21,638.4 Acres in La Junta, CO - $10,600,000

The vegetation on the ranch are native grasses including Grama Grass, Western Wheat Grass, Little Bluestem and Buffalo Grass, together with other minor forbes & scrubs. Trees include Western Red Cedar, Cottonwoods and Tamarisk in the small canyons and river bottoms.

The terrain on the ranch varies from open, gentle slope and rolling to treed draws and bluffs above to Purgatory River drainage. The beauty of this ranch is unparalleled and diverse, from the level well sodded pastures and hills on the north end to the red cedar covered hills and the deep canyons and river bottom on the south end. The average elevation in the area is approximately 4300 feet above sea level.

Improvements

The ranch headquarters consists of a newly remodeled and updated manufactured home with approximately 1232 sq. ft. plus an attached porch. The cozy home has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, laundry room, living room and kitchen. The home was originally built in 2002 and is in good condition. Upgrades include a new metal roof, stucco exterior finish, new windows and deck. There is a detached 2 car garage with concrete floor and electric, a tack room, hay shed and livestock shed plus an extensive set of steel pipe corrals with a sorting ally, automatic waterers, a Silencer hydraulic squeeze chute, and a loading chute.

There is a total of five livestock wells on the deeded portion of the ranch connected to 20 livestock tanks via buried pipeline. There is a separate well for the residence and one working solar well on the South end. Most water tanks are steel rim/concrete bottom tanks, some of which have been lined with concrete. There are two water wells connected to 13 tanks on the Comanche Grazing land. There are several natural springs and the Purgatoire river on the ranch.

Most of the fencing on the ranch is four strand barbed wire. The fencing is in good condition. There are a total of 12 different pastures on the deeded land and five pastures on the Comanche Grazing Permit, which allows for some rotational grazing and using pastures with more natural protection from winter storms during the wintertime.

There are gathering corrals throughout the ranch and a set of corrals with working facilities, including sorting pens, an alley and hydraulic squeeze chute on the north end of the ranch.

Recreation

The ranch is a hunter and outdoorsman’s dream. The ranch holds healthy populations of Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Pronghorn, Merriam Turkey, Quail, Black Bear, Coyote, Bobcat and Mountain Lion. The Purgatoire offers fishing and recreation. Elk tags are unlimited and over the counter! The ranch is located in Game Management Unit 130. The river bottom is an annual Elk calving ground as it’s protected on all sides from roads and access by the Rocky bluffs overlooking it.

There are plenty of recreational activities on the ranch to keep you busy for days. Spend the days exploring for Petroglyphs, and Pictographs on the bluff walls or explore for Teepee rings or winter house ruins from past Native American civilizations. Explore the pioneers names etched into rock located on the ranch, or enjoy the old rock and barn ruins on the ranch. Enjoy rafting or fishing the river or spend time looking for arrowheads and artifacts.

Agriculture

The owners currently stock the ranch with approximately 300 cows on a year-round basis including the use of the Comanche Grazing Permit, private lease and State School Section. The ranch should support 400-425 cows year round.

There is approximately 8,127 acres of Comanche Grazing Permit for a full allotment of 239 hd from 5/1 to 10/31. The allotment is known as Higbee 1. There is 640 acres of State lease with the ranch. With the approval of the state land board, this lease will be transferred. A private lease within the ranch of a half section.

The ranch is currently operated as a low input cattle operation with an emphasis on rotational grazing with the goal of rangeland improvement. The current owners start the grazing season on the north end of the ranch utilizing the deeded and the Comanche National Grasslands allotment and move them south through the season, until finally wintering the cows on the river, cedar and canyon country on the ranch. The grass is in great shape.

The largest cattle markets in the state are a short distance from the ranch in LaJunta

Water/Mineral Rights & Natural Resources

Seller owned and intact mineral rights, if any will convey with the ranch. There are no water rights beyond the registered stock wells.

Region & Climate

The area receives about 13 inches of precipitation annually, and has normally mild winters and warm to hot summers.

History

There are significant geological and archaeological interests throughout the ranch including pictographs and petroglyphs on the ranch. There are tepee rings, and winter houses and old rock homestead ruins.

The area is rich in history from days gone by. LaJunta is located along the Santa Fe Trail and the Arkansas River. Bent’s Fort is located north of the ranch and is a rebuilt fort and trading post from the era of the trail.

The ranch is near the old town of Higbee Colorado, a settlement along the Purgatoire Valley. The area has always been predominately an area of cattle grazers and still is today.

Location

The ranch is located approximately 12 miles southeast of La Junta, Colorado or 5 miles northeast of Higbee, Colorado. The property adjoins Comanche Grazing land on the west and other privately owned ranches to the south, north and east. Numerous private, interior ranch roads provide access to many areas of the ranch.

Agriculture is the economic base for the county. A significant portion of the county is used for livestock grazing. There are two major livestock markets in the city of La Junta offering weekly sales. These markets are among the largest livestock auctions in the state, providing excellent markets near area ranches.

LaJunta is a town of about 7,300 people. It is home to LaJunta Livestock Commission and Winter Livestock, two livestock auctions. The city is active with numerous restaurants, grocery stores, schools and churches, farm stores, Otero Junior College and numerous other businesses and County Services.