Bison Springs Ranch is an oasis within the Llano Estacado of southeastern New Mexico. The expanse of the ranch is overlooking the vast Pecos River Valley and the adjoining Bottomless Lakes State Park. Proximity of the ranch is only 15 miles east of Roswell and 65 miles east of the mountain resort community of Ruidoso, N.M. Roswell, population 50,000, is the hub city for southeastern New Mexico and is the Chaves County seat. Access to the gated entry is paved. This ranch offers a relaxed and exclusive cowboy lifestyle without sacrificing the urban services.
Bison Springs Ranch is a sprawling territory of approximately 9,400 acres. That is over 14 sections of New Mexico Rangeland. The acreage and land classification includes deeded land, federal Bureau of Land Management acres and New Mexico State lease acres.
4,630± Deeded Acres
3,485 Federal BLM Acres
1,284 New Mexico State Lease Acres
9,399± Total Acres
Incredibly, the deeded land controls the entire ranch use and all vehicle access.
Bison Springs Ranch has an enviable location and many exciting land uses. The western end of the ranch falls off the escarpment into a secluded, pretty, little valley and a wetland marsh area. Feeding the marsh is a large volume artesian spring. Location of the marsh area is within the Pecos River Valley flyway. The marsh and its shallow lakes are an attractant for migratory birds, water fowl and huge desert mule deer.
As a cultural resource, Bison Springs Ranch, is archaeologically exciting. Within the ranch are many arroyos with water holes and springs. Remains of prehistoric Bison kills are abundant throughout the arroyos, as are Native American campsites and fire rings. Arrowheads are often the reward of careful investigation.
Adjacent developed recreational land uses include the Bottomless Lakes State Park Recreation Area and the private, exclusive Fin and Feather Sportsman's Hunt Club.
Topography is extremely diversified and unique to the area. Rangesites in the higher elevations are comprised of rolling hills, big draws and open areas, which blend into the arroyos and washes, cut through the bluffs, and drain into the bottomland. These bottomlands are comprised of wetlands, marsh and water ponds.
Vegetation is equally diverse and unique. The floor of the wash and bottomlands is covered by sacaton, grama grass, mesquite and salt cedars. Above the water, the dominant grasses and shrubs include tobossa, grama, prickly pear, saltbrush, yucca and mesquite.
Elevations range from 3,440 feet to 3,760 feet. The climate of the ranch and area is semi-arid. A usable year-round growing season of 210 days is typical.
The diverse topography, vegetation and water resources create a wildlife sanctuary. In addition to waterfowl, the ranch has excellent habitats for quail, dove, desert mule deer, and established herds of pronghorn antelope.
The infrastructure of this great ranch is in good condition. Efficient and functional use is built into the design of the rangeland improvements, livestock pens and barns. Most all improvements have been constructed since 1982. Located at the heart of the ranch is the headquarters compound. This area includes the residence, employees quarters, barns and stock pens.
The residence is a rambling ranch-style, built from native rock. Under the roof, there are approximately 3,300 square feet of heated living area, a two-car garage and spacious verandas. The residence is a three-bedroom, three bath, with large rock mantel fireplace complimenting the great room, den and large kitchen area. The floor plan is spacious and open with vaulted ceilings and many windows. The westward vistas showcase winter snow-covered Sierra Blanca, Capitan's Sunset Peak and the spectacular Pecos Valley night lights.
Nearby the residence are the headquarters outbuildings. These include three large barns, each architecturally similar. Each is cinder block and steel construction, solid poured and reinforced rebar set on twelve-inch cement foundations. Roof cover is 18-gauge steel prefabricated roofing. The 24' x 74' hay barn has a 100-ton storage capacity. The horse barn is three-sided and measures 24' x 100'. It houses six stalls, a tack room, and drive-thru hay storage area. The equipment barn is 24' x 100' and is three sided. It also houses a living quarters with one bedroom, bath, kitchen, and living area. Adjacent to the barns is a 325 sq. ft., bunkhouse. It has a one-room combination kitchen and living quarters, with a 34-bath. The layout and design of the headquarters complex buildings are in the dimension of a quadrangle. The complex is landscaped, secure and well lit at night.
Livestock working facilities are located at headquarters. These consist of four pens with 12-foot sorting alleys constructed of railroad ties and 316-inch bull wire panels. Crowding alleys and chutes are cinder block and concrete construction. Four more holding pens are adjacent to the corrals and each have water and feed bunks. The cattle squeeze chute is a Powder River system. Livestock scales are 20,000-pound capacity Fairbanks-Morse.
Bison Springs Ranch is easily managed. Livestock are rotated through nine pastures and there are three large horse traps. Livestock water is distributed to all pastures. The ranch has four good wells and a large volume spring. The spring and headquarters well each have electric powered pumps, which can charge the entire water system.
A network of improved roadways, cattle guard crossing and metal swing gates provide hassle free access and road travel throughout the ranch.
Bison Springs Ranch has the 1,284 acre state lease and 3,485 acre federal grazing permit. These are long-term leases that go with the ranch. New Mexico State Grazing Lease GO-1857 costs approximately $468.25 per annum. The BLM grazing allotment, No. 65062, fee will be approximately $1,000. Property taxes are approximately $550.
If you are searching for a one-of-a kind, significant New Mexico ranch property with many natural resources and multiple land uses, yet don't want to be isolated from the necessities of city services, you search may have ended!
