A truly expansive holding set amongst a community of large and famous ranches, Dawson Elk Valley Ranch is comprised of 50,658+/- deeded and contiguous acres. The ranch is located in beautiful Colfax County where it rises from the most western reaches of the Great Plains to the front range of the rugged Cimarron Mountains. This regions wildlife habitat and elk herds are of great renown and best exemplified by this property and its unmatched size and location. The lifeblood of the ranch is the Vermejo River, which bisects the property for 11 miles. Numerous canyons, tributary creeks, and lush valleys feed into the river all converging at the heart of the ranch. The lowest elevations along Highway 64 are found at the bottom of the river valley at approximately 6,150. The elevation rises as the property climbs through a series of valleys and ridgetops, achieving 2,000 of elevation gain at t...
A truly expansive holding set amongst a community of large and famous ranches, Dawson Elk Valley Ranch is comprised of 50,658+/- deeded and contiguous acres. The ranch is located in beautiful Colfax County where it rises from the most western reaches of the Great Plains to the front range of the rugged Cimarron Mountains. This regions wildlife habitat and elk herds are of great renown and best exemplified by this property and its unmatched size and location. The lifeblood of the ranch is the Vermejo River, which bisects the property for 11 miles. Numerous canyons, tributary creeks, and lush valleys feed into the river all converging at the heart of the ranch. The lowest elevations along Highway 64 are found at the bottom of the river valley at approximately 6,150. The elevation rises as the property climbs through a series of valleys and ridgetops, achieving 2,000 of elevation gain at the backdrop of Ted Turners 560,000+/- acre Vermejo Park Ranch, which is famous for many of the same features offered at Dawson Elk Valley. The mountainous and timbered northern reaches of the ranch, locally known as the Sangre de Cristos, yield to mesas and valleys which in turn, give way to the river valley and lower prairies. Such a combination of diverse habitat types clearly supports a rich biome and diversity of game. The ranch is located within New Mexico Game Unit 55A, a newly designated Special Management Zone. This Special Management Zone occupies an area of quality elk habitat that is largely held by private landowners. As such, private land elk authorizations are now allocated through a negotiation between the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and ranch managers. Because of its flourishing resident elk herd, the ranch has been able to obtain all of the authorizations it has needed though ownership has conservatively hunted the ranch. Large numbers of mule deer, black bear, coyote, bobcats, mountain lion, Merriams turkey, and the occasional white-tailed deer reside on the property. Offered with the ranch is a 50% interest in the privately held York Canyon Branch rail line. The line traverses nearly 37 miles from I-25 just west of the community of Maxwell, passing though the ranch for 11 miles, and terminating in the Vermejo Park Ranch. It is a rare opportunity for such a unique asset to be on the market within a ranch offering of this quality. Dawson Elk Valley Ranch is rich in history, ecological and physical assets, and diversity of game and habitat.
The Facts:
~ Approximately 50,039+/- contiguous acres in Colfax County, NM.
~ Adjoins the 560,000+/- acre Vermejo Park Ranch
~ 15 miles to Raton Airport offering a 7,620 runway and full services
~ Vermejo River descends through the ranch for 11 miles
~ World-class elk hunting
~ 50% interest in 36.9 mile York Canyon Branch rail line
~ 50% of sellers owned minerals and 100% of executive rights convey.
~ All owned water rights convey.
~ Estimated 110 million tons of high BTU low-sulfur coal reserves convey