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Ladder ranch, unique features, a hosted experience, about the ranch, the experience.

From trekking through an abandoned mining town to scouting for diverse wildlife, Ladder has an activity for everyone. Create your own journey and discover the depths of Ladder’s natural environment. Wandering creek canyons and endless mountain ranges await or take an unparalleled walk through history. Inhabited by humans dating back to prehistoric times, Ladder features ancient cultural heritage sites. Visit abandoned adobe ruins, pit houses, charcoal kilns and other encampments surrounded by beautiful scenery and diverse wildlife. Or if you're an active adventurer, explore the ranch hiking, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, or on a bison roundup.

The Accommodations

Make your stay truly sublime. Recently renovated, four bright spacious new bathrooms with walk in showers and slipper tubs have truly transformed Ted's Ladder home. Staying true to Turner’s character, the four-bedroom ranch house exudes comfort and an unassuming ambiance. All meals and activities are included with your stay at Ladder. For those looking for an intimate and unique experience, this is second to none. Other features include a front porch, stone fireplace, and flat screen TV.

The Mission

Ted Turner’s appreciation for nature runs deep, compelling him to work tirelessly through his private company and his various foundations in support of land and species conservation. Through his foundations and individually, Turner has given millions to programs for improving air and water quality, developing a sustainable energy future to protect our climate, safeguarding environmental health and protecting wildlife and habitats to maintain biodiversity. Turner wishes to share his love of nature and discovery in the hope that those visiting his properties will develop a deeper appreciation for and awareness of what our Earth has to offer and, just as importantly, a shared responsibility for the well-being of our environment. “When we connect with nature, we heal ourselves. When we protect nature, we heal the planet.” – Ted Turner

From Our Guests

“Dave is a fantastic guide. He and the other guides that helped him (Robert and Ken) were fantastic. They took wonderful care of us and were really good with our kids. They understood what we were looking for but also knew how to back off and let us explore on our own. We absolutely loved it.”

A natural oasis situated by four Rio Grande tributaries, Ladder is home to rich biodiversity. The ranch offers a dynamic habitat for dozens of mammals and hundreds of bird species including mule deer, bison, mountain lions, elk, antelope, black hawks, golden eagles, elf owls, curve-billed thrashers and more.

From the ranch owner.

"Our mission is connecting people with nature, and we aim to make that happen with your visit to Ladder. This natural oasis is situated by four Rio Grande Tributaries, and offers a wonderful balance of adventure paired with relaxation."

The Lodging

The ranch house combines rustic elegance with southwestern accents. the historical four-bedroom house offers a spacious four-tiered stack stone living room, wood burning fireplace, and personal chef., ladder ranch house, 4,329 sq. ft., 4 bathrooms.

Equipment Available

Mountain bikes - 11, nearby attractions, elephant butte lake, caballo lake state park, sierra grande lodge and spa, geronimo springs museum, spaceport america, available activities, day tour to armendaris, hot air balloon rides, wildlife tours, birdwatching, bison expedition, pedal boat tours/stand up paddle/kayaking, fishing on elephant butte lake, request to stay at ladder ranch.

In order for us to ensure you have the best experience, we take your requested date and party size and confirm with the ranch owner before you finish and pay for your booking. You will not be charged to request to book.

Cancellation Policy

Deposit Policy: A deposit of 50% of total reservation including state and local taxes is due at the time of booking. A reservation is not confirmed unless it has a deposit on file. All remaining costs, including taxes become due and nonrefundable 61 days prior to arrival date. Cancellation Policy: Cancellation notification must occur at least 61 days prior to your arrival date to receive a refunded payment. A 10% fee of your total reservation amount is non-refundable. Reservation reductions such as party size or duration made within 60 days of arrival will not receive rate adjustments. Service Fee: a 15% service fee is added to the nightly rate and all services throughout stay. This goes entirely to our service team members, covering all gratuities for your visit.

Ranch Rules

No smoking No pets Don't litter and please pick up any trash you see on the ground Be respectful of all wildlife and your surroundings Please don't disturb plants or pick up Native American artifacts

2 hour drive from El Paso 2.5 hour drive from Albuquerque

• Photo Gallery
• Laura Turner Seydel
• Robert Edward Turner IV (“Teddy”)
• Rhett Lee Turner
• Reed Beauregard Turner (“Beau”)
• Sara Jean Turner Garlington (“Jennie”)
• Executive Leadership
• Turner Building
• Community Impact
• Company FAQ
• About Turner Ranches
• Turner Ranches Map
• Z Bar Ranch
• Flying D Ranch
• Red Rock Ranch
• Snowcrest Ranch
• Blue Creek Ranch
• Deer Creek Ranch
• Fawn Lake Ranch
• McGinley Ranch
• Spikebox Ranch
• Armendaris Ranch
• Ladder Ranch
• Vermejo Park Ranch
• Bad River Ranch
• Standing Butte
• Ranch Employment
• Turner Ranches FAQ
• Turner Ranch Outfitting
• Ted Turner Reserves
• Turner Bison Exchange
• United Nations Foundation
• Nuclear Threat Initiative
• Turner Foundation
• Captain Planet Foundation
• Turner Endangered Species Fund
• Turner Renewable Energy
• Ted’s Montana Grill
• Job Opportunities

Turner Ranch Outfitting™

Turner Ranch Outfitting™ (TRO) is the commercial hunting and fishing division of Turner Enterprises, Inc. and offers hunting, fishing and eco-tourism opportunities on western Turner ranches. In addition to coordinating guest services with Turner ranch managers, TRO conducts wildlife surveys, provides supervision for contract biologists and oversees the activity of contract outfitters and leaseholders. TRO is also the point of contact at numerous sporting shows, representing high quality outfitted adventures.

Turner Ranch Outfitting™ offers hunting opportunities on ten Turner ranches in five mid-western states. TRO also has longstanding relationships with outstanding contract outfitters who handle outfitting opportunities in Montana .

Vermejo Park Ranch is the only Turner property operating as a full-service guest ranch. Vermejo Park offers first-class lodging, dining and gracious hospitality in addition to a variety of outfitting opportunities including fully guided hunts, fishing and eco-tours.

Photos: Courtesy, Amanda Howell Photography and Sean Fitzgerald Photography.

New Mexico, Nebraska, South Dakota, & Kansas Ranches

Contact: Mike Mader Turner Ranch Outfitting™ Phone: (575) 740-2241 Email: [email protected]

Armendaris Ranch, NM

Armendaris Ranch , located in southwestern New Mexico, consists of 362,885 acres of habitat. Popular with guests for many years, Armendaris offers hunting opportunities for mule deer, pronghorn, bison, and oryx and now offers special opportunities for desert bighorn ram hunts in the Fra Cristobal Mountains. The ranch has a long standing partnership with the state game and fish department resulting in six issued permits, three via state drawing and three issued to TRO hunting clients.

Armendaris hunts are guided by TRO staff or contract outfitters. Hunting opportunities will vary from year to year based on annual surveys.

Ladder Ranch, NM

The 156,439-acre Ladder Ranch is located in southwest New Mexico. This ranch borders the Gila National Forest in the Black Range foothills. TRO offers a limited number of guided hunts on the Ladder for trophy elk and mule deer; wild turkeys are hunted in the spring. Ladder trophy bucks and bulls are among the best produced in this region.

Vermejo Park Ranch, NM

Vermejo Park Ranch is the only Turner property operating as a full-service guest ranch. Located high in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico, Vermejo is a deluxe guest ranch nestled away on 550,000 acres set against the magnificent backdrop of the Great West.

Vermejo offers first-class lodging, dining and gracious hospitality in addition to a variety of outfitting opportunities including fully guided hunts for turkey, antelope, mule deer and elk. Vermejo also offers fishing guides during fishing season and nature tourism guides for those who wish to explore the ranch. During the winter months guests enjoy guided winter activities such as ice fishing, snowshoeing, wildlife viewing and cross country skiing.

Sandhills Properties, NE

The Sandhills Properties consist of five ranches located in the Sandhills region of northwestern Nebraska. Sandhills Ranches include:

Spikebox Ranch , Fawn Lake Ranch , McGinley Ranch , Deer Creek Ranch , and Blue Creek Ranch . All properties are managed for grass and bison production.

TRO offers limited trophy deer hunting for whitetail and mule deer on the Sandhills ranches. TRO staff or contract outfitters guide these trophy quality hunts, which have been consistently outstanding for the areas hunted. In addition, the ranch families are a big part of TRO programs and make the experience especially enjoyable for guests. With their cooperation, Sandhills properties have become a favorite guest destination.

Bad River Ranch, SD

Bad River Ranch is located in central South Dakota. This 148,000-acre ranch is named for the river that flows through the property. The riparian area provides important wildlife habitat for numerous game birds, waterfowl, and wild turkey. Big game hunting includes mule deer, whitetail deer, and pronghorn. TRO provides guided hunts for these species and trophy quality is excellent for this region. The ranch also has a great reputation for trophy bison hunts when animals are available.

Z-Bar Ranch, KS

This south central Kansas property consists of 42,479 acres of prime wildlife habitat. Several waterways course through the property, including the Salt Fork River that supplies cover for whitetail deer and wild turkey. In an effort to provide the best quality hunt possible, TRO offers guided hunts for these species each year based on surveys. Bison hunting is offered on a limited basis for herd management purposes.

Montana Hunting Company  provides guided elk and deer hunts on Turner ranches in Montana. Hunting opportunities are available on the Snowcrest , Red Rock and Flying D ranches; guided bison harvests are also offered on the Flying D ranch.

Montana Hunting Company Phone:  (406) 585-9051                                                                                                                                                                                          Email:  [email protected]

Turner Ranches

Kansas Z Bar Ranch Montana Red Rock Ranch Snowcrest Ranch Flying D Ranch Nebraska Spikebox Ranch Blue Creek Ranch McGinley Ranch Fawn Lake Ranch Deer Creek Ranch New Mexico Ladder Ranch Armendaris Ranch Vermejo Park Ranch South Dakota Standing Butte Bad River Ranch

Turnerverse News

Vermejo recognized as Best Resort Hotel in the West by Travel+Leisure

VERMEJO, A TED TURNER RESERVE, RECOGNIZED AS BEST RESORT HOTEL IN THE WEST BY TRAVEL + LEISURE® RATON, NEW MEXICO, UNITED STATES (July 11, 2023) – Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve, has been named the Travel + Leisure 2023 World’s Best Resort Hotel in the...

Turner Renewable Energy and Merit SI build solar power plant in New Jersey

HOUSTON CHRONICLE BUSINESS // ENERGY October 14, 2020 Solar to power natural gas pipeline compressor station   Merit SI, a renewable energy developer based in Houston and partially owned by CNN founder Ted Turner, announced that it has finished building the...

Ted Turner Honored By WarnerMedia

WarnerMedia has established a scholarship, internship program and exhibition hall at the University of Georgia to be named after maverick media mogul Ted Turner. The company has gifted $550,000 to the university to create the Ted Turner Scholarship...

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Tour Ted Turner's Hacienda-Style Home in New Mexico

By Gerald Clarke

Photography by Robert Reck

This article originally appeared in the June 2008 issue of Architectural Digest.

"Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam" is the opening line of one of America's most famous folk songs. But Ted Turner might be excused if he thinks it was written especially for him. As the largest individual landholder in the U.S.—he has title to nearly two million acres in 11 states—he has not one but many homes where the buffalo roam. And he lays claim to about 50,000 of those majestic, if sometimes ornery, critters—the largest land animal, he proudly observes, in all of North America.

Turner's main residence is near Tallahassee, Florida. On visits to his many western and midwestern ranches, he usually stays in the house, however humble, that was already there. "I just want someplace where I can close the door to keep the flies out," he says.

When his friends visited his Armendaris Ranch in New Mexico, for instance, they stayed in what had been the cowboys' bunkhouse: one room for everybody, a bath with open showers and nothing for entertainment but the sound of the wind, which sometimes reaches 50 miles an hour during the winter. "The girls had to wait until the boys were done in the bathroom," he says of that spartan desert dormitory. "It was rudimentary."

It was too rudimentary, in fact, to be the center of such a vast property—350,000 acres. In 2006 he decided it was time for a proper house, beautiful yet simple, and in no sense wasteful. "I don't believe in wasting anything," he says. "I'm fairly wealthy, but I even save paper clips." A hacienda-style house with four bedrooms is what he wanted, and when Laura Hunt, the Dallas designer who was in charge of the project, and Chris Carson, a San Antonio architect, inspected the site, they found two stakes firmly embedded in the Armendaris's dusty soil. One was where Turner wanted his front door; the other was where he wanted his bedroom windows to look out on the Fra Cristobal Mountains.

Hunt thought he should have chosen a site in the Fra Cristobals themselves, one that would look down at the desert, rather than one on the desert that would look up at the mountains. But Turner, the man who irrevocably altered television broadcasting with the introduction of CNN and 24-hour cable news, knew what he was doing. "It was a brilliant choice," Hunt now admits, "and I've had to eat my words. When you're in the house, you're part of the desert—and you still have beautiful landscapes."

On one thing everyone agreed: The house should be a partner to its surroundings. "I didn't want people to drive up and say, 'Oh, wow! Look at that house!' " explains Hunt. Everyone also agreed that it be built in the Territorial style, the look and form 19th-century settlers in New Mexico found so appropriate to that arid and often inhospitable land. It was not for nothing that the Spanish conquistadors gave the name the Jornada del Muerto—the Journey of the Dead Man—to a trail that runs through the ranch.

The purpose of the house—it was to be a desert lodge—was foremost in the designers' minds. Carson placed the front door where Turner had planted his stake, but the door opens not to an entrance hall but to a walled courtyard. "The courtyard provides a sense of enclosure from the wild desert," says Carson. The outdoors is as much a part of the house as the indoors, and the three guest rooms are entered from a wide, open-to-the-air corridor. To reach the main part of the house from their rooms, guests must thus walk briefly through the open air.

The designers were also keenly aware that their client was a passionate environmentalist. Whatever they built had to meet his stiff standards. What Hunt and Carson discovered was that the old way of building, which was their intention all along, is also best for the environment. Masonry walls 18 inches thick keep out the cold in the winter and the heat in the summer, and, in New Mexico anyway, old-fashioned tile and clay, made from the earth itself, are ideal for both roofs and floors.

Both designers made several trips to the historic Mexican town of San Miguel de Allende, returning with 14,000 tiles for the roof, red-painted tiles for the baths, stones for the fireplaces and antique doors for the courtyard entrance. "The more natural materials are used," says Carson, "the more interesting they look." Most people think of mesquite, another natural material, as a fuel for cooking. Hunt put it to a better use as the floor of the great room, a long space that combines the living and dining areas. "Beyond beautiful," is how she describes floor colors that vary from a rich brown to a brown so dark that it could be mistaken for black.

"I envisioned the house blending into the landscape," says Hunt, "and I wanted it to be painted the color of the grass around it. I worked for I don't know how many months to get that color for the stucco. The inside is a shade lighter." Though she wanted the interior to suggest a European hunting lodge, Hunt was not shy about using items from the American West—Native American artifacts, for example, and bison hide for the master bedroom's headboard and bed skirt. "It's like suede," she says, "but a little rougher."

Turner and Hunt share a grandson—her daughter Gannon was married to his son Beau—and she was designing not just for Turner but also for her grandson, Beau Jr., as well as future generations of Turners. "I built it for family," she says, "so that my grandson will say, 'Grandma did this.'"

By Michelle Duncan

By Erika Owen

By Katherine McLaughlin

Turner is also thinking of future generations. Through his Turner Endangered Species Fund he is trying, on all his properties, to save and reintroduce endangered species. On the Armendaris these include bighorn sheep, Aplomado falcons and Bolson tortoises. The largest tortoise in North America, the Bolson— la tortuga grande del desierto , or the big turtle of the desert—has probably not been seen in those parts in several thousand years. "I'm trying to save life on Earth," says Turner. "We have an obligation and a privilege to preserve and maintain our planet and the species we share the planet with. If we destroy the environment, we're committing suicide."

A hundred years ago the bison was also in danger of extinction. Now Turner himself owns so many that some of his herds stretch as far as the eye can see. For Hunt, it seemed only right that the emblem of his new house should be that shaggy beast he is so devoted to, and she has put the bison logo on just about everything but the lightbulbs—from towels and T-shirts to poker chips and M&Ms. Not only has Ted Turner found a home, or homes, on the range. So, on the Armendaris and on his many other ranches, have the buffalo.

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Visit Sierra County New Mexico

Armendaris bats & brews tour – june 13 through august 31.

Begin with a tour of T or C Brewing Co . where you’ll sample from a vast selection of beers and purchase your favorites for later.

From there, venture to the untamed wilderness of the Armendaris, where you will encounter a vast and ancient underground cave. Take in the mesmerizing sight of more than a million Mexican free-tailed bats emerging from the cave, gracefully weaving through the air, performing a breathtaking impromptu aerial ballet. In addition you’ll enjoy a curated evening snack created by the Sierra Grande culinary team, alongside your personally-selected beverages from the brewery.

This ecotour is offered by Ted Turner Reserves .

$185 per person, minimum 2 in the party. Thursdays and Saturdays, 3-9pm.

Sierra County Recreation and Tourism Advisory Board

301 S. Foch, Truth or Consequences

director@sierracountynewmexico.info

575-894-1968

© 2011 - 2024 Sierra County Recreation & Tourism Advisory Board. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Cookie Policy | Image Reuse Policy

Check out bat migrations at Ted Turner ranch in New Mexico

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Hang out with bats on Ted Turner Reserves’ Armendaris Ranch , where you’ll see one of the largest bat migrations in North America. Participants will be able to explore the 360,000-acre property used for wildlife conservation.

Sightings may include bison, desert bighorn sheep, pronghorn, mule deer, mountain lion, javelina and oryx.

During the tour, guides will talk about bats, bat caves and local bat predators, including Swainson’s hawks, which can capture and eat bats mid-flight.

The Bats and Brews expedition will also serve up local craft beer from Truth or Consequences, N.M.

Dates : June 22, July 20, Aug. 17

Price : From $532 for the two-night package for two people. Includes a sunset tour to the Armendaris Ranch bat caves, accommodations at Turner’s Sierra Grande Resort & Spa in Truth or Consequences, breakfasts and a 30-minute private hot springs soak each day. Three-night package also available. Airfare not included.

Info : Ted Turner Reserves , (877) 288-7637

— Rosemary McClure

[email protected]

@latimestravel

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New Mexico’s Ladder Ranch | An Eco-Conscious Expedition

By Cheryl Fallstead

What is your passion: fur, feathers, or flowers and fauna? Or perhaps you are an aficionado of rocks and ruins, or the history of Native Americans, Buffalo Soldiers, ranchers and miners? Maybe you look for adventure in hiking , biking, or hunting? All of these interests can be explored with Ted Turner Expeditions on the 156,439 acres of the Ladder Ranch near Truth or Consequences.

We met David Barfield, the activities director for Ted Turner Expeditions in Southern New Mexico, at the Sierra Grande Lodge, a Turner property. Despite arriving on the first day of August, it was pleasantly cool. Lunch had been prepared and packed into a cooler and our gear—sunscreen, hat, sunglasses—was reviewed.

As we drove to the Ladder Ranch, David gave us a rundown on some of Ted Turner’s holdings — 16 ranches in the western US with 1.2 million acres in New Mexico alone. These include the Ladder Ranch, Armendaris Ranch, and the Vermejo Park Ranch.

Many of us have stumbled over bits and pieces of news and reports about conservation efforts  at Ted Turner’s vast holdings, including raising bison, introducing controversial black-tailed prairie dog colonies to the ranch, and rescuing black-footed ferrets from extinction. These tidbits don’t give the broad scope of the Ted Turner Foundation’s mission. The family foundation is comprised of Turner and his five children, with a mission to “protect and restore the natural systems—air, land, and water—on which all life depends.”

Once we arrived at the ranch, we moved our gear from the SUV to a Polaris Ranger for tackling the extremely rugged terrain we would be exploring in our search for bison and other wildlife. One of our first stops was the Ladder House, which was built in the early 1900’s and now is used for guests. It has been restored with modern conveniences, but retains the historic feel with a stone fireplace, heavy wood and leather furniture, and Mimbres pottery on display.

The Bunk House nearby often houses hunters, scientists, researchers, and interns. The Ladder House can be booked for overnight stays for $2,200 per night for four people (plus $400 for each additional person), which includes a gourmet chef to prepare meals and a guide for trips on the ranch.

Visitors to Ladder Ranch have many options for exploration . I’m a fur and feather naturalist, so I was looking forward to seeing as many of the rare and seldom sighted creatures as possible.

We had no difficulty spotting the black-tailed prairie dog village and the burrowing owls that shared their space.

“Ted could talk to you for hours about prairie dogs. They are a keystone species,” David explained, talking about the re-introduction of prairie dogs on the ranch funded by the Turner Endangered Species Fund (TESF). Prairie dogs are the main prey species of the endangered black-footed ferret, which the TESF is also preserving. This is the first of many times during the five-hour safari that David highlighted the conservation efforts on Ladder Ranch and all the Turner properties.

We easily walked right up to the enclosures for the endangered bolson tortoise, arriving in time to flip one back upright and perhaps keep it from roasting to death.

The TESF is working to prevent the extinction of bolson tortoises while also establishing free-ranging tortoises on both the Ladder and Armendaris Ranches. This large and rare tortoise may once have lived throughout the Chihuahuan desert, but is rarely seen today. The efforts to rescue the tortoise began with a group of adults and hatchlings donated by Ariel Appleton of Arizona. In 2015, TESF announced the 500th hatchling, which was born on the Armendaris Ranch.

We continued on to the ranariuman—an area  dedicated to propagation  of the endangered Chiricahua leopard frog. Here, we saw the floating masses of frog eggs and tadpoles growing in great round troughs. This native frog was listed as endangered in 2002. The TESF partnered with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and New Mexico Game and Fish Department to conserve the frogs on Ladder Ranch—the last substantive Chiricahua leopard frog population.

David told us there are more than 250 species of  birds  at Ladder Ranch. While we easily spotted the familiar Gambel’s quail and scaled quail, as usual, the Montezuma quail eluded us. We also spotted Rio Grande turkeys, one of two species of turkeys that inhabit the ranch, along with ducks, mourning doves, a roadrunner, swifts, and several hawks. For conservation and hunting purposes, watering and feeding stations are scattered around the ranch to maintain the bird populations.

We stopped for lunch under a large tree near a rock and adobe homestead. Clouds had been building all morning, piling up high above the mesas. We saw slashes of lightening and heard the thunder. The resulting breeze was  refreshing , bringing in the scent of rain and alligator juniper trees.

After lunch, we kept moving with an eye on the distant storm. As the Polaris growled across the rocky terrain toward Las Animas Creek, I spied a black bear running down the side of the ravine. As we rounded a curve in the trail, we spotted a second bear, which raced up the road in front of us and disappeared into the brush.

We soon arrived at a spot on the creek to admire the largest sycamore tree I’ve ever seen. We speculated about how long it may have been growing there. According to research by Harley Shaw and published in  River of Spirits : A Natural History of New Mexico’s Las Animas Creek: “These sycamores, growing along a twenty-five-mile reach, constitute the only known natural stand of this species within the Rio Grande watershed and functionally the only stand east of the continental divide.”

These trees may have been growing in the area for more than 300 years. Since the nearest DNA match is 35 miles east of the nearest native stand in the Gila, researchers are unsure how the Arizona sycamore arrived at Las Animas Creek. Like many birders, I was aware of these trees along Las Animas Creek. It’s a favorite birding destination, since the riparian area and the trees attract many birds, such as western wood-peewee, ash throated flycatcher, bridled titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, and Lucy’s warbler. However, I had not realized the unique character of the Arizona sycamore growing in that area.

For explorers who have more interest in the formation of the earth, there are many geologic sites exposing where faults divided, crystals formed in rocks, and caves were created from lava tubes in an area that climbs from 4,500 feet to 8,800. Four watersheds come together on Ladder Ranch: Animas, Seco, Palomas, and Cuchilla Negra.

“Every watershed has its own personality,” David explained. As with any desert location, water is a critical concern. During the day, we saw man-made dams and ponds, natural creeks, and numerous watersheds. As we arrived at the ranch, I had noted the terraces of alfalfa and the irrigation system. David said this remnant of cattle ranching is necessary to maintain the ranch’s water rights, plus it provides grazing for the deer, elk, and bison.

In Ash Canyon, a jutting cliff once sheltered the Mimbres people as today it provides homes for swifts soaring on the currents. This location is a treasure trove of pictograph, smoke smudges from ancient fires, cobs of 900 year-old corn, and bits of flint from early tool-making. The Mimbres culture thrived in the area 1,800 years ago, but disappeared about 1,000 years ago. Remnants of their stone walls and distinctive black and white pottery are all that remain. We were taken to a site where a Mimbres village once stood, and where the pottery in the Ladder House had been excavated by archaeologists.

The Mimbres people were followed in history by several Apache tribes. Like the Mimbres, the Apaches left their marks on the ranch in petroglyphs on rocks, abandoned sites of their wickiup dwellings, and rock hand tools. These tribes ultimately were driven from the land by the influx of ranchers, herders, and miners. We visited several abandoned adobe and rock homestead sites in the area.

During the exploration of the ranch, we passed through several ranch gates. “You have to tie them just right, or the bison can open them,” David said, as he hopped out to open and close a metal ranch gate.

After hours of exploring the ranch, we had not spied any bison, the iconic western motif of the ranch. This is a bit surprising, since there are more than 50,000 of them in herds throughout the ranch. However, with more than 100,000 acres in which to roam, they are difficult to locate, despite their individual massive size and the size of the herds.

Other creatures that roam Ladder Ranch include javelina, wolf, cougar, ring-tailed cat, coatamundi, oryx, and big horn sheep. We also spied a herd of more than 20 elk across a canyon.

As we switched from the Polaris back to the SUV for the ride back to Sierra Grande Lodge, I noticed the bumper sticker on the vehicle. It summed up Ted Turner’s efforts at Ladder Ranch and his other western properties in two simple words: “Save Everything.”

Ted Turner Expeditions offers the following experiences:

Hiking, Biking, Sunrise Wildlife Tour, Sunset Wildlife Tour, Ladder Ranch Heritage Tour, and Birding. Any expedition package costs: $350 for 2 people; $100 for each additional person (Max 4 Total). Packed lunch included. To learn more or book an expedition contact  (877) 288-7637  or email  [email protected] .

Written by  Jackye Meinecke for Neighbors Magazine

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315,000 acres permanently conserved on the Armendaris Ranch in New Mexico

March 17, 2022

The New Mexico Land Conservancy and the Department of Defense recently completed one of the nation’s largest conservation easements at the Armendaris Ranch in southern New Mexico. Located in Socorro and Sierra counties, the Armendaris Ranch is owned by Ted Turner.

Ron Troy, the New Mexico Land Conservancy’s Southern New Mexico Program Manager and project lead, said:

“This land is laden with important and unique natural and cultural resources, and the opportunity to permanently protect a property with conservation values of this magnitude was at the heart of our organization’s decision to tackle this landscape-scale project.”

The Armendaris Ranch stretches along the Rio Grande from the Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge at its northern border, then south along the river for almost fifty miles to the southern end of Elephant Butte Lake near the town of Truth or Consequences. From the river and lake, the land extends east past the Fra Cristobal Mountains towards the San Andres Mountains and the White Sands Missile Range.

Part of the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion, the sheer size and geomorphological variability of this land supports over 500 vertebrate species, including some identified as federally or state listed species. The entire Fra Cristobal Mountain Range is part of this vast landscape and is home to approximately 230 desert bighorn sheep. There are large lava fields that include the Jornada caves, which serve as a seasonal/migratory haven for over one million bats of various species.

The cultural values of the land are noteworthy as well. Recently discovered ancient footprints found less than 40 miles away (near White Sands National Park) demonstrate human activity in the area going back at least 20,000 years. Also, there is evidence of at least 10 different indigenous cultural periods, dating from 11,000-year-old Clovis points to pre-Colombian rock art to historical accounts of Puebloan, Mimbres, Navajo and Apache life in this seemingly harsh landscape. The borders of the land encompass a rich modern history as well, including the harshest section of the El Camino Real known as the “Jornada Del Muerto”; Valverde, the site of the largest Civil War battle fought in the Southwest; at least 20 abandoned town sites; and transportation routes between Los Alamos and the Trinity Site for atomic bomb testing as part of the Manhattan Project.

The conservation easement will be held by New Mexico Land Conservancy and will protect the land’s conservation and cultural values, while also permanently restricting certain uses of the land to keep it intact and relatively undeveloped.

The land includes a large part of the western buffer of the White Sands Missile Range , and therefore was highly desirable for protection by the U.S. Army , which administers the two-million-acre range.  The conservation easement was partially funded through the Department of Defense (DOD) Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program.  REPI is a unique DOD program that works to protect high-priority military missions by helping relieve or avoid land-use conflicts near military facilities, promote natural resource conservation and habitat protection to mitigate restrictions that inhibit military activities, and prepare for climate change impacts by enhancing military installation resilience.

Nearly 830,000 acres have been protected under the REPI Program since itsinception in 2002.  This conservation easement is the largest to ever be completed by any of the four military branches under the REPI Program.

“Completion of this historic project has been a very high priority for White Sands Missile Range,” said Brian Knight, a Senior Team Manager with the U.S. Army. “A large portion of this conservation easement is in an area WSMR refers to as the Western Call Up Area, which is restricted airspace that WSMR can ‘call up’ in order to extend our military test and evaluation capabilities. Working with our neighbors to create compatible land uses and minimize any encroachment to military airspace will sustain the unique capabilities that make WSMR the premier test and evaluation range in the country.”

This easement is also the largest completed to date by the New Mexico Land Conservancy and nearly doubles the acreage of its 115 conservation easements from 340,000 acres to 655,000 acres of conserved land throughout New Mexico and southeast Arizona.

“The permanent protection of this land presented a unique and timely convergence of interests between the various partners involved,” said Scott Wilber, the Conservancy’s Executive Director.  “This is truly a win-win-win project for wildlife, the people of New Mexico and our national security.”

The New Mexico Land Conservancy (NMLC) is a statewide, non-profit land trust that works to conserve land, water, natural and cultural resources at community, watershed and landscape scales throughout New Mexico and southeast Arizona.  In 2005, NMLC set forth the ambitious goal of protecting one million acres of high-conservation value land, directly or in partnership with others, by 2030.  To date, NMLC has completed 115 conservation easements over 655,000 acres of land, so it is well on its way to achieving this goal.  For more information, please visit the organization’s website at: www.nmlandconservancy.org .

Initiated by the Department of Defense in 2002, the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program promotes and supports partnerships among the military services, private conservation groups, and state and local governments.  These win-win partnerships preserve compatible land uses, protect natural habitats, and promote climate resilience near installations and ranges that help sustain critical, at-risk military mission capabilities.

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Explore Russian Summer Life: Visit Russian Dacha!

People from Northern countries soak up every bit of pleasure out of summertime. Its days are numbered, and we do our best to store up the sunshine for the long, cold months that make up the rest of the year. Russians are among those who take full advantage of the brief, hot weather.

At summer’s peak, many Russians don’t venture far. The reason is dachas , our country houses. August brings the harvest for our small garden plots, but a dacha is much more than just an economic benefit: it embodies a culture dating back to Communist times.

The dachas is a unique phenomenon in the life of anyone who lives in the boundless expanses of the Russian Federation. A small plot – just 0.15 acres – with a few currant bushes, apple trees and a vegetable patch, a little wooden house with no telephone or running water and a discreetly located outhouse. I’d love to how you mine.

How we’ll get there:

I believe that it’ll be fun to experience the Russian suburban train (electrichka), which is very popular in our country. Electrichka is inexpensive and it might even be faster than a car as it doesn’t depend on the traffic. Travelling by commuter train you’ll be able to see ordinary people and possibly talk with them. Sometimes trains offer you such “free entertainment” as listening to numerous vendors and musicians. But local trains might be crowded at certain times of the day so in some cases we’d recommend you to go with us by car.

What we’ll do:

We start the trip with the tour of Dmitrov , an ancient Russian town, founded in 1147 and called Moscow younger brother. It is located 1 hour drive out of Moscow.

Learning how to prepare a Russianlunch:

First you choose the right meat, then the right recipe for the marinade.The fire has to be started and allowed to burn down until it’s almost out, but still smouldering. If you catch it at that moment, then the meat will roast evenly and not burn.

Meanwhile, the fire keeps threatening to go out, compelling family and guests to furiously fan it with pieces of cardboard. We serve sashlik with baked potatoes, pickled vegetables and of course Russian vodka. Lunch is followed by traditional Russian tea drinking .

You’ll be so involved, you won’t even notice when it’s time to go back to the city.

The tour cost is 200 USD.

Tour price is for 2 people but I can accommodate up to 6 people in this tour, however the price will change.

Transportationis extra.

Tour duration: 8 hours

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The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

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The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

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Over one million acres of New Mexico's majestic Southwestern landscapes, transformative activities, groundbreaking conservation projects, and warm hospitality await you.

Explore vast short-grass prairies, staggering slot canyons, flowing streams, desert plains, and other breathtaking locations. Our properties are home to an abundance of wildlife, such as local bison, wild horses, golden eagles, black bears, prairie dogs, desert bighorn sheep, and one of the largest bat populations in North America.

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A glimpse into Ted Turner Reserves’ vast landscapes, unique adventures and diverse wildlife.

• Horses at Castle Rock
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• The Casita at Sierra Grande with private hot spring tub
• Mountain Biking at Vermejo
• Regional cuisine, catered to your tastes
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• The elk herd at Vermejo
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Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve, Named to the T+L 500 by Travel+Leisure®

4 reasons you’ll want to hike the seco creek canyon trail, ready for an adventure.

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