Driving DirectionsFrom Maryville, take Highway 46 west 14 miles to the area. HighlightsThis area contains grassland, cropland, old fields, and some forest. Facilities/features: boat ramp, fishing dock, fish cleaning station, Bilby Ranch Lake (110 acres), and many small fishing ponds. About This AreaBilby Ranch Conservation Area is in Nodaway County. Purchased by the Conservation Department in 1987, this tract was once part of a large ranch owned by J.S. Bilby, who came to northwest Missouri in 1832 and eventually purchased 26,000 acres of land. By 1900 the Bilby Ranch was one of the largest livestock operations in the U.S. and remained an important cattle operation until 1936, when it folded, thanks in large part to the Great Depression.Because of its large size, Bilby Ranch Conservation Area is managed for a wide range of game and non-game wildlife species. However, emphasis is placed on ring-necked pheasant management.The area features 150 acres of surface water, including 110-acre Bilby Ranch Lake and many smaller ponds. Angler facilities at the lake include a concrete boat ramp, a floating fishing dock, fish cleaning station, and a privy of which all are disabled accessible.