Outstanding New Mexico Ranch
53 Midbar Ranch Road : Animas, NM 88020
Hidalgo County, New Mexico
Ranch Description
Midbar Ranch is situated in the bootheel of southwestern New Mexico. Of the 21,371 total acres, 7120 are deeded (private) and contiguous, 14,251 acres are a grazing allotment in the Peloncillo Mountains on the Coronado National Forest.
The deeded land is in the grassy savannah of the Upper Animas Valley.
Elevation ranges from 5200 feet on the deeded land to 6395 feet in the mountains. The ranch sits over two separate water basins; the Upper Animas which is declared and the Cloverdale which as yet is undeclared.
The ranch house is adobe built in the 1940'S, renovated in 1993 and received a new roof in 2013. In spite of its remote location, electricity and phone are supplied by local cooperatives, internet, and television via satellite. The property has its own private 2-way radio system with hand held units and truck mounted units all helping with ranch work and communication. The ranch is accessible from three directions by county maintained roads.
The house has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, 2 with tubs, a large exercise room with dry sauna, a big mudroom/utility room, 2 offices, a kitchen and a kitchenette with pantry and a wood burning stove. The house is also equipped with 2 propane heaters and a swamp cooler.
The house has a stand-up attic that measures 19 feet by 28 feet with 2 big windows. Attached is also a small storage room with a big freezer. the house area, the orchard, and the chicken coup are all fenced.
Employee's house is a Solitary mobile home with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, large dining room, utility room, a porch facing the Animas Mountains, refrigerated air conditioner, and a propane heater. This whole area is fenced and includes a small shed and corral.
There are 4 wells on the ranch, all in the Upper Animas Basin with submersible pumps working off the power grid. New wells can be drilled close to the power grid in the Cloverdale Basin without a special permit since the basin is undeclared. There is also an approved application to drill a supplemental well for irrigation in one of the deeded pastures.
The deeded land has 8 pastures, the largest is 1238 acres and the smallest is 640 acres. The Forest allotment has 5 large pastures and 3 smaller pastures. The largest is 3784 acres and the smallest is 296 acres.
There are 2 working corrals. The main one at the headquarters has a scale, pens with water and two 50 acre holding traps. The Forest Service has approved the construction of another holding corral on Forest land at the south end of the ranch.
The grazing permit on National Forest is for 300 head of cattle year-round. Together with the deeded land, the ranch can run up to 450 head.
Hunting opportunities abound on Midbar Ranch with the state record Muzzle Loader hunt Mule Deer taken on this ranch. Turkey, Quail, Pronghorn, Javelina, Mountain Lion, Bear and Bobcat are in abundance also.
Midbar Ranch is a unique location. It is surrounded on all sides by vast protected open space - National Forest and private land with conservation easements. The deeded (private) land is owned outright and unencumbered by easements or restrictions.
The view from the headquarters includes 4 mountain ranges; the Animas and Peloncillo ranges in New Mexico, the Chiricahuas in Arizona, and the Sierra Madre range in Mexico.
Except for the headquarters (house, corral, 2 adobe shops, employee's house, and old adobe airplane hangar) no other man-made structures can be seen from almost anywhere on the ranch. The closest neighbor is about 7 miles distant. Thus there is much potential for further development and/or expansion. Everything from more diversified agriculture (specialty crops, vineyard, etc.) to nature preserve, guest ranch, summer camp, stargazing centers, professional retreat, and subdivision is possible. Conservation easements for tax purposes is another option.
