Bell Ranch facts for kids
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Bell Ranch Headquarters
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Bell Ranch, San Miguel Co., N.M
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 Location in New Mexico
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Tucumcari, New Mexico |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000407 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 6, 1970 |
The Bell Ranch is a very old and important ranch located in Tucumcari, New Mexico, in the United States. It is one of the biggest privately owned ranches in the country. Since 2010, the ranch has been owned by John Malone. As of 2021, he is the second largest landowner in the U.S., with 2.2 million acres. The Bell Ranch was recognized as a national landmark in 1974 because of its history and importance.
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Where is the Bell Ranch Located?
The Bell Ranch is found in San Miguel County, New Mexico. It sits near La Cinta Creek and the Canadian River. The ranch is also close to Conchas Lake. It is about 30 miles (48 km) from the city of Tucumcari, New Mexico.
What is the Bell Ranch Like?
The Bell Ranch is huge, covering about 290,100 acres (1,174 km2). That's like 453 square miles! It's so big that it even has its own zip code: 88441.
The ranch has six smaller areas called "cow camps." It also has a private airport called Waggoner Airport. The main activity on the ranch is raising cattle. The cows mostly eat grass from the ranch's huge grasslands.
Other cool features of the ranch include Conchas Lake and Mule Canyon. About 13 miles (21 km) of the ranch's land runs along the Canadian River.
A Look Back: The History of Bell Ranch
The land where Bell Ranch now stands was once home to Native American tribes. The Kiowa and Comanche people used to roam these grasslands.
How the Ranch Began
The ranch started from a large land grant given by the Mexican government in 1824. This grant, covering 655,468 acres, was given to Pablo Montoya. At that time, the land was part of Santa Fe de Nuevo México, which was a territory of Mexico. Montoya named the land Bell Ranch after a nearby mountain called Bell Mountain. He didn't get full ownership until 1869. Montoya sold the land in 1874.
Early Owners and Ranch Life
Later, Wilson "Waddy" Waddingham bought the Bell Ranch land. He became the biggest landowner in northeastern New Mexico. In 1876, a large, white adobe house called the "White House" was built. This was where Waddingham's family lived. He also used it to host important government and business people.
Waddingham improved his cattle by breeding them with Shorthorn bulls. He branded his cattle with a bell-shaped mark on their left hips.
The Vaqueros: Skilled Cowboys
The ranch relied on skilled cowboys called vaqueros. These cowboys rode horses, which had been brought to America from Spain centuries ago. Vaqueros were experts at riding and roping. They trained horses for long rides across the ranch. They also created special gear like silver spurs and unique ropes called reatas. Their way of life mixed with that of American cowboys. A book called Cattle, Horses and Men by John H. Culley describes what it was like to work on Bell Ranch.
Changes Over the Years
In the 1930s, Guy Waggoner bought the ranch. He built a large, beautiful house called a hacienda on the property. In 1947, the ranch was divided into six parts, and some land was sold off.
In 1970, William N. Lane II of Chicago bought the ranch. He bought back more of the original land, bringing the ranch to its current size of 290,100 acres (1,174 km2). After Lane passed away in 1978, his five children owned the ranch through a trust. In 2010, Silver Spur Ranches, a company owned by John Malone, bought the Bell Ranch.
Bell Ranch in Popular Culture
The Bell Ranch has inspired artists and photographers.
- Canadian artist Robert Lougheed visited the ranch many times. He created art inspired by the horses, people, and places he saw there. His work is recognized by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
- In the 1940s, famous photographer Harvey Caplin took black and white pictures at the ranch. Some of these photos have been used by the Stetson Hat Company to promote their hats. They show what a classic Western ranch looks like.
