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The Bell Ranch is one of the largest reputation western cattle ranches in the United States, offering a “one iron” brand and a 4,500 animal-unit livestock opertation on 250,000 deeded acres in northwest New Mexico. The historical and cultural significance of The Bell is equal to only a handful of western ranches. The unique diversified landscape offers a variety of flora and fauna and is enhanced by cultural artifacts spanning several centuries. The Bell Ranch’s rich history, cultural artifacts, proven cattle and horse operations and potential recreational aspects make it, without doubt, one of the most promising and interesting ranch investments offered over the last several decades.
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LOCATION
The Bell is located in northeast New Mexico, 30 miles from Tucumcari, 100 miles from Las Vegas and about 130 miles from both Albuquerque and Amarillo with several airports of varying sizes nearby. In fact, the Bell Ranch has its own Bell Ranch Waggoner Airfield, an 8,200-foot, lighted airstrip. The property is readily accessible from both I-25 and I-40. The ranch lies in an untouched landscape of grasslands, mesas, canyons and buttes highlighted by the Canadian River, Conchas Lake, La Cinta Creek, Bell Mountain and a variety of distinctive land features in a climate that is both pleasant and productive.
HISTORY
The Bell is rich in history with strong accents from early Spanish explorers and Native American Indians, as well as the cowboys and ranchers that continue its traditions. The area encompassing the Bell Ranch was originally granted to Don Pablo Montoya in 1824 by Mexico long before New Mexico became a US territory (1850) and achieved statehood (1912). Control of the property was gained by John S. Watts, a Santa Fe attorney, in 1864 and title was confirmed by the U. S. Government. Wilson Waddingham, a cattle real estate, and mining baron, brought cattle to the ranch in 1872 and registered the Bell brand in 1874. A group of New York investors owned The Bell from 1894 to 1899. Shareholders of the Red River Valley Company owned the ranch until 1947 with some divisions during that tenure. The Ranch Headquarters and approximately 130,000 acres were owned by Mrs. Harriet E. Keeney until the sale to William N. Lane in 1970. During his tenure, Mr. Lane later assembled the Hacienda unit to bring the ranch to its current size. The Lane family has owned the ranch since the 1970 purchase.
LAND DESCRIPTION
The Bell consists of 250,000 deeded, blocked acres stemming from the Don Pablo Montoya Mexican land grant of 1824. The absence of state lands within The Bell’s borders, provides a vast private land holding unequaled in the West. The western portion of the ranch is bisected by the Canadian River, which creates its own landscape and habitat. The central portion of the ranch is predominately open grassland with a variety of browse and grasses making up the heart of the livestock range. The vista is broken by Bell Mountain, Huerfano and Gavilan Mesas. The eastern portion of the ranch offers grass and brush habitat that grade into canyon lands consisting of cedar and ponderosa pine. These contrasting landscapes offer a variety of habitats for diverse populations of wildlife, including mule and whitetail deer, antelope, turkey, blue quail, dove, and waterfowl.
RANCH OPERATIONS
The Bell offers a vast and diversified operation unequalled in today’s ranch market. With an average carrying capacity of 4,500 animal units consisting of over 3,200 producing cows plus yearling heifers, calves, 300 bulls and 130 horses, the ranch offers an ongoing livestock operation of significant proportion.
With its unique ability to support both spring and fall calving operations, The Bell offers an element of size and scope on an all-deeded land base that is comparable only to the largest cattle operations in the United States.
The Bell has its own proven composite breed which produces livestock adapted to its unique environment. A complete inventory, along with the breeding, feeding and marketing program, is available to qualified buyers. The ranch is economically feasible in terms of beef production and capable of navigating changes in the modern beef production system. The Bell is positioned to address the challenges of today’s fossil economic environment by offering either a traditional production system or natural-grass raised alternative.
Adhering to long-term, solid economic programs, The Bell is a calf producing factory offering consistent, low-cost, young cattle to the marketplace. A broad spectrum of strong high-protein grasses, including three varieties of grama – blue, black and sideoats – along with buffalo, sand dropseed, curly mesquite, desert muhley plus tabosa and sacaton (both of which are drought resistant), provides a great menu of year ‘round forage. This combination results in excellent herd health and growthy calves. The ranch Headquarters receives about 15 inches of annual precipitation with several more inches at higher elevations. August moisture generally runs about three inches and provides a second “greening”. Because of an ideal range in elevation – 4,000 to 5,200 feet – the cattle graze year ‘round on strong grass supplemented in winter months by liquid protein.
Performance testing was pioneered on The Bell by George Ellis, who instituted the 205-day weaning weight standard along with other innovative analytical methods. A practical blending of genetics to match outstanding natural forages has resulted in the Ranch’s singular composite herd developed from the best Hereford, Red Angus, Gelbvieh and Brahma blood-lines.
WILDLIFE
While not the primary focus of the Bell Ranch management, wildlife habitat is abundant and presents a unique opportunity for the next owner to imprint the resource with a solid game management plan.
Antelope, mule deer, black bear, and mountain lion provide big game hunting. Rio Grande and Merriam turkey, scaled quail and dove thrive in large populations. The ranch also supports other natural species such as coyotes, bobcats, fox and raptors.
The Bell Ranch’s wildlife population has been described as “a diamond in the rough”. The focus of the Bell Ranch has been in the production of livestock with a small, but thriving wildlife program. Several methods of enhancement have been suggested, should the owner desire to capitalize on the opportunity to develop a faster growing, more thriving population of wildlife.
WATER RESOURCES
Water resources are a strong consideration for any western ranch, and The Bell has both natural and developed water resources that allow for appropriate utilization of the feed resources.
The ranch has a number of live water resources that provide livestock and wildlife water. Water resources on the Bell Ranch include the Canadian River, which flows through the property for 13 miles, as well as Conchas Lake, of which The Bell has 18 miles of shoreline. La Cinta Creek flows the entire length of the Ranch, north to south for about 30 miles, providing springs and pools of water along the way. Mesteno Creek, Perra Draw, Seco Creek, Bueveros Creek, Cow Pass Creek, and Tuloso Creek, along with other smaller drainages, provide another 60 plus miles of livestock drinking water. In addition, there are hundreds of earthen dams that capture rain water. Approximately 90 miles of pipeline, 94 wells and windmills, and 175 stock tanks deliver a consistent source of water to the ranch.
IMPROVEMENTS
The Bell’s building improvements provide both historical and functional structures for use by the ranch hands and owners.
The “Headquarters” complex lies along La Cinta Creek and includes the White House, which dates to the mid 1800’s. The White House includes the manager’s residence in the West Wing, a middle section of sleeping rooms, and separate living quarters in the East Wing. The Cookhouse, Office and the Cook’s quarters are contained in a separate structure in the middle of the Headquarters complex. Three separate homes and the historic barn, corrals and miscellaneous outbuildings provide the balance of the complex.
The “Hacienda”, which serves as the owner’s residence and guest lodge, is a
10,382 square feet structure on the north end of the ranch near the head of La Cinta Creek. The Hacienda provides a perfect Southwestern flair for gatherings by ranch owners and guests. Built in the 1930s by Guy Waggoner, a prior owner of part of the Bell Ranch, the Hacienda has historical significance and was visited over the years by Hollywood stars and starlets such as Clark Gable, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and Howard Hughes. The Hacienda is meticulously landscaped and overlooks the heart of the Bell Ranch, providing views of Bell Mountain and Huerfano Mesa. The eight bedrooms are located on the east and west wings of the Hacienda and have external access to the courtyard, outdoor pool and tennis court. The facility also contains separate living quarters for staff as well as a shop, garage and storage facilities. The “Casino” recreation building and two separate homes make up the balance of the Hacienda complex.
The Hacienda is served on-site by the FAA approved Bell Ranch Waggoner Airport, an 8,200 foot lighted, leveled and well maintained dirt airstrip. Capable of handling large twins and small jets, the strip offers a large hanger and fuel storage.
The 2,900 square foot Lake House lies on Conchas Lake, and has four bedrooms and a boat house. The facility offers direct access to the lake for boating, water skiing, jet skiing and fishing.
Four ranch camps offer homes for ranch hands in outlying areas, allowing them to care for livestock in various areas of the ranch.
The ranch has 500 miles of roads and operates a road maintainer on a full-time basis.
There are nearly 340 miles of fences, mostly barbed wire on wood and/or steel posts. In addition, over 100 miles of natural fence boundary separates the ranch into a number of livestock grazing pastures. Given its sheer size, the Bell Ranch is amazingly well developed with fences and water resources which aid in grazing rotation and livestock management.
INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS
- The sheer size and deeded land base of the resource make The Bell one of the nation’s leading contiguous deeded holdings with limited outside influence, providing for exceptional privacy.
- Historic and western cultural significance allow for projection to a ranch resort setting with jet capable facilities in a mild and dry year-round climate.
- Livestock capability with a “one-iron” brand and a herd of genetically consistent cattle allows capability to supply a branded beef program.
- Recreation and wildlife resources provide the opportunity for enhancement. There is further potential on the Canadian River and Conchas Lake to own, control and operate a vast wildlife empire with multiple species of big game, upland birds and a fishery.
- The ranch operates with seasoned and capable employees that provide a ranch culture offered only on the few great western ranches.
SUMMARY
Opportunities to purchase a property such as “The Bell” are rare and should be considered “once-in-a-lifetime”. The Bell has been professionally managed over its history and the new owner will add a new chapter to this legacy. The history is deep, the trail is long, the rewards are great, and most of all “the acquisition will define the owner”.
THE AMERICAN COWBOY AND THE BELL RANCH CULTURE
A small group of men and women comprise the team that allows The Bell to function as a great western ranch. This is possible with employees that adhere to long standing western culture and “codes of the West”, often unseen yet sorely needed in the modern corporate world. Where else would a bright, young person agree to endure the hardships of the life of a cowboy out of pure enjoyment, respect of nature and willingness to get the job done? The opportunity to serve on the crew of The Bell or other reputation western ranches is a reward to those that understand the culture of the diminishing vast western landscape of “Cowboy country”. Those cowboys inure their heart and soul to the horses they ride, the cows they punch and the dogs that are their partners. There are young single men, family men and the old “puncher”, yet the thread of their existence is the unspoken code of the West and rule to “ride for the brand”. These men and women place their lives on the line in a “professional” manner, and do so in a landscape and environment that can be as punishing as it is rewarding…it is the life of the “Cowboy”, much the same as it was over a hundred years ago.
The Bell, upholding to traditions of the last century and a half, continues to “run a wagon” for brandings and roundup. The traditions of the past allow human talent and modern horseflesh to produce top-quality beef demanded by purveyors and customers of the best steakhouses in the world, bar none. A typical ranch hand arrives at the “Bell cook house” or one of the four “camps” at five o’clock in the morning, sometimes earlier on hot summer days, to get a belly full of grub and his orders for the day delivered from the cow boss. A good hand not only respects those orders but relishes in the fact that his peers and team will not only deliver on their assignments but do so in a fashion that respects the principals and codes established over generations of American Cowboys. Those ethics are adhered to and respected by those that endeavor in this type of work. It can be shared and earned by those willing to subscribe to the ethics of the American Cowboy and it is contagious to not only those that work there, but to those that have the opportunity to visit and spend time on The Bell. It is a rare culture, true to the heart of all Americans and reveled in only by those close to it. It is a culture undaunted by the misgivings of modern society, but nonetheless wanted by the soul of most all of us. It is a culture that is the definition of the modern American Cowboy, whose meaning can best be expressed in pictures and poems…Obviously, it is a rare form of living, American art, yet a thriving thread to our own culture.
The Bell in and of itself becomes a rare art form by its ability to produce this American culture and theme. While the economics of the market place are always changing, the culture of The Bell is unwavering. |
LOCATION: San Miguel County, New Mexico |
PRICE: $100,000,000 (Including cattle and equipment) |
CONTACT: Rue Balcomb, Robb Van Pelt or John Stratman |
PRINT PDF FILES:
Summary
Panoramic photo of Bell Ranch c. 1914] in the Library of Congress American Memory collection |
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Copyright © 2008 Mason & Morse Ranch Company
214 Eight Street Suite 100 Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Phone: (970)928.7100 or toll free (877)207.9700
Fax: (970)928.7200 E-mail: sales@ranchland.com
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