Rare River Living | Graham’s Crossing Untouched Prairie

Story by Tracy Nicholson

Photography by Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss

Drone Photography by Simple Website Creations

Just 35 minutes south of Fargo, the Red River has forged an untouched prairie paradise at Graham's Crossing, a collection of eight premium acreage riverfront lots ranging from three to 10 acres. Before selecting your executive lot in the quiet countryside, we invite you to meet Realtor Nancy Kelly and the fourth-generation farmers who have cultivated and cared for every inch of the development's fertile soil. Graham's Crossing welcomes you home to rare river living, where the only thing rushing is the Red.

RED RIVER LIVING
Graham's Crossing wasn't an overnight idea; Kelly and Jolene Miller have farmed the surrounding land for decades, so they knew a choice piece of land when they saw it. In fact, Kelly kept a close eye on this acreage for years; he knew the soil, its river access points, and carefully studied the water levels through every changing season.
In their 51 years of marriage, they have yet to see this land flood outside of its low-lying areas.
From their perspective, this land was the ideal setting for their family's new home, with enough prime countryside to generously accommodate several others. "This is the first time we've developed land for residential lots," said Kelly. I've always been interested in dirt work, and we've done a lot of building pads. Over the years, I've studied water flow, river levels, and elevations. We have always lived in this area and farmed along the river, so you learn to watch and respect it."

HOME & HERITAGE

While Graham's Crossing was named after a historic wagon trail, its design was inspired by a small, three-house development Kelly had admired for years, located just south of Fargo on Old 81. He loved how the houses were set back from the road on larger lots.

"We looked at setbacks on houses for several years throughout the area and kept notes on the ones that looked good from the road," said Jolene. "He didn't want a development with a variety of specifications. He drives by developments all the time and points out which ones are too high, too low, too close, or too far back. He wanted Graham's Crossing

BY THE ACRE
Working with Interstate Engineering and Akerman Land Surveying, the Millers divided the land into eight beautiful lots ranging from 3.17 to 5.29 acres, with one 10.31-acre lot that includes a low area in the floodplain. The larger lots ensured plenty of space for larger homes and yards, all within a safe distance of the river.
For outdoor enthusiasts who can't wait to get to the river, Graham's Crossing offers safe and easy access from the adjacent Brushvale Bridge Landing. Owned by the county, the landing provides convenient access to the Red River for fishing, boating, and recreation. When you arrive, take a seat on the bench that was created as an Eagle Scout project by the Millers' grandson.
A SMART PLACE TO GROW
If planting your roots in the right school district is a priority, there's only good news here. Graham's Crossing is fortunate to be part of the Richland #44 School District, a Top 10 U.S. school (grades 7-12) with an 11:1 student-teacher ratio. Students who have attended three of their four years of high school at Richland #44 are guaranteed $10,000 college scholarships, thanks to a scholarship fund set by the late Darrel Hendrickson. Elementary K-6 students have the option of attending school just six miles away in Abercrombie or with open enrollment in Wahpeton.
PLANTING, HARVESTING & DEVELOPING
To the Miller family, developing land is as serious a business as planting and harvesting.
Together, they've cultivated a pristine neighborhood with a frontage road, shovel-ready infrastructure, and no specials. All lots are prepared for an immediate build, including dirt work and a utility line corridor. Fiber optic cable for TV and internet is provided by Red River Telephone, with electricity by Cass County Electric, rural water by Southeast Rural Water, and natural gas by Great Plains.
The Millers have installed the frontage road and clay base for the driveways, ensuring visitors get a top- notch tour of the lots without trudging through mess and mud. Graham's Crossing is already sloped and drain-tiled, so driveways have no need for culverts, and the frontage road will be paved at a future date. Additionally, the building pads have been established to ensure proper drainage away from the home, which substantially reduces the amount of fill needed to build.
Kelly and Jolene were meticulous with the development's preparation for a reason. "In a lot of developments, people get ahead of the developer, then it's hard to fix things because you can't drive on their lawn, and you can't change the elevations," explained Kelly. "We just wanted to make sure it was done right the first time." They also made sure some of the neighboring lots came with bordering treelines for privacy. While Soil Conservation planted Oak, Hackberry, Elm, and Spruce trees, Jolene has taken on the painstaking task of maintaining each shelterbelt. The Millers tend to follow the old adage, ‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second-best time is now.’

““Graham’s Crossing is the pinnacle, the kind of place you aspire to live someday.” ”

— Nancy Kelly, Nancy Kelly Realty

MEET THE REALTOR

Nancy had already been giving tours just a short distance away in Colfax, ND, at the Colfax Meadows development, when she heard about Graham's Crossing and offered to help the Millers review covenants.

"Graham's Crossing is the pinnacle, the kind of place you aspire to live someday. These lots are positioned to attract discerning homeowners from across the region looking for something truly exceptional. To get this kind of premium acreage, river views, and trees, people aren't afraid of a short commute, especially with so many working remotely."

In town, many homeowners are sold on neighborhood concepts that often fall short with rezoning, high specials, or new development. Here, Nancy can assure homeowners that this countryside property will remain country, without surprises. "These are rare river lots that are ready to go with no specials; the infrastructure is already in the price, so the only thing that would need to be done is the septic," explained Nancy. "Also, it's nice that the covenants that were put into place allow homeowners to have their own distinct style, as long as it meets the minimum 2,000 square feet for a single story or 3,000 square feet for a two- story. This is the final move up, a perfect place to build your dream home."

MEET THE MILLERS

Jolene and Kelly chose the northernmost plot of land for the 2021 construction of their home, which was designed by architect Ben Nelson of Blaine, MN. The home was built by the now-retired Schmit Brothers Construction, with cabinetry by A+A Home Designs (Fairmount, ND), and interior design by Design Direction (Fargo). Their riverside home reflects their love of the land and family, crafted to accommodate visits from their three grown children and eight grandchildren.

The modern-traditional home showcases Jolene's passion for quilting, as well as Kelly's passion for salvaging and repurposing historic materials. Kelly's most notable collection is integrated into the design of his office, including beams from the original Fort Abercrombie and lumber from an old barn that once lived near Abercrombie's historic St. John's Church. On the fireplace crafted by Swenson Masonry (Kindred, ND), Kelly incorporated some of his found Indian hammer stones, as well as stones acquired from the original Hughes Shelter in Wahpeton's Chahinkapa Park. If you're lucky enough to be the new neighbors, grab a cup of coffee, because Kelly would love to share the heritage of the land he loves.

The Miller's home tells the story from which Graham's Crossing begins, inviting others to plant their roots in a place that embraces agrarian history, family, and the winding spirit of the Red River as it weaves through North Dakota's beloved prairie.