Woman buys entire town near famous US national park for $3.4 million

A small town nestled in the foothills of the world's oldest national park has sold for the price of a house in the Sydney suburbs.

The historic village of Pray, Montana, is a 45-minute drive from Yellowstone National Park in the US.

It's not a large place—the entire village consists of three log cabins, a duplex, a shop, and a post office—but it's enough to have its own postcode.

Since its founding in 1907, Pray has always been in private hands.

Most recently, it was owned by Barbara Walker, who inherited the town from her husband, Johnny.

Her parents purchased the town in the early 1950s, and it has remained in her family ever since.

For 20 years, Barbara Walker was the acting and unofficial mayor of Pray.

According to Realtor.com, she finally sold it in 2018 for US$480,000 (S$735,000).

It was purchased by a man who transformed the town into a thriving holiday housing business.

After the launch of the TV show "Yellowstone," the town attracted an influx of new visitors.

In September of last year, the owner put "Pray" on the market to start a new venture.

Now, the town has been purchased by a local woman, Michael Rutkowski of eXp Realty told Realtor.com.

"I think she will preserve the town's historical significance and reopen the store," he said.

The new owner paid US$2.25 million (US$3.44 million) for the five-acre village.

With an approved septic system for eight additional cabins, the town has room to expand further.

Meanwhile, a log cabin in Pray can be rented on Airbnb for about $255 per night.

These cabins offer breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains and are just a short walk from natural hot springs.