougar-mine/ to see more files, photos, maps and documents with links to this explore historical area online. Call Smith at 541-519-6891 to schedule a viewing and prepare for an adventure that you won’t forget!