$5,950,000
Overview
Ute Mountain Ranch is a beautiful, sprawling, 3,920± acre property located just 45 minutes north of Taos, New Mexico. On the market for the first time in almost 70 years, this multi-generational ranch offers a unique blend of historical charm and modern profitability. Originally established as a large potato farm in the 1950s, Ute Mountain Ranch has evolved into a successful holistic management cattle operation.
Turnkey Sale
The owners are offering all existing farm and ranch equipment, tools, supplies as well as the existing cattle herd as part of the ranch sale.
Diversified Revenue
This multi-faceted property currently creates revenue from sales of beef ($110,000 and growing), grazing lease ($19,500), sale of elk tags ($74,000 +) and NRCS projects ($30,000 in 2024). Future revenue opportunity includes 60 acres of irrigated farming ($75,000) with an opportunity to add 70 more acres of irrigated farm. As the current owner says, “Even without they hay sales or NRCS work, one can sit on their butt and easily deposit $200K per year”.
Valuable Water Rights
The ranch owns 60 acres of water rights which are eligible to be separated from the land and marketed, demand for these rights is high. The current owner has chosen to keep the water with the land for agricultural purposes. The owner represents current market value of the water at $27,000 per acre, should a future owner chooses to sell the rights (60 x 27,000 = 1,620,000).
Cattle Ranching
Among it’s diversified revenue streams the ranch supports a fast-growing ranch-to-consumer beef brand, highlighting its dedication to sustainable and efficient agricultural practices. Thanks to decades of clearing and planting carefully chosen grass varieties, the ranch will support 180-200 pair of cattle year round. The current owner has changed his focus the past two years and now ranches solely for their fast growing direct to consumer business, he currently runs 50 head of his own and leases pasture to support 130 neighbor cows. The owner’s cattle and current book of business will convey to the new ranch owner.
Hunting and Hunting Revenue
For the 2024 hunting season, the ranch has received 38 unit-wide elk permits from New Mexico Game and Fish. This breaks down to 16 mature bull, 8 archery and 14 antlerless permits. Elk and deer can be harvested regularly on the ranch as well as any of the national forest and public hunting grounds within the Game Management Unit (GMU 53). Permits not used by the owners are eligible for sale to any licensed hunter or outfitter.
NRCS Improvements
The current owner has been managing an extensive program of sage mitigation in an effort to create more abundant and stronger grasses. Several of the pastures have been cleared of sage brush and work is ongoing to complete the remainder. Once a pasture is cleared, it is then planted in Crested Wheat Grass. A visit to the ranch will show potential buyers the significance of these range improvements. Holistic Management practices have been in place for decades, with frequent pasture rotation, helping to preserve the quality and productivity of the range. These projects have been and are currently funded through the Natural Resources Conservation Service. These contracts are transferable to new owners, subject to USDA approval.
Improvements
There are three homes on the property. The main residence, a 3 bedroom at approximately 1,300 sq. ft., has been nicely remodeled with beautiful wood-grain laminate floors, updated bathroom and master bedroom addition, new windows and pellet stove for comfortable winter heat. The second home is approximately 1,000 sq. ft. with two bedroom, one bath with a mud room as well as an eat in kitchen. Perfect as a guest house, extended family or a bunk house for elk hunters. The second guest house is also a two bedroom, one bath at approximately 1,0000 sq. ft. and shares the same floor plan and the first guest house. A 30′ x 20′ shop has concrete floors and is utilized for both storage and equipment repair.
The working pens are located at the “Worker’s Camp” which features additional housing and storage in the form of a 12-room bunk house. When the ranch was a working potato farm, the large block-construction building was used to house farm workers and to store supplies. There is also a room in the camp building known as “Rosie’s Cantina”, which has served as an on property private saloon for owners and guests. This building has not been utilized in some years but is in sound condition and can be brought back into service. Electricity and water are connected.
Two potato bunkers are unique improvements on the ranch. One bunker is likely beyond repair but the second is still in good condition and provides opportunity for use. The current owner has entertained the idea of renovating the bunker and adjacent “Worker’s Camp” into a wedding and event venue, which could be a very charming and revenue-generating option.
