The Elk Haven Ranch

The "Old West" still lives at this incredible and historic 2,800 acre ranch that straddles the Arroyo Aquaje de la Petaca canyon with primarily rolling sagebrush on the flat areas and lush riparian vegetation along the seasonal stream and canyon walls. It doesn't take much imagination to picture the daily activities on this icon of the American West. Its private location has a completely remote feel, yet it sits only about a mile off of US 285 and is an easy drive to Taos or Santa Fe. The hand-hewn structures make it the last of the historic ranches of Northern New Mexico. Priced at $1,600 per acre, with seller financing available, this property provides spaciousness, privacy, and sheer natural beauty.

Location and Map

The main entrance to the ranch sits seven miles south of Tres Piedras, New Mexico - the intersection of US Highways 285 and 64. This puts it about 35 minutes to the northwest of Taos and about an hour and twenty minutes north of Santa Fe via good highways.

The topographic map shows the boundaries of the ranch. The diagonal line at the far left of the map marks US Highway 285 - less than 1 mile from the western boundary. The ranch contains all of sections 17, 18, 19 and 21, and the northern half of section 20 of Township 27N, Range 10E. Each of the section squares is one complete square mile or 640 acres. This map also shows the Arroyo Aguaje de la Petaca as it crosses the property.

The Historic Ranch

RANCH HISTORY

Step back into the history of Northern New Mexico when ranching was the way of life. Today relive and enjoy the lore of the wild west. The ranch has the original log cabin homestead, hay barn, livestock barn, chicken coops, rabbit hutches, corrals and root cellar.

The Chambers Ranch is one of the last ranches in Northern New Mexico that remains intact with the original buildings, corrals and root cellar. The Chambers family arrived by covered wagon in Tres Piedras, New Mexico from Texas in the early 1900’s when Northern New Mexico was sparsely populated and it was still possible to homestead large tracts of land. The Chambers homesteaded 5,000 acres, and leased another 5,000 acres of grazing acreage from the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) for a total acreage of 10,000. They lived off the land: running cattle, raising rabbits and chickens, seeding acreage with grasses, hay and grains for feed. Preserves from the garden and fruit trees were stored in their root cellar. The buildings were hand-hewn cedar from the ranch, there was no running water, but electricity was brought into the home in the 60’s. Tom Chambers, the son, was a tot when he arrived in Tres Piedras, grew up, married and died on the Chambers Ranch in 1987, his wife Jewel, sold the ranch to the current owners and moved to California.

As a special note of interest, the Chambers Ranch is registered with the New Mexico Film Commission. Very few places offer the expanse and the feel of an era gone by like the Chambers Ranch.

Source: written and provided by the seller

Here sits the ruins of a combination of residential structures, barns, sheds and corrals. Its convenient location at the south side of section 19 provides easy access to US 285 and would be a sensible place to rebuild or restore for future ranching operations.

From the ranch site, "Big Sky" views of distant mountains extend in all directions including those of San Antonio Mountain (seen in the background here).

The ranch affords spectacular views of the entire southern portion Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range to the east. The view extends from their southern tip - Near Santa Fe is to the south, to Colorado's Blanca Peak about 90 miles to the north. The picture above shows Wheeler Peak - New Mexico's highest. A number of smaller volcanic peaks dot the Taos Plateau.

The Land

Sagebrush covers the majority of the Elk Haven Ranch, with isolated piñon and juniper trees also dotting the landscape. Some of the draws contain seasonal ponds such as the one shown here to catch and save water. The terrain is high desert receiving 12-16 inches of precipitation scattered throughout the year. The elevation ranges from 7,600 to 7,800 feet above sea level.

The Arroyo Aguaje de la Petaca

The ranch's most distinguishing and scenic geological feature is the Arroyo Aguaje de la Petaca as it winds through the western section of the property. This seasonal stream drains much of western Taos County starting near San Antonio Mountain (seen with snow in the picture above) and eventually joining the Rio Grande near the town of Pilar. It crosses the ranch in a canyon about 60 feet deep. The terrain and seasonal water cause a variety of evergreen and deciduous trees to thrive here in contrast to the more open sage brush plain. According to the seller, the U.S. Forest Service and the State of New Mexico have expressed an interest in the Petaca portion of the ranch as it is a separate eco-system that is unique to New Mexico. It provides and forage for elk, deer, antelope, bear and mountain lion.

Evidence that prehistoric people frequently used the Aguaje shows itself in many forms including the rock art in the picture above. Many walls of stacked rocks also border the canyon.

Conservation Easement Potential

The buyer, or buyers of the ranch may have the opportunity to to enjoy a significant tax write-off. By forgoing development on the ranch and placing a conservation easement on the property, the buyer can realize a tax write-off from adjusted gross income equivalent to the determined value of the conservation easement.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has completed their internal review of the ranch and has agreed to accept a conservation easement on the property. Pending a comprehensive conservation easement appraisal, which will establish the deductible value of the easement, the amount of the tax deduction will be determined. By adjusting the sales price to the tax savings, and considering the investors tax bracket as well, an investor, or group of investors, can own the ranch for next to nothing. After their deductions are considered, as a bonus, the land will still have significant value in spite of the conservation easement and can be resold or traded with the Federal government (BLM) for land that can be developed. The seller possesses a letter from the BLM that states that the ranch is suitable for trade.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s primary purpose is to enhance wildlife habitat.

MLS #

84999

Status

Active

Type

Farm/Ranch

Address

7 Miles South of Tres

Piedras off of 285

Address 2

City

Tres Piedras

State

Zip

87577

Area

TRES PIEDRAS (46A)

Class

LOTS/LAND

Asking Price

$4,500,000

John Kejr

Dreamcatcher Real Estate

Main (575) 758-3606

(575) 779-1209

515 Gusdorf Road

Taos NM 87571

Number of Acres

2,880.00

Price Per Acre

$1,600

Leased Acres

Lease Amount

ACREAGE

10 or more

LAND COVER

Combo

SURFACE WATER

Seasonal Streams

TERRAIN

Combo

ACCESS ROAD

Private

GAS

None

TELEPHONE

ELECTRIC

Yes

SEWER

Install Septic

WATER

Must Drill

Lot Dimensions

2 miles x 2 m

iles

Subdivision

None

Elementary School

Taos

Elementary

Middle School/High School

Taos

Zoning

None

Irrigation Acres

Flood Area Y/N/UNK

UNK

Min. Rt Y/N/UNK

UNK

Mobile Y/N/UNK

UNK

Manufactured Y/N/UNK

UNK

Water Rights Y/N/UNK

UNK

Road Frontage

Water Frontage

2 miles of

Petaca

crosses

Crops Y/N

Zone

Far West

Restrictions

UNK

Sign Y/N

Survey

Legal Description

T27N R10E all of

sections 17, 18, 19, 21

and north1/2 of section

Tax ID

TERMS

Cash, Conventional, Owner Carry

FENCIN

Perimeter Fence, Wire

TOPOG

RAPHY

Gentle Roll, Secluded, Mixed

LOT

DESCR

IPTION

Borders BLM Land, Borders

State Land, Borders U.S. Forest,

Horse Property, Irregular, Ranch

, Wooded Lot, View, Pond,

Seasonal Stream

SHOWING

INSTRUCTION

Drive By

EXTRAS

Corral, Outbuildings,

Pond, Livestock

Permitted

Tax Amount

100.00

Lease Amount

Fees

Owner Fin./Terms

Financing Terms

Directions

285 South from Tres Piedras junction with 64.

Look for two gates on left, southernmost one is

entrance. Ranch begins 1 mile down road

Public Remarks

2880 acre ranch 7 miles south of Tres Piedras. Arroyo Aguaje de la Petaca passes through property for

distance of 2 miles with lush vegetation and numerous Petroglyphs. Has electricity. Big sky views in

all directions. San Antonio, Ute, Wheeler Peak and the Blancas are all within your sight. Remote, quiet

and beautiful, yet only one mile off of US 285.

LISTING DETAIL

GENERAL

FEATURES

FINANCIAL

REMARKS

My Listings

The Elk Haven Ranch MLS# 84999 - $4,500,000

Location and Map

The Historic Ranch

RANCH HISTORY

The Land

The Arroyo Aguaje de la Petaca

Conservation Easement Potential