This one is not just another Wyoming trophy home. The property comes with a rare crown jewel. It’s the only deeded residential property on the entire eastern shore of the massive Lake De Smet.
The Lake De Smet Legacy Retreat has just listed for $7.5 million in Johnson County, offering a central clubhouse and associated cabins and duplexes, all with views of both the lake and the Bighorn Mountains.
Most of Lake De Smet’s shoreline is strictly managed or tied up in vast, sweeping historic ranches. But this 89-acre property has cornered a large portion of the eastern shoreline all for itself. And because the home is surrounded by those ranches, the area has no real neighbors to contend with — other than perhaps the legendary Lake De Smet monster, affectionately known to locals as “Smetty.”
Definitive proof of the creature's existence has proven elusive but sightings of Smetty have described a giant serpent-like creature resembling a "telephone pole with lard buckets for fins." Older local and Indigenous tales have compared it to a long-legged, alligator.
Regardless of whether Smetty is real, the level of lakefront solitude this property commands is real. And it's nearly impossible to find in the region, Swan Land Company broker Scott Williams told Cowboy State Daily.
“Texaco owned the ranch around the lake historically, and then Texaco built a lodge and some cabins and used it as a corporate retreat,” he said. “And then the McMurry family from Casper bought that acreage and used it as a private family retreat.”
All the land was originally owned by Texaco but, at some point the retreat was split from the ranch land. In more recent times, the place was operated as a venue for weddings, family reunions and other gatherings, before returning to use as a family retreat by the current owner.
“It was really cool,” Williams said. “I attended some weddings there that were just stunning on that side of the lake.”
The only deeded residential property on the eastern shore of Lake De Smet is for sale and priced at $7.5 million. Texaco owned the property, but it became a retreat with views of the lake, Bighorn Mountains and the legendary "Smetty" lake monster. (Scott Williams, Swan Land Co.) 
The only deeded residential property on the eastern shore of Lake De Smet is for sale and priced at $7.5 million. Texaco owned the property, but it became a retreat with views of the lake, Bighorn Mountains and the legendary "Smetty" lake monster. (Scott Williams, Swan Land Co.) 
The only deeded residential property on the eastern shore of Lake De Smet is for sale and priced at $7.5 million. Texaco owned the property, but it became a retreat with views of the lake, Bighorn Mountains and the legendary "Smetty" lake monster. (Scott Williams, Swan Land Co.) 
The only deeded residential property on the eastern shore of Lake De Smet is for sale and priced at $7.5 million. Texaco owned the property, but it became a retreat with views of the lake, Bighorn Mountains and the legendary "Smetty" lake monster. (Scott Williams, Swan Land Co.)
Lake De Smet Listings Rare
Lakefront property like this isn’t common on any side of Lake De Smet.
Some 25 to 30 real estate listings for Lake De Smet are listed publicly at Zillow and Realtor.com, but most are for vacant land lots in The Shores at Lake De Smet subdivisions.
Prices for these vacant lots range from $170,000 to $325,000 for roughly 2-acre lots.
Already standing homes hitting the open market are rare.
Aside from the $7.5M legacy retreat on the east shore, the only other standalone residential property with substantial lakefront acreage, is 105 Lake De Smet Road on the western side. It’s a three-bedroom custom home on a 49-acre lot listed for $1.4 million.
There’s also a four-bed, three-bath home for $1.25 million on the shoreline that includes a swim spa and private sauna, but it’s only on a 3-acre lot.
The only deeded residential property on the eastern shore of Lake De Smet is for sale and priced at $7.5 million. Texaco owned the property, but it became a retreat with views of the lake, Bighorn Mountains and the legendary "Smetty" lake monster. (Scott Williams, Swan Land Co.) 
The only deeded residential property on the eastern shore of Lake De Smet is for sale and priced at $7.5 million. Texaco owned the property, but it became a retreat with views of the lake, Bighorn Mountains and the legendary "Smetty" lake monster. (Scott Williams, Swan Land Co.) 
The only deeded residential property on the eastern shore of Lake De Smet is for sale and priced at $7.5 million. Texaco owned the property, but it became a retreat with views of the lake, Bighorn Mountains and the legendary "Smetty" lake monster. (Scott Williams, Swan Land Co.) 
The only deeded residential property on the eastern shore of Lake De Smet is for sale and priced at $7.5 million. Texaco owned the property, but it became a retreat with views of the lake, Bighorn Mountains and the legendary "Smetty" lake monster. (Scott Williams, Swan Land Co.)
Almost A Coal Plant
Texaco had big plans for the land surrounding its clubhouse on Lake De Smet, which it purchased from the Reynolds Mining company in 1976.
At the time, the energy giant said it wanted to tap into what it described as the world’s largest deposit of low-grade coal. The reservoir’s water was going to supply a massive, planned industrial operation.
Texaco funded a public-infrastructure project to raise the lake’s dam by another 40 feet, expanding Lake De Smet to its current 3,600-acre capacity. That submerged a little place called Seney Point. Locals say that on a clear day, it’s still possible to look into the water and see the old swimming pool.
Texaco ultimately decided against building the coal facility, but held onto the property for decades before selling to the McMurrys. The lake was deeded to local counties in 2001.
The only deeded residential property on the eastern shore of Lake De Smet is for sale and priced at $7.5 million. Texaco owned the property, but it became a retreat with views of the lake, Bighorn Mountains and the legendary "Smetty" lake monster. (Scott Williams, Swan Land Co.) 
The only deeded residential property on the eastern shore of Lake De Smet is for sale and priced at $7.5 million. Texaco owned the property, but it became a retreat with views of the lake, Bighorn Mountains and the legendary "Smetty" lake monster. (Scott Williams, Swan Land Co.) 
The only deeded residential property on the eastern shore of Lake De Smet is for sale and priced at $7.5 million. Texaco owned the property, but it became a retreat with views of the lake, Bighorn Mountains and the legendary "Smetty" lake monster. (Scott Williams, Swan Land Co.)
Always A Gathering Spot
The central structure on this lakefront property is the gathering space Texaco built as the centerpiece of its corporate retreat in 1968 on the highest point of the property. It sits within a three-tiered circular terrace that overlooks the lake.
Called The Clubhouse, it includes a large family-style kitchen and two large tables that easily accommodate 10 to 14 guests each.
“This is a place that’s always been a gathering place,” Williams said. “It’s been a corporate retreat, a family retreat, and then a venue for weddings, reunions, and other gatherings. It’s always been bringing people together.”
It’s a cozy space for a party with giant picture windows capturing lake views and a huge gas furnace enclosed in glass. The all-wood floors and western accents such as the elk antler chandelier help complete a look of rustic elegance.
Cabins And More
The Clubhouse is complemented by a nearby cluster of cabins and duplexes arranged in a horseshoe, with a shared central courtyard. Three RV sites are available as well, two near the cabins and one with a more private, lakeside view.
There’s also a 3,024-square-foot boat garage — plenty of space for water toys. Eight overhead doors allow easy in and out access for boats and other equipment.
The space is insulated and heated for year-round use and includes its own fish-cleaning station for all the lake trout, walleye, Kokanee salmon in the lake. There's also an outdoor shower, bathroom, and covered porch.
A 500-gallon fuel tank supports boats and other watercraft, and there’s a concrete boat ramp and floating dock for reliable access to Lake De Smet.
Renée Jean can be reached at renee@cowboystatedaily.com.
