Ghost Ranch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ghost Ranch El Rancho de los Brujos
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
County	Rio Arriba
U.S. National Natural Landmark
Designated:	1975

Ghost Ranch redrock cliffs and clouds

Ghost Ranch, New Mexico

Ghost Ranch is a huge retreat and education center in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, USA. It covers about 21,000 acres (85 square kilometers). This special place is located about 65 miles northwest of Santa Fe. It's also just 14 miles from the small town of Abiquiu.

In the past, Ghost Ranch was the summer home and art studio of the famous artist Georgia O'Keeffe. Many of her paintings show the beautiful landscapes of the ranch. Today, Ghost Ranch is owned by the Presbyterian Church (USA). It is managed by The National Ghost Ranch Foundation, Inc. It's a popular spot for making movies and TV shows.

Ghost Ranch is also famous for its amazing collection of fossils. Scientists have found nearly a thousand fossilized skeletons of a small dinosaur called Coelophysis here.

Exploring the History of Ghost Ranch

Ghost Ranch is part of a larger area called Piedra Lumbre. This Spanish name means "Shining Rock." In 1766, the land was given to Pedro Martin Serrano by King Charles III of Spain. A stream called Rito del Yeso flows through the canyons. This stream provides water even when it's dry. In 1976, Ghost Ranch became a National Natural Landmark. This means it's a very important natural place.

Early Stories and the Ranch's Name

In the 1880s, two brothers named Archuleta lived in the canyon. They were known for stealing cattle. The canyon's hidden spots helped them hide their activities. They built two simple homes called jacals. They would move stolen cattle at night through streams to avoid leaving tracks.

Local legends say that strange things happened at the ranch. People talked about mysterious disappearances and odd events. These stories made people believe the area was haunted. This is how the name "Ghost Ranch" came to be. Eventually, the community stepped in, and the brothers' time at the ranch ended. Later visitors to one of the homes claimed they could hear voices of a man and a woman arguing.

The ranch changed hands several times over the years. In 1928, a guide named Roy Pfaffle won the deed to the ranch in a poker game. His wife, Carol Stanley, officially named it Ghost Ranch. She wanted to reflect the local legends about spirits.

Arthur Pack and the Educational Center

Carol Stanley turned Ghost Ranch into a special "dude ranch." Wealthy and creative people came to visit. Many of her friends loved the peaceful atmosphere of New Mexico. One important visitor was Arthur Newton Pack, who wrote for Nature Magazine. Pack's family moved to a drier climate for his daughter's health.

Running the dude ranch was hard, especially after the Great Depression started in 1929. Tourism dropped a lot. So, in 1935, Carol Stanley sold the ranch to Arthur Pack.

As Arthur Pack got older, he worried about the ranch's future. He wanted it to be used for good. In 1955, he gave the ranch to the Presbyterian Church (USA). He wanted it to be an educational center. Today, Ghost Ranch hosts over 300 workshops, classes, and retreats each year. People come for outdoor activities and spiritual learning.

Georgia O'Keeffe's Connection to Ghost Ranch

The famous artist Georgia O'Keeffe was very interested in Ghost Ranch. She heard Arthur Pack say it was "the best place in the world." She visited and immediately loved the landscape. Soon, she divided her time between New York and New Mexico. She enjoyed being alone and found great inspiration in the area.

Cerro Pedernal, a distinctive mountain, appeared in many of her paintings. After she moved to New Mexico full-time, she spent most of the year at her home in Abiquiu. But she lived and worked at a villa and studio in the cooler parts of Ghost Ranch during the summer.

2015 Flash Flood Event

On July 7, 2015, a flash flood happened at Ghost Ranch. Heavy rain caused the flood, which damaged several buildings. Luckily, no one was hurt during the event.

Discovering Dinosaurs and Ancient Life

Ghost Ranch is a fantastic place for learning about Earth's past. About 200 million years ago, this area was near the equator. It had a warm, wet climate with heavy seasonal rains.

Scientists have found many fossils here since 1885. In 1947, a scientist named Edwin H. Colbert found over a thousand well-preserved skeletons of a small Triassic dinosaur called Coelophysis. This discovery was made in a quarry at Ghost Ranch.

More recently, in 2007, fossils of Dromomeron romeri were found. These were early relatives of dinosaurs. In 2010, another team of scientists found Daemonosaurus chauliodus. This dinosaur lived about 205 million years ago. It helps us understand how early dinosaurs like Herrerasaurus evolved into more advanced ones.

Another interesting fossil found at Ghost Ranch is Effigia. This was a small, bird-like reptile that lived alongside the dinosaurs.

Ghost Ranch on the Big Screen

The beautiful red rock scenery and vast landscape of Ghost Ranch have attracted many filmmakers. It has been a filming location for numerous movies and TV shows. Here is a list of some of them:

See also

In Spanish: Ghost Ranch para niños

• Effigia