A northeastern Montana ranch long at the center of access disputes has been sold to the Bozeman-based nonprofit American Prairie.

The group announced in a press release it plans to reopen public access to nearly 50,000 acres of adjoining public land by allowing travel on the long-contested Bullwhacker Road.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure an important piece of ecologically and culturally significant land,” said American Prairie CEO Alison Fox in a statement. “But this acquisition is equally important as a way to return public access to the people so they can explore, hunt, and recreate on land that’s been off-limits for many years.”

The group also announced the purchase of two other parcels, boosting its total holdings to 603,657 acres in Montana, or more than 940

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