Turner’S Domain

Conservation

Cable television tycoon Ted Turner has amassed a kingdom of Western land. In most cases, the large ranches he has acquired have been devoted to conservation as well as revivals of dwindling species.

His Vermejo Park Ranch in New Mexico devotes habitat to bison and prairie dogs. Most recently, Turner built a breeding facility for endangered black-footed ferrets, which he hopes will once again flourish on his ranch and elsewhere in the West.

Following is a list of Turner’s Western and Plains state ranches and acquisition dates as supplied by Russell Miller, general manager of Turner ranches in the West. The acreage represents deeded property and does not count any leased land from state or federal agencies or grazing allotments on public lands.

1987, Bar None Ranch, Montana, 23,000 acres.

1989, Flying D Ranch, Montana, 113,000 acres.

1992, Ladder Ranch, New Mexico, 155,000 acres.

1993, Snowcrest Ranch, Montana, 13,000 acres.

1994, Armendaris Ranch, New Mexico, 360,000 acres.

1995, Spikebox Ranch, Nebraska, 52,000 acres.

1996, Vermejo Park Ranch, New Mexico, 580,000 acres.

1996, Red Rock Ranch, Montana, 5,000 acres.

1997, Deer Creek Ranch, Nebraska, 48,000 acres.

1999, Bad River Ranches, South Dakota, 140,000 acres.

1999, McGinley Ranch, Nebraska, 67,000 acres.

1999, Z Bar Ranch, Kansas, 35,300 acres.

2000, Double H Ranch, Kansas, 2,900 acres.

2000, Blue Creek Ranch, Nebraska, 64,600 acres.